Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 Evaluation: Samsung Makes Tiny Tweaks – Uplaza

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 in a nutshell

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 has been obtainable for pre-order ever because it was unveiled on July 10, 2024. Samsung’s foldable smartphone is available in three reminiscence configurations:

• 12 / 256 GB: $1,899.99
• 12 / 512 GB: $2,019.99
• 12 / 1024 GB: $2,259.99

The Galaxy Z Fold 6 is $100 dearer than the Galaxy Z Fold 5 (evaluate) which in flip, was additionally dearer than the Galaxy Z Fold 4 (evaluate).

Design and display

The Galaxy Z Fold 6 is 14 g lighter than the Galaxy Z Fold 5, with extra angular corners, as discovered within the earlier Galaxy Observe units. For the primary time in a foldable Samsung smartphone, the Z Fold 6 is IP48 licensed. The duvet display can be a bit bigger and its edges are extra symmetrical. Nonetheless, all these adjustments are virtually redundant as they don’t seem to be noticeable in on a regular basis use.

Execs:

• Gorilla Glass Victus 2 in entrance and on the again.
• IP certification, finally!
• Extra snug to carry than earlier than.
• Prime-quality end.

Cons:

• The 14g weight discount is just not apparent.
• The selfie digicam below the inner display is simply too seen.
• Design “evolutions” are too minimal.

Very, very delicate design adjustments

The Galaxy Z Fold 6 is on the market in 5 colours: white, grey, pink, midnight blue, and the brand new carbon black. The again coating is matte and guarded by Gorilla Glass Victus 2. The smartphone has barely extra angular corners and flatter edges. It weighs 14 g lower than the earlier mannequin at 239 g. The smartphone can be barely wider and fewer tall than the Z Fold 5.

It’s IP48-certified for water and dirt resistance, permitting it to face up to immersion to a depth of 1.5 m for half-hour. Mud particles bigger than 1 mm shouldn’t injury the smartphone.

Visually, I discovered nothing has modified drastically from final 12 months’s mannequin. The end is as meticulous as ever. I actually like the grey coloration of my evaluate unit. The IP48 ranking is not insane, nevertheless it’s about time Samsung included such certification for his or her flagship gadget.

The Galaxy Z Fold 6 suits higher within the hand this 12 months, which is an efficient factor. The hinge presents a great stability between rigidity and fluidity. You possibly can’t unfold it with one hand, however the “snap” whenever you fold and unfold it’s as satisfying as ever.

Two high screens

The Galaxy Z Fold 6 has a bigger cowl display, up from 6.2 to six.3 inches. It is an 120 Hz LTPO AMOLED panel protected by Gorilla Glass Victus. This cowl display can obtain a most brightness of two,600 nits.

Sure, the duvet display is a bit greater nevertheless it nonetheless would not have the format of a “normal” smartphone when the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is folded. It is nearer to the display ratio of an Xperia smartphone. With my fats fingers, I am nonetheless a bit wanting house with regards to typing utilizing the keyboard. Alternatively, I did not thoughts utilizing the digicam software with out having to unfold the smartphone. I additionally admire how the perimeters are extra symmetrical this 12 months.

The Galaxy Z Fold’s inner display is a 7.6″ 120 Hz LTPO AMOLED panel and is protected by a plastic movie sans any Gorilla Glass presence. Right here too, the height brightness stands at 2,600 nits.

I’ve nothing damaging to say concerning the inner display, other than that well-known crease within the center that Samsung will in all probability by no means eliminate. The crease did not hassle me in any respect throughout my evaluate. Alternatively, I did not just like the selfie digicam that was hidden below the display. It gnaws at my eyes on a regular basis.

Interface and OS

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 runs on the One UI 6.1.1 pores and skin that’s primarily based on Android 14. The one precise new options are just a few
Galaxy AI capabilities (evaluate), a few of that are very first rate and attention-grabbing. Samsung guarantees seven years of Android updates and 7 years of safety updates. That is glorious and much better than its opponents.

Execs:

• 7 Android updates + 7 years of safety updates.
• Chosen spectacular Galaxy AI capabilities.
• Prime-notch multitasking functionality.
• Intuitive navigation between the 2 screens.

Cons:

• No main new options other than Galaxy AI.
• Unique” AI capabilities are unlikely to stay so.

I’ve gone into nice element about One UI’s options in Samsung’s foldable smartphones. You may know all concerning the multitasking, app continuity between the 2 screens, and many others. I’ve additionally obtained a full-length article concerning the well-known Flex Mode. Lastly, there is a checklist of the most effective One UI 6 options, with a lot of hidden tips and capabilities, which is why I will not bore you by repeating them.

As for the brand new options in One UI 6.1.1, they primarily concern Galaxy AI (evaluate). I am going to checklist them right here in no explicit order and offer you my opinion on every of them pretty rapidly.

Dynamic wallpapers primarily based on the climate

You possibly can create a wallpaper impact that adapts to the climate dynamically. Choose the background that you really want and if it is raining, an animated rain filter will seem. The identical goes for snow and completely different climate circumstances. It is a enjoyable departure from boring wallpapers and it really works nicely with the Galaxy Z Fold 6’s fluid, brilliant screens.

Sensible choose

Samsung additionally improved its Sensible choose perform. You possibly can entry this perform by way of the “edge panel”. This can be a pop-up menu that seems whenever you swipe from one of many display’s edges. Sensible choose is a variety too that works this fashion: whether or not on an online web page, in a word app, or studying a doc, Sensible choose can robotically detect sure components. The instrument will then recommend context-sensitive actions.

If you choose some textual content with a phone quantity in it, Sensible choose will recommend you name that quantity. There isn’t any want to spotlight the precise quantity. Merely circle or faucet the paragraph containing the quantity together with your finger and voila! It is nice enjoyable and works very well.

Face-to-face translations with Interpreter

The Interpreter instrument is a real-time translator and is not unique in any means. Nonetheless, what’s new on the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is you need to use each screens to show translated transcripts of your dialog.

Think about you are speaking to somebody in entrance of you. You do not communicate the identical language. All you need to do is start the dialog and maintain your Galaxy Z Fold 6 in entrance of you. Every little thing you say is then transcribed, translated, and displayed on the smartphone’s cowl display. This enables the individual in entrance of you to see the interpretation. This turns out to be useful if you happen to’re in a loud surroundings, or in case your companion is difficult of listening to.

Portrait Studio

This perform is without doubt one of the photograph modifying choices in Galaxy AI. Studio Portrait enables you to create extra superior filters to remodel your self right into a cartoon character or different. It is greater than only a filter because the AI generates a picture and takes just a few liberties with it. The outcomes appeared to me a bit too generic and at occasions horrifying,venturing ito the uncanny valley.

Sketch to picture

That is one other of Galaxy AI’s photograph modifying capabilities. You possibly can draw an object on one among your pictures and the AI will then generate a practical model of this object and combine it into the photograph as if it have been a part of it within the first place.

I liked this characteristic. Even with very tough sketches, the generated objects have been strikingly life like at occasions they usually built-in very nicely with the pictures. It did not really feel like Samsung was merely pasting a PNG over a photograph.

Do word the chances usually are not infinite. Drawing over a face is unimaginable. I could not make myself sport a Karl Marx beard. As quickly as you add a number of drawings, or the weather are too far aside, the AI refuses to play alongside. All in all, I discovered this perform very spectacular and enjoyable to make use of.

Efficiency and SoC

By way of efficiency, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 options Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC. There’s 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and between 256GB and 1TB of UFS 4.0 storage, relying on the mannequin. Efficiency is extraordinarily strong however would not undergo the roof.

Execs:

• No overheating points.
• Appropriate for 60 FPS gaming.

Cons:

• Efficiency is just not worthy of a $1,900 smartphone

General, the Galaxy Z Fold 6’s efficiency is strong however its scores are decrease than these of most different non-foldable flagships working on the identical SoC. The Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely (evaluate) achieved higher outcomes, as an illustration.

I perceive the design of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 requires some fairly strict thermal administration. The smartphone is skinny and filled with elements. Though Samsung has enlarged the vapor chamber, there is not a lot house to handle the warmth contained in the chassis. Naturally, the smartphone has to sluggish itself down.

On the 3D Mark Wild Life Excessive Stress Check benchmark, stability stood at simply 51%. That is fairly common for such an costly smartphone.

These are the benchmarks must you be all for them. All of the cell video games I ran have been chugging alongside at round 60 FPS in excessive graphics with out too many issues. I did not discover any overheating in any respect.

Digicam efficiency

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 has a triple digicam module on the again. The 50 MP major lens, a 12 MP ultra-wide angle, and a ten MP telephoto lens. The smartphone additionally has two selfie lenses. The interior 4 MP selfie digicam is hidden beneath the display whereas the second 10 MP digicam is situated on the duvet display. This is identical configuration seen in final 12 months’s Galaxy Z Fold 5. Sadly, its age is starting to point out.

Execs:

• Environment friendly major lens for day and night time photographs.
• Good distinction and element.
• Superb 3x telephoto zoom.
• Environment friendly portrait mode with good cropping.

Cons:

• Ineffective inner selfie digicam
• Random high quality for night time photographs.
• Digicam high quality is just not worthy of a $1,900 smartphone.

Essential digicam and ultra-wide angle digicam high quality

The principle digicam of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is identical as that of the Galaxy S24 (evaluate). It is a sensor with an f/1.8 aperture, autofocus, and optical stabilization. Photographs are captured in 12 MP decision by way of pixel binning, however it’s also possible to change to full 50 MP decision if you happen to so want.

Day or night time, pictures captured utilizing the principle digicam are superb. The element stage is all the time enough. Samsung manages dynamic vary nicely. It is large, however we nonetheless get good contrasts with advanced publicity. The colours, whereas a bit saturated, did not appear too synthetic to me.

Portrait mode is functionally efficient. Samsung limits overexposure considerations when the topic is in direct daylight. Bokeh in pictures could be taken with 1x or 2x zoom. There is a third 3x mode, nevertheless it depends on the telephoto lens fairly than the principle one. General, cropping is all the time very clear.

Zoom high quality

The Galaxy Z Fold 6’s 10 MP telephoto lens can zoom in optically as much as 3x. The digital zoom presents 10x, 20x, and a most of 30x. It additionally has an f/2.4 aperture, autofocus, and optical stabilization. Regardless of the telephoto lens’ 10 MP decision, zoomed pictures are captured in 12 MP decision. It is because Samsung performs an “upscaling” operation to make the telephoto pictures extra in line with the principle lens.

The 3x zoom pictures are all first rate in the course of the day. They’re wealthy intimately and there aren’t any main coloration or publicity inconsistencies with the wide-angle lens nor did I discover any artifacts. Rendering can be superb as much as 10x. Past that, the extent of element is insufficient, sharpness is absent and artifacts start to point out.

I additionally actually preferred the Samsung digicam software’s zoom interface. The zoom ranges are very simple to entry. That is not often the case with different producers. You do not have to swipe to vary the zoom stage, which could be very sensible.

Selfie high quality

We have now three choices to seize selfies with the Galaxy Z Fold 6. We are able to use the exterior selfie digicam which is situated on the duvet display when the smartphone is folded and carries a ten MP decision.

Photographs are first rate, however nothing greater than that. Portrait mode works fairly nicely. At night time, high quality takes a success with a big lack of element because of smoothing to compensate for digital noise.

There’s additionally the inner selfie digicam which comes into motion when the smartphone is unfolded. That is hidden beneath the display, and its 4 MP decision makes it just about redundant. It additionally doesn’t provide a portrait mode.

Other than video calls, I might advise towards utilizing it as a result of low-resolution rely. For sure, night time photographs are a disastrous affair.

Lastly, you possibly can take selfies with the principle lens on the again. You’ll have to unfold the smartphone first, flip it the wrong way up, and the duvet display capabilities as a viewfinder.

That is the only option in my view for the reason that high quality is significantly better than utilizing the opposite two cameras talked about. You may want to regulate your composition a bit by way of framing because the digicam is not centered behind. The ratio can be completely different because the aperture is f/1.8 with an extended focal size.

Evening high quality

I’ve by no means been a fan of night time photographs with Samsung smartphones. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 hasn’t modified my thoughts on this regard. The principle digicam does nicely however you possibly can see artifacts within the night time sky. Road lamps and different lighting crack the picture in locations with lens flares.

Whereas the principle digicam manages to take care of a great stage of element by limiting digital noise, this isn’t the case with the ultra-wide angle lens. The telephoto lens does fairly nicely at 3x, however falters past this zoom stage.

Battery and recharging

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6’s 4,400 mAh battery is comparatively small. It has to energy a really energy-hungry SoC and two equally energy-hungry screens. Logically, battery life would endure. The smartphone helps 25W wired charging and 10W wi-fi charging.

Execs:

• Enough battery life when folded.
• Wi-fi charging is supported.

Cons:

• When totally opened, the battery drains far too rapidly.
• No charger is included.
• Wired charging is way too sluggish.

In our battery life benchmark, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 lasted 10 hours 46 minutes earlier than dropping under 20% battery life, with the display unfolded. That is a poor rating. Realistically, you will not be utilizing the smartphone totally opened on a regular basis.

When folded, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 lasted 15 hours and 36 minutes utilizing the identical benchmark and in keeping with the identical parameters. This is much better, however nonetheless distant from the most effective rating for a smartphone on this worth vary.

I am going to by no means surrender ranting on this one, Samsung’s charging pace is way too sluggish. It is disappointing to pay $1,900 for a smartphone that doesn’t include a charger, and I’ve to attend for an hour and 45 minutes to go from 0 to 100%. What’s worse, the battery capability is not even that enormous within the first place.

Technical information

Conclusion