Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 review
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 is another high-quality foldable flagship from the South Korean tech giant. While it may seem like a significant upgrade over its predecessor, the truth is that not much has actually changed since last year. The phone is slightly thinner and dust-resistant, with a brighter and wider screen, but that's about it. With the latest chipset under the hood, the Fold6 delivers impressive performance, but the question remains: is it worth the hefty price tag?
Build Quality and Design
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 is a sleek and premium device that exudes quality from every angle. The build quality is exceptional, with a sturdy hinge mechanism that allows the device to fold smoothly into its compact form. The exterior display and cover screen are crafted from high-quality glass, providing a seamless visual experience. Upon closer inspection, it's clear that attention to detail has been paid in the design of the Z Fold6. The device's dimensions have been slightly refined, making it ever so slightly thinner than its predecessor. This minor tweak lends an air of sophistication to the overall design, making the phone feel more ergonomic and comfortable to hold. One notable feature of the Z Fold6 is its inclusion of dust protection, a welcomed addition to the foldable series. This minor enhancement adds a layer of durability to the device, ensuring that it can withstand everyday wear and tear. While the Z Fold6's design may not represent a revolutionary departure from previous models, it's clear that Samsung has refined its approach to creating a seamless user experience. The subtle changes made to the design have paid dividends in terms of aesthetic appeal and overall functionality. In many ways, the Z Fold6 is a masterclass in understated elegance. It's a device that effortlessly balances form and function, providing users with a premium ownership experience. Whether it's the precision-crafted hinge mechanism or the attention-grabbing exterior design, every aspect of the Z Fold6 has been meticulously considered to create a truly exceptional product. Ultimately, the Z Fold6 is a testament to Samsung's commitment to innovation and excellence in device design. Its refined aesthetic and exceptional build quality make it a compelling choice for those seeking a premium foldable experience.
Battery Life
One aspect where the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 falls short is its battery life. Despite the same 4,400mAh capacity as its predecessor, this year's model seems to be less efficient in real-world usage. Our tests revealed an overall active use score of just 11 hours and 31 minutes, which is a decline from last year's already decent result. While not terrible, this performance puts it behind other flagship devices that we've tested recently. The phone's thermal management also appears to be subpar, as our prolonged stress test showed significant thermal throttling, similar or even worse than what we've seen on other high-end smartphones. The charging speed is another area of concern. With only 25W of charging power and no charger included in the box, users will have to rely on wireless charging, which is slower and more inconvenient. A full charge took a whopping 1 hour and 41 minutes, and the phone's battery life does not seem to be benefiting from the improved performance of its newer chipset. Overall, while the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6's battery life is still respectable, it's a step back from what we'd expect from a flagship device. If you're looking for a phone that can last all day without needing an extra charge, this might not be the best choice for you.
Display
The display on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 is a notable upgrade from its predecessor. The screen is now slightly wider, making it easier to use in portrait mode. The brightness has also increased, with the phone now capable of producing vivid colors and deep blacks even in well-lit environments. One of the standout features of the display is its improved color accuracy. Photos and videos taken on the device look more vibrant and lifelike than ever before, thanks to Samsung's continued investment in display technology. The screen itself also appears more responsive, with quicker touch input times making it feel snappier overall. The Fold6's display also features a slightly higher refresh rate than its predecessor, which results in smoother scrolling and animation performance. This is particularly noticeable when browsing through the phone's interface or watching videos. However, some users may find that the display still has some limitations. The outer screen, while improved, can sometimes feel a bit dim compared to the inner display. Additionally, the crease that runs along the middle of the foldable design remains present, although it is less noticeable than on earlier models. Despite these minor drawbacks, the Galaxy Z Fold6's display is undoubtedly one of its standout features. The improvements made over the previous model make it a joy to use and look at, with crisp colors and fast responsiveness making for an excellent viewing experience.
Camera
The camera on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 is a mixed bag, with some notable improvements but also some disappointments. One of the highlights is the 50MP main camera, which takes very good daylight photos. The images are nicely detailed, with relatively natural color rendition and excellent dynamic range. Skin tones come out well, too, and faces are well-exposed with fine facial details that could be sharper in some cases. In low light, the main camera uses night mode processing automatically, capturing very good detail in the dark and a slightly contrasty look. Colors are pleasant and dynamic range is good. However, the 10MP telephoto camera was a letdown for me, particularly in daytime use. Photos were often hazy and soft-looking, with issues of mis-focusing on several occasions that may have been specific to my review unit but still raised concerns. In low light, though, it takes nicely detailed shots with moderate noise levels that aren't a major issue. The ultra-wide camera might not impress in terms of its 12MP specs but does an adequate job in practice, delivering good detail and no noticeable noise. However, sharpening is high, which detracts from the image quality. At night, it takes decent photos with some laid-back noise reduction that yields more detail but also introduces noise. When taking selfies using the rear cameras as viewfinders on the cover screen, images are as expected: good quality like the main camera's other shots. Selfies taken in a typical fashion using the 10MP selfie camera within the cover screen have too much sharpening at it, though. The under-display selfie camera from the inner screen is intended for video calls and takes soft and poor-quality selfies. As for video recording, you can record 8K with the main camera but find 4K more practical overall. The 4K videos taken by all three rear cameras on the Z Fold6 are good, with vibrant color rendition and excellent dynamic range.
Price and Value
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 is undoubtedly a high-quality foldable flagship, but when it comes to justifying an upgrade from its predecessor or considering value for money, the device falls short. Priced at a premium, the Z Fold6 starts at around $1,800, which is a significant amount of money for a smartphone. Considering the phone's incremental updates over last year's model, some may find it difficult to justify an upgrade, especially if they already have a Galaxy Z Fold5 in hand. In fact, we'd argue that the Z Fold5 might still be the better choice to buy, offering essentially the same experience at a lower price point. This raises questions about the value proposition of the Z Fold6 and whether its price is truly reflective of its features and performance. While the phone's new chipset and slightly wider screen are welcome updates, they don't necessarily translate to significant improvements in real-world use. The battery life remains the same as last year, and the charging speed has actually decreased. Ultimately, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 is a device that will appeal primarily to those who want the latest and greatest from Samsung's foldable lineup. However, for others, the value proposition may not be as clear-cut. If you're considering upgrading from an older model or are simply looking for a new smartphone, we'd recommend exploring other options before committing to this premium-priced device.
Performance
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6's performance is a mixed bag. On one hand, the device boasts a flagship-grade power profile, thanks to its latest chipset. However, our tests revealed that it can't quite match the pace of other top-tier devices. In our prolonged stress test, we observed significant thermal throttling, which was disappointing given Samsung's claims of improved thermal management this year. This resulted in the phone struggling to maintain a consistent performance level, especially during demanding tasks like gaming and multitasking. While the Z Fold6 still offers plenty of power for everyday use, its performance is not quite on par with what we've seen from other flagships. The battery capacity remains the same as last year's model at 4,400mAh, and overall battery life is about the same – slightly less in our tests. Charging speeds have also taken a hit, with the phone only rated for up to 25W of charging power. Wireless charging and reverse wireless charging are still supported, but the lack of a charger in the box means you'll need to provide your own adapter. In terms of real-world performance, the Z Fold6 feels more like a mid-range device that's trying to keep up with its premium counterparts. While it's not a bad performer by any means, it's not quite on the same level as other top-tier devices. Overall, while the Z Fold6's performance is decent, it's not enough to justify an upgrade from last year's model – especially considering the price difference between the two. If you're in the market for a new foldable device, the Z Fold5 might be a better choice, offering essentially the same experience at a lower cost.
Pros
1. The phone is ever so slightly thinner
2. There's some dust protection now
3. The screen is brighter and slightly wider
4. It has the latest chipset, which provides a solid experience
5. The camera captures very good detail in low light
Cons
1. Not much has actually changed since last year
2. It may not be worth upgrading if you already have a Z Fold5
3. There's significant thermal throttling during prolonged stress test
4. Battery life is about the same as last year, and slightly less than the previous model
5. The charging speed appears even slower than last year