Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 review

Design, build quality, handling

Not a lot has changed on the Galaxy Z Fold6 coming from the previous generation, but there are, in fact, subtle stylistic tweaks, some of them to go with minor functional developments. The overall design has moved from the more fluid Z Fold5 to a Z Fold6 that has straighter lines, smaller radius curves and flatter surfaces.

Z Fold6 (left) next to Z Fold5

You may have picked up on it from the above photo, but other than the reshaping, there's also a re-proportioning, so to speak. The Z Fold6 is now slightly wider and shorter in smartphone state - the cover screen has then moved ever so slightly further away from the 'remote control' aspect of the original Fold. We think that's the way to go, only we'd have done it faster and more decisively than Samsung's gradual evolution.

Galaxy Z Fold6 (left) next to Z Fold5

There's been a gradual reduction in weight over the years as well, also a welcome change. We find the 239-gram Z Fold6 more easily manageable than the previous model even if the 14g difference may not sound like much. It's been a continued effort for Samsung, and they've shed a few grams every generation, to a point where now the Fold is barely heavier than the S24 Ultra.

Certainly some of the weight savings come from improved materials and reengineered bits, though it's hard for an outsider to tell what's different and by how much exactly. Gorilla Glass Victus 2 covers the hard surfaces, and Samsung is no longer making a big deal out of the foldable panel's protection, which is still sort of glass, but not really, but also yes, sort of - UTG for Ultra Thin Glass.

The crease in the middle doesn't strike us as particularly impressive - it may have been improved compared to previous Galaxy Folds, but we've caressed flatter foldables from other brands. On the one hand, it's likely to get slightly more pronounced as you use the Fold, but on the other, you'll probably learn to ignore it at a faster rate. Either way, the topic of creases tends to polarize people and those who use foldables tend to dismiss it as a non-issue, while flat-screen die-hards theorize how bad it is from a distance. Whichever side you find yourself on, however, the fact remains that the Galaxy isn't the flattest around.

The hinge does remain stable at intermediate angles, so you can come up with use cases for the Fold that you can't easily accomplish with a flat phone. For a second generation now, the Fold folds without a gap between the two halves - a design improvement that elevated the model from a prototype-lookalike to a real commercial product.

Galaxy foldables have long since had an IPX8 rating for water resistance, but no mention of dust. Starting this year, the Flip6 and Fold6 have IP4X as well, which sounds great until you read in the standard that '4' for solids means no particles larger than 1mm can enter the device and that sure sounds like it's always been impossible. Either way, it's a step in the direction of better sealing, so it's a welcome development.

Samsung typically sticks to inoffensive color schemes, though we'd almost call this year's selection intriguing. The 'regular' options include Silver Shadow (our review unit), Pink and Navy, and those are available in most markets. In keeping with tradition, Samsung.com will also be selling exclusive colors - Crafted Black and White.

Colorways: Pink • Navy • Crafted Black • White