Rating -- 4/5Samsung is among the tech giants that are at the forefront of innovation. Among others, the South Korean tech company is specifically credited for bringing foldable smartphones into people's hands. The company introduced its first foldable phone – Samsung Galaxy Fold – a tablet-sized device that could be folded into the size of a regular phone in 2019. A year later, it introduced the Galaxy Z Flip with a clamshell design.
The company recently launched the sixth-generation of its flip phone – the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6. Samsung has loaded the Galaxy Z Flip 6 with features like improved camera, durable hinge design and a dedicated Flex mode with an icing of artificial intelligence (AI) features for enhanced usability and versatility.
The phone’s price starts at Rs 1,09,999. We have been using the smartphone for months now. Let's unfold the details of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 and see how it stands up in today's competitive smartphone market.
Design and display
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 feels like a fresh breath of air amidst the standard rectangular slab phones. It’s the smartphone that shrinks half in its size and fits into your pocket. Even when opened, it stands out from the crowd. Its clamshell design splits the rear in half, giving it a unique ‘dual-tone’ finish when used in unfolded state.
Samsung has refreshed its Galaxy Z Flip 6 lineup with refreshing colours – Blue, Mint, White, Peach and Silver Shadow. We especially loved the blue colour variant that we also got for the review. Samsung is the first mover in the foldable phones category. Over the years, it has refined its foldables in terms of durability and build.
The continued refinement is visible in Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6, especially the hinge which makes it more durable while providing a satisfying ‘flip’ action. The overall build of the phone is also stronger. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 uses Armour aluminium for the frame. It comes with IP48 rating, making it safe against water.
The phone features a minimalistic design with flat edges. The top of the phone houses microphones, while the left edge of the phone has the SIM card tray slot. At the bottom side is the USB Type-C charging port paired with speaker and microphones. Although Samsung says that it has reduced the crease on Galaxy Z Flip 6, it remains noticeable. However, that did not hamper our experience with the phone, whether during scrolling through social media or watching videos on the phone.
The rear of the phone houses a dual camera system aligned horizontally and the camera setup is paired with an LED flashlight. We also liked the matte-finish on the back that is resistant to fingerprints and dust.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 impresses with both the performance and quality of its display. When unfolded, the phone has a 6.7-inch Full-HD+ Dynamic AMOLED screen which is also the main display. It produces vibrant colours, deeper blacks and has impressive brightness levels. Samsung has increased the peak brightness to 2600 nits compared to 1750 nits on its predecessor, which makes it even more easier to use in daylight. Whether you are watching videos, scrolling through videos or playing games, the 120Hz refresh rate offers a smooth, fluid and refined touch response.
Coming to the cover screen, it is a 3.4-inch 720x748 pixels Super AMOLED display. The refresh rate for the cover screen drops to 60Hz, which is a little disappointing. Nevertheless, the cover screen can get as functional as you want. You can add widgets for Calendar, Weather, Photo albums, apps like Spotify and even dialler, giving quick access to your recently dialled numbers.
Having said that, there is a long list of apps that are still not compatible with the cover screen – such as YouTube, Instagram and others. We hope to see more apps getting the support with the next generation, or over subsequent software updates.
Samsung has also added new cover screen wallpaper options that you can choose from. While these are good, you can also select an image from your Gallery to set as the cover screen. Or you can also generate one using AI - an ability that’s built-in to the device. You can also answer and make phone calls with the cover screen.
One of the standout features that makes Galaxy Z Flip 6 more handy is the Flex mode. It allows the phone to stay partially folded at different angles, perfect for hands-free selfies, video calls, or watching videos without needing a stand. This adaptive design makes it ideal for multitasking, with apps able to split between the top and bottom halves of the screen. The Flex mode panel automatically appears at the bottom of the screen when the screen is tilted, enabling users to choose the app they want to choose simultaneously.
For resistance and durability, Samsung tops a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 for screen protection.
Performance
In terms of performance, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 doesn’t break a sweat in real-world use. Apps load quickly, animations are fluid and even with multiple apps running in the background, there’s no lag. Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, the Galaxy Z Flip 6 is designed to handle anything from everyday tasks to multi-tasking to heavy gaming.
Samsung has upgraded the base variant for Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 with 12GB – a welcome change compared to 8GB RAM as the base model in the previous generation. This is something we liked and enjoyed in the performance of the device. Whether you’re switching between apps, editing photos, or diving into graphics-intensive games, the performance is smooth and responsive.
We tried playing games on the phone like Call of Duty Mobile that ran on 'Very High' graphics and 'Max' framerate. The phone didn’t lag or stutter during the gaming session. However, it did heat up during prolonged sessions but the phone handled efficiently, thanks to an improved thermal management. For non-heavy games, there is no such issue. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 is a flagship phone with a flagship performance that impresses you in all aspects.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 runs on Android 14 based One UI 6.1.1 operating system. Samsung’s One UI software feels polished and intuitive, with optimizations that make the most out of the foldable screen. The UI is neat with almost no bloatware. Flex Mode enhances productivity by allowing you to use two apps side by side or control the bottom half of the display while viewing content on the top. It’s a small yet powerful touch that takes multitasking to the next level.
AI features on Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6
Artificial intelligence (AI) is here to make smartphones more smart and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 is not behind. One such feature is the Composer on the Samsung keyboard that uses AI to suggest captions for social media posts and emails. While it is surely a handy feature, you may want to refine the generated text. Another such AI feature is the Interpreter tool. What it does is that the tool offers real-time translations on the screen - both cover and main. The feature is a great addition and will be beneficial for those travelling abroad. Again, the tool is not error-proof, but is useful.
Samsung has also equipped its Notes app with AI – the Note Assist feature in the app can help summarise a meeting, correct spellings, translate, or even voice record and transcribe in real-time. Then there are some other features like Sketch to Image in the Gallery app. The tool lets you add objects in your existing images. The Drawing Assist lets you turn your simple drawings into art work. AI assist is also baked into calls. You can get real-time translation during voice calls. The feature works most of the time, though we did face some inaccuracies.
Camera
On paper, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 has a 50-megapixel wide-angle primary camera and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera with a 123-degree field of view on the rear. For selfies, there is a 10-megapixel camera with f/2.2 aperture. The smartphone still lacks a telephoto lens.
In daylight, the primary 50MP camera produces detailed shots with natural colours, great dynamic range, and impressive sharpness. Autofocusing is one of the best on Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 as it quickly locks the subject without any hassle. Daylight photography on the device is a pleasure, thanks to the balanced highlights and shadows in the images captured using the phone.
Portrait shots on the Galaxy Z Flip 6 are impressive with sufficient depth and exposure. The smartphone lacks macro lens or a dedicated macro mode, which means the closeup shots may not come as good as expected. The 12MP ultra-wide lens allows you to capture those expansive landscapes or group shots without losing too much detail, and distortion is kept to a minimum.
Low-light photography is where the Galaxy Z Flip 6 shows surprising competence. With Night Mode enabled, it can pull in enough light to produce clear, noise-free images. The subjects are well defined. With brightened images and sufficient details, night shots look decent on the phone without filling them with too much light.
Speaking of selfies, the 10MP front-facing camera is solid for video calls and casual selfies. Though not as impressive as the rear cameras, it handles skin tones well. With Samsung’s portrait mode, you can get nicely blurred backgrounds for a more professional look.
Major highlight of the Galaxy Z Flip 6 is the Flex Mode’s impact on photography. You can turn the phone into its own tripod for hands-free selfies or group shots. The cover display also acts as a mini viewfinder, allowing you to take quick selfies using the main cameras, ensuring better quality than a typical front-facing lens.
AI camera features on the phone include Sketch to Image that we talked about before and Portrait Studios that lets you transform your portraits into artworks like a comic book character, 3D cartoon, watercolour painting.
Battery
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 is backed by a 4,000mAh battery with support for up to 25 watt with wired charging and up to 15 watt with wireless charging. The phone takes about an hour and a half to charge with a 15 watt Samsung charger. For an average user, the phone can easily last up to 10 hours with a mixed usage of social media scrolling, calling, watching videos on YouTube and streaming music.
Verdict
Samsung continues to push the boundaries of smartphone design with the Galaxy Z Flip 6. It’s a phone for those who want something different—compact yet feature-packed flagship phone with a trusted quality of Samsung.
The Z Flip 6 holds its own with solid performance, a vibrant display, and versatile features like Flex Mode, which sets it apart from other foldables on the market. Powered by Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, the handset delivers smooth multitasking and gaming. With improved durability of the hinge, the flip mechanism feels reliable. Battery life is decent too.
Topped with AI features integrated into the everyday usage of the phone, Galaxy Z Flip 6 is a promising phone that could appeal to many. Starting at Rs 1,09,999, the Galaxy Z Flip 6 is an ideal choice for those who value portability, distinctive design, and premium features in a foldable package. It’s perfect for those looking to stand out from the crowd.
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