For me, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 was a discovery this year. I used it as my main smartphone for six months, as described in my separate review. Overall, I was pleased with the device, but there were a few points that raised questions, including the lack of dust protection.
Before the official announcement of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6, I did my best to avoid reading leaks about these smartphones to try to understand, by holding the devices in my hands, whether Samsung had done the necessary work to fix any bugs. Let’s find out.
Let’s start with the most important thing – these are the first Samsung foldable smartphones with dust protection. The previous generation of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip did not have dust resistance, only moisture resistance according to the IPX8 standard.
And for me, as the owner of such a smartphone, the lack of dust protection has turned out to be a problem. Because after six months of use, as soon as summer came and sand appeared on the streets, a grain of sand got caught in the hinge and caused the inner screen to break.
Before I looked at the new Galaxy Z Fold 6, I was skeptical and had firmly decided that if the dust protection didn’t appear, I wouldn’t switch to it. However, spoiler alert: my plans have changed!
In the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6, Samsung used a new hinge for the first time, thanks to which both devices have received IP48 certification, which means protection against both moisture and dust.
In previous generations, hinges had open nodes that could just get sand or dust in them. Now, this situation is less likely to happen to me. I will only be able to answer this question affirmatively after a while, when I have more experience and detailed material to work with.
In my opinion, as a user and a fan of folding smartphones, the main innovation is dust protection.
The new Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 are lighter, thinner, and stronger
In addition to providing dust protection, the new hinge has made it possible to reduce creasing on the inner screen of both smartphones. However, this is least noticeable on the Galaxy Z Flip 6.
Now, the smartphone screen feels completely flat when opened. However, as practice has shown, over time, the bend may begin to become more noticeable. Again, let’s see how this holds up during long-term use.
But the Galaxy Z Fold 6 boasts a less eye-catching hinge.
Now, when you hold your smartphone in a folded position, the left and right sides are almost the same size, so the phone appears symmetrical. This effect is further enhanced by the rectangular design, which has no rounded corners – and this is a decision that designers made for the best possible outcome.
Thanks to this, the smartphone now has a new, more professional image, which is sure to appeal to business audiences.
And also, in its open form, it resembles a BlackBerry Passport (do you remember this one?).
In addition to the hinge, the materials of the case have been updated. Now, the frame of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 are made of reinforced, brushed aluminum, without the use of titanium.
In previous generations, the frame of the smartphone was made of glossy material, which was easy to scratch. This, combined with the previous color scheme, made the smartphone feel cheaper tactually. However, this is no longer the case.
The Galaxy Z Fold 6 in gray looks especially appealing – it is, to my mind, more attractive than the “natural titanium” finish of the Galaxy S24 Ultra or iPhone 15 Pro.
But I liked the Galaxy Z Flip 6 in mint color the most. If you’re thinking about buying a cot, I recommend that you take a closer look at it. However, the other colors are also nice: blue, yellow, and gray are all available in the new line. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 comes in three colors: gray, pink, and blue.
We remember the visual innovations, smartphones have become thinner and lighter Galaxy Z Fold 6 has become thinner by 0.5 mm-now the unfolded case thickness is 5.6 mm versus 6.1 mm for Galaxy Z Fold 5.
Thanks to this, the smartphone is much more pleasant to hold in your hand, and the reduced thickness tactilely makes it lighter than its predecessor.
The Galaxy Z Fold 6 is now 239 grams, compared to the Galaxy Z Fold 5 at 257 grams. However, the weight of the Galaxy Z Flip 6 remains the same as the Galaxy Z Flip 5, at 187 grams. Overall, we appreciate the ergonomics of these new cases!
Cameras — no changes
This year, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 didn’t receive any updates to its camera, but when compared directly to the Galaxy Z Fold 5, the images came out slightly more detailed.
The Galaxy Z Flip 6 features an improved main camera, with an 50-megapixel sensor (up from 12 megapixels in the Galaxy Z Flip 5). This should result in improved detail quality for both photos and videos. The secondary camera is a super-wide 12-megapixel lens. The TV has not been included.
The lack of a new camera system in the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is, frankly, surprising. The new device uses the same camera setup as the Galaxy Z Fold 5, which was used in the previous generation, the Galaxy Z Fold 4. This means that we are seeing the same cameras from two generations ago in this new product!
In my opinion, it would be worthwhile to introduce something new. Ideally, I would like to see the same camera technology that is used in the Galaxy S24 Ultra. As someone who regularly works with content and takes photos for reviews, I would appreciate the opportunity to shoot with the Fold, because on it, I can comfortably process photos in Lightroom immediately on the large internal screen. Therefore, the company should consider this.
Now it is one of the most powerful smartphones on the market. Here is Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 are equipped with the latest flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, which has been customized for Galaxy devices. This version differs from the standard version by slightly increased frequencies for the ARM Cortex-X4 super kernel and Adreno 750 graphics processor.
New Galaxy AI chips that have proven to be very useful.
When I tested the Galaxy S24 Ultra, I found that there were only a few AI features that I could actually use in real life. These include correcting errors in written text using the AI integrated into the Samsung keyboard and Circle to Search, which allows users to search for information from the screen using Google.
A number of new Galaxy AI chips have been integrated into the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6, and I’d like to talk about some of the features that I find most useful.
Conclusion
As a frequent user of folding devices, I appreciate Samsung’s ongoing efforts to improve the hinge.
The introduction of dust protection is a significant innovation that enhances the reliability and durability of folding smartphones. Additionally, the new design of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 with straight edges and corners provides a refreshing impression of the case and overall appearance. Special mention should be given to the matte finish of the frame, which no longer collects fingerprints or scratches, unlike the glossy finish.
It’s a shame that the cameras have not been updated – I’m really looking forward to a new camera system in the next generation. All the innovations, while small, are still significant and contribute to the overall desire to learn more about the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6, even for someone as tech-savvy as myself.
