Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 Review: Steps Forward and Backward

With the Galaxy Z Fold 6, Samsung lastly achieved its aim of constructing a foldable that may actually replicate the expertise of a conventional telephone whereas doubling as a glossy pill. Roughly 5 years after the unique Galaxy Fold’s launch, Samsung’s book-shaped system has gotten lighter, slimmer, extra sturdy and pure to make use of as a telephone; a seemingly mundane however vital enchancment.

The Galaxy Z Fold 6’s new design, clearly impressed by the Galaxy S24 Ultra, is its most putting improve. Samsung has additionally thrown in some new AI-powered software program options, an ultrawide digicam sensor that is higher at capturing photographs at midnight and a contemporary processor to match the one contained in the Galaxy S24 lineup.

Unfortunately, these upgrades come at a price: $1,900 to be actual. Samsung’s already costly foldable telephone is $100 pricier than it was final yr, proving that the Galaxy Z Fold is certainly a luxurious system. The Galaxy Z Fold 6’s svelte construct is a step ahead, however Samsung’s value hike appears like a step backward, particularly for the reason that firm launched important adjustments like a brand new hinge and a lighter design with out elevating costs in years previous.

I’ve been having fun with utilizing the Galaxy Z Fold 6, and I can see why it may be laborious to return to a daily telephone as soon as you have used it. Samsung additionally hasn’t supplied the 2 largest issues I’m on the lookout for in tablet-style foldable telephones: extra inexpensive costs and modern software program that makes higher use of their twin screens. Instead, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 appears like an try to convey foldables up to the mark with common telephones in areas like design and digicam high quality — a modest step ahead fairly than a serious leap ahead.

Read extra: This Galaxy Ring Feature Shows How Samsung Can Stand Out From Oura

Watch this: Galaxy Z Fold 6: My Day in Paris With Samsung’s New Phone

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Galaxy Z Fold 6 design and show

The Galaxy Z Fold 6 has no drawback masquerading as a daily telephone when closed. Not solely is the duvet show barely bigger (6.3 inches versus 6.2 inches on the Z Fold 5), however the borders framing the display are extra symmetrical. The corners of the telephone have a sharper and extra angular look, very like the Galaxy S24 Ultra.

Taken collectively, these adjustments make the Galaxy Z Fold 6’s exterior look much less like a canopy display and extra like a daily standalone telephone. It’s not nearly how the telephone appears; the flatter edges are simpler to grip, and the roomier show gives a barely larger canvas for taking photographs whereas the telephone is closed. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 can be about 14 grams lighter than the Galaxy Z Fold 5, and the distinction is noticeable as quickly as you decide it up. It additionally has a sturdiness score of IP48 not like earlier Folds, that means it ought to have some safety in opposition to overseas objects like particles along with water resistance. 

Such adjustments are vital for Samsung to compete with the $1,800 Google Pixel Fold and $1,700 OnePlus Open, each of which have wider outer shows meant to make their respective telephones really feel straightforward to navigate when closed. I used to favor the Pixel Fold’s wider form when closed over the Z Fold’s, however the Z Fold 6 appears like the proper mixture of being expansive sufficient to keep away from compromising the telephone expertise with out feeling too broad.

The inner tablet-sized display nonetheless measures 7.6 inches like that of the Z Fold 6’s predecessors. The crease is barely much less noticeable this time round because of a further show layer and a extra sturdy hinge. The new sharper corners additionally give the Z Fold 6 a cleaner and extra streamlined look when opened, type of like that of a sheet of paper or an e-reader.

Roaming round Paris, the Galaxy Z Fold 6’s spacious display got here in helpful for viewing Google Maps and shopping photographs taken whereas wandering the town on a bigger show. Although I often favor to dedicate all the inner display to at least one app, cut up display mode was surprisingly helpful whereas touring, significantly for pulling restaurant suggestions from a chat in WhatsApp and plugging them straight into Google Maps with out having to change between apps.

Galaxy Z Fold 6 AI and software program options

Samsung, like the remainder of the tech business, is enamored with generative synthetic intelligence, and it is on the lookout for new methods to implement the expertise in its most vital merchandise.

The Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 are the corporate’s newest try to just do that with new options that recast selfies in numerous creative kinds, generate full photographs from tough sketches, leverage each of the Z Fold’s screens to translate conversations and extra. That’s along with present options for erasing objects from photographs, summarizing notes, translating telephone calls in real-time, and looking Google simply by drawing a circle round an object on the display.

Portrait Studio, the instrument that stylizes photographs of individuals, is plenty of enjoyable to mess around with. I went down a rabbit gap reworking selfies into 3D cartoons, watercolor work and sketches, filled with curiosity about how Samsung’s AI would interpret my photographs. Sometimes the outcomes have been flattering and considerably correct; different instances they have been unrecognizable. A cartoon model of me, as an example, had blue eyes despite the fact that my eyes are brown.

Sketch to Image, as its title implies, can generate an image in a particular model based mostly on a drawing. I’m a horrible artist, so my sketches are in a lot want of refinement. Like Portrait Studio, Sketch to Image was considerably inconsistent however nonetheless plenty of enjoyable.

Sometimes I used to be impressed by the outcomes, as was the case when the telephone morphed my barebones drawing right into a watercolor portray of the Eiffel Tower. Other instances, the photographs have been shocking. When I drew a easy stick determine, for instance, the AI got here up with a determine that seemed prefer it belonged in a Tim Burton flick.

Regardless, Sketch to Image and Portrait Studio are pleasant and entertaining, but it surely’s laborious to think about how I might use them frequently. Samsung’s Composer characteristic, which might generate textual content for messages and social media based mostly on prompts, appears extra helpful in idea. But to this point, it is given my a really comparable sounding prose whether or not I used to be replying to a good friend’s message or drafting an Instagram caption, simply with totally different key phrases. 

What I’m actually hoping to see are new options that make the most of the truth that the Galaxy Z Fold has two screens. Samsung is heading in the right direction with the brand new dialog mode in its Interpreter translation app. In this state, the app can show translated textual content on the duvet display dealing with outward and the interior display on the similar time, with the aim being to make it in order that each contributors in a dialog can simply see translations on the similar time.

You’ll have to put the telephone in flex mode — i.e. bent midway — to make use of the app on this method, though it does not kick in mechanically. There’s a tiny button close to the highest of the display that triggers dialog mode, which wasn’t instantly apparent to me at first.

I figured a go to to Paris’ bustling Le Marché des Enfants Rouges, a vigorous meals market, could be the right place to place this to the take a look at. I held up the Galaxy Z Fold in Flex mode as I ordered lunch from essentially the most crowded stall out there, but it surely was laborious to concentrate on the dialog since I used to be too busy wanting on the display to ensure it was getting my phrases proper. Since the market was so crowded, the telephone saved detecting speech from different close by customers.

I really like the idea, but it surely ended up being simpler to gesture, level and use the few French phrases I do know to order my lunch fairly than fussing with the telephone. Conversation mode looks like it will solely be helpful in just a few choose circumstances the place there is not a lot exterior noise, similar to when speaking with a cab driver. Not to say, this characteristic is not completely new; Google beforehand launched an analogous translation instrument on the Pixel Fold.

Samsung’s AI options will be spectacular once they work, however I used to be actually hoping to see extra options which can be particular to the Z Fold’s distinctive form. Samsung hasn’t mentioned when or if Sketch to Image and Portrait Studio will come to the Galaxy S collection, however there isn’t any motive why they could not. The solely new characteristic that really requires a foldable display is dialog mode within the Interpreter app. Not all these options really feel unique both; Apple, for instance, just lately introduced upcoming iPhone options for producing photographs based mostly on drawings.

Instead, I’m hoping Samsung finds inventive new methods to make the duvet display stand out. For instance, among the best issues about utilizing the Galaxy Z Fold is that it has a built-in kickstand. Stand it up like a tent or bend it midway backward in flex mode, and you’ve a simple approach to prop up your telephone whereas watching a YouTube video or listening to Spotify.

Samsung ought to lean into that side of the Galaxy Z Fold in a much bigger method. What if leisure apps had particular widgets and interfaces for Flex mode? Or higher but, what if the house display was higher optimized for panorama orientation when in Flex mode? What I’m actually on the lookout for is a Samsung model of Apple’s Standby mode, which primarily transforms the iPhone right into a miniature good show when turned sideways and plugged in. A characteristic like this looks like a no brainer for the Galaxy Z Fold.

In a future replace, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 will have the ability to run Google’s Gemini overlay (i.e. the mini-window that pops up) in multi-window mode, which is a step in the proper course. 

Galaxy Z Fold 6 cameras

The Galaxy Z Fold 6 has a 50-megapixel important digicam, 12-megapixel ultrawide digicam and 10-megapixel telephoto digicam, similar to the Galaxy Z Fold 5. The solely notable distinction this yr is that Samsung up to date the ultrawide digicam’s sensor to assist it carry out higher in low mild, which I discovered to be correct when testing the 2 telephones’ ultrawide cameras side-by-side.

Camera high quality is not the highest motive to purchase a foldable telephone, however a telephone as costly because the Galaxy Z Fold 6 ought to have wonderful cameras. Although the Z Fold 6’s digicam system is a step beneath the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s, it nonetheless takes detailed and colourful photographs that have been in lots of instances higher than these from its rivals.

Samsung’s cameras usually excel in terms of colour. Photos captured on the Galaxy Z Fold 6 seemed vivid and vibrant, which normally resulted in one of the best photograph of the bunch when in comparison with the Google Pixel Fold and OnePlus Open.

Look at this photograph of a slice of cheesecake, for instance. Samsung’s photograph has the proper steadiness of brightness, boldness and element, making it punchier than the opposite two.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6

Google Pixel Fold

OnePlus Open

There are some areas wherein the Pixel Fold pulled forward of the Galaxy Z Fold 6, specifically in terms of nighttime pictures and the ultrawide digicam. In the photographs beneath, you may discover Google’s photograph of a constructing in Paris at evening is brighter than Samsung’s.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6

Google Pixel Fold

Similarly, this photograph of the Arc de Triomphe taken with the Pixel Fold’s ultrawide digicam has extra element and crispness to it than Samsung’s, each within the monument itself and the encircling timber.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6

Google Pixel Fold

When it involves the Galaxy Z Fold 6’s interior digicam, there’s excellent news and dangerous information. First, the dangerous: The digicam nonetheless solely has a low-resolution 4-megapixel sensor. Now, the great: Thanks to the way in which Samsung processes photographs, photographs taken with it do not look half dangerous. I truly most well-liked the selfie taken with the Galaxy Z Fold 6’s interior digicam over the one taken with the Pixel Fold’s 8-megapixel inner digicam.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6

(*6*)

Google Pixel Fold

The OnePlus Open’s selfie would have been my favourite of the bunch. The digicam’s placement to the far proper of the display made it troublesome to border pictures, as you may see in my try beneath.

OnePlus Open

Overall, the Galaxy Z Fold 6’s cameras really feel like what you’d anticipate from a premium telephone, and they’re among the many finest you may get from a foldable. The Z Fold 6’s excessive value additionally means the bar is even greater than earlier than.

Galaxy Z Fold 6 battery life and efficiency

The main theme with the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is how Samsung is closing the hole between its foldable telephones and commonplace Galaxy S telephones. That holds true in terms of the processor, too. The telephone runs on a model of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip optimized for Samsung’s Galaxy telephones, similar to the Galaxy S24 lineup.

Samsung’s new foldables will obtain new variations of Android for seven years together with the Galaxy S24 household. There’s additionally a bigger vapor chamber within the Galaxy Z Fold 6 to enhance its cooling system.

Whether I used to be taking part in demanding video games like Diablo Immortal, working a number of apps on the Z Fold’s giant display, recording video or processing edits utilizing Portrait Studio, the Z Fold 6 by no means lagged, stuttered or felt sizzling to the contact. It did get heat when working benchmark exams meant to measure normal computing (Geekbench 6) and graphics efficiency (3DMark Wildlife Extreme). Still, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 carried out quite a bit greater than the Google Pixel Fold and the OnePlus Open on Geekbench 6 and about the identical because the OnePlus Open on 3DMark, as proven beneath.

Battery life on the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is definitely sufficient to final a full day, however how a lot you get out of the system will rely upon how typically you utilize the interior display and show brightness. Battery life sometimes dipped to concerning the mid to excessive 30s after roughly 15 hours of use. On days once I spent extra day trip in vibrant daylight snapping photographs, the battery degree dropped to the excessive 20s and low 30s after about 14 hours of use.

The Galaxy Z Fold 6 has the identical battery capability and charging speeds because the Galaxy Z Fold 5, not like the Galaxy Z Flip 6, which bought a battery improve in comparison with its predecessor. I want Samsung had made some enhancements on this space to assist justify the Z Fold 6’s greater value.

Galaxy Z Fold 6 general ideas

There’s no denying that the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is a powerful piece of {hardware}. I used to be taken with the Galaxy Z Fold 6’s light-weight construct and elegant design from the second I picked it up, and I’m delighted to see that the crease is not as distracting because it was once.

By elevating the Galaxy Z Fold’s value, it appears like Samsung is giving up on attempting to make book-style foldables mainstream. The firm clearly sees the Z Fold as a premium system that clients will likely be prepared to pay high greenback for, and it appears content material to proceed in that course fairly than making the Z Fold extra accessible. For that greater value, I’d prefer to see extra distinctive software program options made only for the Galaxy Z Fold and enhancements to charging speeds and battery life.

Many carriers and retailers provide reductions that knock down that top value, however these offers often include circumstances like buying and selling in an eligible system or opening a brand new line of service.

If you may get previous the sticker shock, there’s quite a bit to like concerning the Galaxy Z Fold 6. I simply do not understand how many individuals are prepared to fork over $1,900 to expertise it.

How we take a look at telephones

Every telephone examined by CNET’s critiques workforce was utilized in the true world. We take a look at a telephone’s options, play video games and take photographs. We look at the show to see if it is vibrant, sharp and vibrant. We analyze the design and construct to see how it’s to carry and whether or not it has an IP score for water resistance. We push the processor’s efficiency to the extremes utilizing standardized benchmark instruments like GeekBench and 3DMark, together with our personal anecdotal observations navigating the interface, recording high-resolution movies and taking part in graphically intense video games at excessive refresh charges.

All the cameras are examined in quite a lot of circumstances from vibrant daylight to darkish indoor scenes. We check out particular options like evening mode and portrait mode and examine our findings in opposition to equally priced competing telephones. We additionally try the battery life through the use of it each day in addition to working a collection of battery drain exams.

We bear in mind extra options like assist for 5G, satellite tv for pc connectivity, fingerprint and face sensors, stylus assist, quick charging speeds and foldable shows, amongst others that may be helpful. We steadiness all of this in opposition to the value to provide the verdict on whether or not that telephone, no matter value it’s, truly represents good worth. While these exams could not all the time be mirrored in CNET’s preliminary evaluate, we conduct follow-up and long-term testing in most circumstances.