Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 review

17 July 2024


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I'll admit, the displays on this phone are amazing, the bezels are nice as well. The speakers are the best Samsung speakers I'd say.

The charging speeds being slower whilst the battery is slightly worse overall like yikes man. If that's not a problem of complacency idk what is. I expected them to have better battery life like the S24 Ultra did compared to the S23 Ultra, but damn, they still expect people to pay more, for less now?

My question is, what do these phones do so well that you just want to go get the latest one? That's supposed to be the thing that changes stuff. Like genuinely, I don't see any reason for someone to buy this phone when they can just buy the older one and save a few bucks. The older one folds, has AI features, has a bright screen and good speakers, cameras are the same, charging is actually faster and the only bad thing is that it doesn't have some solid protection. But these foldables are super fragile and just break all the time so that isn't a huge plus either. I'm genuinely curious who wants this foldable and not the old one apart from the "new is good!11" crowd. More power is not needed for a display as small as this, idk what sort of rocket science you're gonna do on a tiny 7.6" screen, after using 11+ inch tablets I wonder what people do on a small foldable.

Like, for example Apple always tries their best to make the monkey brain in people go "woah i need dat", 11 series had 3 cams, 12 series had a different design, 13 series had a smaller notch and better cams, 14 series had the dynamic island, the base 15 series now have the dynamic island. I don't think USB Type-C is a big enough change for an average person so the 15 series is one of the worst Apple releases (not even gonna talk about titanium like who cares lol).

    • ?
    • Anonymous
    • a4P
    • 18 Jul 2024

    Still same old battery and cameras.... How about no!

    If I wanted to pay v6 prices for the v4 I'd have purchased the v4 two years ago.

      "All other foldables have larger and wider cover screens." - this is mislabeled as a con, but it's actually a pro since it's the only currently generation phone which is remotely close to 68mm wide. Barely usable one-handed, but at least better than the 70+mm monstrosities that are now considered "small."

        Plenty of alternatives Samsung Rep's just don't want to mention them.
        Honor magic V3
        Vivo fold 3
        Xiaomi Mix 3 soon mix 4
        One plus open 1 soon open 2

          • J
          • John
          • 7t}
          • 18 Jul 2024

          For the price at least the cameras should have been upgraded to better sensors or S24 Ultra level minus 3x zoom camera. Not sure why the 4.5 rating. Should have been a 4.0

            • A
            • AngryLithuanian
            • mE0
            • 18 Jul 2024

            Yeah Samsung settled hard this time. Least exciting "new" product release ever. I don't expect Google to do any better but let's see. My money is on Honor V3 and upcoming Xiaomi Fold4. Also Oppo should release N4 around Q4 of this year.

              Wow after reading this review you sure as heck wouldn’t want to preorder it. Gsmarena good job

                • ?
                • Anonymous
                • Mxn
                • 18 Jul 2024

                Apart from the S24 Ultra-esque outer screen, this isn't a meaningful upgrade to the Z Fold5. If you have a Z Fold5, don't bother trading it in for the new one. It's just not worth the money.

                  • ?
                  • Anonymous
                  • rJj
                  • 18 Jul 2024

                  A honest review by GSM kudos to you.

                  Samsung you are taking it too easy. You don't deserve sales of z6.

                  Better hinge. Fkatter screen. Biggee screen. More durable, spen compatible and integrated. Better camera are required

                  Z7 hopefully

                    • R
                    • R19
                    • nw}
                    • 18 Jul 2024

                    It's hard to recommend the Z Fold 6 when it's essentially identical to the Z Fold 5. Upgrades are next to none aside from the unnoticeably faster processor, slightly brighter screens and the added dust protection (how this is possible is beyond me due to it being a foldable). The fact that the Z Fold 6's battery life is worse than it's predecessor is surely a deal breaker. Save yourself a lot of money and get the Z Fold 5 instead.

                      • P
                      • Pralea
                      • 0Uk
                      • 18 Jul 2024

                      This rating system sucks. 4.5 just because it's a Samsung. A new chipset is not enough for this price range. Same camera, same weird aspect ratio display that may be gorgeous, but for media consumption just sucks. A lil bit of AI to go in trend and there you have it. Thanks, but no thanks!

                        • m
                        • m86k
                        • mAf
                        • 18 Jul 2024

                        Thanks for the review. I'll still keep my better color looking burgundy Z Fold 4 from 2 years ago and it still works fine so far.

                        Samsung isn't what they used to be : innovative, cuting edge, controversial.
                        I've been with you since 2001 and each new Samsung phone was pushing the industry for almost the past 2 decades, now they only secure their position while adopting Apple's model. That probably works for them since they keep doing this, but we as phone tech savvy fans aren't excited anymore.

                          • ?
                          • Anonymous
                          • Tsr
                          • 17 Jul 2024

                          "All other foldables have larger and wider cover screens."

                          I understand the sentiment, but that is not a con.

                          The problem with current phone market is lacks of trying to be different.

                          Let me be clear, I have smaller hands and I would prefer to see Galaxy Fold phones to be around 70 to 71mm wide when folded, but a lot of people like the narrow width, because Samsung is the only one doing it.

                          And for some (and me) the other foldables are too wide, if I want a wider screen I unfold it.

                          BUT having the option for wider and more narrow folds is A GOOD THING, it gives people some options, a magical word that thanks to phone manufacturers is a nearly non existent thing.

                          So I don't see it being narrow as a con, just like wider phones aren't better, having options will cather to people their needs, one likes wider phones, others like more narrow.

                          Win = win for having choices.

                            • M
                            • Miki
                            • Mya
                            • 17 Jul 2024

                            No AF on ultrawide for this price 💩

                              • ?
                              • Anonymous
                              • mAU
                              • 17 Jul 2024

                              So for what this phone gets a 4.5 stars rating? Just the outdated battery charging speed should give a flagship -1 star by default.

                                never saw gsm arena so politely yet still calling something ****

                                yet the rating doesn't show it

                                  • ?
                                  • Anonymous
                                  • L2s
                                  • 17 Jul 2024

                                  If the screen was wider like most foldables, that would automatically make Samsung look less bad.

                                    I agree with the rating comment.

                                    How the hell does Z Fold 6 get a 4.5 rating, when its worse in some areas than Z Fold 5??

                                    While the improved screen brightness and longer software support are welcome, the camera hardware, sound loudness ,battery life or even lower charging are all disappointing.

                                      • U
                                      • User. Hi.
                                      • xjH
                                      • 17 Jul 2024

                                      You see, GSMArena needs to work on how they rate devices.
                                      This device does not deserve a 4.5 Star rating, after all the things GSMArena said are wrong with it.
                                      Honestly, I find it sad that this phone has better ratings than most flagships, offering even better for less price.

                                      And by the way, the price should be part of the rating scheme as well!

                                        • A
                                        • Alex
                                        • nDS
                                        • 17 Jul 2024

                                        You could've mentioned the Honor V2 as competition. Cheaper, much more compact, bigger battery, available in Europe... Sure, it's last year's Snapdragon, but the difference is irrelevant if you don't game.