Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 review

Competition

The clamshell foldable space is not as crowded as you'd think, and even though there are several options that are technically international, availability may actually severely limit your choices. But let's explore.

The most obvious competitor, and one that is as global as they come, is the Motorola Razr 50 Ultra - or razr+ 2024, if you're in the US. The Razr has several key advantages - battery life and charging speed are the most tangible ones, though the high refresh rate displays with Dolby Vision do give them an edge visually. The Moto's cover display is also potentially more useful too. The Flip6's speakers aren't bad, but the Razr's are superb, so there's also that. On the other hand, the Razr lacks an ultrawide camera - the Flip6's remosaicked 2x stacks up better to the Razr's real 2x camera, than a missing ultrawide does to an existing ultrawide.

The two phones are priced similarly in Europe, but the Moto is cheaper than the Galaxy in the US, and that adds a layer of regionality to this dilemma. In the US we'd probably not hesitate to grab a Razr and save $200 (or maybe more), while in Europe it's more of a judgment call. Unless, that is, you insist on an ultrawide camera - then it has to be the Galaxy. Or, maybe the Razr 50 proper (razr 2024 in the US)?

Motorola Razr 50 • Motorola Razr 50 Ultra

Alternatively, you could try getting your hands on one of the more exotic offerings from China. The Oppo Find N3 Flip is supposedly global, but not readily available in a lot of places, plus it's a year old by now - but it may be worth seeking out for its overall superior camera system. The vivo X Flip is even older and China only, while the brand new Mix Flip's global existence remains under question and the recent Honor V Flip and Huawei Pocket 2 are in the same boat.

There's plenty of internal Samsung competition for the Flip6 too. It can be argued that it doesn't make sense getting the old model, now that the new one is out and that would normally be the case - it certainly is in the US, where the Flip5 still commands high prices. However, there are significant discounts on the Flip5 in Europe, and pocketing upwards of €300 isn't easy to dismiss.

You could also entertain the thought of a large Galaxy foldable, whether the brand new (but significantly pricier) Z Fold6, or the year-old, but fundamentally same Z Fold5 (which can be had for a little over Flip6 money in Europe). It's a different form factor altogether, but you could give it a shot if you're not entirely set in your ways.

And, of course, if you've arrived at the Flip6 while on a quest for pocketability more than wow factor, then the Galaxy S24 might be the solution to your problems - at a lower or much lower cost, too, depending on where you are.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 • Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 • Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 • Samsung Galaxy S24

Verdict

The Galaxy Z Flip6 is not a substantial upgrade over the previous generation - faced with limited opposition, Samsung is doing a bit of coasting with its foldables this year. That said, the Flip6 in particular does bring a few improvements that make it more competitive in a field where it doesn't necessarily need to compete harder. Alternatively, it could be argued that the Flip6 is only getting the bare minimum of updates to keep the flame going.

Whichever way you see it, the Z Flip6's only glaring omission is a sensible charging solution - not only was it never fast, but it's not getting any faster either. The cover screen could be sexier and more useful like on some competitors, but perhaps they're being the overachievers, and the Galaxy is good enough.

On the positive side, we do appreciate the new camera - it's not the dramatic improvement we wished it would be (against our better judgment), but it does push the Flip's versatility up a bit. The increase in battery life is similarly not a gamechanger, but more is always welcome. But argubaly its key advantage remains One UI for all of its features and refinement. The close cooperation with Google on the AI stuff can be another selling point for the right buyer.

Ultimately, the Galaxy Z Flip6 will remain the foldable to get in its form factor. It's just that the excitement is gone.

Pros

• IP48 rating now means some protection against solids in addition to the water resistance.
• Improved battery life compared to the previous generation.
• Feature-rich software with useful cover screen implementation - Galaxy AI too, of course.
• Versatile camera system, zoom results are better than before.

Cons

• Glacial charging speeds.
• Cover screen could be larger and even more functional.
• Heavy throttling under prolonged load.