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The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip series has always intrigued me more than the Z Fold. Whether it’s the nostalgic charm of the flip-phone design, a preference for a more conventional display shape, or the Z Flip’s more approachable price point, this series has consistently held my interest.
Over the years, while the Z Flip has launched alongside the Z Fold, it often lagged behind in terms of flagship specifications, sometimes falling short even compared to the Galaxy S series. This year, however, Samsung has made strides to rectify some of the Z Flip 5’s major shortcomings, particularly in battery performance and camera quality.
Performance and Battery Life
The Galaxy Z Flip 6 comes with a notable upgrade in RAM, increasing from 8GB to 12GB, and is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor. This combination ensures a smooth and efficient performance. The battery capacity has also been enhanced to 4,000mAh, which provides better longevity compared to the previous model. Despite this improvement, the charging speed remains limited to 25W, and it still takes about two hours to achieve a full charge from empty.
Design and Display
In terms of design, the Galaxy Z Flip 6 closely resembles its predecessor, the Z Flip 5, with only minor updates. The camera module now features metal trim around each lens, and the sides of the device are flatter, aligning with Samsung’s other 2024 models. The hinge has been slightly redesigned, resulting in a less noticeable crease when the device is closed.
The main display maintains its size and resolution, but now reaches a peak brightness of 2,600 nits, a significant improvement over the Z Flip 5’s 1,750 nits. This upgrade makes the display Samsung’s brightest foldable screen to date, offering excellent visibility even in challenging lighting conditions. However, the cover display retains the same size and resolution as before and does not match the quality of competitors like the Moto Razr 50 Ultra.
Cameras
The Z Flip 6 features an upgraded 50-megapixel primary camera, bringing it on par with the Galaxy S24. This new sensor offers improved detail and better low-light performance, though it still falls short of the leading cameras on devices like the Pixel 8 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro. Compared to the Z Flip 5, the image quality shows notable improvements, especially in low-light scenarios and when using the 12MP mode. The new sensor also provides better zoom capabilities by cropping high-resolution images, allowing for decent 2x and 4x zoom without a dedicated telephoto lens.
Galaxy AI Features
The latest Galaxy AI features enhance the Z Flip 6’s usability. Tools like AutoZoom and advanced photo editing functions add value, making it easier to frame photos and edit images. The AI-driven Sketch to Image feature is particularly engaging, allowing users to generate and apply realistic objects to their photos based on simple sketches. Although these features are impressive, the AI-generated content often shows signs of scale issues or blurriness.
Utility and Software
The Flex Window on the Z Flip 6, despite offering additional widgets and support, still falls short in terms of functionality. Notifications are easily accessible, but the cover display’s capabilities remain limited. While Samsung’s software innovations, like AI-powered translation, are helpful, the cover display could benefit from further development. Some apps, like YouTube and Google Maps, can now be used on the cover screen through Samsung’s Labs settings, but there’s room for improvement, especially with features like a Kindle reading app or a simplified web browser.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Improved camera quality with a 50MP main sensor
- Enhanced battery life with a 4,000mAh capacity
- Engaging generative AI features, including photo editing tools
Cons:
- Higher price compared to its predecessor
- Design remains nearly identical to last year’s model
- Limited utility of the front-screen display
- Slow charging speed at 25W
Conclusion
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 offers a more refined foldable experience with enhancements in camera quality, battery life, and AI features. Despite its higher price and the relatively unchanged design, the Z Flip 6 remains a strong contender in the foldable market. However, the limited evolution of the cover display and slow charging speed are areas where Samsung could have pushed the envelope further.
