Samsung’s latest foldable offering, the Galaxy Z Fold 6, aims to attract users with a refined design, a thinner chassis, and a faster chipset. While these improvements might seem promising, they come at a price increase of $100. When compared to its predecessor, the Galaxy Z Fold 4, and competitors like the OnePlus Open and Vivo X Fold 3 Pro, the Z Fold 6 doesn’t stand out as a groundbreaking upgrade. However, if you’re considering upgrading from the Z Fold 4, there are certain aspects to consider.
The Z Fold 6 boasts a new “dual rail hinge structure” coupled with a “strengthened folding edge” that enhances shock absorption. Samsung has also incorporated a more resilient Armor Aluminum and the second-generation Corning Gorilla Glass for the cover display and rear shell. The most significant design change is the elimination of the gap between the phone halves when closed, a crucial improvement that prevents dust and liquid ingress. This gapless design addresses a major concern for users who have encountered damage from dust and liquid particles entering the phone. Additionally, Samsung has implemented dust protection, providing the Z Fold 6 with IP48 rating, a first for Samsung foldable phones. This addresses a common user complaint about the Z Fold 4, which only offered IPX8 water resistance, lacking any dust protection.
The Z Fold 6 houses Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, compared to the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip in the Z Fold 4. While this offers a performance boost, both chips are based on the 4nm process, leading to a less drastic performance leap than expected between devices spaced two years apart. Both phones share 12GB of RAM and offer storage options ranging from 256GB to 1TB. The battery capacity remains consistent at 4,400mAh, and the charging capabilities remain unchanged, with a maximum of 25 watts for wired charging. The Z Fold 6 adopts the multi-eSIM format, though availability may vary depending on the region. In terms of wireless connectivity, the Z Fold 6 utilizes Bluetooth v5.3, while the Z Fold 4 sticks with Bluetooth v5.2.
While the overall display resolution remains similar, there are significant changes in the cover display. The Z Fold 6 features a larger 6.3-inch cover display, a significant departure from the oddly tall 6.1-inch front panel on the Z Fold 4. Another notable improvement is the uniform on-screen fluidity across both screens on the Z Fold 6, which can dynamically adjust the refresh rate between 1Hz and 120Hz for optimal performance. In contrast, the Z Fold 4’s cover display refresh rate could only drop to 48Hz, with a maximum of 120Hz.
In terms of cameras, the Z Fold 6 offers minimal upgrades. The most significant change is the 4MP under-display camera, which boasts an 85-degree field of view compared to the 80-degree field of view on the Z Fold 4. The remaining camera hardware remains identical, including a 50MP main camera, a 12MP ultrawide sensor, and a 10MP telephoto snapper with 3x optical zoom. The cover screen features a centrally aligned 10MP selfie camera. The Z Fold 6 introduces “optical quality zoom 2x” using an Adaptive Pixel sensor. Furthermore, the Z Fold 6 supports 8K video recording at 30fps, an improvement over the Z Fold 4’s 24fps recording. However, the ultra-slow-motion recording at 960fps available on the Z Fold 4 has been removed. Instead, the Z Fold 6 offers 120fps recording at both FHD and UHD resolutions.
The Z Fold 6 comes pre-installed with Android 14-based One UI 6.1.1, while the Z Fold 4 recently received One UI 6.1 via a software update. While the UI experience is familiar, the software longevity and AI features differ. The Z Fold 6 boasts a commitment to seven generations of yearly Android updates and security patches, surpassing the Z Fold 4’s four years of OS updates and five years of security updates. This extended software support is crucial for users who plan to keep their foldable phone for an extended period. Additionally, the Z Fold 6 leverages advanced AI capabilities. While the Z Fold 4 currently supports AI features like Circle to Search, Note Assist, Live Translate, and generative AI-powered photo editing, Samsung has stated that some of the newer AI features introduced in the Z Fold 6 will be rolled out to select Galaxy devices by the end of the year. However, it remains uncertain if the Z Fold 4 will be included in this rollout.
Ultimately, the decision to upgrade to the Galaxy Z Fold 6 depends on your individual needs and preferences. If you’re facing hardware issues with your Z Fold 4, requiring immediate and costly repairs, or you prioritize a foldable phone with long-term software support, the Z Fold 6 might be worth considering. However, if your Z Fold 4 functions adequately, the Z Fold 6’s improvements beyond a sturdier build and a cleaner design might not justify the upgrade. The AI features, while promising, might not be essential for everyone. Therefore, before making the decision to invest in the Z Fold 6’s $1,900 starting price, carefully evaluate your specific requirements and usage patterns.
