Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 6 is back with lots of AI features. It’s even better than before. Here’s our review. By tarun vanjara
But, the foldable market is changing. Prices are expected to drop in the next couple of years. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 is a flip phone that stands out with its improvements and AI features. Samsung has a long history of making foldable devices and has earned its place in the market.
The price of the Galaxy Z Flip 4 was Rs. 89,999, and the Galaxy Z Flip 5 was Rs. 99,999. The Galaxy Z Flip 6 now costs over a lakh. Samsung has raised the price of its flip phone for the third year in a row.
AI is a big deal for Samsung. It’s the second most important feature for buyers of the Galaxy S24 series. So, how does the Galaxy Z Flip 6 stay relevant in 2024?
This year, Samsung did one good thing. It raised the RAM of the Galaxy Z Flip 6 to 12GB. This is known as the brand’s “Galaxy AI”. AI is at the heart of Samsung’s marketing push this year.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 Design
- Colours – Silver Shadow, Blue, Black, White, and Peach
- Unfolded – 165.1×71.9×6.9mm
- Folded – 85.1×71.9×14.9mm
- Weight – 187 grams
The Galaxy Z Flip 6 looks and feels similar to its predecessor. It has a better hinge and a stronger exterior.
The Flip phones are small when folded, making them easy to carry. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 is even smaller than its predecessor. It fits into small pouches.
The Galaxy Z Flip 5 is similar to the Flip 6 in size and weight. Both have a scratch-free matte finish.
The Samsung Galaxy Flip 6 has a strong hinge and frame made from armour aluminium. It also has Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2. The corners may press into your palm, but it’s not a big issue. The flat edge finish adds to its premium feel.
Using the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 without a case is preferred. Adding a case would increase the weight, which would be a shame. You get used to the size and can open and close it with one hand.
Samsung has introduced the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 in six colours. These include Crafted Black, White, and Peach, as well as Blue, Mint, and Silver Shadow. We got the Mint and Silver Shadow colours for this review.
The Peach and Mint colours look amazing. Black is very classy. I experienced these colours at the Galaxy Unpacked 2024 event. The Silver colour we received is bright and charming.
This colour option becomes more appealing over time. It grows on you as you use the Flip 6.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 Display: Two steps forward, one step back
- Main screen – 6.7-inch Full-HD+ Dynamic AMOLED display
- Cover screen – 3.4-inch 720×748 pixels Super AMOLED display
- Refresh rate – Main screen – 120Hz and Cover screen – 60Hz
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6’s display doesn’t change much, except for a few improvements. It has a 6.7-inch Full-HD+ Dynamic AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. This screen resolution is 1080×2640 pixels. The main screen’s brightness has increased to 2600nits, up from 1750nits on the Flip 5.
The cover screen is a 3.4-inch Super AMOLED with a 60Hz refresh rate and 720×748 pixels. It’s surprising to see a 60Hz refresh rate at this price. Samsung should aim for better.
The main screen performs well, with vibrant colours and sharp text. It’s great for watching videos and playing games. The high brightness makes it perfect for outdoor use.
Samsung has improved the display quality and brightness, which is typical for their premium devices. However, the cover screen faces competition from Motorola’s Flip phones. The Motorola Razr 50 Ultra has a better cover screen than the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6.
You can’t open all apps on the cover screen. Samsung has added widgets like a calculator and dialer. But, the cover screen’s limited use is a drawback. Workarounds like Good Lock can help, but they’re not as easy as Motorola’s solutions.
Here’s how to install Good Lock on your Galaxy Z Flip 6: Search for Good Lock in the Galaxy App Store and install it. Open the app, go to the Life Up tab, and install MultiStar. Then, from MultiStar, select the I Heart Galaxy Foldable button and tap on the Launcher Widget button to add apps to your cover screen. However, even with Good Lock, some apps may not work well on the cover screen.
Samsung should make this feature easier to access. Good Lock lets you use any app on the cover screen, including YouTube. It improves the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6’s cover screen. Samsung should also make it easier to transition between screens.
I like the customisations Samsung offers for the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 cover screen. But, I wish it had more features right out of the box.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 Performance: Top of the class
- Processor – Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Mobile Platform
- RAM and Storage – 12GB RAM + 256GB & 12GB RAM + 512GB
- OS – One UI 6.1.1 based on Android 14
The Galaxy Z Flip 6 is a yearly upgrade from Samsung, offering the latest hardware. This year, it uses the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC instead of the newer 8s Gen 3. This choice is smart because the 8s Gen 3 is a premium processor that’s also cost-effective for manufacturers.
The Flip 6 is great for daily use, thanks to its compact design and the OneUI 6.1.1 operating system. This system is based on Android 14 and is known for being clean and efficient, with almost no unnecessary apps.
The display on the Flip 6 is a standout feature. Samsung has made the crease almost invisible, unlike the Flip 5. It also has IP48 water resistance and good speakers for a small room. The phone supports a Nano SIM and an eSIM for the second SIM. Call quality is excellent, and it can connect to data even in weak network areas.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 Camera: Best camera in a flip phone
- Primary camera – 50-megapixel wide-angle camera
- Ultra-wide – 12-megapixel camera with 123-degree field of view
- Selfie camera – 10-megapixel camera with f/2.2 aperture
The Flip 6 has a big upgrade in its primary camera. It now has a 50-megapixel ISOCELL GN3 sensor with an f/1.8 aperture, dual-pixel PDAF, and OIS. The ultra-wide camera is a 12-megapixel with f/2.2 aperture, and the selfie camera is a 10-megapixel module. There’s no telephoto camera, but the new sensor improves zoom quality.
In daylight, the Galaxy Z Flip 6 takes great photos. They have good details, colours, exposure, and dynamic range. The autofocus is quick and works well in most light conditions. The phone doesn’t have a macro sensor, but it can still take close-up photos with some effort.
