Samsung unveiled its latest foldable, the Samsung Z Fold6 and Galaxy Z Flip6, along with the new wearable Galaxy Buds Watch7, Watch Ultra, and Buds3 series, at the Galaxy Unpacked event in Paris, last week.
I got a hands-on session with the new devices a week before the launch.
Thanks to the folks from Samsung Malaysia, I have received a review unit of the Galaxy Z Flip6, and here are my first impressions.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 Specifications
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy
- 12GB LPDDR5 RAM
- 128GB | 256GB UFS 4.0 Storage
- 6.7″ Full HD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2x Infinity Flex Display (1Hz~120Hz)
- 3.4″ HD+ SuperAMOLED (60Hz)
- Camera:
- 50MP Primary f/1.8, Dual Pixel AF, OIS
- 12MP Ultrawide f/2.2, 123˚, Fixed Focus
- 10MP Selfie Camera f/2.2
- Connectivities: Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi 6E, USB 3.2
- Protection: Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2, IP48 Water Dust Resistant
- 4,000mAh @ 25W Wired Samsung Fast Charging & 15W Wireless Fast Charging
- OneUI 6.1.1 based on Android 14
- Colors: Blue, Silver Shadow, Yellow, Mint (Samsung Online Exclusive: Crafted Black, Peach, White)
- Price
- 256GB – RM 4,999
- 512GB – RM 5,599
Design
At first, you won’t notice much of a difference in terms of design and aesthetics. The bar phone still folds in half when you want to keep it in your pocket or purse just like its predecessor. Instead of just a single color difference on its back cover, the Galaxy Z Flip6 reflects the device color on the new matte finish Armor Aluminium frame and the camera ring.
Coming from Galaxy Z Flip5, I noticed the folding hinge is much more solid and confident, this is thanks to the new dual rail hinge mechanic. The new folding edge allows it to close shut flat when folded and has narrower bezels.
The Galaxy Z Flip6 now finally receives IP4X dust resistance, making it one of the first foldable to have IP48 ingress water and dust resistance.
It retained the vibrant colors that appeal to youngsters. Personally, I love the blue, which creates a striking contrast, especially around the camera rings. For a more formal look, the Silver Shadow and Crafted Black options offer a sleek, stealthy aesthetic.
Display
The Galaxy Z Flip6 still has the same 3.4″ Flex Window and 6.7″ Full HD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X Infinity Flex display with an adaptive refresh rate of 1Hz~120Hz main display.
According to Samsung, they added another protective layer for its folding screen that not only helps better shock absorption capabilities, it also shows less pronounced crease which I can attest to.
Camera
The 12MP main camera has been around since the first-gen Galaxy Z Flip and finally, Samsung ditched and swapped it with the excellent 50MP camera found in Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S24 Plus. This larger sensor and higher megapixel count promise enhanced camera performance, especially for night-time photography and video. To find out in my full review.
New Chip
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 also runs on the same chip as the Galaxy S24 Ultra, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy; optimized for Samsung’s Galaxy devices. It’s also the first Galaxy Z Flip to be equipped with a vapor chamber for cooling, further enhancing its performance as its other flagship devices. Paired with 12GB LPDDR5 memory as standard be it for 256GB of 512GB UFS 4.0 storage.
Galaxy AI
Galaxy AI took center stage in the Samsung Galaxy S24 series’ launch in January this year and more enhanced features are being added to the new Galaxy Z Fold6 and of course the Galaxy Z Flip6.
One of them is the capability of generating images from sketches or text and Portrait Studio which transforms portrait photos into stylized portraits, like 3D cartoons, watercolors, and comics. The Interpreter Mode has been further tweaked to use both screens for language interpretation during real-world conversations.
Samsung also included Galaxy Z Flip exclusive Flex Zoom, a new auto-zoom feature, which detects subjects when taking photos with the phone half-open in Flex Mode. This eases solo travel self-portraits.
Bigger Battery
Samsung has managed to increase the battery capacity from 3,700 mAh to 4,000 mAh without compromising the device’s size or weight. We will be expecting a much longer battery life compared to its predecessor.
Software
It runs on the OneUI 6.1.1 based on Android, with Samsung guaranteeing seven years of software upgrades and security updates. You can enjoy peace of mind regarding security protection throughout your ownership of this device.
Price & Availability
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 is available for pre-order now till 30th July 2024 and enjoy exclusive deals worth up to RM 2,039. Learn more: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 pre-order.
A full review of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 will be coming soon.