Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 Review: Our Verdict

Today, foldable phones come in two main types: Flip devices, which close like a clamshell and are designed to be more compact, and those that open out into tablet-sized devices.

While Apple is still holding out on its folding iPhone plans, a company that’s already explored both of these avenues is Samsung, with its Flip and Fold ranges. Samsung announced the sixth generation of these devices at the company’s July 2024 Galaxy Unpacked event, alongside the Galaxy Ring, Galaxy Watch, and Buds3 series.

With 6 years of upgrades, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 could be considered one of the best smartphones on the market right now – if you enjoy tablet-style foldable phones. So, is it worth the investment? Or should you stick with Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S range when purchasing a new phone? Read on to find out!

Display

Perhaps the biggest selling point of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is its dual display setup, featuring (huge!) 7.6-inch Main and 6.3-inch Cover Screens. These folding outer and inner screens are incredibly useful for playing games, using two apps at once, and watching videos, since the display bends in half to act as a makeshift stand.

You’ll also be able to enjoy an evening read without having to squint at the text in front of you. This is not only thanks to the large display, but the impressive 2600-nit peak brightness and smooth 120Hz adaptive refresh rate too!

We found it much easier and faster to type with the large on-screen keyboard, while also using the S Pen for sketching – just like you would on the Galaxy Tab tablet or a physical notepad. 

One drawback of this device, however, is the crease, which goes right through the middle of the display. Samsung has done a good job of reducing this over the years, but it still remains slightly visible when the Fold 6 is unfolded.

Cameras

Thanks to a vibrant Super HDR mode, the Z Fold 6 offers great-quality cameras, similar to those you’d find in Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S range. This includes a:

• 50-megapixel Main sensor

• 12-megapixel Ultra-Wide lens

• 10-megapixel Telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom

But what makes the Fold 6’s camera system so special is the selfie setup. While it uses the 10-megapixel Cover and 4-megapixel Under Display lens to take Selfies when closed, open the lid and it’ll switch to the rear cameras. You’ll therefore be able to take 50 MP selfies and see what they look like on the phone’s screen too!

The Camera app is also powered by Galaxy AI features, including the ProVisual Engine. This tool analyzes the zoomed-in region to provide sharper quality, higher-resolution close-up shots.

Design

Like most folding phones, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is considerably heavier than traditional devices due to its folding mechanism. However, the sixth generation model also has the lightest and thinnest design yet on a Fold device.

It weighs 239 grams compared to the Fold 5’s 253 grams, while the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold is even heavier at 257 grams. This gives it a pocket-friendly silhouette which is also easy to hold in one hand – perfect if you’re multitasking or rushing around! 

One key thing to keep in mind with the Z Fold 6 and other foldable devices is their durability levels. The frame is built with a strong Armour Aluminum material, while the Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 material used on the front and back is much tougher than the previous generation.

With these features in mind, Samsung claims that the screen should survive around 200,000 folding cycles, providing a 5-year life expectancy if opened and closed an average of 100 times per day.

However, if dropped, the FlexHinge is at risk of popping out of place. Repairs on foldable phones are often difficult and hence more expensive, which is why we always recommend investing in a protective phone case to shield the hinge and internal screen.

Performance

The Galaxy Z Fold 6 features a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, which is the same processor as Samsung’s flagship S24 phone. This delivers a 30% performance improvement compared with the previous model and is designed to power Samsung’s generative Galaxy AI features, such as:

• Circle to Search 

• Note Assist (summaries)

• Photo Assist (photo editing)

• Portrait Studio

• Sketch to Image 

Supporting these features is an impressive 7 years of software and security updates!

The Fold 6 keeps the same 12 GB RAM and large 4400 mAh battery capacity as the Z Fold 5, which are strong enough to provide a good battery life – including 23 hours of video and 77 hours of audio playback. You’ll also benefit from 15W wireless charging and 25W wired charging speeds, which boosts the battery to 50% in just 30 minutes.

Our Verdict: Should You Buy the Galaxy Z Fold 6?

Overall, it’s clear that the Z Fold 6 contributes plenty of impressive features to the foldable phone market. From the large, high-resolution displays to a fast processing performance, we’re sticking with our statement that the Z Fold 6 is truly among the best smartphones available today.

But price is a big point of contention for us, with the 256 GB model starting at $1,899.99 – $800 more than the Z Flip 6 and over twice the cost of the Galaxy S24. For this price tag, the phone could benefit from a few more high-end specs, including a 16GB memory rather than 12GB. This would bring it in line with the Pixel 9 Pro’s 16GB and support even smoother AI processing.

Folding phones are also more delicate, so go for the Galaxy S25 or iPhone 16 range if you’re particularly accident-prone. However, Samsung is slowly making improvements to its durability; the Fold 5 had no dust resistance, while the 6’s IP48 rating protects it from particles bigger than 1mm. 

So, what’s our verdict? If you’re looking for a great foldable phone, then this is a top choice. Or, keep your eye on the incoming Z Fold 7 for even more improvements and to see if the current model drops in price!