The Galaxy Z Fold 6 is the latest addition to Samsung’s expanding foldable portfolio and successor to what was considered a decent foldable smartphone from last year – the Galaxy Z Fold 5. What has changed this year? Well, on paper, not much, but plenty of refinements and the company’s go-all-in take on AI (artificial intelligence) features is something that can’t be missed.
Compared to other flagships of 2024, the 
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 daylight camera samples (tap to see larger image)
Even the bokeh shots came out well. I loved the depth estimation on Fold 6, which was accurate in most portrait shots.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 camera samples (tap to see larger image)
Coming to the ultrawide camera, the photos are decent in daylight situations, with ample details and a good dynamic range. However, one shocking news is that there is no autofocus on this camera, which means if you try to use Fold 6 as your point-and-shoot camera, you may end up with some results with soft focus. The telephoto camera is also a capable one.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 camera samples (tap to see larger image)
In low-light conditions, photos slightly get sketchy because of many factors, including irregular autofocusing. There are high levels of noise in low-light photos as well as underexposed subjects in several of our samples.
Another problem was in the zooming department. The Fold 6 isn’t a phone that takes good zoom shots, and there’s no doubt about it.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 night camera samples (tap to see larger image)
The 4-megapixel under-display camera on the main screen is best used for video calls and is no longer apt for social media uploads. The 10-megapixel camera, on the other hand, is better for social media uploads and does an excellent job in every lighting situation. Samsung has also slightly improved video quality on the Fold 6.
The Galaxy Z Fold 6 may not win the best camera award in premium smartphones. But it packs capable cameras. It’s just that I need to compare every aspect of the device, keeping the price in mind, and that sets my bar high for the Fold 6 to match.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 Battery: Still catching up
- Battery capacity – 4,400mAh
- Charging rate – 25W (wired) & 15W wireless
- No charging adapter in the box
The battery department is barely touched by Samsung this year for the Fold 6. It’s like the company chose to avoid bumping battery capacity to ensure that the weight remains lower than last year’s Fold 5. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 packs a 4,400mAh battery, and it lasted nearly for a day with mixed usage where I spent the most time with the cover screen, while for tasks like reading stories, editing, and streaming, I ended up using the inner display. Considering the battery specs haven’t changed, Fold 6’s battery performance is more or less similar to that of Fold 5. In our video loop test, the Fold 6 lasted for 20 hours and 24 minutes, during which we ran the videos on the bigger inner display, which was impressive.
The Fold 6 sports a 120Hz refresh rate
Battery life aside, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 disappoints in charging speeds. Samsung, for reasons it knows best, is holding on to 25W fast charging support at a time when Android flagships priced upwards of lakh support minimum 65W charging speeds. During the review, we noticed that the Fold 6 charges from 0 to 50% in 30 minutes. However, full charging takes over 100 minutes, which isn’t good for a phone that costs almost a bomb.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 Review: Verdict
The Galaxy Z Fold 6 is the best foldable yet from the house of Samsung. It delivers on so many things it promises, and it is a boon for multitaskers. The displays are one of the best on the foldables I have used; performance is snappy, while software with AI features is a USP. The more time you spend with Fold 6, the more you will be a fan of the form factor – especially the use cases it offers, which feel like multiple devices are rolled into one. In a time when smartphone manufacturers are slowly getting bullish on AI features on their devices, Samsung can proudly boast that it has successfully integrated a bunch, and they work fine.
The top-of-the-line Fold 6 variant with 1TB storage costs Rs. 200,999
It’s a supremely capable foldable smartphone, but it may not outright beat other Android flagships, including the Galaxy S24 Ultra. The reason is simple: it’s not meant for that. So, why should you buy it? If you want to experience a refined book-style foldable smartphone with tons of AI goodness and top-notch performance, then Galaxy Z Fold 6 is the phone for you. It offers one of the best UI experiences you can’t get on other foldables like the OnePlus Open (Review) and Vivo X Fold 3 Pro (Review). The software support promise is the cherry on the cake.
Now, let’s talk about some problems. The biggest problem is that foldables do not appeal to everyone, and the second is the pricing of the Fold 6. Because of the folding form factor, it is fragile compared to other phones with a bar design and appeals to a niche target audience. Of course, the pricing is on the high side.
Talking about alternatives, the Galaxy S24 Ultra (Review) offers almost everything that Fold 6 offers at a lesser price, minus the fold design. OnePlus Open and Vivo’s X Fold 3 Pro are also available if you strictly want a book-style foldable other than Fold 6.
