Samsung’s highly anticipated Z Fold 6 debuted at the Galaxy Unpacked event on July 10, 2024. It boasts several new features and hardware upgrades, like a new processor, a new hinge design, a lighter weight, and a bunch of new Galaxy AI features. But the big question is: are these differences significant enough to make you switch from the Galaxy Z Fold 5? Or wait for the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold, which is expected to arrive on August 13, 2024 ? Let’s break it down.
Galaxy Z Fold 6 vs Fold 5 Specs Comparison
| Galaxy Z Fold 6 | Galaxy Z Fold 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Inner Display | 7.6-inches (1856 x 2160 pixels), Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, 2600 nits (peak) | 7.6-inches (1812 x 2176 pixels), Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, 1750 nits (peak) |
| Outer Display | 6.3-inches (968 x 2376 pixels), Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, 2600 nits (peak) | 6.2-inches (904 x 2316 pixels), Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, 1750 nits (peak) |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) |
| RAM & Storage | 12GB | 12GB |
| Storage | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB (UFS 4.0) | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB (UFS 4.0) |
| Main Camera | 50 MP wide, f/1.8, 12 MP ultrawide f2.2, 10 MP telephoto f/2.4 (3X optical zoom), PDAF, OIS | 50 MP wide, f/1.8, 12 MP ultrawide f2.2, 10 MP telephoto f/2.4 (3X optical zoom), PDAF, OIS |
| Selfie Camera | 10MP f/2.2 (outer), 4MP f/1.8 (inner) | 10MP f/2.2 (outer), 4MP f/1.8 (inner) |
| Battery | 4400 mAh, 25W Charging Speed | 4400 mAh, 25W Charging Speed |
| Weight | 239g | 253g |
| IP Rating | IP48 | IPX8 |
| Colors | Navy, Silver Shadow, Pink, Black, White | Icy Blue, Phantom Black, Cream, Gray, Blue |
| Price | Starts from $1,899 | Starts from $1,799 |
Price and Availability
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 will cost you:
In comparison, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 costs:
Even though the Galaxy Z Fold 5 seems cheaper, it’s still pretty expensive, and many folks might find it hard to get their hands on it.
Slightly New Design Language
Samsung hasn’t changed the Fold’s design much over the years, but the Z Fold 6 is different. It features a slab-like design with a new Dual Rail hinge that improves shock resistance and reduces the screen crease.
Speaking of the crease, it’s less noticeable on the Fold 6 compared to the Fold 5. It’s still there at certain angles, but it’s less perceptible to touch. We love the matte finish on the sides of the Fold 6, making it more attractive and less prone to fingerprints than the glossy Fold 5.
The phone’s form factor remains tall and narrow, which many users have criticized. Samsung could take a page from Google Pixel Fold and OnePlus Open’s book, which have wider cover screens. Despite minor changes in dimensions, the Fold 6 is lighter than the Fold 5 by 14 grams, making it almost as light as the iPhone 14 Pro Max (240 g).
The Fold 6 also boasts an IP48 rating, meaning it’s water and dust-resistant, a step up from the Fold 5, which only had water resistance.
Color-wise, the Fold 6 comes in Navy, Silver Shadow, Pink, Crafted Black, and White, with the last two being Samsung Online store exclusives (check our guide on picking the right color). Meanwhile, the Fold 5 is available in Cream, Phantom Black, and Icy Blue, with Blue and Gray as exclusives to Samsung website.
How Does the Display Compare
The Fold 6 has slightly larger dimensions, featuring a 6.3-inch cover screen compared to the 6.2-inch screen on the Fold 5. The resolution is also bumped up to 968 x 2376 pixels versus 904 x 2316 pixels on the Fold 5.
Tip: Want that Galaxy Z Fold 6 look on your phone?
The main display remains a 7.6-inch screen but with a slight resolution change. The Fold 6 has 1856 x 2160 pixels, while the Fold 5 has 1812 x 2176 pixels.
The Fold 6 shines with a peak brightness of 2600 nits, compared to the Fold 5’s 1750 nits. So, watching your favorite shows and movies on the Fold 6’s screen is even more vibrant and enjoyable, even in bright outdoor settings. Both models feature LTPO AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 (Cover Display). Plus, your Fold 5 S Pen is compatible with the Fold 6.
What’s the Performance Like
Under the hood, the Fold 6 packs the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, tuned for Galaxy devices, which first appeared in the Galaxy S24 lineup. Here’s how it stacks up in benchmarks:
| Galaxy Z Fold 6 | Galaxy Z Fold 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Antutu 10.2.9 | 1,641,860 | 1,512,396 |
| Geekbench 6.3 (Single-Core) | 2152 | 2054 |
| Geekbench 6.3 (Multi-Core) | 6794 | 5409 |
| Geekbench 6.3 GPU | 14074 | 9517 |
| 3D Mark (Wild Life Extreme) | Score: 4683 Average FPS: 28.05 | Score: 3868 Average FPS: 23.17 |
As you can see, the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor outperforms the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in every benchmark test we performed.
This year, the new Fold 6 has a vapor chamber that’s 1.6 times bigger than the Fold 5’s, which should help with heat management. To test this, we played high-demand games like PUBG Mobile for about 30 minutes, with graphics settings on HDR, frame rate at extreme, anti-aliasing at 4x, and brightness at 50%. Surprisingly, both foldable phones’ temperatures averaged between 33.7°C and 34.8°C. We anticipated a significant improvement in heat control, but the difference was barely there.
To sum up, the Gen 3 chipset is definitely a slightly more powerful processor than the Gen 2, but rest assured, you won’t notice any hiccups in the performance of the Z Fold 5 in day-to-day use. But if you want the latest and greatest, go for the Fold 6.
Are the Cameras Better Than Z Fold 5
The Fold 6 sports a new camera design with a black ring, but the camera specs remain largely the same, except for the ultrawide camera, which now supports 4K HDR video recording at 60 fps and better low-light photography. Here’s a quick camera comparison between the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 vs Fold 5.
Main Camera
There isn’t much difference at first glance, but if you look closely, you’ll see the Z Fold 6 captures the clouds better, whereas the Fold 5 barely makes them visible. Additionally, the shadows on the Fold 5 are a bit aggressive, resulting in a loss of details.
Portrait Shot
The bokeh effect (background blur) came out well on both devices. However, the details on my colleague’s jeans are softer on the Fold 5, while the Fold 6 maintains the texture and contrast.
Portrait Selfie
When taking a selfie in portrait mode, it was hard to distinguish between both images. The edge detection, color accuracy, skin tone, and texture were spot on. It’s a draw here.
Zoom Shots
Next, we tested the dedicated 3x telephoto lens in broad daylight. The images came out decent on both phones, but neither was exceptional. Zooming out to 30x, both phones managed to process the image and give clear text.
Night Shot
There was ongoing construction in our area, so I randomly captured some shots. Both phones did a phenomenal job, even showing the reflection of a tree on an office glass. However, in other areas, Fold 5 clearly lacks some key details. For instance, the image is a bit soft and slightly overexposed. You can see the missing details in the second image, where even the text on the blue tin gate is blurred.
Overall Camera Thoughts
The cameras on the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Fold 5 are quite similar. The Fold 6 does have some nice upgrades, like better low-light shots and HDR shots. However, these upgrades aren’t significant enough to justify an upgrade solely for the camera.
How’s the Battery Performance
The battery capacity on the Galaxy Z Fold 6 remains the same 4,400 mAh size as its predecessor. But is there any improvement in battery life given Samsung is using the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, which is said to be more power-efficient than the Gen 2? Let’s find out.
- Watching 4K videos for 30 minutes: Both lost 5% battery.
- Playing PUBG Mobile for 1 hour: Fold 6 lost 14% battery whereas Fold 5 lost 19%.
- Taking 8K videos and daylight photos for 15 minutes: Both lost 6% of the battery.
What about charging speed? Samsung is still sticking with 25W wired charging. We tested both devices, and it took 32:45 minutes to reach from 30% to 80%. We were hoping for 45W charging support this year, but it looks like we’ll have to wait a bit longer.
What Software and Special Features Does It Offer
With the Galaxy S24 series, we were introduced to Samsung’s Galaxy AI, packed with features like Circle to Search, Live Translate, Generative Edit, and Chat Assist. These were later rolled out to the Galaxy Z Fold 5. Thankfully, Samsung didn’t just recycle the same AI features for the Z Fold 6. Instead, they’ve added a bunch of new AI tools:
- Sketch to Image: As the name suggests, you draw a picture, and Samsung’s generative AI brings it to life. The results can be hit or miss, but it’s a fun tool to play around with, especially for kids.
- Portrait Studio: This feature converts your selfie into different art styles such as comics, 3D cartoons, watercolor, and sketches. Once you pick a style and hit Generate, it scans your face and gives you a few different portraits in your chosen style.
- Enhanced Interpreter Mode: While having a conversation with someone, you can use the cover screen to show translated text to the person opposite you.
In addition to these cool AI features, Samsung promises 7 years of major Android updates and security patches for the Z Fold 6. This is a significant step up from the Z Fold 5, which offers only 4 years of updates (and now just 3 Android versions left as of this writing). So, if you’re planning for long-term use, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is a solid bet for longevity.
Which Phone Should You Buy
There’s a lot to love about the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6. The new boxy design feels great in hand, the inner screen crease is less noticeable, and the promise of 7 years of software updates is praiseworthy. Given the high price tag of foldable phones, it’s reassuring to know your phone will be supported for a long time.
However, if you already own the Galaxy Z Fold 5, there isn’t a massive incentive to upgrade. The differences, while nice, aren’t game-changing. But for those venturing into the foldable market for the first time, the Z Fold 6 is a top-notch choice. Alternatively, you could wait for a good deal on the Fold 5. If you find it for $400 or more off, that’s a deal worth considering.
