The $1,899.99 Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 picks right up where the Z Fold 5 left off: It’s an exceptionally versatile phone with enough power to handle most any task you throw its way. The improvements over its predecessor aren’t groundbreaking, but its refined cover screen experience, increased durability, and reduced weight all help give it a premium feel in line with its price. The fantastic camera system, seven years of software support, and innovative Galaxy AI features are highlights, too. Our main complaint centers around the Z Fold 6’s underwhelming charging specs, but that’s not enough of an issue to prevent it from earning our Editors’ Choice award. It’s simply the best big foldable phone phone on the market.
The Galaxy Z Fold 6 measures 6.04 by 2.68 by 0.48 inches (HWD) when closed, spans 6.04 by 5.22 by 0.22 inches when open, and weighs 8.43 ounces. It’s shorter, wider, thinner, and lighter than the Z Fold 5, which measures 6.10 by 2.64 by 0.53 inches closed, expands to 6.10 by 5.11 by 0.24 inches unfolded, and tips the scales at 8.92 ounces. The aging $1,799.99 Google Pixel Fold is downright hefty by comparison. It comes in at 5.50 inches by 3.10 inches by 0.50 inches closed, folds out to 5.50 by 6.24 inches by 0.23 inches, and weighs 9.98 ounces. All three of these devices fold flat when closed, a must for all foldable phones these days.
The Z Fold 6 and Fold 5 have the same layout of buttons and ports. The volume rocker and power button/fingerprint sensor are on the right edge. The fingerprint sensor works well, with few errors. Thankfully, Samsung now allows you to input your fingerprint while the device is still closed. (This was not possible on the Z Fold 5.) Face Unlock is also an option, but it’s less secure. A USB-C 3.2 port for charging and data transfer is at the bottom right of the opened device, while dual speaker grilles are at the left top and left bottom of the frame. Whereas the grilles for the latter have a sleek, slit-like appearance here, those on the Z Fold 5 have nine distinct holes. The SIM tray on the left frame accepts one physical nano-SIM; the Z Fold 6 also supports eSIM.
Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 covers the front screen and the back panel; this is the same material that protects the Galaxy Z Flip 6. According to Corning, this glass handles drops on rough surfaces better than the original Victus. The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra uses a newer material called Gorilla Armor, which resists scratches, protects from drops, and reduces screen reflections by 75%. I would like to see the Galaxy Z Fold series adopt the same options as the S24 Ultra in light of their higher starting prices.
Samsung uses an enhanced Armor Aluminum for the Z Fold 6’s frame, which is 10% stronger than the Armor Aluminum on the Fold 5. Also new for this model is official dust resistance. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 gets an IP48 rating, an improvement over the Galaxy Z Fold 5’s IPX8 rating. Both can survive submersion in water, though the Z Fold 6 can also resist ingress of materials 1mm or larger. For comparison, the Pixel Fold has an IPX8 rating.
The build quality of the Z Fold 6 is superb, with great attention to detail. The squarish corners and increased width are the biggest design changes. Galaxy Note and S24 Ultra fans will be familiar with the pressure of the corners, but some people might find them uncomfortable. I was aware of the corners at first, but they became normal to my hands after a few hours. Holding the closed Fold 6 on the hinge side is more forgiving, thanks to the hinge’s curves. I found the Z Fold 6 more comfortable to hold while open than closed, thanks to the difference in weight distribution.
The hinge operates smoothly with the right amount of resistance. The Z Fold 6 holds its angle from about 45 to 135 degrees; otherwise, it snaps shut or open. Like previous models, the device should survive 200,000 folds. OnePlus claims its foldable phone, the OnePlus Open, can withstand a million folds.
Three cameras are on the rear in a raised, pill-shaped area, with a flash to the right. Otherwise, the back is a showcase for the colored panel. The Z Fold 6 comes in Pink, Navy, or Silver Shadow (the last the color of my test unit). Samsung also sells two exclusive colors on its website: Crafted Black or White. The matte finish on the back, frame, and hinge gives the Z Fold 6 a sophisticated look, though the back of my test unit was a smudge magnet.
The Galaxy Z Fold 6 is compatible with the S Pen stylus on the inner screen, though it’s an optional accessory. Samsung says that any S Pen that works with older Z Fold models will work on the Z Fold 6.