What was once an August launch was moved to late July final 12 months, and now Samsung showcased its new merchandise for the second semester at the start of July. The Galaxy Z Flip 6 is among the Unpacked highlights, which additionally introduced new wearables, earbuds, and the brand new massive Fold 6.
Earlier than delving deeper into what modified within the Z Flip 6, let’s take a look at a direct comparability with the specs of each fashions:
| Samsung’s 2024 Flip | Samsung’s 2023 Flip | |
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| Overview |
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Overview: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 |
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| SoC |
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| Reminiscence |
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| OS |
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| Digicam |
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| Selfie Digicam | ||
| Battery |
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| Connectivity |
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| IP Certification | ||
| Dimensions and weight |
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| Presents* |
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After the massive improve to the exterior show in 2023, which marked the distinction between the Flip 4 and 5, upgrades on the brand new Flip 6 are apparently extra modest. We’ve but to check the brand new mannequin and can replace this comparability as quickly as we get one in our workplace. In the meantime, that is an early look into the 2 fashions.
What are the variations between the Galaxy Z Flip 5 and 6:
Show and design
Whereas the Flip 5 modified considerably from the Flip 4—largely due to the outer show, the brand new Flip 6 is a refinement of the earlier technology. Total dimensions are the identical, except a thinner profile when closed. And the shows have the identical diagonals: 6.7” for the interior OLED panel, and three.4” for the exterior show.
The Flip 6 is 0.2 mm thinner than the earlier technology, a distinction so minuscule we wager most individuals will not discover. In case you dealt with a Flip 5, the expertise might be largely the identical with the sixth technology. Even the 6.6 oz (187 g) weight is identical between the Galaxy Z Flip 5 and 6.
As a welcome improve, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 options an IP48 ranking for each mud and water resistance, up from the IPx8 for less than water resistance on the Flip 5.
Total show specs are the identical, with a 720 × 748 decision within the outer OLED show, and 2640 × 1080 for the interior LTPO OLED that may dynamically swap the refresh charge between 1 and 120 Hz to both save energy or present clean display animations.
To anybody who skipped the Flip 5, the outer show on each it and its successor nearly wraps to the aspect of the 2 digital camera modules, utilizing an space that may in any other case sit unused. It’s value noting. Nevertheless, that Motorola fully surrounds the digital camera islands on its rival Razr flip since 2023.
We anticipate to see some brightness enhancements within the newer mannequin, however we should await our full assessment to inform our impressions on additional variations between the 2 Flips.
Efficiency and connectivity
Samsung as soon as once more depends on Qualcomm to provide their Snapdragon chips to the Galaxy Z foldables in 2024—we suspect the warmer and extra power-hungry Samsung Foundry-made chips are in charge right here. Whereas the Z Flip 5 used the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, the Z Flip 6 makes use of its 8 Gen 3 successor, plain and easy.
| Galaxy Z Flip 6 (Snapdragon 8 Gen 3) |
Galaxy Z Flip 5 (Snapdragon 8 Gen 2) |
Galaxy Z Flip 4 (Snapdragon 8 Gen 1) |
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| 3D Mark Wild Life Excessive | pending | 3,342 | 2,815 |
| 3D Mark Wild Life stress check | Finest loop: 11,069 Worst loop: 5,068 |
Finest loop: 10,586 Worst loop: 4,145 |
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| Geekbench 6 | Single: 1,988 Multi: 5,086 |
Single: 1,309 Multi: 4,213 |
To handle the heavy throttling points we present in our checks of each the Flip 4 and 5, Samsung highlighted that the Flip 6 is its first clamshell telephone to function a vapor chamber warmth dissipation system. Contemplating the restricted space obtainable, we stay skeptical the Flip 6 can carry out as constantly as a conventional candybar telephone, however solely our full check will be capable to affirm it.
Based mostly on different telephone households that upgraded between the identical Snapdragon chips, the overall efficiency improve hovers round 20 and 30% for normal duties and video games. Nevertheless, in most eventualities, these are hardly noticeable outdoors of longer, extra demanding duties like media processing.
One notable improve on the Flip 6 is the rise in RAM, which is now 12 GB up from 8 GB within the 2023 technology. The skeptical ones within the viewers will attribute it to the heavy reminiscence utilization of the AI development we’re going by means of. However it’s nonetheless an improve that may assist particularly these with many browser tabs and apps opened on the identical time.
Cameras
After principally reusing the Flip 4 digital camera setup on the Flip 5, Samsung gave the Galaxy Z Flip 6 an precise spec improve for the principle digital camera. The brand new mannequin obtained bumped to 50 megapixels up from the 12 MP on the Flip 5. The ultra-wide-angle and selfie cameras, in the meantime, maintain their 12 and 10-megapixel decision, respectively.
Based mostly on the decision and pixel dimension specs offered by Samsung, our serviette math means that not solely the decision obtained a giant improve but in addition the digital camera sensor dimension. The larger 1/1.3” element (up from 1/1.76”) shouldn’t solely end in capturing extra mild—probably growing night time shot high quality—but in addition permit for some respectable 2x zoom pictures.
There may be additionally the potential of picture processing enhancements in {hardware} and software program, one thing that Camila Rinaldi observed between the fourth and fifth generations. Nevertheless, we’ll as soon as once more have to attend for our check to verify if Samsung’s claims maintain true.
In the meantime, we are able to verify her photos with the Flip 5, and a few early pictures with the Flip 6:
Galaxy Z Flip 5 check pictures
Galaxy Z Flip 5 check pictures
Software program
Simply because the Galaxy S launch brings the primary main revision to the present One UI model, the Galaxy Z provides some additional enhancements for the second half of the 12 months. In 2024, which means One UI 6.1.1 on high of Android 14. And in typical 2024 trend, Samsung threw all of the AI they may into the advertising and marketing supplies.
On the subject of software program, the principle improve is AI the much-improved replace coverage that now matches the Galaxy S and Pixel households: Seven Android upgrades and 7 years of safety updates. As a refresher, the Flip 5 is scheduled to obtain three extra Android upgrades and 4 years of safety patches (deducting one 12 months from the unique 4+5 promise).
Apart from that, Samsung guarantees to broaden—the quite restricted—variety of widgets and apps obtainable on the exterior show, together with assist for the SmartThings residence ecosystem and the Samsung Well being metrics. The outer display additionally gives extra customization choices for wallpapers, together with generative AI assist.
Talking of AI, along with the picture modifying options already obtainable on the Galaxy S telephones (and a few older Z fashions as properly), Samsung guarantees higher portrait photos (presumably by leveraging higher topic detection) and an attention-grabbing gimmick known as “Auto-zoom”, which might reframe the scene to higher spotlight (what the AI thinks is) your topic.
Battery and charging
Over the previous 12 months, we’ve observed the next quantity than typical of battery capability upgrades between telephone generations that did not change a lot in dimensions. And the Galaxy Z Flip 6 is one other a type of. Even with the (very) small discount in dimensions, Samsung managed to cram a higher-capacity battery.
Out goes the 3700 mAh element used on the Galaxy Z Flip 5 (and 4), and now we see a 4000 mAh battery on the Flip 6. Positive, it’s not even a ten% improve, however nonetheless an enchancment. Charging speeds, then again, stay the identical, topping at 25 W utilizing an non-compulsory charger.
We’ll run our typical checks for charging and battery life to verify if something modified in apply, particularly if Samsung’s claims of an extended battery life maintain true even with a quicker processor.
Value and availability
Pricing could be both good or dangerous information, relying on which area you reside. Costs for the Flip 6 base mannequin elevated within the US, whereas they remained the identical in Europe—for the Flip 5 it was reversed final 12 months. These are contemplating the identical storage capability, whereas RAM was elevated from 8 to 12 GB as talked about earlier than.
| Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 12 GB RAM |
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 8 GB RAM |
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|---|---|---|
| 256 GB | ||
| 512 GB |
Moreover, pre-orders are promised a greater worth for telephone trade-ins, and further guarantee protection by means of the Samsung Care+ plan for one 12 months. And to not be outdone, anticipate to see carriers providing their very own promotions on high of these.
And much like earlier years, each carriers and on-line retailers ought to begin clearing out their stock of the earlier generations, so remember to regulate offers for the Galaxy Z Flip 5 as properly.
Conclusion
After the massive show improve in 2023 (actually), the Galaxy Z Flip 6 went again to the iterative updates when in comparison with its predecessor. Whereas the Flip 5 provided improved usability over the Flip 4, the brand new Flip 6 seems like a refinement for the sequence, upgrading the digital camera and battery on the identical time providing higher methods to make use of the exterior show.
Whereas we wait to check the brand new telephone, we merely can not advocate upgrading between generations. However if you’re on the fence between the 2 fashions, the straightforward proven fact that the Flip 6 ought to obtain safety updates till 2031 (versus 2028 for the Flip 5) might be a robust argument. Particularly should you typically present it to a relative or buddy, or resell the telephone.
We anticipate to check the brand new telephone quickly to have a greater image of the way it performs and of all the brand new options—AI or not—it brings to the desk. In the meantime, comply with us on social media and activate notifications to obtain our newest information straight in your telephone or PC.