Galaxy Z Fold 6: Unlike any other device on the local market

Since 2020, every summer, the South Korean giant has launched a new generation of the Galaxy Z Fold series. This is a foldable smartphone, appealing primarily to those who want a device that transforms into a tablet. Like its predecessors, Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 6 focuses on further design improvements and enhanced durability. This year, Samsung has also added AI capabilities, which we first saw earlier this year in the Galaxy S24 models.

Design: Galaxy Z Fold 6 – Feels Lighter to CarryThe Z Fold series has always been burdened by its weight, making it feel like a bulky brick in your pocket. Samsung addressed this in the new model, reducing the weight from 253 grams in the Z Fold 5 to 239 grams. While it’s only a 14-gram difference, it’s noticeable and makes the smartphone much more comfortable to carry. The thickness has also been slimmed down by 1.2 mm, bringing it to 12.2 mm. In terms of protection, Samsung has further improved the durability of the device. This model features a reinforced Armor Aluminum frame, scratch-resistant frame and hinge, and front and back glass with some resistance to drops and scratches, courtesy of Corning's Gorilla Glass Victus 2. However, despite the protection, the external screen scratched easily during my use. The device is rated IP48, providing protection against small particles as well.

Other improvements in protection include a 30% stronger display to prevent damage from external pressure and sharp objects. The folding hinge has also been enhanced with a dual rail and reinforced strength to protect against physical impacts.

Display: Galaxy Z Fold 6 – Excellent Screen Even in Bright Israeli SunlightThe internal screen of the Z Fold 6 is the main reason to purchase this device. When you open the smartphone, you reveal a 7.6-inch screen—an enormous display that allows for comfortable reading of documents, watching videos, or working with two apps simultaneously. The internal crease in the screen becomes almost unnoticeable after a few seconds of use. The user experience is smooth, and when the smartphone is open, it’s also thinner with better weight distribution, making it comfortable for reading texts.

Although the internal screen is what makes this smartphone unique, most time is spent on the external screen, which has been increased this year from 6.2 to 6.3 inches. It’s convenient for quick tasks like reading messages or browsing websites. However, for more serious work, you’ll naturally switch to the internal screen. The transition between screens is seamless. For example, you can start reading an email in the Gmail app on the external screen and continue working on it as soon as you open the device to the larger internal screen. Both screens perform well in direct sunlight, so there’s no problem using them while walking outside during Israel’s summer months (with a brightness of 2600 nits).

Interface: Galaxy Z Fold 6 – Real-Time Phone Call Translation CapabilitiesThe highlight of Samsung’s interface (One UI 6.1.1) on Android 14 is the addition of Galaxy AI, which we first encountered earlier this year in the Galaxy S24. This feature allows you to search for anything you see on the screen (a feature called Circle to Search) by simply circling the image, and Google will find it online. This means that a photo of shoes will reveal the model, or circling a QR code will take you to its website, and circling a picture of a place will show where it is located. You can even photograph mathematical equations written on paper and get the answers, making it an efficient tool for students.

Samsung has emphasized translation capabilities (with AI). You get real-time translation of phone calls (not in Hebrew) between two parties, where each party hears the conversation in their own language. You can transcribe and translate conversations in real-time with people in the same room, and with the device’s dual screen, each person sees the translation in their own language (this feature is also not supported in Hebrew). You can also translate PDF documents, and within Samsung’s browser, translate images and text while browsing. In Samsung’s Notes app, you can record conversations and convert them into text, and in the browser, you can get quick summaries of articles. If you’re not an artist, you can sketch a table, chair, or even glasses on someone’s face and have the AI turn them into realistic drawings.

Hardware: Galaxy Z Fold 6 – Custom Processor by QualcommAs expected, this smartphone responds quickly without any lag. It’s powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, which Qualcomm has specially optimized for Samsung’s new devices. The device comes with 12GB of RAM and storage options of 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB. The physical fingerprint sensor is located on the side button and responds well. The device also features stereo speakers, support for WiFi 6e, and Bluetooth 5.3.

Camera: Galaxy Z Fold 6 – A Good Camera, Unchanged for Two GenerationsThe rear camera setup remains identical to the previous two generations (Z Fold 4): a 50-megapixel main sensor with optical image stabilization, a 12-megapixel wide sensor, and a 10-megapixel telephoto sensor with 3x optical zoom. The under-display internal camera is 4 megapixels, and the external selfie camera is 10 megapixels. The main camera produces good photos with a slightly rich tone, though this tone isn’t maintained when switching to the other sensors for optical zoom or wide shots. The camera successfully captured children in motion, providing clear images without any issues. Portrait shots, where the background is blurred, were sharp. Night mode photography didn’t disappoint, producing bright images, but wide shots were somewhat blurry on the edges and slightly dark. While it’s not a flagship-level camera, it’s still a good one. The external selfie camera produced decent images but struggled with lighting conditions. Even in indoor settings with daylight, there was noticeable graininess.

Battery: Decent Performance, but Slow ChargingThe battery capacity remains the same as last year at 4,400mAh. Samsung claims the battery has been optimized for more efficient power consumption. In my experience, it lasted from 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM, with 17% remaining and 3.5 hours of screen time. These are decent numbers. However, the device's charging is disappointing, remaining at just 25 watts, which is quite slow compared to other devices. Wireless charging is only 15 watts, and there’s also 4.5-watt reverse wireless charging for charging accessories like earphones.

Price:NIS 6,800 for the 256GB version, NIS 7,150 for the 512GB version, and NIS 8,350 for the 1TB version.

Bottom Line:The Galaxy Z Fold 6 experience is still unlike any other smartphone on the market (especially since Oppo, Google, and Xiaomi's foldable devices aren't available in Israel). A smartphone that transforms into a tablet offers a productive experience when you need it, whether it’s for reading documents comfortably, working on two apps simultaneously, or simply watching a movie on a large screen. The external screen is narrow and doesn’t provide the experience of a regular smartphone screen, but it’s convenient enough for quickly reading and writing emails and messages, using Waze, or paying for parking. The camera is good enough, and the battery lasts all day.