My preliminary ideas concerning the Galaxy Z Flip 6 had been confirmed after utilizing it for a very long time: it is smarter, higher, sooner, and stronger. However is that this new pocket-friendly telephone from Samsung definitely worth the value? Here is our detailed overview of the Galaxy Z Flip 6.
Good
- Sturdy design with IP48 mud resistance
- Seven years of software program updates
- Wonderful efficiency with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
- Improved 50MP fundamental digicam
- All-day battery life
Dangerous
- 10% dearer, beginning at $1,099
- Tough one-handed use
- The outer show lacks app assist
- The digicam struggles with dynamic vary
- Gradual recharge, no charger included
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6: All offers
Worth & Availability
First issues first: the brand new Galaxy Z Flip 6 is 10% dearer this yr. One would assume that with the sixth technology, this gadget can be cheaper, however with the {hardware} improve and the Galaxy AI integration, Samsung elevated the worth of its flip telephone.
The Z Flip 6 can be accessible for $1,099 with 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of inside reminiscence. And for those who determine to purchase the Z Flip 6 on the Samsung e-store, you’ll have the choice to decide on one in every of these three unique colours: Crafted Black, White, or Peach.
Design & Show: Stronger
I’ve examined the final three Z Flip fashions, and it looks like Samsung is making them extra sturdy over time. The newest model has a extra sq. design and feels sturdier when held. It’s also stronger, now that includes mud resistance certification, and its inside show peak brightness has elevated from 1750 nits in 2023 to 2600 nits in 2024
.
Professionals:
- IP48 certification.
- Good selection of colours.
- Internal show is brighter and colourful.
- The crease within the display screen is much more refined.
Cons:
- The flip idea fails when utilizing the gadget with one hand.
- No new options in comparison with the earlier technology.
Apart from the IP48 ranking and new shade choices, the Flip’s general look hasn’t modified a lot. Nonetheless, once you maintain it, it feels extra substantial—in a great way, indicating sturdiness and high quality slightly than simply heaviness. So, though the looks is mainly the identical, it feels higher.
One factor to notice is that it is virtually unattainable to open the Z Flip with one hand, which matches in opposition to the entire flip telephone idea, proper? On this regard, I feel the Razr Plus 2024 does a greater job. Though I did not get to make use of the brand new Motorola flip telephone for a very long time, my transient expertise with it strongly recommended that its extra rounded design is less complicated to deal with single-handedly.
Transferring on, the Galaxy Z Flip 6 encompasses a 6.7-inch fundamental show with a 22:9 side ratio and an AMOLED display screen. This can be a colourful and enormous show, showcasing Samsung’s experience as a show producer. With a variable refresh fee starting from 1Hz to 120Hz, the Z Flip 6 is nice for consuming content material and shopping on the web.
Moreover, this time round, the crease is rather more refined, we virtually do not even really feel it. However how concerning the outer show?
To be trustworthy, nothing has actually modified on this space. The entrance show nonetheless has the identical 3.4-inch Tremendous AMOLED panel with a 60Hz refresh fee. What I like essentially the most is that Samsung permits in depth customization choices and lets us work together with apps, messages, and video games. Nonetheless, it isn’t the biggest outer show accessible.
Software program & Person Interface: Smarter
The Z Flip 6 runs on
Android 14 with
Samsung’s One UI 6.1.1 overlay. Samsung guarantees seven years of software program updates, together with seven Android upgrades, making certain long-term assist and safety. This dedication to updates is a big benefit for customers on the lookout for longevity of their gadget
.
Professionals:
- Seven years of Android and safety updates.
- One UI 6 is extremely refined at this stage.
- Galaxy AI options are good additions.
Cons:
- The outer show software program wants extra third-party apps.
One benefit of flip gadgets is the flexibility to work together with the system whereas within the flip place—Samsung calls this FlexWindow. Regardless of the producer’s efforts to enhance it, the outer show software program nonetheless wants extra assist from third-party builders. To this point, Samsung hasn’t been capable of encourage them to totally embrace the flip performance.
At this level, the secondary display screen is usually stuffed with widgets slightly than apps. Nonetheless, we are able to nonetheless do some cool issues like taking part in video games, watching YouTube movies, utilizing the calculator, and replying to messages. However once more, there’s nothing actually new in comparison with final yr, aside from one actually helpful function: the interpreter.
As anticipated, Samsung has introduced Galaxy AI options to the Flip 6. We have already proven you the right way to use a few of these sensible options in your Galaxy gadgets. My colleague, Antoine Engels, highlighted a number of the new additions to the Fold and Flip sequence in his Galaxy Z Fold 6 overview, so I recommend you test it out.
- Samsung One UI: The most effective hidden options of your Galaxy telephone
Nonetheless, I need to spotlight the relevance of the Interpreter function on the Z Flip 6, as I consider this service makes the gadget vital for world vacationers. The Interpreter just isn’t an app however a system choice discovered within the fast settings menu. It took me some time to seek out it—round 10 minutes—so I do not assume it is essentially the most intuitive presentation.
That stated, it really works properly and is simple to make use of. Nonetheless, I do not suggest utilizing it in crowded locations like bars as a result of it picks up different folks’s conversations and mixes matters. Belief me, it occurred to me. This function is nice as a result of it permits real-time conversations, which continues to be arduous to realize in 2024. Even devoted gadgets just like the Timekettle X1 AI Interpreter Hub (overview) wrestle with this.
Moreover, the Galaxy Z Flip 6 consists of options like AI Drawing, which may add creativity to our photographs. Samsung is doing a superb job on this space.
Efficiency & SoC: Quicker
Beneath the hood, the Galaxy Z Flip 6 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy, paired with 12 GB of RAM, and provides two storage choices: 256 GB and 512 GB. The {hardware} carried out properly, and regardless of frequent overheating, it did not negatively impression the gadget’s efficiency. The brand new vapor chamber launched with the Z Flip 6 does a superb job of warmth dissipation and thermal administration
.
Professionals:
- Unquestionable efficiency.
- Thermal administration works.
Cons:
Along with the software program layers in One UI, the brighter inside show, and twin screens, the Z Flip 6 can deal with many AI options. These providers require a variety of power, real-time processing, and knowledge.
As an example, the brand new Auto Zoom photograph function in Flex Mode wants the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 to carry out loads of calculations in real-time. This entails working with the Picture Sensor Processing (ISP), Neural Processing Unit (NPU), knowledge from two cameras, and the outer display screen. Since AI processing is finished on the gadget, at the least the modem just isn’t concerned.
All these processes require a lot of computing energy, placing a heavy load on the {hardware}. Regardless of this, the Z Flip 6 performs solidly, making this compact gadget work at its finest.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 (Snapdragon 8 Gen 3) |
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 (Snapdragon 8 Gen 2) |
Motorola Razr+ 2023 (Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1) |
|
---|---|---|---|
3D Mark Wild Life Excessive | 4,892 | 3,342 | 2,803 |
3D Mark Wild Life Excessive Stress Take a look at |
Finest loop: 4,735 Worst loop: 1,815 |
– | Finest loop: 2,803 Worst loop: 1,222 |
AnTuTu | 1,456,322 | – | – |
Geekbench 6 | Single: 2,259 Multi: 6,915 |
Single: 1,988 Multi: 5,086 |
Single: 1,303 Multi: 3,712 |
Lastly, throughout my check with the Z Flip 6, the AI options had been essentially the most demanding, and the gadget dealt with them properly. The whole lot else ran easily, which is anticipated for a tool that prices over $1000.
Digicam: Higher
The Galaxy Z Flip 6 has a dependable digicam, which I used for skilled duties throughout testing. It captures pictures with good distinction and depth. Nonetheless, it struggles with dynamic vary, shifting topics, and occasional hand shakes, resulting in much less sharp pictures. You would possibly must take a number of pictures to get a transparent image
.
Professionals:
- General, the picture high quality is nice in well-lit circumstances.
- Evening pictures are Instagrammable.
- Camcorder Grip function is neat.
Cons:
- The ultra-wide-angle digicam has vital edge distortion.
- Dynamic vary wants enchancment.
- Auto-zoom for well-framed objects would not work as anticipated.
The sixth technology of the Flip has a digicam much like the one within the Galaxy S24 (overview), that includes a 50-megapixel sensor that takes 12MP pictures by default. The ultra-wide-angle digicam has a 12-megapixel sensor, whereas the entrance digicam provides 10 megapixels—however because of the flip design, it is sensible to make use of the primary digicam for selfies.
I’ve examined the final three generations of Flip fashions, and this one undoubtedly has a greater digicam. In good lighting, pictures are principally sharp and vibrant, with good colours and particulars. At evening, the brand new sensor helps seize extra mild. Nonetheless, Samsung’s software program typically overprocesses and oversaturates pictures, making them look flat or overexposed.
The spotlight of my expertise with the Galaxy Z Flip 6 digicam was utilizing it for my each day duties as a journalist. Whereas masking the discharge of the OnePlus Pad 2 (overview) and OnePlus Watch 2R (overview), I used the Z Flip 6 to take photos and movies of the gadgets. For the Watch 2R, I had to make use of Professional mode as a result of the digicam’s shutter pace wasn’t appropriate with the watch’s refresh fee. Fortunately, Samsung supplied this superior choice.
Moreover, the 50-megapixel sensor helps a 2x optical-quality zoom, and AI-assisted capabilities enable for as much as 10x zoom. Personally, I would not use greater than 2x zoom for distant objects. Nonetheless, the brand new sensor does convey extra versatility to this mannequin by bettering the standard of cropped pictures, because the Galaxy Flip Collection would not have a telephoto digicam.
The digicam app has a brand new function known as Camcorder Grip, which provides higher management and stability when recording movies with the telephone at a 90º angle. This function makes one-handed use simpler, and it is fairly cool. The video high quality is nice, permitting you to file as much as 4K at 60fps.
Lastly, Samsung launched a brand new vapor chamber cooling system designed to take care of excessive efficiency throughout intensive duties. One in all these duties is the AI-supported auto-zoom function, which constantly retains topics well-framed.
This function works when the gadget is within the FlexCam place, robotically reframing the primary object to suit into the picture. Nonetheless, more often than not, it did not work properly for me and induced the telephone to overheat, particularly the highest half the place the digicam and chipset are situated.
If you wish to see the entire picture gallery for this Galaxy Z Flip 6 overview, click on right here.
Battery life & Charging
The Z Flip 6 has a 4,000 mAh battery, which helps 25W wired charging and 15W wi-fi charging. This can be a 300 mAh improve in battery capability in comparison with the earlier technology
.
Professionals:
- All-day battery life.
- Wi-fi charging is supported.
Cons:
- Gradual recharge course of.
- No charger is included.
In our battery life benchmark check, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 lasted 14 hours and 18 minutes earlier than dropping under 20% cost. That is a strong efficiency. In real-life use, the gadget supplied what I name an “all-day battery life.” This implies you possibly can cost it in a single day, undergo your each day routine, and nonetheless have an honest quantity of battery left once you get residence.
On the subject of charging, Samsung would not embrace a 25W adapter within the field. So I used my MacBook 61W USB-C energy adapter to cost the Z Flip 6, because it’s the one I carry whereas touring or working, and it prices virtually all my gadgets. Nonetheless, the outcomes had been disappointing. On common, it takes about 2 hours for the Z Flip 6 to cost from 0 to 100%.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 (4,000 mAh | 25 W) |
|
---|---|
5 min | |
10 min | |
20 min | |
30 min | |
1 h | |
Full cost |
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 technical specs
Specs | |
---|---|
System | Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 |
Picture | |
Show | Important show: 6.7-inch | 22:9 | Dynamic AMOLED 2x (2,640 × 1,080 pixels) | FHD+ | 1 to 120Hz Entrance show: 3.4-inch | Tremendous AMOLED (720 × 748 pixels) | 60 Hz | 306 PPI |
SoC | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy |
Reminiscence | 12 GB LPDDR5X RAM | 256 / 512 GB inside storage |
Software program | Android 14 with One UI 6.1.1 Seven Android upgrades Seven years of software program updates |
Rear digicam | Important: 50 megapixels | 1.0 µm | f/1.8 aperture | FOV: 85˚ | OIS | Twin Pixel AF Extremely-wide angle: 12 megapixels | 1.12 µm | f/2.2 aperture | FOV: 123˚ |
Entrance digicam | 10 megapixels | f/2.2 aperture | FOV: 85˚ |
Battery | 4,000 mAh 25 W wired charging 15 W wi-fi charging 4.5 W reverse charging |
Connectivity | 5G, LTE, eSIM, Wi-Fi 6E (2.4 / 5 / 6 GHz), Bluetooth 5.3, USB Sort-C, GPS |
IP | IP48 |
Colours | Silver Shadow, Yellow, Blue, Mint On-line unique (e-store): Crafted Black, White, Peach |
Dimensions | Closed: 71,9 × 85,1 × 14.9 mm Open: 71,9 × 165,1 × 6.9 mm |
Weight | 187 g |
Conclusion
The sixth technology of the Galaxy Z Flip is a greater gadget, although there are nonetheless areas for enchancment, equivalent to additional growing the entrance show software program and decreasing the reliance on post-processing for the digicam. Charging instances is also enhanced.
Nonetheless, the Z Flip 6 boasts a sooner processor for dealing with AI, a bigger battery capability, and a higher-resolution digicam. And upgrades value extra.
The Z Flip 6 stays costly, even in its sixth technology, making it difficult to justify its place within the $1000 vary, the place higher digicam efficiency is usually anticipated. But, for flip telephone fanatics, the Flip 6 stands out as one of the vital refined choices presently accessible.
It is price noting that Samsung gadgets typically obtain vital reductions a number of months after launch. Moreover, many carriers will provide this pocket-friendly gadget with accessible contracts, making it probably that many will go for it.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6
To gadget database