Samsung Unpacked has finally wrapped up, and the Galaxy Z Flip 6 is heading to market. While you might expect incremental updates, Samsung has gone beyond minor tweaks with this latest Flip, adding a better camera, a design change, and new AI features. If you’re using a Z Flip 5 or even the older Z Flip 4, here are five compelling reasons to consider upgrading.
This may also be useful if you’re considering saving some cash and opting for an older-generation Flip, as we will highlight the key differences and improvements in the newest model.
Galaxy Z Flip 6 vs. Z Flip 5 vs. Z Flip 4 Specifications
Before we start, here’s a quick overview of the new Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 specifications compared to the older Z Flip 5 and Z Flip 4.
| Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 | Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 | Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Display | 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED, 120Hz, with 2600 nits of peak brightness | 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED, 120Hz, with 1750 nits of peak brightness | 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED, 120Hz, with 1600 nits of peak brightness |
| Cover Display | 3.4-inch Super AMOLED, 720p, 60Hz, and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 | 3.4-inch Super AMOLED, 720p, 60Hz, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 | 1.9-inch Super AMOLED, 512p, 60Hz, Gorilla Glass Victus+ |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 |
| RAM and Storage Type | LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 4.0 storage | LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 4.0 storage | LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.1 storage |
| RAM and Storage Variants | 12GB + 256GB, 12GB + 512GB | 8GB + 256GB, 8GB + 512GB | 8GB + 128GB, 8GB + 256GB, 8GB + 512GB |
| Battery | 4000mAh | 3700mAh | 3700mAh |
| Software Updates | 7 years of major updates, up to Android 20 | 4 years of major updates, up to Android 17 | 4 years of major updates, up to Android 16 |
| Rear Camera | 50MP (Wide, f/1.8, OIS) + 12MP (Ultrawide, f/2.2) | 12MP (Wide, f/1.8, OIS) + 12MP (Ultrawide, f/2.2) | 12MP (Wide, f/1.8, OIS) + 12MP (Ultrawide, f/2.2) |
| Selfie Camera | 10MP f.2/2 | 10MP f/2.2 | 10MP f/2.4 |
| Connectivity | 5G, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, USB 3.2 Type-C, NFC, UWB | 5G, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, USB 3.2 Type-C, NFC, UWB | 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC, GPS |
| Durability | Enhanced Armor Aluminum Frame, IP48 | Armor Aluminum Frame, IPX8 | Armor Aluminum Frame, IPX8 |
| Dimensions | Unfolded: 165.1 x 71.9 x 6.9mm, Folded: 85.1 x 71.9 x 14.9mm | Unfolded: 165.1 x 71.9 x 6.9mm, Folded: 85.1 x 71.9 x 15.1mm | Unfolded: 165.2 x 71.9 x 6.9mm, Folded: 84.9 x 71.9 x 17.1~15.9mm |
| Weight | 187g | 187g | 187g |
| Starting Price | $1099 | $999 | $899 |
Why You Should Upgrade to the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6
You might want to upgrade to the Galaxy Z Flip 6 if:
1. You Want the Refreshed Design
At first glance, the Galaxy Z Flip 6 looks identical to its predecessor, but Samsung has made some subtle yet impactful changes. If you recall, the Flip 4 wouldn’t close completely flush, leaving a small gap between the screen and the hinge. Samsung fixed this with the Flip 5, making it slightly slimmer at 15.1mm when folded. The Galaxy Z Flip 6 is even slimmer at 14.9mm when folded, leaving barely any gap, and the crease is even harder to notice.
This means it’s a bit easier to pocket and more comfortable to hold for extended periods. The rear cameras feature colored rings that match the phone’s outer body, adding a neat visual cue. Remember how Apple changes its camera design by a bit with each new generation? Samsung seems to be taking a page from that playbook.
The Z Flip 6 comes in seven color options, including Blue, Silver, Mint, and Yellow. Samsung’s website will carry three exclusive colors: Crafted Black, White, and Peach.
2. You’re a Mobile Gamer
Keeping up with the annual chip upgrade, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 features the latest octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, as opposed to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 on the Flip 5. This new chip is about 20-30% faster, resulting in quicker app launches, smoother multitasking, and better overall responsiveness.
The new Snapdragon processor also boasts a GPU that’s about 50% more powerful, ensuring effortless gaming, and an enhanced AI engine to support Galaxy AI features. These features are expected to run faster on the Flip 6, especially for on-device operations.
Furthermore, Samsung adds two notable changes: the Z Flip 6 comes standard with 12GB of RAM (up from 8GB in the previous model), and a novel Vapor Chamber Cooling system (larger than the one found in the Galaxy S24 Ultra).
2. Cameras Are Your Priority
Samsung used the same camera setup in the Z Flip 5 and Flip 4, but that changes with the Flip 6. It features a higher-resolution 50-megapixel primary camera on the rear with an f/1.8 aperture, a significant upgrade from the 12-megapixel standard shooter on the older models. However, the ultrawide and selfie cameras remain unchanged.
The new 50-megapixel sensor also supports 2x optical zoom and up to 10x digital zoom with AI enhancement.
Samsung’s Flip phones have a FlexCam feature that allows you to use the phone hands-free in its partially folded “flex mode,” similar to traditional handheld camcorders. The FlexCam on the Z Flip 6 includes AI-powered auto zoom, which intelligently zooms in or out to keep the subject in the frame.
3. You Need a Reliable All-Day Battery Life
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 has a marginally bigger 4,000mAh battery compared to the 3,700mAh on the Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Flip 4. Paired with the more efficient Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, you can easily get a day’s worth of battery usage. I’ve witnessed the Flip 4’s battery die on many of my friends by the end of the day. Hopefully, that won’t happen with the Flip 6.
The wired charging tops out at 25W, the same as the Flip 5. Wireless charging maxes out at 15W, while reverse wireless charging happens at 4.5W.
4. More AI Features Than Galaxy AI You’ve Already Seen
Besides fully integrating the Galaxy Z Flip 6 with Galaxy AI out of the box, Samsung has also added a couple of new exclusive AI features. Among them is a new AI-powered ProVisual Engine for its cameras that can detect objects, analyze lighting conditions, and isolate facial features to enhance the images. It also helps with improving the quality of zoom even at 10x, similar to Google’s Super Res Zoom feature on Pixel phones.
The phone’s cover display (also called the FlexWindow) gets Suggested replies. The phone will automatically understand the context of messages received on the cover display and suggest tailored responses. Multiple new widget options will appear for the outer display.
There are Photo Ambient Wallpapers and features like Instant Slow-Mo, Circle to Search, Live Translate for Calls, Browsing Assist in Samsung Internet, Note Assist, and more which we’ve already seen and enjoyed on some older Samsung Galaxy devices, including the Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Fold 5.
5. You Want a Little Sturdy Phone
The Galaxy Z Flip 6’s cover screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2. Additionally, it uses an Enhanced Aluminum Armor frame, replacing the standard Aluminum Armor of previous models, making it stronger and more durable.
The phone’s frame has a matte finish, unlike the glossy finish of previous iterations. This makes it less prone to smudges and fingerprints. Samsung also claims the hinge is even more durable this time. And finally, the phone has a dust resistance rating, upgrading to the IP48 rating from IPX8 rating in the previous models.
So if you want a stylish but a sturdy phone, especially with moving mechanical parts like the Fold or Flip, you may want to choose the most durable option.
Who Should Not Upgrade to the Galaxy Z Flip 6?
As mentioned earlier, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 brings several improvements, including better performance in gaming and multitasking, a better rear camera, a minor design refresh, and slightly better battery life. It’s also more durable. But again, these may not matter to everyone. If you’re already using a Galaxy Z Flip 5 and are happy with it, you could wait for a bigger upgrade next year unless you need those camera and battery upgrades right away.
At the same time, if you have a Flip 3 or Flip 4, you can definitely consider this phone if your next phone is going to be a flip phone. Or maybe even try a foldable like the Z Fold this time?
