The latest Galaxy foldable is an expensive, multifaceted, and playful device that – still – only enthusiasts should buy.
I’ve tested every Galaxy Z Fold model since 2019, and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 is the closest the company has ever come to perfecting the phone-to-tablet form factor. It’s gotten so good that, after two weeks of use, I’ve almost forgotten what life was like using a regular slab phone like my Galaxy S24 Ultra.
When open, the Z Fold 6’s 7.6-inch screen is a near-perfect canvas for watching movies, playing games, and getting work done. Since carrying the phone around, the tablet I have stationed on the kitchen countertop for pulling up recipes and playing videos has become less valuable. When closed, the Z Fold 6 almost feels like a regular smartphone, with a slimmer, lighter design this year that helps with the illusion.
Of course, if you’ve been following the tech world over the past five years, this isn’t the first time you’ve read about the Z Fold’s value proposition. Your response, whether positive or negative, probably hasn’t changed much either. I mostly blame Samsung’s lack of innovation for that. That’s why I’ve spotlighted the key differences with this year’s model below — and how they ultimately affect the day-to-day experience — to assist with your buying decision in 2024.
While the dimensions of the Z Fold 6 and last year’s Z Fold 5 are a game of millimeters, flattening the edges, widening the outer screen (and, naturally, the inner screen), and switching to a lighter aluminum material have made the new model much easier to manage. The only issue I’ve encountered is that the flat edges make it difficult to unfold the phone at times, as there’s no groove or indent to dig your finger into.
Regardless, the phone feels very Ultra-esque, as it should for the price, with a polished Silver Shadow color that looks strikingly similar to the Titanium Gray of the S24 series, and I’m a fan.
The crease is a little less noticeable this year, but it’s still part of the Z Fold aesthetic that you’ll have to get used to.
At 239 grams, the Z Fold 6 weighs the same as the OnePlus Open and just a little more than the iPhone 15 Pro Max (221g).
