Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 vs 5, What's Different?
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 has officially arrived, but unfortunately, so has its hefty price tag. This 2024 foldable marvel is priced at a starting point of £1,799 for the 256GB model, rising to £2,100 for the 1TB version. This makes it £50 more expensive than its predecessor, the Z Fold 5. The big question is whether this premium price tag is justified or if you should stick with the older model.
admin
Design and Build
Weighing in at 239 grams, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is slightly lighter and a bit thinner than the Z Fold 5. Samsung has done away with the rounded corners, giving the new foldable a more rectangular design with flat edges. The external 6.3-inch Dynamic AMOLED screen is just 1mm wider than that of the Z Fold 5, making it a bit less narrow. The resolution has been bumped up to 2376 x 968 pixels, and the cover screen now supports a 1Hz to 120Hz refresh rate thanks to the new LTPO technology. The hinge has been adjusted to accommodate the wider screen, ensuring a comfortable grip without adding extra bulk.
The frame and hinge are made from enhanced Armor Aluminum, which Samsung claims is more scratch-resistant. The front and back are protected by Victus 2 glass with a frosted finish that resists smudges. The Z Fold 6 is also IP48-rated, making it more resistant to dust and water compared to the IPX8-rated Z Fold 5.
Display
Unfold the Galaxy Z Fold 6, and you’re greeted by a 7.6-inch internal screen. This Dynamic AMOLED display still supports a 120Hz refresh rate but now boasts a peak brightness of 2,600 nits, up from 1,750 nits on the Z Fold 5. Samsung's Vision Booster technology ensures visibility even in bright sunlight. The under-display camera is still there, but its position is more noticeable with pixelation around it. Samsung has improved the protective layer on the inner display for better shock absorption, though the crease is still visible.
Performance and Software
The Z Fold 6 is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy, a refined version made specifically for Samsung, paired with 12GB of RAM. This setup promises top-tier performance, whether you’re gaming or multitasking. The vapor chamber has been enlarged by 1.6 times, enhancing heat dissipation during intensive tasks.
One UI has been updated with a host of AI features, grouped under the Galaxy AI menu. Some of these features will be backported to the Z Fold 5 in a future update. Highlights include new conversation modes in the Interpreter tool, allowing real-time translation in 16 languages. The live translate tool now supports third-party apps like Microsoft Teams and WhatsApp, with improved noise cancellation.
Samsung's web summarization tool provides bullet point summaries of web pages, and the Circle to Search feature has been improved to recognize QR codes and solve mathematical equations. The AI can also enhance your sketches and integrate them into photos seamlessly.
Camera
The camera setup remains largely unchanged from the Z Fold 5, featuring a 50MP main shooter, a 12MP ultra-wide lens, and a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom and 30x digital zoom. The software has been tweaked to reduce aggressive oversharpening at maximum zoom levels. Night video performance has been improved with better on-device processing. The 10MP selfie camera still struggles with flattering images, but the Z Fold 6 offers various camera modes, including a Pro mode and 8K video recording at 30fps.
Battery and Charging
Battery capacity and charging speeds are unchanged, with a 4,400mAh battery supporting 25W wired and slow wireless charging. This is one area where Samsung has not made significant improvements.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 is an incremental upgrade over the Z Fold 5, with enhancements in design, display brightness, and AI-driven software features. While it’s slightly more expensive, it offers a more refined user experience. For those already using the Z Fold 5, the decision to upgrade may come down to whether these incremental improvements justify the higher price.
