Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 First Look: The Foldable Phone Crown Has Two New Contenders to the Throne

Today is a big day for Samsung fans. On Wednesday, the South Korean company unveiled the new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6, its foldable phones for 2024. Samsung’s launching these models alongside the new Galaxy Buds 4 and Galaxy Watch 7, which aim to complete an increasingly strong ecosystem.

At Xataka On, we’ve already been able to test Samsung’s new foldable devices, so in this post, we’ll share our hands-on experience. Once again, continuity takes the main stage this year. However, there’s good news: Some changes make a big difference.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 Specs

Design: Samsung Goes All In

“Wow, they’ve really changed.” That’s what I said to myself as soon as I held the two new Samsung phones.

Let’s start with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6. The first thing to note is its weight. Samsung has achieved something seemingly impossible: The Z Fold 6 weighs about the same as the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.

This is quite an achievement, considering it’s essentially two phones in one. While the 4,400 mAh battery is smaller than the 5,000 mAh traditionally found in high-end Android phones, it helps to make the Z Fold 6 lighter, which is a remarkable advancement given the nature of this product.

The weight isn’t the only thing that’s changed. The lenses now feature a more prominent ring. Whether this is a step forward is subjective, but it’s undeniable that the phone now has much more personality.

The main downside is that fingerprints are quite noticeable on the back of the phone in the three colors I’ve tested. While the finishes are quite spectacular (especially the blue and metallic gray), this is an area for improvement that I didn’t have with the S24 Ultra.

Flipping over to the Fold, we find a phone that’s slightly wider than the previous model due to a small change in aspect ratio. Having tested other phones with traditional formats, I still have a minor issue with the Fold being narrower than I’d prefer, despite the slight variations in aspect ratio in 2024.

Samsung assures me that it’s a sturdier phone with a stronger hinge. In my first hands-on experience, the phone feels lighter, more comfortable, and better finished. It’s one of those products that impresses you more in person. Trust me, photos don’t do justice to its design.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 takes a similar approach, but the hinge has been improved for greater durability. The company claims that the crease in the foldable screen is less noticeable, although I personally haven’t observed a significant change. Additionally, the bezels are now flatter, providing a more seamless feel when the phone is folded. This gives the impression that no dust can get in. While fully closed, the previous generation had slightly curved edges, making it feel less tightly sealed.

Despite these minor changes, the overall feel isn’t drastically different from last year’s model. Since the previous version already had an optimal weight, the change seems adequate at first glance.

Now, let’s talk about the hardware.

Powerful Hardware That Lives up to Expectations

The two foldable phones come with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, which is great news. The base version of the Galaxy Z Flip 6 now has 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of internal memory, putting it in line with top high-end smartphones. The Z Fold 6 also starts with the same configuration despite the price difference between the two models.

Both phones feature new Steam camera technology, a first for Samsung’s foldables. On paper, this technology is key to regulating temperature, preventing throttling, and preserving the device’s lifespan. It remains to be seen if this will affect performance and battery life, but it’s an excellent development at first glance.

In contrast, the Galaxy Z Fold 6’s panel hardware has hardly changed. The phone still has an HD+ resolution on the outside, while last year’s competitors already have Quad HD+ (2K) resolution. This decision seems questionable, especially considering the phone’s starting price of $1.899.

Although the panel looks good and has improved brightness, the HD+ resolution raises concerns. The inner screen also maintains a Full HD+ resolution, with just under 400 ppi. While this resolution might be sufficient for a screen size of 7.6 inches, it’s not the highest available on the market.

The Galaxy Z Flip doesn’t have any changes to its two screens either. The standout feature of this model is its outer screen. Rival models have increased the size of their external panels to occupy the entire space. Samsung’s screen remains smaller, with less resolution and a lower refresh rate. However, the good news is that the software has been optimized to make the most of it.

In terms of the camera, there aren’t many changes. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 retains the same setup as last year, while the Z Flip now features a 50 MP main sensor instead of the previous 12 MP sensor. We can anticipate a camera performance similar to that of the standard S24, although we’ll need to verify this in our full review.

AI Is Smarter Than Ever

Samsung’s software sets its foldable phones apart from the competition. The company offers the best software on the market by far, there’s no doubt about that. Compared to last year, the main changes are in Galaxy AI, which is now more comprehensive and available for both models.

Here’s the list of Galaxy AI features in the new foldable phones:

• Call Assist
• Chat Assist
• Interpreter
• Notes Assist
• Transcript Assist
• Navigation Assist
• Photo Assist
• Drawing Assist
• Image Background
• Health Assist

There’ve been noticeable changes in AI across all functions that Samsung released last year. Call Assist now supports Instagram and Google Meet, so you can use real-time translation if someone calls you from either of these two apps. There are also updates to Chat Assist, which can now write emails and generate several styles of text just by entering a prompt. For example, you can ask it to “Write an email to my boss telling him not to call me when I’m on vacation in a professional tone,” and the AI will do the rest.

The Interpreter mode now has a new feature that allows it to appear in real-time on the outer display. When I first read about this function, I thought it was minor, but after trying it out, I realized it’s a major success. It’s very convenient to see the translated text in real-time while someone is speaking and vice versa. It’s a much less intrusive process compared to holding up the phone to a stranger.

There are also changes in image generation: The phone can now generate elements simply by drawing them (exclusive to the Galaxy Z Fold 6). For instance, if you draw a hat on a picture of yourself, a quite realistic hat will appear. The same goes for AI styles. You can choose any image and apply different AI styles to reinterpret it.

The generative AI is powered by Google and operates primarily in the cloud. You’ll need a Samsung account and an Internet connection to use Galaxy AI. While you can ask the phone to perform only local functions, you’ll need to adjust your phone’s settings if you want to use generative AI.

Furthermore, the software is One UI 6.1.1, which is based on Android 14. It features highly optimized multi-window capability for the Z Fold, new widgets, and interactive wallpapers designed specifically for the Z Flip. Samsung excels in creating features tailored to each model.

It’s No Revolution, But It Might Not be Necessary

Samsung’s sticking to a winning formula with its latest phones. It’s kept the essence of the phones while making slight changes to the design. The AI functions in these phones are even more comprehensive than those of the Google Pixel, which is quite surprising considering that Samsung’s tools are mostly based on Google models. Samsung’s been able to maximize the advantages of the tools provided by Gemini far more than its competitors.

The hardware is top-notch, but seeing more innovation in the rear displays would’ve been nice. The market’s leaning towards leading rear screens with higher resolution and larger size, so it’s somewhat surprising that Samsung didn’t push the boundaries further. In a flagship phone for 2024, a (minimum) Full HD+ resolution is more of a necessity.

Despite this, Samsung’s banking on its software and user experience to win us over, and it’s got a good chance. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 are aiming for the top spot in the foldable phone market, and having the most comprehensive system is a strong argument in their favor.

Image | Xataka

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