Rating: 8.5/10
Samsung was one of the first big names to have bet big on foldables and kind of set the template. Others, however, have caught up and now have formidable options. Take the case of OnePlus Open or the Vivo X Fold series. Both smartphones have been built on the template Samsung created and offer solid options. There has been heat on Samsung and perhaps why each iteration of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold is looked at even more minutely.
Samsung has accepted the challenge and answered it in the form of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 with AI features as the ace in the pack. It won’t be wrong to call the Fold series from Samsung as the category pioneer and thus the pressure to deliver is more than ever on the Galaxy Fold Z 6. Does it deliver? We put the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 to test and see what Samsung has to offer in the face of rising competition.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 review: Design, display
Building upon the design refinements introduced in the Z Fold 5, Samsung has made some tweaks and trims to the Fold 6. A notable 14g weight reduction results in a device that is surprisingly light for its size, making it more comfortable to hold and carry. The flattened, matte aluminium sides enhance the grip and the wider cover screen provides a more intuitive smartphone experience.
A big worry for anyone you uses the Galaxy Z Fold — or for that matter any foldable phone — is durability. Samsung has significantly enhanced the durability of the Galaxy Z Fold 6. The device's glass layers have undergone a reinforcement process, making them notably more resistant to the scratches. Additionally, the folding mechanism has been fortified with a strengthened dual rail hinge, providing more protection to the device's most vulnerable point and ensuring a smoother, more reliable fold. These improvements are notable and certainly shred some of the worries about using foldable devices.
When unfolded, the Fold 6 reveals a vibrant 7.6-inch tablet display that boasts significantly improved brightness. This makes it an ideal device for outdoor use and consuming HDR content. While the crease remains visible under certain lighting conditions, it is less noticeable overall and does not detract from the immersive viewing experience.
The Galaxy Z Fold 6's slightly larger 6.3-inch cover screen is a welcome improvement over its predecessor. Typing with both hands feels more natural on the expanded space, and the overall experience is less cramped. While other foldable phones — OnePlus Open and Google Pixel Fold — offer wider external displays, Samsung has kept it compact, which makes it easier to slip into the jeans pocket.
Samsung’s displays on its phones are always a standout feature and the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is no different. Watching content — especially on the inner display — is quite a joy as colours pop out and everything just looks better.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 review: AI features, performance
Like the foldables, Samsung was one of the first to jump on the AI wagon and introduce some features on its phones. We saw it earlier with the flagship S-series of phones and now some of them get better on the Galaxy Z Fold 6.
Let’s start with Sketch to Image, which is a lot of fun to use. All you need to do is jot down an idea in Samsung Notes. AI does its magic and transforms into an illustration, 3D cartoon or even a watercolour. The results are impressive and it is performed rather quickly on the Galaxy Z Fold 6.
Note Assist is another impressive which feature. You can transcribe and summarise meetings in a jiffy. However, it needs to be said that when it comes to longer meetings, it sometimes delivers some hits and misses.
In the camera, there’s Portrait Studio which is a lot fun to use. Some images were really nicely done while others were a bit off the mark. The Object Eraser tool is a handy option to have but isn’t really perfect when it comes to removing those photo bombers.
The Interpreter feature is something that can be of great help to those who travel a lot. Its real-time translation is on point but sometimes there was a delay in the whole process. Nevertheless, it is a feature that is expected to catch on and shows the prowess of AI.
Samsung has upped its AI game and we can expect more features in the next flagship phones from the company. Having said that, as good as they are, I don’t see people opting for the Fold 6 for its AI capabilities. They are good to have but not exactly a deal clincher.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 comes with top-of-the-line specs. It is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon Gen 3 processor couples with 12GB of RAM. Multitasking is excellently handled and the bigger display takes full advantage of it. Be it gaming or just putting three apps on the display at the same times, the Fold 6 handles it all with effortless grace.
What also works in its favour is when you connect the phone to an external monitor and keyboard. Watch it turn into a very capable Android PC with aplomb.
Samsung's One UI 6.1, based on Android 14, has been nicely refined to work in tandem with the Fold 6 hardware. Samsung has optimised it to take advantage of the big screen the Fold 6 has to offer. OneUI has a lot of features — not to forget Google Gemini chatbot and Circle to Search — to make this phone into a productivity and creativity tool.
When it comes to battery life, the performance is up to the mark. The Fold 6 can last for more than 24 hours on a single charge. Even if you put it to heavy use, you won’t need to charge it during the day.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 review: Camera
Samsung has opted for a familiar camera setup for the Fold 6. There’s a 12MP ultra-wide camera which gets a new censor for capturing more light. The 50MP primary camera and 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom remain unchanged from its predecessor. The device also retains the same 10MP selfie camera and 4MP under-display camera found on the Galaxy Z Fold 5.
The under-display selfie camera comes in handy for video calls due to its lower resolution. However, the external selfie camera delivers decent results, though the ability to use the rear cameras with the cover screen as a viewfinder offers a more flexible and higher-quality self-portrait experience.
The images clicked from the Galaxy Z Fold 6 are impressive but not the best out there. You will see enough details and the dynamic range is also good. However, given how much the phone costs, one would expect camera performance to match or exceed that of Samsung's flagship S series, which unfortunately isn't the case.
Don’t get me wrong, it is a solid camera but not anything better than the previous generation foldable phone. Nor is it as good as the Galaxy S24 Ultra. The AI features make the camera a lot of fun to use but soon the novelty wears off.
Samsung Galaxy Fold Z 6 review: What we think
When it coms to foldable phones, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is a premium, all-in-one device that aims to replace tablets and your ‘regular’ phones by offering something really different. The bigger screen is certainly addictive and once you start using it, it is hard to switch to a regular phone. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 makes everything look good and performs like a true flagship device. The cameras could have been better but that won’t be a dealbreaker for anyone is who looking for a foldable phone.
Having said that, Samsung isn’t the only player in the game now. The OnePlus Open is a good alternative for those looking to explore foldable phones.
Despite being around for a few years now, Samsung Galaxy Fold Z series remains a niche device and hasn’t really gone mainstream. One of the big reason is its price. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 starts at whopping Rs 1,64,999. Look at it from any angle and that’s a lot of money. It is an investment but it is a phone that has a lot to offer. Samsung knows that there’s a certain target audience it seeks to attract.
It is a compelling proposition for those who want a versatile, powerful and a different device. But this is a luxury purchase and will appeal to a certain section of buyers only.
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