I’ve discovered what’s wrong with the Galaxy Z Fold 6’s camera. While many claim it’s nothing special, I both agree and disagree. It took one single photo, a comparison with the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro at a car meet, for me to understand the root of the problem. The Vivo’s photo, vibrant and evocative, highlighted the Z Fold 6’s shortcomings. It lacked the life, the emotional punch, the ability to truly capture the scene.
I like the Galaxy Z Fold 6 a lot, and I don’t think the camera is bad at all, especially when you consider its context. It’s not designed to compete with the Galaxy S24 Ultra, but more with phones like the Galaxy S24 Plus. However, the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro exposed the Z Fold 6’s limitations. The Vivo’s camera captures emotive, vibrant photos, full of life, something the Z Fold 6 simply can’t replicate.
The photo taken of a modified Porsche 911 with the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro’s Portrait mode is a prime example. The depth of field, sharp focus, vibrant colors, contrast, HDR effect, and the way it captured the setting sun were stunning. The Z Fold 6’s photo, while not terrible, appeared flat, dull, and lifeless. It lacked subtlety in the portrait effect and struggled to understand the subject like the Vivo phone.
The Z Fold 6’s camera lacked life, a quality present in abundance in the X Fold 3 Pro. This wasn’t a one-off. Throughout the evening, the more photos I took, the more I saw what was missing from the Z Fold 6’s camera. I liked the ability to open both phones and compare the photos on a large screen, but only the X Fold 3 Pro truly exploited this advantage. Its camera was a portrait mode superstar, with a natural depth of field that avoided looking fake while retaining vibrant colors and sharp definition.
I enjoyed experimenting with the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro because I trusted its results. It replicated the vision in my mind’s eye. I lacked that same trust in the Z Fold 6. While it often technically performed well, its photos lacked the same vibrancy and life. A shot of a pink and black Porsche Boxster against a transporter further illustrated this. The X Fold 3 Pro’s camera got the white balance and exposure spot-on, recreating the scene naturally with life and excitement, while the Z Fold 6’s photo was dull by comparison.
It’s not just about the specs. While the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro boasts a 64MP periscope telephoto camera and a 50MP ultrawide camera, compared to the Z Fold 6’s 10MP telephoto and 12MP ultrawide, the difference goes beyond numbers. Vivo’s partnership with Zeiss, with its 100+ years of camera expertise, has made a significant impact. The X Fold 3 Pro’s cameras feature Zeiss optics and software enhancements, particularly in portrait modes. Zeiss’ influence is evident in photographs that reflect its heritage, style, and unique tones, similar to Xiaomi’s partnership with Leica.
Taken in isolation, the Z Fold 6’s photos are good, especially when you ignore its high price. You’d likely be happy with them, and I was during my review period. However, when you compare them to what other brands are achieving, Samsung’s shortfall becomes clear. It performs well technically but lacks emotion, something the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro delivers in almost every photo.
The last time I felt this strongly about photos taken with a phone was using the Xiaomi 14 Ultra and its Photography Kit. The Vivo folding phone gives me the same feeling. It inspires me to explore its potential, while the Galaxy Z Fold 6 only encourages me to take casual snaps.
Samsung’s top phone range is straightforward, with each model having its own space. However, the cameras cannot compete with those on devices like the X Fold 3 Pro or the Xiaomi 14 Ultra. The photos taken at the car meet revealed a key reason for this: Samsung’s focus on technical precision has resulted in a camera that feels cold, lacking the emotional depth that the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro delivers.
The Z Fold 6’s engineering is fantastic, highly precise, but this cold approach has permeated the camera and the photos it takes. The Vivo X Fold 3 Pro proves that engineering isn’t what makes a camera special. Until Samsung changes its approach, it will continue to struggle against the competition.
