Outside of China, Samsung faces limited competition in the foldable market. In the Chinese market, several horizontally foldable devices have been launched this year, such as the Vivo X Fold 3, X Fold 3 Pro, Xiaomi Mix Fold 4, Honour Magic V3, and Magic Vs 3. Among these, only the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro, equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, is available in India with a price tag of Rs 1,59,999. Last year, OnePlus launched the OnePlus Open with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in India. However, it seems that its successor will not be launching this year. Another brand, Tecno, is expected to launch the Tecno Phantom V2 Fold 5G in India in the coming months.
With limited direct competition in the Indian market, Samsung’s latest foldable stands as one of the most compelling options for consumers seeking an innovative and versatile device. Here is a look at what the Galaxy Z Fold 6 has to offer and whether it lives up to expectations.
Buy Galaxy Fold 6
1. Design and Build
The Galaxy Z Fold 6’s retail package has a few usual documents, a SIM ejector pin, a USB-C to USB-C cable, and the Z Fold 6 handset. In terms of design, it is noticeably slimmer and lighter than the Z Fold 5, offering a more comfortable in-hand feel. The device weighs 239 grams, which is the same as the OnePlus Open. It is 14 grams lighter than the Galaxy Z Fold 5. In the folded and unfolded states, the Z Fold 6 measures 12.1mm and 5.6mm, respectively.
The cover and internal screens measure the same as the Galaxy Z Fold 5. However, the front display now offers a better aspect ratio. The internal display crease is mostly unnoticeable unless you really try to look for it. Like the Z Fold 5, there is no gap between the two halves when the device is folded.
The Galaxy Z Fold 6 promises better durability as it an IP48-rated chassis, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection for both displays, and an armour aluminium frame. Overall, the device feels premium and its Silver Shadow variant, which can be seen in the images, exudes a sleek and sophisticated aesthetic that enhances its luxurious appeal. It comes in other options, such as Navy and Pink. Buyers can avail Black and White color variants through the Samsung website.
2. Display and Audio
The internal 7.6-inch foldable AMOLED screen supports LTPO technology and offers a variable 120Hz refresh rate. There’s only a slight improvement in the screen resolution and aspect ratio as compared to the Z Fold 5.
The Z Fold 5 features a 6.2-inch cover screen with a 23:1.9 aspect ratio. On the other hand, the Z Fold 6 has a bigger 6.3-inch cover display with a usable 22:1.9 aspect ratio. Both displays offer up to 2,600 nits of peak brightness. When it comes to streaming content, the Z Fold 6 supports HDR and HDR10+. However, there is no support for Dolby Vision.
The Galaxy Z Fold 6 has stereo speakers on the cover screen half, with sound directed through frame slits; the top speaker also serves as an earpiece. The sound output is good and enjoyable for watching your favorite content.
| Preview | Product | |
|---|---|---|
|
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 5G AI Smartphone (Silver Shadow, 12GB RAM, 256GB Storage) | Check Price on Amazon |
Please Note: When you buy something using the links in our articles, we may earn a small commission at no cost to you.
3. Performance and Software
The Galaxy Z Fold 6 is powered by an overclocked version of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, rather than its standard version found on non-Samsung flagship phones. For most users, this upgrade will not significantly impact everyday performance. The device also features LPDDR5x RAM and UFS 4.0 storage.
The Galaxy Z Fold 6 packs a 4,400mAh battery that supports only 25W charging, taking around 1 hour and 20 minutes for a full charge. I believe this is an area of concern, and there should be some sort of improvement in the fast charging department, not just on the Z Fold 6, but across all Samsung flagships. The phone also supports wireless charging and reverse wireless charging. Despite having two displays and a smaller battery compared to traditional smartphones, the Z Fold 6 performs well in the battery life department. After using the device for a month, I rarely needed to charge it more than once a day.
The Galaxy Z Fold 6 is promised to receive seven years of Android OS upgrades and seven years of security updates. It comes preloaded with Android 14 and One UI 6.1.1, which brings the latest version of Galaxy AI. The next slide will cover more about Galaxy The Z Fold 6 enables users to multitask by displaying three apps on a single screen, which they can resize, as illustrated in the images above.
4. Galaxy AI
The Galaxy AI features consist of the following:
- Call Assist: Automatically transcribes and provides summaries of phone calls, making it easier to keep track of important conversations. This can be done using the “Live Translate” option while on a call. I did a test call wherein I spoke in English and my mom responded in Hindi. While the features are good, they aren’t very accurate all the time.
- Chat Assist: Provides intelligent suggestions and auto-completion for messages, making texting faster and more efficient. The Galaxy AI icon that shows just above the on-screen keyboard can be used to access features, such as chat translation, composer, writing style, and spelling and grammar.
- Interpreter: Real-time translation for conversations in different languages, helping users communicate seamlessly. The other person can use the cover screen to view the translated text when using the Interpreter app.
- Note Assist: Automatically organizes notes and highlights key points, making it easier to review and find important information. This is available through the Notes app, wherein you get options like Auto format, Summaries, Correct Spelling, Translate, and Sketch to Image (if you have used the Notes app to draw something).
- Transcript Assist: Converts voice recordings into text, allowing for simple documentation and reference. When you record a voice using the voice record, you can tap the Transcribe button to generate the text version of the recording. You can access the Summary and Translate options t
- Browsing Assist: It works on Samsung’s built-in web browser, and it offers two features, such as Summarise and Translate.
- Photo Assist: Uses generative AI to provide users with features to move, remove, and resize people and objects, and then uses AI to fill up empty areas. The Portrait Studio can also be used to transform pictures of people using a wide range of artistic styles.
- Drawing Assist: It can turn drawings into images in the Samsung Notes app, Photo Editor, and the sidebar.
- Photo Ambient Wallpaper: This feature available in the Wallpaper and Style section of Settings allows users to create dynamic wallpapers using AI to change a photo based on the time and weather.
- Health Assist: Tracks health metrics and provides personalized insights and recommendations, integrating seamlessly with Samsung Health.
Camera and Other Features
The Galaxy Z Fold 6 has a 10-megapixel Sony IMX374 camera on the cover and a 4-megapixel Sony IMX471 under-screen camera on the internal display. The rear camera setup has a 50-megapixel ISOCELL GN3 main camera with an f/1.57 aperture, dual pixel autofocus, and OIS. It is accompanied by a 12-megapixel ISOCELL 3LU ultrawide lens and a 10-megapixel ISOCELL 3K1 telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom and OIS support.
The rear cameras on the Galaxy Z Fold 6 can be used for high-quality selfies by utilizing the cover screen as a viewfinder. In daylight and well-lit environments, the device captures photos with excellent dynamic range. The main sensor supports up to 3x in-sensor zoom. Portrait shots taken with the telephoto camera feature impressive background blur, while zoomed images retain good detail. The ultrawide camera provides consistent color quality in line with the other rear cameras and performs adequately. As you can see, I have used the Z Fold 6 to capture some good product shots for my work.
The primary camera on the Galaxy Z Fold 6 performs well in low-light conditions, capturing excellent detail and managing noise effectively, aided by software enhancements. While the dynamic range may not match the level seen in well-lit environments, the overall image quality remains solid, with occasional softness in tones. The telephoto and ultrawide cameras also deliver decent results in low light, though they may show a bit more noise and slightly reduced detail compared to the primary sensor.
When it comes to video shooting, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 can record 4K 60fps using all three rear-facing cameras. Even the front camera supports it. The Fold’s 4K video quality is solid, with vibrant colors and good dynamic range. However, detail is somewhat lacking, especially at 30fps. Stabilization is excellent, delivering smooth results. In low light, the main camera performs well, while the ultrawide and telephoto cameras are better suited to brighter conditions.
The Z Fold 6 supports the S Pen, which users need to purchase separately. Unfortunately, I couldn’t try it on the device because it wasn’t bundled with the review unit. In terms of security, the device offers a side-facing fingerprint scanner, face unlock, and Knox security.
5. Verdict
One of the Galaxy Z Fold 6’s major advantages is its limited competition in the foldable smartphone market. It goes without saying that it is one of the best foldable phones available right now. Its premium and durable build, excellent displays, powerful speakers, and reliable cameras make it a strong contender for anyone considering a foldable device. The top-notch software, enhanced by a range of AI features, further adds to its appeal.
However, looking ahead, there are areas where Samsung could enhance future foldables. Incorporating a more versatile camera setup, such as a periscope telephoto lens, could significantly boost its photographic capabilities. Additionally, faster charging would be a valuable improvement, addressing a common concern for users of high-end smartphones.
Overall, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 stands out as a solid choice in the foldable market, but future iterations could benefit from these upgrades to maintain its competitive edge.
Comments