6 features that make Galaxy Z Fold 6 the best folding screen phone

Samsung launched the Galaxy Z Fold 6 at the Galaxy Unpacked event in July 2024.

1. Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip

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The flagship folding phone must have the best chip and Samsung doesn't skimp in this area. Galaxy Z Fold 6 uses Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip for leading CPU and GPU performance. The Z Fold 6 has a larger thermal plate than its predecessor, which will also ensure stable performance and better heat dissipation.

The powerful Snapdragon chip is combined with 12GB of RAM, so apps stay in memory longer in the background. And while the base model has 256GB of storage, you can opt for the 1TB variant to ensure you never run out of storage for all your favorite apps and games.

More importantly, the Qualcomm chip is equipped with Snapdragon X75 modem, which is one of the best basebands for mobile devices. It supports multiple 5G and 4G LTE bands, ensuring the Fold 6 can connect to the network even in areas with weak coverage.

If you want a folding phone for gaming or easy multitasking, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 has enough power to handle anything. This is backed by a 4,400mAh battery with 25W fast wired charging and 15W wireless charging support.

2. Samsung's thinnest folding screen phone

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A big problem with Samsung's Z Fold line so far has been its bulky design. With the Galaxy Z Fold 6, Samsung is actively addressing this problem. This is the thinnest and lightest Z Fold ever, measuring 12.1mm thick when folded and weighing 239g. When opened, the device is only 5.6mm thick.

For comparison, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 measures 13.4mm and weighs 253g. The lighter body will make the Galaxy Z Fold 6 more comfortable to hold for long periods of time.

3. IP48 dust and water resistance

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The best Android smartphones today all have an IP68 rating, making them dust and water resistant. However, such IP ratings are not common in the world of folding screens. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 raises the bar a little higher with IP48 certification.

While previous Galaxy Z Folds were water resistant, the Fold 6 is the first device with a dustproof rating. It's still not completely dustproof as the IP4x rating only protects against particles larger than 1mm.

Besides the IP rating, Samsung uses a more durable chassis on the new book-style folding screen device with aluminum alloy. The company also claims to have reinforced the folding edge to better distribute shocks from external impacts. Since durability is a concern with folding phones, these are small but notable improvements.

4. 2,600 nit brightness when used outdoors

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Foldable phones offer the convenience of having a big screen device in a compact form factor. It's no surprise that the quality of the large folding screen plays an integral role in this. The Galaxy Z Fold 6's internal display excels in this area.

The 7.6-inch 120Hz panel can reach a claimed maximum brightness of 2,600 nits. This ensures it's bright enough for outdoor use, even in direct sunlight. And because it is an LTPO panel, it can reduce the refresh rate to as low as 1Hz when displaying static content to save battery.

Additionally, Samsung says it uses "advanced layers" on the folding screen to reduce fold visibility and improve durability. Due to the fragile nature of folding screens, any improvements in this area are always welcome.

Another highlight on the Z Fold 6's folding screen is S Pen support. Although the foldable device doesn't come with a stylus, you can buy one separately and use it for sketching, drawing, etc.

5. New Galaxy AI features

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Samsung has been at the forefront of integrating AI into smartphones and other devices with Galaxy AI.

The Galaxy Z Fold 6 is no exception, packing all the best Galaxy AI features that debuted on the Galaxy S24 series, like Circle to Search and Live Translate. The latter feature gets even better on the Fold 6 with support for third-party apps.

For an even better experience, Samsung is introducing new Galaxy AI features on its latest book-style folding device. "Sketch to image" uses Generative AI to convert S Pen sketches into lifelike images. For example, you can doodle a balloon on your child's photo, and Sketch to image can replace it with a lifelike picture.

Interpreter mode has a new Conversation option that transcribes and translates the speech of both parties in a conversation and displays it on the Galaxy Z Fold 6's internal and external displays. This feature supports 16 languages over 23 dialects.

Like the Galaxy S24 and other high-end Samsung phones, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 comes with free access to Galaxy AI until the end of 2025.

6. 7 years of software updates

You can find folding phones with better designs and specifications than the Galaxy Z Fold 6. However, Samsung's product surpasses them all thanks to its long-term software support.

Samsung promises 7 years of operating system and security updates for the Z Fold 6, outperforming every other folding screen device on the market. Even better, the Korean giant is also one of the first companies to update its high-end devices to the latest monthly security patches and new Android releases. Theoretically, Samsung's promise means the Z Fold 6 will receive updates until mid-2031.

If buying a smartphone in 2024, extensive software support will be a prerequisite and Samsung's folding screen product will meet this need.

All the key features mentioned above add up to deliver a great overall experience. If you already own a folding screen phone, the Z Fold 6 is not worth upgrading. But if you're planning to buy your first book-style folding screen phone, you won't regret choosing this Samsung product.

Micah Soto

Update 12 July 2024