In its sixth generation, Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold is a powerful device that is barely thicker and heavier than a normal smartphone when folded. When unfolded, it impresses with a fantastic display.
In 2019, Samsung released the first Galaxy Fold. Its 7.3-inch, flexible AMOLED display was already an eye-catcher back then, but the foldable device was not really suitable for everyday use. The external screen was too small and the device too thick and heavy to replace a conventional smartphone in your pocket. The Galaxy Z Fold can do that. Because it has a 6.3-inch external display, is only 1.2 centimeters thick when folded and, at 239 g, is just 7 g heavier than the Galaxy S24 Ultra.
Slimmer, lighter, more angular
The Galaxy Z Fold 6 shows edges.
(Photo: kwe)
Samsung has also made major changes to the previously rounded design: The latest Fold has more edges with a flat, matte frame, which suits it perfectly. When opened, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is only 5.6 mm thick and the 7.6-inch internal screen has such a narrow frame that you hardly notice it. The same goes for the selfie camera under the display: It is not invisible, but you only see it if you look closely.
Samsung has further developed the hinge, meaning that the device is now not only waterproof to IP48 standards, but also protected against larger dust particles. However, it still shouldn't fall into the sand on the beach.
Even brighter display
Samsung has upped the ante with the AMOLED panel itself by making the screen even brighter than that of the Fold 5. Otherwise, the display shines with strong contrasts and colors, a very sharp resolution (QXGA+) and an adaptive refresh rate of 1 to 120 Hertz (Hz). There is no major difference in the fold along the folding axis. You can see it a little and feel it clearly, but it is not too disturbing.
The bend is visible, but hardly bothersome.
(Photo: kwe)
According to Samsung, many Galaxy Z Fold owners leave the device closed most of the time. That's no wonder, because it can be used like a normal smartphone. The display, which has grown by 0.1 inches to 6.3 inches, is longer than usual with an aspect ratio of 22:1, but that makes the device particularly handy. The contrast and colors of the external display (OLED) are also impressive. It also has an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120 Hz, can shine brightly and delivers a sharp image (HD+).
Nothing new with the cameras
Basically nothing has changed with the cameras. On the back there is still a wide-angle, an ultra-wide-angle and a telephoto camera with three times optical zoom. The sensors have a resolution of 50, 12 and 10 megapixels (MP), and the apertures are also unchanged at f/1.8, f/2.2 and f/2.4. A 4 MP camera with an aperture of f/1.8 is hidden under the inner display, and the outer front camera offers 10 MP (f/2.2). These values have also remained the same.
Placed next to a Google Pixel 8 Pro, you can see how elongated the Galaxy Z Fold 6's external display is.
(Photo: kwe)
This means that the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is not one of the best current camera smartphones, but it takes good to very good photos and videos. They are even slightly better than its predecessor. This is due, among other things, to Qualcomm's powerful top chip Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, which drives the device.
Practical and fun AI tricks
The Galaxy Z Fold 6 can do the same AI tricks as the Galaxy Z Flip 6, but some of them are even more fun on the large internal display. Among other things, you can remove, move or scale objects or people in photos. A completely new feature is the ability to convert portraits into different artistic styles, such as comics. Drawing objects that are then realistically incorporated into the photo also works surprisingly well.
The AI turns a selfie into…
(Photo: kwe)
It's all very easy – you just have to tap the AI symbol under a picture in the gallery and select what you want to do. You'll get several suggestions, some of which are surprisingly good. A nice gimmick is to choose your own photo as the background image, which the AI adjusts based on the time and weather.
Galaxy AI is a cooperation
The chat assistant can not only translate conversations, but is also able to help with the creation of texts, for example to find the right tone. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 can also translate calls in real time and help you take notes.
… a comic character.
(Photo: kwe/KI)
It is also possible to convert voice recordings into text or to get summaries of website content in the browser. A fitness assistant creates analyses and gives instructions based on collected data, which in the future may also come from Samsung's new ring.
All of this falls under the umbrella term Galaxy AI, but Samsung has also purchased many AI functions. Currently, they mainly come from Google, but the manufacturer is also open to other offers. The current rule of thumb is: Samsung's AI can work offline, other AI functions mostly use the cloud. The manufacturer assures that all data is deleted immediately after generation and is never used for advertising purposes. However, you also have the option of using AI functions exclusively on your smartphone.
Slightly improved endurance
The battery still has a relatively low capacity of 4400 milliampere hours mAh. But the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is also useful here, as it is not only powerful but also works efficiently. This means that you can get through the day quite well with the Galaxy Z Fold 6, especially if you rarely open it.
Conclusion
The Galaxy Z Fold is now in its sixth generation and is fully developed. It is powerful, slim and light enough to be an everyday device. The prices for Samsung's large foldable device are still steep, but it is not much more expensive than other large top smartphones. With 256 GB of storage, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 costs just under 2,000 euros, while the most expensive version with one terabyte (TB) costs around 2,360 euros. And you can enjoy the device for a long time: Samsung provides updates for seven years.
