Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 Review
The foldable smartphone has come a long way since Samsung debuted the original Galaxy Fold. Advancements in technology, as well as learnings being taken from each subsequent handset, helped shape this unique style of phone into a hugely versatile option.
In this review, we’ll be taking a deep dive into the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 and assessing what it offers amongst the foldable phone market. If you want to pick it up for yourself, order online and start enjoying the massive 1TB internal storage.
Specs
• Dimensions – 153.5 x 132.6 x 5.6mm
• Weight – 239g
• OS – Android 14
• Display – 7.6” unfolded screen; 6.3” folded screen
• Resolution – 2160 x 1856 unfolded screen; 2376 x 968 folded screen
• Processor – Qualcomm Snapdragon SM8650
• RAM – 12GB
• Storage – 1TB
• Rear cameras – 50MP; 12MP; 10MP
• Front camera – 10MP; 4MP
• Battery – 4400mAh
• Water and dust resistance – IP48
• Connectivity – 3G; 4G; 5G; Bluetooth 5.3
Design
In terms of the Z Fold6’s fundamental design, Samsung made some small but significant tweaks that make this handset more comfortable to hold than its predecessor. First up is its weight, which saw a reduction from 253g on the Z Fold5 to 239g. Given that foldable phones can be quite thick due to the layered screens that fold out, reducing the device’s weight has a tangible effect on how it feels in the hand. The Z Fold6 strikes a great balance; it isn’t cumbersome, yet you know you’re holding a dense, premium phone.
We mentioned that the Z Fold6 is fairly sizeable in depth when the screens are folded over, yet it is actually thinner than the Z Fold5 overall. Measuring 5.6mm thick, the Z Fold6 can slide into a pocket or sit in a bag with minimal issues. It’s also slightly shorter and not as wide compared to the Z Fold5, but this doesn’t come at the expense of screen size; a win-win for everyone.
Another key weapon in the Z Fold6’s arsenal is its versatility. The phone’s ‘Flex Mode’ enables you to use the Z Fold6 in a myriad of different ways, whether it’s using the Circle to Search feature to look up something of interest without typing in a browser, or jotting down notes with the S Pen on the 7.6” extended screen. Galaxy AI underpins many of the Z Fold6’s most useful features, and it makes multitasking on this phone an absolute dream.
The Z Fold6 shares a lot in common with its flip phone sibling, the Z Flip6, when it comes to durability. Both are equipped with Armour Aluminium and Gorilla Glass Victus 2, which help protect the handset should you drop it or accidently knock the screen. Unique to the Z Fold6, however, is the Folding Edge; this design feature protects the point where the screen folds over, ensuring that it can handle the rigours of the folding form factor.
Rounding out the Z Fold6’s core design is IP48 water and dust resistance, giving the phone excellent protection against solid contaminants and submersion in liquids.
Display
Moving onto the Z Fold6’s display experience, it really is comparable to many of the top smartphones on the market. Front and centre is, of course, the large unfolded screen that’s the hallmark of every folding smartphone. This AMOLED display provides excellent visuals across its entire 7.6” frame, making it incredibly easy to enjoy games, films and streamed videos with exceptional clarity. With a refresh rate of 120Hz, too, every frame you see is delivered smoothly and with next-to-no stutter.
Fold the screen over and you’re presented with a traditional 6.3” display. In this mode, you can use the Z Fold6 like you would on most other smartphones; browse the internet, shop online or organise your day. This screen also being an AMOLED means that you’re getting a beautiful and vivid experience regardless of which mode the Z Fold6 is in.
There’s no doubt that everyone can enjoy the Z Fold6, but for gamers in particular, this phone is a must-have. On top of the dazzling screens themselves, there’s also the Adaptive Vision Booster feature for enhanced vibrancy. Regardless of whether you’re gaming indoors or out in the sun, the Adaptive Vision Booster will kick in and dynamically adjust the screen’s brightness so it’s always visible. Combined with a peak brightness of 2600 nits, the Z Fold6 is truly a beauty to look at.
Performance & Software
To ensure that the Z Fold6 runs well in folded or unfolded mode, Samsung included the Qualcomm Snapdragon SM8650 processor; the same found in the Z Flip6. We praised the SM8650 chipset in our review of the Z Flip6, and the same rings true here.
Every inch of silicon on the Z Fold6’s processor has been optimised to maximise performance, most importantly when switching between the different viewing modes. Without this crucial tuning, you risk stuttering and lag as you move from one mode to another, so high praise is very much deserved considering how well the Z Fold6 performs.
The Snapdragon SM8650 is also a key component to the Z Fold6’s AI-powered features, giving them the additional juice they need to process actions quickly. This is particularly important for the Transcript Assist and Translator tools, which rely on fast processing speeds to function well. Thankfully, the SM8650 handles this job with ease.
Keeping the Z Fold6 cool while all of this is happening is the phone’s vapour chamber. A cycle of heat absorption and dispersion helps maintain a low temperature, even during gaming sessions on high graphic settings. The Z Fold6 is very much aimed at the gamer and productivity audience, people who are going to be putting the phone through its paces; as such, the inclusion of vapour chamber technology is impressive to see.
Underpinning everything on the Z Fold6 is Android 14. This version of Google’s operating system introduced features such as AI-generated wallpapers and greater customisation for lock screens, alongside smoother overall performance. Android 14 and the Snapdragon SM8650 work exceptionally well in tandem, serving up a level of quality that few other phones can match.
Cameras
Samsung have produced many top camera phones over the years, and the Z Fold6 stakes a claim on that venerable list. On the hardware side of things, Samsung opted to carry over the excellent camera array found on the Z Fold5 and Galaxy S24, consisting of 50MP, 12MP and 10MP cameras on the rear. Up front there’s also a dual array featuring 10MP and 4MP selfie lenses. What sets the Z Fold6 apart, however, is the inclusion of AI features that intelligently elevate photos on-the-go.
The first of these is the Pro Visual Engine. This feature uses AI to automatically tune elements of images, ranging from pores on someone’s skin to the shade of objects in the background. The results are impressive, giving photos a new lease of life without needing to lift a finger.
There’s also AI Zoom, which helps keep the subject of the photo in clear focus. Again, this all happens in the background, so you can travel around and take photos without needing to dive into additional settings to get the best results.
Unique to the Z Fold6’s photography suite is support for the S Pen. With it, you can resize objects in the scene, tweak 4K videos and adjust other details with greater precision, much like a professional editor would in a studio. The Z Fold6’s large unfolded display really shines here, making this phone an ideal choice if you want the very best photography experience possible.
Battery
As we’ve highlighted in this review, the Z Fold6 can be used for a wide variety of tasks. It was therefore crucial for Samsung to include a battery with the necessary power, and it very much did that.
Under the hood of the Z Fold6 is a 4400mAh battery, which is comparable to the unit found in the Z Fold5. This battery is capable of lasting just under a full day of general use, so it’s possible to edit photos and play games during the commute with plenty of power to spare.
When the Z Fold6 needs charging back up, you can do so with support for 15W wireless charging and 25W wired fast charging. These speeds aren’t industry-leading by any stretch, but they are fast enough that you can recharge the Z Fold6 without needing to watch the clock.
Summary
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 is ultimately defined by its underlying technological advancements. It maintains much of what made its predecessor so great, yet is given a huge boost by the inclusion of AI to elevate the experience further. Whether you’ve used a foldable smartphone before or want to own one for the first time, the Z Fold6 offers everything you need and then some.
To get the most out of your Android or Apple iPhone, take a look at our battery guide for helpful tips you can use.