As Android Central’s resident flip cellphone man, I used to be initially fairly excited in regards to the prospect of two flip telephones launching so shut collectively. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 was unveiled simply weeks after the Motorola Razr Plus 2024 launched, so it was onerous to not make comparisons between the 2. Unfortunately, that did not precisely play out in favor of the Galaxy Z Flip 6.
Compared to the Razr Plus 2024, the Galaxy Z Flip 6 may be very a lot an iterative replace over its predecessor. That does not imply there aren’t upgrades to be discovered, and a few of them are the sort of upgrades we hoped to see on final 12 months’s mannequin. And, in fact, there’s loads of new software program to mess around with, as Galaxy AI is just about operating the present.
So, is the Galaxy Z Flip 6 price shopping for with the $100 worth enhance? I’ve spent roughly a month testing the cellphone and evaluating it with different flip telephones. Comparatively, that is most likely probably the most highly effective flip cellphone you should buy proper now. However, the expertise nonetheless misses some key parts, and I want Samsung would cease being so cussed and alter them already.
And realizing there are cheaper choices makes it a bit of tough to completely suggest. However, that does not make the Galaxy Z Flip 6 a foul purchase by any means, as long as you are keen to fiddle round with it a bit.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6: Price & availability
Samsung launched the Galaxy Z Flip 6 on July 10 through the Galaxy Unpacked July 2024 occasion. The cellphone went on sale on July 24 and retails for $1099.
You can select both 256GB or 512GB of storage, though the latter choice will value $1219. Fortunately, Samsung’s preorder deal remains to be reside, that means you will get a free improve to the upper storage choice, which can value the identical because the 256GB model. It’s unclear how lengthy this and different Galaxy Z Flip 6 offers are going to final, so you must leap on it whilst you can.
There are a number of out there Galaxy Z Flip 6 colours to select from, together with Yellow, Mint, Silver Shadow, and Blue. If you order from Samsung.com, you should buy unique colours akin to Crafted Black, White, and Peach.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6: Design
- Overall design is almost equivalent to predecessor.
- Sharp corners could make the cellphone painful to carry.
- Matte glass appears to be like and feels higher than earlier fashions.
- Official mud ranking makes it extra sturdy.
As far as design goes, the Galaxy Z Flip 6 made few adjustments from the Galaxy Z Flip 5. It now has a very flat Aluminum Armor body with a matte end as a substitute of a shiny one, a change harking back to the Galaxy S24 sequence.
The Galaxy Z Flip 6 can be a hair thinner when folded; in any other case, it is the identical dimension and weight as its predecessor. It’s a bit spectacular, given a number of the spec bumps the cellphone has obtained, which I’ll discuss later. And talking of fold, the hinge may be very stiff and durable, similar to the remainder of the cellphone.
One large improve we see this 12 months is the inclusion of an official mud resistance ranking, bringing the cellphone to IP48. This ensures it is protected towards particles bigger than 1mm in dimension, so it is not foolproof, but it surely’s a serious enchancment nonetheless.
Even with the spectacular sturdiness, I like to recommend including a case. Fortunately, we have now a group of Galaxy Z Flip 6 circumstances so that you can try. I personally like this one from Thinborne.
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One attention-grabbing design alternative Samsung made is the bumper across the show. On the Galaxy Z Flip 5, there was a seamless transition from the bumper to the body, which had a slight inward curve to it. Now that the cellphone is totally flat on the edges, the bumper stops wanting connecting to the body and creates a small divot when the cellphone is closed, which ought to make it simpler to open the cellphone with one hand. This does imply that there is a small opening towards the hinge the place the bumper does not fairly attain, but it surely’s nothing fairly just like the older Z Flip fashions that would not fully shut shut.
Just just like the body, the again glass additionally has a tender matte end, which I like way more than the shiny one on the Z Flip 5. That means you will not have to fret about fingerprints as a lot, aside from on the primary cowl panel.
Speaking of, the 2 cameras on the entrance now have a coloured ring across the sensors to match the colour of the cellphone, which is a small however good contact. Unfortunately, with one of these digital camera protrusion, you’ll have to fear about mud accumulating round them.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6: Displays
- The foremost show may be very vibrant, even outdoor.
- The show crease has been considerably minimized.
- The cowl display specs are largely the identical, with a comparatively low decision and refresh charge.
- The PWM charge remains to be decrease than that of the competitors.
The inner 6.7-inch OLED show retains the 2640 x 1080 decision and 120Hz refresh charge, though the brightness has been jacked as much as 2600 nits. The result’s a show that’s fairly vibrant and vibrant, even with the display mode set to Natural (my common desire). I usually discover that the built-in display protector can hinder the view a bit on foldables, however that does not appear to be the case with the Galaxy Z Flip 6. It’s additionally very seen outdoor, which is a large plus.
Another win is the crease, which Samsung has drastically minimized due to “enhanced layers” on the primary display. Now, once I run my finger throughout the show, the crease is hardly noticeable, though not fully nonexistent. There’s nonetheless way more crease than you will discover on the Motorola Razr Plus 2024, for example, but it surely does not trouble me practically as a lot when in comparison with the Galaxy Z Flip 5.
The cowl display does not have the best specs on the block, falling behind its closest opponents with a 720 x 748 decision (306ppi) and 60Hz refresh charge at 1600 nits of peak brightness. For a flagship flip cellphone, that is fairly low, even when in comparison with the mid-range Motorola Razr 2024, which has a better 1056 x 1066 decision (413ppi) and a 90Hz refresh charge with a 1700 nit peak brightness.
The decrease decision could be a little jarring, particularly when in comparison with the primary FHD+ panel.
Unfortunately, Samsung continues to ship telephones with low PWM frequencies. The Galaxy Z Flip 6 has a PWM frequency of 240Hz, which is kind of low and certain to negatively have an effect on those that undergo from PWM sensitivity. I will not have an issue with it myself, however I do know others who do, and it is unclear why Samsung continues to ship telephones with shows like this regardless that many different producers both present increased PWM frequencies or embrace flicker discount strategies (like Motorola).
As you possibly can see, each shows even have very excessive ranges of modulation depth, which is the perceived distinction between a show’s on state and its off state. Screens with excessive modulation depth really feel extra like a strobe mild to your mind. They are perceived as being clearly off (and due to this fact fully darkish) earlier than turning again on once more, usually at full brightness. Users who’re delicate to flickering lights may have probably the most issues with a lot of these shows because the distinction is so drastic.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6: Hardware & specs
- The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 performs exceptionally nicely.
- The 12GB of RAM guarantee multitasking an AI options are handles nicely.
- Good audio and haptics.
- Plenty of storage regardless of solely two storage choices.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy brings a welcome efficiency bump (though the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 was loads highly effective) together with 12GB of RAM, up from 8GB. It seems the primary distinction between this model and the conventional Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is a slight bump in CPU clock pace, which is normally the case for these “Samsung-exclusive” chips. How a lot it helps is unclear, however the chip is loads highly effective regardless.
This cellphone breezes by the whole lot you throw at it. I’ve performed a couple of video games like Honkai: Star Rail and Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis, and the gameplay is extremely easy, even on the highest settings. It most likely will not blow any of the very best gaming telephones out of the park, however you should not be dissatisfied within the efficiency by any means.
And whereas the cellphone sometimes will get heat, I have not observed it get uncomfortably scorching, which tends to occur to the highest half of flip telephones akin to this.
| Category | Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2x, LTPO (1-120Hz), 2640 x 1080 decision, 22:9 facet ratio, 2600 nits |
| Cover show | 3.4-inch AMOLED, 60Hz, 720 x 748, 306 ppi |
| Operating System | Android 14 (One UI 6.1.1) |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy |
| RAM | 12GB |
| Storage | 256GB, 512GB |
| Rear Camera 1 | 50MP broad, f1.8, 1.0μm, Dual Pixel AF, OIS, 85˚ |
| Rear Camera 2 | 12MP ultrawide, f2.2, 1.12μm, 123˚ |
| Front-facing Camera | 10MP broad, f2.2, 1.22μm, 85˚ |
| Battery | 4,000mAh |
| Charging | 25W wired charging, 15W quick wi-fi charging 2.0, 4.5W reverse wi-fi charging |
| Weight | 187g |
| Dimensions (folded) | 71.9 x 85.1 x 14.9mm |
| Dimensions (unfolded) | 71.9 x 165.1 x 6.9mm |
| Protection | IP48, Armor Aluminum body, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 (cowl show, rear panel), PET display protector (interior show) |
| Colors | Silver Shadow, Yellow, Blue, Mint |
| Samsung.com unique colours | Crafted Black, White, Peach |
Unlike some extra commonplace flagships like the bottom Galaxy S24 or the Google Pixel 9, the Galaxy Z Flip 6 comes with 256GB of UFS 4.0 storage to begin with. You may select the 512GB choice, though there may be nonetheless no 1TB choice, nor will you discover expandable storage. Still, for most individuals, these two storage choices must be sufficient (I actually am tremendous with simply 256GB), however if you would like extra, you’d need to go for one other cellphone just like the Galaxy Z Fold 6, which has a 1TB choice.
Of course, you will not discover a 3.5mm headphone jack, however you will see that a good set of stereo audio system with loads of depth and readability when listening to music. There’s additionally a dialogue booster that does precisely because it states and works surprisingly nicely.
I additionally actually just like the haptics on the Z Flip 6, and doing issues like typing, swiping again, or opening the sidebar provides a really good and delicate vibration.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6: Battery life & charging
- Battery lasts all day on a single cost.
- Wired charging nonetheless falls behind at simply 25W and is kind of gradual.
The Galaxy Z Flip 6 manages to impress me with its battery life. This is due to the truth that it has a bigger 4,000mAh battery, which does nicely when mixed with the extra environment friendly Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. On common use, I discover that I get between six and eight hours of battery life with a single cost. After unplugging at 8 a.m., the cellphone will probably be on its final leg by 8 p.m., and contemplating how usually I’m on my cellphone, I take into account this a win. Of course, battery life will depend upon the way you’re utilizing it, and I think about some Galaxy Z Flip 6 homeowners could possibly get by little greater than a day, though you will most likely need to cost earlier than mattress or while you get up, relying in your habits.
The solely draw back is that regardless of the bump in battery capability, the charging pace stays at 25W, whereas different flip telephones have surpassed that pace. As a outcome, it’s going to take nicely over an hour to get from empty to 100%. Even after charging to 60%, the cellphone would inform me I had roughly 50 minutes to replenish the battery. Wireless charging is not any higher at simply 15W, so except you could have time to spare, you will need to stick with wired charging.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6: Cover display
- Software upgrades on the duvet display are minimal.
- You can now match a number of widgets on a single panel.
- Apps solely accessible by way of Labs or Good Lock extension.
- Cover display provides dual-screen Interpreter mode and Smart Replies.
As anticipated, my expertise with the Galaxy Z Flip 6 cowl display has been combined. Samsung continues to hinder the duvet display expertise in the identical ways in which it did with the Galaxy Z Flip 5, so I will not actually rehash that an excessive amount of. The focus is on panels, or “widgets,” and fewer on utilizing full apps, and the expertise as supposed works, for probably the most half.
Widgets like Weather are well-designed and largely do what’s anticipated of them, offering glanceable data, so that you’re hopefully opening your cellphone much less for sure issues. Unfortunately, you possibly can’t actually work together with them a lot except for scrolling by particulars or choosing totally different days to view.
Interestingly, Samsung now allows you to match a number of widgets onto a single panel. This is considerably restricted, too, as you will have to pick from preset dimensions. Some choices will take up a full panel, whereas others will match into 2×2 or 2×4 areas, but it surely is dependent upon the app, and you’ll’t resize them like you possibly can on the Razr Plus 2024 cowl display.
Otherwise, the duvet display expertise is not a lot totally different from the Galaxy Z Flip 5. Everything is essentially dealt with on the primary show, and lots of actions will immediate you to open the cellphone. You even have little or no manner of managing the duvet display from the precise cowl display, a bizarre limitation that I discover highlights the disconnect Samsung has with the way it handles the exterior show. The most you are able to do from the show is change your wallpaper and add/take away widgets.
There are some enjoyable new interactive wallpapers, and you’ll add AI wallpapers to the duvet display. As all the time, you will need to dig into Labs or the Good Lock app if you wish to arrange and use full apps on the Galaxy Z Flip 6 cowl display, however as soon as arrange, the expertise is first rate. Just know that you will spend some additional time organising your Galaxy Z Flip 6 since you could have two shows to configure and yet one more app to obtain.
Given the comparatively small cowl display show dimension (in comparison with the Razr sequence), apps really feel much more condensed, which might make navigating UIs a bit of awkward. There’s nonetheless no multitasking, so exiting an app does simply that with out letting you turn to a different you could have open.
Samsung does make the most of the duvet display in different methods which might be helpful. The Interpreter app has been up to date to incorporate translations on the duvet display, giving each individuals a doubtlessly extra comfy view when talking. I discover that this works fairly nicely, even when it takes some getting used to at first. In my restricted expertise, you are in a position to have a considerably pure dialog and the cellphone retains up comparatively nicely.
The cowl display additionally has AOD, which is all the time useful, particularly on a smaller show. I simply want the fast settings menu was a bit of extra sturdy, as you solely get eight choices and a brightness slider, and also you can not seem to edit the buttons. I additionally do not actually discover the Galaxy AI Smart Replies very helpful, which is barely compounded by the truth that you possibly can’t even use them and have apps enabled on the duvet display on the identical time.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6: Cameras
- Camera enhancements pretty minimal over predecessor.
- Phone appears marginally higher at capturing motion.
- Selfies do not deal with darker pores and skin tones nicely.
- Useful options when folding the cellphone at a 90-degree angle.
I used to be pleased to study Samsung upgraded the first digital camera to a 50MP sensor. While I can not say now whether or not it is considerably higher than its predecessor, I’m fairly happy with the outcome. Images have loads of distinction, depth, and vibrancy. The digital camera can wrestle a bit with dynamic vary, and the sky will usually seem blown out. However, I have not run into this fairly often.
Samsung nonetheless struggles with motion, so photos can come out a bit of blurry and missing intimately in case your topic is not fully nonetheless, and there may be typically some distortion towards the perimeters of the picture. That mentioned, I do assume Samsung has improved a bit on this entrance, and the cellphone has been in a position to seize issues like a shifting automobile and a cat with out fully failing.
Fortunately, zooming and low mild are additionally dealt with nicely, making for a well-rounded digital camera expertise. However, up to now, I’m not a fan of how selfies make my darker pores and skin look, exhibiting that Samsung nonetheless has some work on this regard.
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Motorola is not identified for having the very best cameras, however I believe the Razr Plus 2024 has had a little bit of a glow-up in that division, so I naturally pit the 2 telephones towards one another. Overall, I believe Motorola has been in a position to maintain its personal towards the Galaxy Z Flip 6, though Samsung handles low-light and nighttime photos a lot better. There tends to be a bit extra distinction at occasions in Samsung’s photos, which can make the pictures extra interesting, though the Razr Plus 2024 photos are a bit nearer to actual life when it comes to coloration, at the least more often than not.
And regardless of the advantage of a 2x optical telephoto lens on the Razr Plus 2024, the Galaxy Z Flip 6 nonetheless manages to maintain up fairly nicely at varied zoom ranges, due to some AI enhancements.
The video high quality is fairly good, and my solely criticism right here up to now is that recording is restricted to 4K 60, though who is de facto recording in 8K decision?
There is a brand new function within the video mode that successfully turns the cellphone right into a camcorder while you fold it 90 levels. The UI adjusts to suit the viewfinder on the highest half of the display and provides you a zoom slider on the underside half while you start recording. It additionally presents a preview on the duvet display whilst you’re recording, making it a neat method to make the most of the shape issue.
Another attention-grabbing manner the cellphone takes benefit of the duvet display is with Auto Zoom, which you’ll be able to allow when opening the digital camera on the duvet display and setting the cellphone down at a 90-degree angle. The digital camera will routinely regulate lenses relying on how shut or far you’re away from it, which is a useful method to take particular person or group selfies with out having to do a lot work your self.
But as common, I might extremely suggest downloading the Camera Assistant app, which provides extra helpful options to your digital camera, akin to a 2x button for quicker zooming, auto HDR, a quicker shutter button, and extra.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6: Software and Galaxy AI
- Galaxy Z Flip 6 runs Android 14 out of the field with One UI 6.1.1.
- New Galaxy AI drawing options may be enjoyable.
- Some earlier options obtain helpful upgrades.
- The Galaxy Z Flip 6 will obtain seven years of software program updates.
The Galaxy Z Flip 6 runs One UI 6.1.1 out of the field, which comes with some new Galaxy AI options. I’m each impressed and perplexed by a number of the image-generation options, like Drawing Assist, which is really fascinating and won’t solely add some pretty sensible and amusing photos to your pictures by way of Sketch to Image however can even flip your doodles into entertaining “artworks” that solely a mom might love.
There are a couple of methods to entry Sketch to Image, together with the Samsung Notes app and the sidebar. It’s additionally accessible by way of the Gallery app, the place you possibly can sketch issues onto present photos to offer them an additional little bit of aptitude. The outcomes can vary from sensible to fairly outlandish, however I believe it is a enjoyable method to edit photos, whilst a gag.
I’m a bit much less impressed with Portrait Studio in Photo Assist, the place the cellphone makes an attempt to generate creative variations of faces out of a collection of totally different types. My colleague Nick Sutrich and I needed to love this function in our hands-on with the Galaxy Z Fold 6, however the photos it generated seemed nothing like us, as a substitute churning out generic-looking faces with at the least the identical pores and skin tone. Essentially, it is virtually like a caricature of me, however even caricature artists do a greater job of capturing my likeness.
The expertise on my Galaxy Z Flip 6 is not any totally different, leaving me largely dissatisfied, though perhaps you will get fortunate and discover one which considerably resembles you should you squint. I do know it is meant to be a enjoyable function that you just should not take critically, however I might be extra impressed if it really created photos that seem like me.
The Live Effect function is cool, turning remodeling 2D pictures into cinematic movies, much like Cinematic Wallpapers on a Pixel cellphone. It seems to be primarily based on Samsung’s glorious Image Clipper function, which separates the topic from the background after which creates a video that can be utilized as your wallpaper. I do want the impact was really primarily based on movement as a substitute of simply looping a video when set in your lock or cowl screens, however the impact remains to be fairly cool.
Other attention-grabbing Galaxy AI options that I’ve loved embrace Instant Slow-Mo, which now allows you to save clips; Composer, which helps you write feedback, emails, and extra on varied apps primarily based on previous conversations and prompts that you just present it; and the Recorder app, which I discover significantly helpful as it’s going to transcribe/translate and summarize recordings for you—one thing additionally doable within the Samsung Notes app.
Aside from the brand new Galaxy AI options, you additionally get Google AI options just like the Gemini app and Circle to Search, which I like.
Samsung is extending its Galaxy S24 software program replace promise to the Galaxy Z Flip 6, that means customers can anticipate at the least seven years of updates and OS upgrades. Whether or not a foldable just like the Galaxy Z Flip 6 will final that lengthy is one other factor.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6: Competition
Foldables are nonetheless a rising section, significantly flip telephones, however there are nonetheless some good telephones that may give the Galaxy Z Flip 6 a run for its cash. The most blatant is the brand new Motorola Razr Plus 2024, which additionally simply launched and will probably be out there for buy concurrently the Z Flip 6. OPPO’s Find N3 Flip can be a cellphone price contemplating, significantly should you reside outdoors North America.
The Razr Plus 2024 options very comparable specs to the Z Flip 6, with a flagship Snapdragon chip, 12GB of RAM, and a 4,000mAh battery. The Razr is $100 cheaper and has a bigger, extra practical cowl display, which makes it a tempting purchase over the Flip. That mentioned, the Flip has a extra highly effective chipset and higher software program help (primarily based on Samsung’s monitor file). Additionally, some could choose to have an ultrawide digital camera over a telephoto sensor.
You might go along with the cheaper Motorola Razr 2024, which additionally has an ultrawide digital camera and is almost half the fee. However, the image high quality is noticeably worse, and total efficiency could not stack up
The OPPO Find N3 Flip has an important show, a modern design, and a unbelievable digital camera system. The battery capability can be bigger then most different flip telephones, however the cellphone is not actually out there in North America, so there could also be some incompatibilities, and ColorOS is unquestionably an acquired style.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6: Should you purchase it?
You can buy this if…
- You’re thinking about a brand new flip cellphone.
- You need entry to the newest AI options from Samsung and Google.
- You’re already ingrained in Samsung’s ecosystem.
You should not purchase this if…
- You’re tempted by the cheaper Motorola Razr Plus 2024.
- You need a helpful cowl display expertise.
- You do not need to spend greater than $1000 on a cellphone.
Samsung is clearly taking part in it secure with the Galaxy Z Flip 6, which is extra evident by Motorola’s Razr Plus 2024 launch every week prior, providing upgraded specs, a bigger cowl display with a refined expertise, and a less expensive price ticket. That’s to not say this can be a dangerous cellphone as a result of it is not. I might usually don’t have any drawback recommending this cellphone as a result of it is fairly a tremendous cellphone, however with a $100 worth bump, I’m unsure I can suggest this over final 12 months’s just-as-fine Galaxy Z Flip 5.
Samsung is actually falling into the identical entice as Google, the place it is onerous to justify spending way more than earlier fashions when these telephones are simply nearly as good and can probably obtain a handful of the newer options anyway.
If you will discover some offers and also you’re rocking the older Galaxy Z Flip 4, then I’d say go forward and purchase the Galaxy Z Flip 6. But even then, I might virtually suggest the Razr Plus 2024 as a substitute, which has already had some intriguing offers because it’s gone on sale.
Compact powerhouse
The Galaxy Z Flip 6 is among the strongest flip telephones you should buy, due to the brand new Snapdragon chip and different upgrades below the hood. And with entry to Gemini and Galaxy AI, you could have loads of enjoyable and helpful options at your fingertips.
