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The Galaxy Z Fold 6 might not seem like a big upgrade over the Z Fold 5, but Samsung has improved the hardware and added some nifty features to deliver a better experience. Below, we’ll look at the main differences between them.
1The Z Fold 6 Is Lighter and Slimmer
TheGalaxy Z Fold 6is noticeably lighter and slimmer than the Fold 5. To be specific, it’s 1.3mm slimmer when folded (0.5mm thinner when unfolded) and 14 grams lighter. While it’s not the thinnest foldable on the market, it’s the slimmest foldable Samsung makes.
The lighter body will allow you to use the Z Fold 6 more comfortably with one hand. Extended gaming sessions on the big inner screen wouldn’t also be as fatiguing. Similarly, the slimmer design should allow the phone to slip into your pocket easily.
2Minor Display Improvements
A book-style foldable is all about its big inner folding screen. And the Galaxy Z Fold 6 packs two key improvements over the Fold 5 in this area.
While the display size remains the same across both models at 7.6 inches, the Fold 6’s inner screen can reach a peak brightness of 2,600 nits. For comparison, the Fold 5’s display tops out at 1,750 nits. The higher brightness should improve the screen’s visibility when using the phone outdoors under direct sunlight.
The Fold 6’s folding display is also more durable thanks to its “enhanced layers.” Essentially, Samsung has replaced the ultra-thin glass on the folding panel with a foldable thin glass, which is slightly better at withstanding sharp objects and external forces.
The Fold 6 packs one key improvement for the outer display. It has a slightly wider 22.1:9 aspect ratio, making it feel less cramped and ideal for one-handed use. For comparison, the Fold 5’s cover screen measures 6.2 inches with a 23.1:9 aspect ratio,
This is a welcome change since the cramped outer display has been a big issue with previous models. However, the OnePlus Open and the Google Pixel Fold pack an even wider cover display, and Samsung has plenty of room to improve in this area.
3More Powerful With Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
Like thebest Android flagshipslaunched in 2024, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 uses Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip.Qualcomm claimsthis chip is 20 percent more efficient and delivers 30 percent faster CPU performance than its predecessor. This should bode well for the Z Fold 6’s battery life, especially since its capacity remains unchanged at 4,400mAh.
Additionally, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3’s GPU is 25 percent faster and more efficient than the 8 Gen 2 in the Z Fold 5. And to keep the chip cool, the Z Fold 6 packs a 1.6x larger vapor chamber compared to the outgoing model, meaning thermal throttling shouldn’t be a problem despite packing a more powerful chip.
However, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is still a powerful chip, and you might notice the Fold 6’s faster performance only in heavy workloads. RAM and storage options across the two foldables remain the same: 12GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage.
4Better Durability With IP48 Rating
A major issue with all foldables is their durability. Due to moving parts and the fragile folding screens, they cannot withstand the same daily abuse as typical smartphones. Samsung has made notable progress in this area over the years.
The Galaxy Z Fold 5 has an IPX8 rating, meaning it’s water-resistant for up to 30 minutes in freshwater up to 1 meter. However, Samsung achieved an IP48 rating with the Z Fold 6. The newer model provides limited protection against 1mm or greater solid dust ingress.
While not as good asIP68 certification on today’s flagship smartphones, this is still a notable improvement. If anything, it takes Samsung one step closer to achieving an IP68 rating on its future foldables.
That’s not it, though. In addition to a more durable chassis made with “enhanced Armor Aluminum,” Samsung has strengthened the folding edge to better distribute shocks during a drop or fall.
5Longer Software Support
The Z Fold 6 ships with Android 14-based One UI 6.1.1 and packs some new Galaxy AI features. Earlier in 2024, Samsung rolled out Android 14-based One UI 6.1 to the Galaxy Z Fold 5, which broughtGalaxy AI features from the S24 Ultra. And according toSamMobile’s report, Samsung is planning to bring Z Fold 6’s new Galaxy AI features to the Z Fold 5 as well.
Where the two phones differ in software is long-term support. Samsung promised four years of Android upgrades and five years of security updates when it launched the Z Fold 5. So, the phone should receive updates until 2028. However, with the Z Fold 6,Samsung promisesseven years of OS and security updates, just like it did for the Galaxy S24 series.
Extended software support is one of theGalaxy Z Fold 6’s best features, as it easily trumps even its competitors with superior hardware and design in this area.
6Higher Price Tag and New Color Options
Despite all the modest improvements over its predecessor, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 has a $100 higher price tag. The base model with 256GB of storage now costs $1,899 instead of $1,799. The same $100 price hike applies to the higher storage variants.
With no significant hardware upgrades, the price increase on the Z Fold 6 is hard to justify. You can take advantage of various offers that Samsung runs occasionally to get a better deal, including boosting trade-in values of older devices.
As for colors, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is available in five colors, all different from the Fold 5. This includes Pink, Navy, Silver Shadow, White, and Crafted Black, with the last two being exclusive colors you can only purchase fromSamsung’s website.
If you own the Galaxy Z Fold 5, upgrading to the Fold 6 makes little sense. The improvements are modest and do not immediately stand out. The lighter, more durable chassis, brighter display, and better performance are welcome changes, but they won’t radically improve or benefit your workflow. I’d wait till 2025 to see what Samsung has in store for the Z Fold 7.
