Samsung’s newest foldable, the Galaxy Z Fold 6, is finally here. But is there anything really different about it compared to the Z Fold 5? We found out.
For years now, Samsung has been one of the dominant leaders in the foldable space. Whether you want a compact flip phone or a phone/tablet hybrid, Samsung’s Flip and Fold families have a lot to offer. For the latter, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 is the latest and greatest addition to the lineup.
If you’re in the market for a new foldable, then the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is definitely one to consider. But what if you already have a Galaxy Z Fold 5? Is it worth upgrading? Let’s take a closer look at both and see what is actually new and different.Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 vs. Z Fold 5: specsSamsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 vs. Z Fold 5: design
The Galaxy Z Fold 6 looks similar to its predecessor, with just a few minor adjustments to the overall design. Samsung refined the Galaxy Z Fold 6 to make it sleeker and more portable. It now has a perfectly symmetrical design with straight edges, similar to what you’ll find on the Galaxy S24 Ultra.
The Galaxy Z Fold 6 also uses a new dual-rail hinge structure, which is reinforced by the straightened folding edge. Thanks to this new hinge design, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 can better distribute shock from external impacts more evenly.
That’s no small upgrade. In our recent investigation, Samsung repair centers across multiple cities told us that up until the Galaxy Z Fold 4 generation, the hinge was notoriously fragile. Customers often came in with phones requiring an expensive replacement because the hinge parts somehow got misaligned even thought the device didn’t show any signs of physical damage.
When closed, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 measures 68.1mm by 153.5mm by 12.1mm. When unfolded, it’s 132.6mm by 153.5mm by 5.6mm. The overall weight is just 239 grams, making the Galaxy Z Fold 6 the slimmest and lightest Z Fold device ever.
For comparison, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 measures 154.9mm by 129.9mm by 6.1mm unfolded and 154.9mm by 67.1mm by 13.4mm when closed. It also weighs 253 grams. Although the Fold 5 was never outrageously heavy, the Z Fold 6 is considerably lighter and thinner. The changes Samsung has made to the Galaxy Z Fold 6’s exterior may also seem minor, but they have noticeably improved the comfort and ergonomics.
Notably, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 only offered an IPX8 level of ingress protection, which means no shielding against dust, but it could survive a 30-minute immersion in water for a depth of up to 1.5 meters. On the Galaxy Z Fold 6, we get IP48 shielding, which means aside from resilience against water, it can also block particles that are about 1 millimeter in size, or more. That’s not the best the industry has to offer, but given the fragile nature of foldable phones, we’ll gladly take whatever upgrades Samsung has to offer in order to make these expensive devices sturdier.
For the Galaxy Z Fold 6, you have three standard colors: Silver Shadow, Pink, and Navy. There are also two exclusive colors only available from Samsung’s website: Crafted Black (which has a textured back) and Purity White. These colors are a bit more interesting than what the Galaxy Z Fold 5 came in: Icy Blue, Cream, Phantom Black, or the exclusive blue or gray colors from Samsung’s website. If you ever wanted a pink foldable phone, then the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is the way to go.Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 vs. Z Fold 5: displays
When it comes to a folding phone, one of the most important things to factor in is the display. The Galaxy Z Fold series is known for its tall and narrow cover display, which you probably either love or hate.
Samsung made some slight adjustments to the Galaxy Z Fold 6 by tweaking the aspect ratio for a more natural bar-type viewing experience.
