Last year, Google and OnePlus threw down the gauntlet to Samsung with the release of the Pixel Fold and OnePlus Open, respectively. These two great foldables were the first to really compete with Samsung in North America at a time when innovation in foldable phones was stagnating. I was hoping that Samsung would answer the challenge and bring more upgrades to the Galaxy Z Fold 6.
If not, then why do I love it so much? It didn't have faster charging speeds, better multitasking, Qi2 support, an upgraded main camera, or an anti-glare screen, but after using the Galaxy Z Fold 6 for over a week, I'm convinced it's the best foldable smartphone I've ever used. As someone who has used foldable smartphones for years, I believe the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is much more than the sum of its parts.
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It starts with a thinner rectangular chassis
The Galaxy Z Fold 6 is easier to use than the Pixel Fold and Z Fold 4
A smartphone's design is certainly a cosmetic element, but it determines whether the phone looks cheap, premium, or outdated. For example, the curved display on the OnePlus 12R doesn't look as modern as the Google Pixel 8a. This year, Samsung went all-in on a rectangular design with the Galaxy Z Fold 6.
The edges are sharp, the corners are just slightly rounded, and overall it looks more like a Galaxy S24 Ultra than a Galaxy S24. I love the rectangular, flat design of the Galaxy Z Fold 6. To me, it's just the perfect fit for this phone. Its shape is a perfect match for the rectangular aspect ratio of the cover screen and the squared-off interior screen.
Plus, I don't want my nearly $2,000 foldable smartphone to look like a regular flagship phone with its pronounced curves. Instead, I want a phone that feels modern and futuristic, and the Galaxy Z Fold 6 feels just that, thanks to its rectangular shape, tiny bezels, and thin form factor.
The thinness definitely has something to do with how premium the phone feels, although the camera bump is worse than ever and even using the phone on a table is infuriating. Apart from that, the phone feels great in your hand and in your pocket. Sure, it's not the thinnest foldable in the world, but it's thin enough that you forget it's not a traditional flat phone.
The matte finish also looks great — the polished rails on the previous Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Z Fold 5 were reflective and prone to smudges. What's so premium about it?
Is this the perfect cover screen?
The Pixel Fold's cover screen may be too wide
Over the past year, I've daily driven a foldable phone with a cover screen that was too narrow (the Galaxy Z Fold 4) and one that was way too wide (the Pixel Fold), and I was surprised to find that the Galaxy Z Fold 6's cover screen, which is a few millimeters wider than last year's model, finds the perfect middle ground.
On models before the Galaxy Z Fold 5, the cover screen was barely usable for speedy tasks, and the narrow keyboard was an obstacle to efficiency, but the Pixel Fold's cover screen was wide enough to make it feel like a normal smartphone.
Before I got my hands on the Pixel Fold review unit, I thought this was what I expected from a large-screen foldable device. Alas, I was wrong. People may have different opinions, but the Pixel Fold's cover screen is large and resembles a typical smartphone display, so I tried using it like a normal smartphone.In my months of real-world use of the Pixel Fold, I rarely ever opened the main screen, which is the exact opposite of what you'd expect from using a foldable device.
You want a cover screen that makes you want to open it to the most beautiful main screen possible, not one that makes you want to pull your hair out when you need it. I tested the Galaxy Z Fold 6 for a week and used the phone's main screen more than any other foldable smartphone.
We're not sure if it's the new aspect ratio or the more manageable form factor, but there's a nice rhythm to the way the inner and outer displays work together. We think this foldable has the perfect combination of screen size and aspect ratio to maximize usability and value.
Incidentally, the OnePlus Open has a similar combination of aspect ratio and screen size, although the OnePlus foldable is a tad wider and we're not sure if you need the extra space.
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The build quality remains unmatched
The hinges and overall sturdiness are a big plus
The build quality of Samsung's foldable phones is often taken for granted. There were some issues in the first few years, but Samsung seems to have ironed out most of the issues now. The Galaxy Z Fold 6's internals, in particular, and its slim bezels, hinges, and raised edges make it more durable and sturdy than the competition.
You won't really know how great Samsung's hinge is until you try another foldable device. Motorola's Razr+ (2023) has a pretty awful hinge that feels woefully unstable and loose. The Pixel Fold's hinge was fine for me when it launched, but after using the device for nearly a year, it's now barely able to open it completely flat.
My guess is that the hinges were already weak, but over time they picked up dust and debris, limiting their range of motion. Either way, this is not good, and the more you use it, the more the whole device feels like a rough sketch.
The Galaxy Z Fold 6 is a great choice for first-time buyers because it feels more like a regular smartphone than a foldable phone. The problem is that it costs nearly $2,000, and the lack of Samsung's upgrades makes it hard to recommend, despite the polished experience. That said, it's not as disappointing as the Google Pixel Fold.
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Should we reward Samsung's complacency?
I'm wondering if the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is worth the price
So should you buy the Galaxy Z Fold 6? I've said a lot of good things about the product so far, but the answer is complicated. At the very least, I think buyers need to seriously consider whether they're willing to reward bad behavior by spending $1,900 on this phone.
Selling a phone at this price with the same main camera sensor three years in a row is the definition of complacency – at some point, consumers have to decide enough is enough and vote with their wallets.
So, while I think the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is the sleekest foldable smartphone I've ever used, I probably won't buy it. The one I'm testing is on loan from AT&T, and I have to decide whether to buy the Galaxy Z Fold 6 for myself, opt for the OnePlus Open instead, or stick with my trusty Galaxy Z Fold 4 when it's time to return it.
For now, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is certainly better than previous Galaxy foldables than its minor upgrades would suggest, but I just can't stomach paying Samsung so much money to play it safe.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
Samsung's latest foldable smartphone takes cues from the Galaxy S24 Ultra with a boxier design and matte finish, a slightly wider cover display for a more comfortable typing experience, and it also comes with new Galaxy AI features and an upgraded ultra-wide camera.