The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 is a top contender in the flip phone market, boasting a stylish design, powerful specifications, and meticulous attention to detail. While it’s gaining popularity rapidly, it’s not the only flip phone worth considering. Whether you’re specifically looking for a flip phone or simply a high-performance device, there are numerous alternatives available. We’ve compiled a list of the top 5 Galaxy Z Flip 6 alternatives, including other excellent flip phones, Samsung’s flagship models, and even a wildcard contender that deserves your attention.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5
This might surprise you, but we recommend considering the Galaxy Z Flip 5, last year’s model, instead of the Z Flip 6. Why? Samsung hasn’t made significant changes to the Z Flip 6, making last year’s model a cost-effective option. Digital Trends’ mobile editor Joe Maring aptly described the Z Flip 6 as a lazy move from Samsung. It’s almost identical to the Z Flip 5, with the only noticeable differences being the circles around the camera lenses and the higher price tag. While it boasts newer specs like the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, a new camera lens, and enhanced Galaxy AI features, these are largely incremental improvements.
Are those elements crucial? The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, undeniably a powerful chip, may be the most powerful mobile processor currently available, but the difference between it and the Z Flip 5’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is negligible, particularly in everyday use. The Galaxy AI features fall into the same category, offering fun functionalities but unlikely to be used regularly. Moreover, these features are likely to be introduced to older phones eventually. The new main camera lens also falls into this category. The upgrade from 12MP to 50MP makes a difference, especially for simulated zoom, but the overall image quality of the Z Flip 6’s camera isn’t drastically better than the Z Flip 5. The larger battery provides a slight improvement, but this is offset by a significant drawback: charging speed. Despite increasing the phone’s price by $100, Samsung has retained the same wired charging speed of 25W. With several phones, both flagship and budget-friendly, exceeding that considerably, Samsung’s failure to upgrade the Z Flip 6 is noticeable. As mentioned, the Z Flip 6 has a $100 higher price tag, but it’s important to remember that the Z Flip 5 is now available at a discounted price with the release of the Z Flip 6. It’s common to find significant discounts on new devices, and sale periods could offer even deeper reductions. Given the minor differences between the two phones, considering the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 is definitely worth it.
Motorola Razr Plus 2024
If a flip phone is a must-have, remember that Samsung isn’t the only player in the game. Motorola, while having a mixed track record lately, has consistently produced excellent flip phones. The Motorola Razr Plus 2024 is Motorola’s premium foldable flagship for this year, and it’s a fantastic device, even surpassing Samsung in certain areas. The Razr Plus 2024 features a new hinge this year, a significant improvement over the previous Razr Plus. It feels exactly as a flip phone should, with a smooth closing action. Motorola has truly gone above and beyond with the displays. Unlike the Z Flip 6, the Razr Plus’ 4-inch cover screen can run any app out of the box, spanning almost the entire cover of the phone. It also boasts an astounding 165Hz refresh rate, which, while excessive, is undeniably impressive. The internal display mirrors that 165Hz refresh rate, offering exceptional brightness and clarity. The crease is barely noticeable, another substantial improvement. It’s powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chip, which, while less powerful than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in the Z Flip 6, shouldn’t be a deterrent. Processors are so powerful now that even a slightly less powerful version of a top chip still delivers extremely fast performance. You’re unlikely to notice any real difference in everyday use. The battery life, while not exceeding the Z Flip 6, is still commendable, lasting a full day, similar to the Z Flip 6. However, it significantly surpasses the Z Flip 6 in charging speed, thanks to its 45W recharge rate. The camera is another area where the Razr Plus has seen significant improvements compared to previous years, with the paired 50MP lenses, one wide and one telephoto, producing stunning shots. While they may be slightly oversaturated, it’s worth noting that the Z Flip 6 exhibits a similar tendency, adding a pop to the images. If a robust camera system is essential, the Razr Plus delivers. What are its drawbacks? The speakers are somewhat tinny, but not a dealbreaker. However, the update promises might be a concern. Motorola’s update promises have been underwhelming lately, and while the Razr Plus offers three years of updates, which is good for Motorola, it falls short of Samsung’s promised seven years. The Z Flip 6 has a significantly longer potential lifespan due to Samsung’s promises, leaving the Razr Plus in a somewhat ambiguous position. Despite this, the Motorola Razr Plus 2024 is a stunning smartphone, and at $1,000, it poses a strong challenge to the $1,100 Galaxy Z Flip 6.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus
If a flip phone isn’t a necessity, but you’re a Samsung fan, consider another $1,000 flagship from the same brand. The Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus is an exceptional smartphone, surpassing the Z Flip 6 in several aspects. Design-wise, it’s visually stunning. Samsung has adopted the popular trend of flat sides, which complements the phone well, making it more grippy and comfortable to hold. While it doesn’t fold in the middle, the display is truly remarkable, so we doubt anyone would mind. Measuring 6.7 inches, it has a 1440p resolution and scales from 1Hz up to 120Hz, ensuring smooth performance when required while conserving power when not. Performance is likely to be comparable, as both devices utilize the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor. The S24 Plus begins to pull ahead in other areas. The camera performance surpasses what the Z Flip 6 can deliver, thanks in part to the additional camera lens. Admittedly, the gap is smaller than before, as the Z Flip 6 uses the same 50MP main lens and 12MP ultrawide lens; however, the 12MP telephoto lens on the S24 Plus makes a significant difference in versatility. While the camera difference is minor, the battery is a different story. The Z Flip 6 offers a single day’s battery life and a maximum charging rate of 25W. The S24 Plus boosts up to 45W, and the battery can last for two days on a single charge. That’s a substantial advantage, and those who need their phone to last longer should seriously consider the Galaxy S24 Plus. Is it flawless? Of course not, but it comes very close. While the Z Flip 6 will always have the advantage of being a flip phone and possessing a certain flair that can’t be replicated otherwise, it’s not difficult to argue that the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus is simply the better smartphone for most people.
OnePlus 12
We’ve highlighted many great phones so far, but what does the OnePlus 12 offer? In three words: power, power, and power. OnePlus has reclaimed its flagship killer crown with a phone that doubles down on delivering sheer power. As you might expect, the specs are the phone’s centerpiece. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is a recurring theme on this list, but it’s accompanied by up to 16GB of RAM and the option of going all the way up to 512GB of storage. This is for the top model, of course, but even the base model boasts 256GB of storage and 12GB of RAM. These aren’t unheard-of stats, but they’re still impressive for an $800 price tag. These high-end specs don’t mean the phone skimps on other aspects. The design is gorgeous, and the arrangement of the camera lenses has become synonymous with OnePlus’ brand. It’s a bit large to handle easily, and the slippery back glass doesn’t help in that regard. However, the 6.8-inch AMOLED display is clear and vibrant, and the 120Hz refresh rate ensures a smooth visual experience. The battery is another triumph, lasting two days on a single charge. Charging also surpasses the Z Flip 6, reaching an incredible 80W. Like the Galaxy S24 Plus, the OnePlus 12 has a triple-lens camera system, giving it an inherent advantage over the Z Flip 6’s two-lens setup, and the specs are similarly impressive. Megapixels aren’t everything, but thankfully, OnePlus’ collaboration with Hasselblad has paid dividends, and the OnePlus 12 is another strong performer in this regard. The most significant draw is the price. The OnePlus 12 starts at $800, $300 less than the Galaxy Z Flip 6. If you need more storage, it’ll cost you more, but even then, it’s significantly lower than the Z Flip 6’s price. If you prioritize power, you’ll struggle to find a better deal than this.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
If you’re going to get a foldable phone anyway, why not go all out? The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 is Samsung’s most expensive phone and easily its most technologically advanced. In many ways, it sits on the opposite end of the spectrum from the Z Flip 6, but they also share several similarities, including top-tier flagship specs, strong camera systems, and, unfortunately, disappointing charging speeds. However, if you’re looking for a folding phone, it’s worth considering whether the Fold is better for you than the Flip. We’ll delve straight into the most obvious and significant difference: the displays. While the Z Flip 6 is a clamshell that unfolds into a regular-sized smartphone, the Z Fold 6 is a regular-sized smartphone that unfolds into a small tablet. The concept is to provide a larger area for work, drawing, watching videos, or just about anything while also being able to shrink the phone down to fit in your pocket or for situations where a tablet wouldn’t be appropriate. Of course, the Z Flip 6 folds down even smaller, making it the preferred choice for those who want a more subtle device. However, keep in mind that the Z Fold 6 is smaller than ever, which makes a difference in how it feels in your pocket. Choosing between the two form factors will be your biggest decision here, but at least you can rest assured that other aspects of the two devices are quite similar. Both utilize the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, resulting in comparable performance, and both start with 256GB of storage and 12GB of RAM. Unfortunately, this similarity extends to the battery and charging capabilities. Like the Z Flip 6, the Fold will only last for a single day, and it’s limited to just 25W for wired charging. This is particularly egregious for the Z Fold 6, given its starting price of $1,900. It’s challenging to justify why Samsung couldn’t afford to include 45W charging on a phone this expensive, and it’s frustrating. The cost is a significant barrier. The Z Flip 6 is already an expensive phone at $1,100, and asking someone to pay an additional $800 on top of that is a lot to ask. Thankfully, the Z Fold 6 offers a lot of phone for the money. If you have the funds and are willing to spend it, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 is an excellent alternative to the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6.
