Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6: Fascinating With Flair and Finesse

Anupam Das
August 10, 2024

1. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6: The First Impression

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 First Looks — Image Credit: iken3.com

Launched on July 24, 2024, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 is a fascinating smartphone with flair and finesse. It is a foldable smartphone and successor to the Galaxy Z Fold5 that takes all the good things from the predecessor and elevates them to the next level. It is slimmer, slender, and lightweight compared to its forerunner. It also has more screen area that enhances the viewing experience by removing the restrictiveness of the narrower screen area of the predecessor. The design of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 can be a step towards the integration of mobile phones and tablets.

While the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 is 1% shorter than the Galaxy Z Fold5, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is 2% broader than the precursor when unfolded and 1.5% broader when folded. This translates to a bigger screen area even though the diagonal measures of the displays remain more or less the same. The total area of the display has increased by 1.6%, giving the users more freedom to navigate through the display.

The broader screen size and more display area have made the viewing experience sweeter for the users. Galaxy Z Fold 6 also incorporates rectangular corners that provide a sharper look to the smartphone, almost similar to the Galaxy S24 Ultra, and make it stand out among other smartphones.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 is also thinner than the Galaxy Z Fold 5. When folded, it is almost 9.5% thinner and 8.2% when unfolded. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 is also lightweight compared to the Galaxy Z Fold 5. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 is almost 5.5% more lightweight than its precursor. This makes the newer version easier to hold and carry, a feature that today’s busy professionals, who need to work on-the-go, would appreciate a lot.

2. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6: Weight, Measurements, and Set Up

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 weighs around 239 grams or 8.43 ounces. It has a height of 15.35 cm or 6.04 inches. When unfolded, this Samsung smartphone is 13.26 cm or 5.22 inches broad, and 0.56 cm or 0.22 inches thick. When folded, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is 6.81 cm or 2.68 inches broad and 1.21 cm or 0.48 inches thick. When it is unfolded, the difference between the height and the width decreases, giving the smartphone a squarish look. While, when folded, the difference between the height and width grows, giving the smartphone a more traditional rectangular look.

The frame of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 is made of armor aluminum – an aluminum alloy. Although stainless steel and titanium are stronger than aluminum alloy, aluminum alloy is lighter and less costly than both stainless steel and titanium. So it keeps both the cost and weight down. It is also durable, corrosion-resistant, and ductile. Due to its ductility, aluminum alloy is able to hide minor scratches and dents.

The FlexHinge of Samsung has also come a long way. In Galaxy Z Fold 6, the FlexHighe has become slimmer and allows for more flexibility while folding and unfolding. While the phone is folded, the gap between the two sides of the display has become narrower, contributing to its slimness. When unfolded, the transition is smooth and the ridge in the middle of the main display is almost discrete. It has become easier to navigate and operate the main display, almost forgetting that there is a ridge in the middle.

3. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6: CPU, GPU, and OS

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 is equipped with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor. It is an octa-core chip that has 1 Cortex-X4 core with a maximum clock speed of 3.39 GHz, 2 Cortex-A720 cores with a maximum clock speed of 3.31 GHz, 2 Cortex-A720 cores with a maximum clock speed of 2.9 GHz, and 2 Cortex-A520 core with a maximum clock speed of 2.2 GHz. This is an upgrade compared to the precursor- Galaxy Z Fold5- which is fitted with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. Another celebrated Samsung smartphone – the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is also equipped with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.

This processor has 4 nano-meter transistors which minimizes the physical size of the processor hence the CPU takes less place. Smaller transistor lengths also mean that the processor is energy efficient and generates less heat. As a result, the battery lasts longer than its predecessors and some of the competitors. Also, as less heat is generated, the phone lasts longer and internal parts stay relatively safe. The CPU performs exceedingly well. Professionals and students will find that doing the usual office tasks and coursework is a breeze. Editing HD images and videos can also be done without much hiccups. Multiple tasks can be performed easily and the big main screen provides ample space for multitasking.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 has integrated GPU – Adreno 750 GPU. It has a 0.90 GHz clock speed. The GPU can perform 4.57 TFLOPS (Trillion Floating Point Operations Per Second) at FP16 (Half-precision Floating Point) and 2.29 TFLOPS (Trillion Floating Point Operations Per Second) at FP32 (Single-Precision Floating Point). Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 runs on Android 14 and uses the ‘One UI 6.1.1’ version, a user interface developed by Samsung for its Android smartphones. The GPU enables the Samsung smartphone to perform complicated graphics tasks with ease. It is also aided by Samsung AI which integrates perfectly with the whole setup and allows users to perform tasks from the screen.

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 CPU gives tough competition to its arch-rival – A17 Pro of Apple. The Snapdragon has 2 more cores than the A17 Pro and more accessible random memory than the competition. However, the clock speed of the A17 Pro is higher than the Snapdragon CPU. Also, the size of A17 Pro’s transistors is smaller – 3 nano-meters – which increases the battery life and reduces even less heat than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.

4. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6: Display

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 has two displays – the main unfolded display and the folded cover display. When the smartphone is unfolded, the main display is unveiled. While unfolded, it has the dimensions of 15.35 cm X 13.26 cm or 6.04 inches X 5.22 inches. The diagonal length of the screen is 19.3 cm or 7.6 inches and it has a screen area of 185 cm² or 28.68 inches², making screen-to-body-ratio of 91%.

It almost has the looks of a tablet with a broad screen that provides users with a lot of freedom to do more on the screen. In this model, the divider in the middle of the screen is also less visible and provides a smoother transition.

The main display of Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 is protected by Corning’s Gorilla Glass Victus 2 which provides superior protection from accidental falls. The main display is equipped with ‘Low-Temperature Polycrystalline Oxide (LTPO)’ that allows the screen to adjust itself according to the graphics, generating less heat and conserving battery life. It comes with an Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diode or AMOLED display that uses layers of organic molecules in between the seal and base layer. This allows for vibrant colors in all spectrums providing better hue, saturation, and contrast. The main display also comes with HDR 10+ that operates at 10-bit, providing more than a Billion color options.

The main display has a max resolution of 2160 X 1856 pixels and a Pixel-Per-Inch density of 374. It has an adjustable refresh rate of 120 Hz that calibrates itself depending on the needs of the graphics. It has the highest nits of 2600 which is quite good, even for the bright outdoor environment. Still, the nits can be a bit higher as the HDR 10+ technology allows for a maximum of 4000 nits.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 also has a folded or cover display that comes into play once the smartphone is folded. This folded or cover display has the dimensions of 15.35 cm X 6.81 cm or 6.04 inches X 2.68 inches. The folded display has a diagonal length of 6.3 cm or 2.48 inches and has an approximate screen area of 95.12 cm² or 14.75 inches². The folded cover is also protected by Corning’s Gorilla Glass Victus 2. It has a maximum resolution of 2376 X 968 pixels with 410 pixels per inch. The cover display also employs the ‘Low-Temperature Polycrystalline Oxide (LTPO)’ technology.

The cover or folded display of this Samsung smartphone comes with an AMOLED screen with a maximum 120 Hz refresh rate which adjusts itself according to the graphics displayed on the screen. Coupled with the adjustable refresh rate, the LTPO, and the AMOLED technologies provide a better viewing experience that caters to the specific needs of a particular multimedia. These technologies also reduce excessive heat generation and increase battery life. The cover screen also has the highest nits of 2600.

5. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6: Cameras

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 has three main cameras – settled in a column at the left side of the back of the phone. The camera, situated at the top of the column, is a 12 MP ultra-wide camera with an aperture of f/2.2 and a focal length of 12 mm. It has a 123^o angle view and a pixel length of 1.12 nanometers. This camera is good for taking any scenery picture and the 123^o angle allows for a broader image which can capture an extensive view of any landscape.

The camera in the middle of the column is a 50 MP wide camera with f/1.8 aperture, 23 mm focal length, and 1 nanometer of pixel length. This camera comes with 2X zoom and can take some stunning pictures even in low-light environments owing to its f/1.8 aperture, ‘Optical Image Stabilizer’ and ‘Phase Detection Auto Focus’ technologies. Its f/1.8 aperture allows for a lot of light to enter the camera lens while Optical Image Stabilizer and Phase Detection Auto Focus allow it to take crisp and clear images even in a turbulent and chaotic topography.

The camera at the bottom is a 10 MP telephoto camera with 3X zoom. The camera has a f/2.4 aperture and 66 mm of focal length. The camera’s large focal length allows for a smaller field of view and shallow depth of field. Hence it is good for portrait pictures. Of all the three main cameras, it has the lowest aperture, therefore less light will enter the camera. This camera is optimal for very bright environments where the brightness of the images needs to be toned down.

The main cameras can record videos at a maximum of 8K resolution with 30 frames per second. The frames per second can go up to 60 fps for lower resolutions (4K, 1080P, 720P). The cameras can also record slow-motion videos at 240 fps and super-slow motions at 960 fps.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 has two selfie cameras – a cover camera – situated in the middle of the folded display and an under-display camera – visible on the left side of the unfolded screen of the phone. The cover camera is a 10 MP wide camera with f/2.2 aperture and 24 mm of focal length. A 24 mm focal length allows for a larger depth of field and a larger view of the field. The camera is good for taking landscape selfies that show a wider background with a lot of details.

The under-display camera is a 4 MP wide camera with f/1.8 aperture and 26 mm focal length. Due to the large shutter size, this camera is better at taking images in a low-light environment. The selfie cameras can record videos of up to 4K quality and a maximum of 60 frames per second speed.

6. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6: Battery and Charging

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 is fitted with a non-removable Lithium-ion polymer battery. The battery has a capacity of 4400 mAh. It has both wired and wireless charging facilities. The wired charging can be done via USB-C 3.2. This Samsung smartphone is equipped with Qualcomm’s Quick Charge (QC) 2.0 technology which can be used for fast charging and can provide 25 watts of fast charging.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 is also capable of wireless charging up to 15 Watts and reverse wireless charging of 4.5 Watts. The battery of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 can last for 48-50 hours for normal usage. It can go on for 15-16 hours for continuous video watching or music listening. For continuous gaming, it can sustain for 10-12 hours.

7. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6: Variants, Prices, and Connectivity

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 has five color variants – Black, White, Pink, Silver Shadow, and Navy. While it has only one option for RAM – 12 GB, it provides three storage options – 256 GB, 512 GB, and 1 TB. In the USA, the 256 GB variant will cost $1,899.99, the 512 GB variant will cost $2,019.99, and the 1 TB variant will cost $2,259.99. In the UK, the 256 GB variant will cost £1,799, the 512 GB variant will cost £1,899, and the 1 TB variant will cost £2,099. In India, the 256 GB variant will cost ₹164,999, the 512 GB variant will cost ₹176,999, and the 1 TB variant will cost ₹200,999.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 is equipped with 5G connectivity. It also has Wifi 6E connectivity that can operate in 6 GHz (5.925 to 7.125 GHz bands) band. It also has the latest Bluetooth version of 5.3. For wired connectivity, it has USB-C 3.2. This USB port can be used for data transfer and charging.

8. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6: Main Specifications, Pros & Cons, and Score

Specifications

Chip: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
GPU: Integrated Adreno 750
Operating System: Android 14
Storage: 256 GB/512 GB/ 1 TB
RAM Memory: 12 GB
Battery Life: Up to 48-50 hours (Normal Usage). 15-16 Hours (Continuous Video Playback). 10-12 (Intense Gaming).
Wireless Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth, 5G
Bluetooth Version: 5.3

Pros & Cons

Pros

One of the best foldable smartphones with a novel look
Big Screen when Unfolded. Gives the users lots of screen space
Thin and lightweight compared to previous versions and easy to carry around
Good display – both Folded and Unfolded
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 provides fast and powerful performance

Cons

Less powerful battery
Less battery life compared to other Samsung models and competitors
Hefty Price tag
Cameras are decent but fall short of other premium Samsung models and other competitors
If someone not looking to buy a foldable smartphone, then this may not be a good choice

Score

Functions	Score
Performance	8/10
Power	8/10
Display	8/10
Storage	8/10
Battery	7.5/10
Connectivity	7.5/10
Overall Score	47/60

(1 = Lowest. 5 = Highest). (0.5 increments)

Verdict

The technology of the folded smartphone is still very new and evolving very fast. Samsung’s folded smartphones have made their mark as the Galaxy Z Fold series has carved out a niche. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 is the best foldable smartphone of the Z series. It has markedly improved from its predecessor. It has become thinner, slimmer, and lighter and its performance has also improved noticeably.

Foldable smartphones are showing signs that they can bridge the gap between the comfort of tablets and the convenience of mobile phones. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, with its big unfolded screen, almost gives the vibe of a tablet screen. While folded, the smartphone can easily be carried like a normal smartphone. For those who want to explore this side of foldable smartphones, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 provides a great choice. We are definitely giving thumbs up to this amazing Samsung foldable smartphone.

*The prices are taken from Samsung’s official website and are subject to variation and change.

**The information provided in this article may change or vary

***This article is for informational purposes only. Do not make your decision based solely on the information provided here. Do your own research.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6: Fascinating With Flair and Finesse

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