SAMSUNG Galaxy Z Fold 6 AI Cell Phone, 512GB Unlocked Android Smartphone, Circle to Search, Handsfree Live Interpreter, AI Photo Edits, Large Screen, 2024, US 1 Yr Manufacturer Warranty, Pink
$1,549.00Original price was: $1,549.00.$889.99Current price is: $889.99.
Brand
SAMSUNG
Operating System
OneUI 6.1, Android 14
Ram Memory Installed Size
12 GB
CPU Speed
3.4 GHz
Memory Storage Capacity
512 GB
Screen Size
7.6 Inches
Model Name
Galaxy Z Fold6
Wireless Carrier
Unlocked for All Carriers
Cellular Technology
5G
Connectivity Technology
Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, USB, NFC
About this item
CIRCLE IT. FIND IT. SEE IT: Make huge discoveries when you use Circle to Search¹ with Google on the large screen of Galaxy Z Fold6; Circle those shoes on your feed and easily see where to buy them; Search is easier than ever on an expansive screen
TWO SCREENS. ZERO LANGUAGE BARRIER: Say bye to being lost in translation & hi to fluency in up to 16 languages with Interpreter with Galaxy AI; In FlexMode, phone displays translations on both sides of the screen for easy in-person conversation²
SMART AI EDITS. BRILLIANT PHOTOS: Editing photos is even easier on the large screen of Galaxy Z Fold6; See more detail as you instantly fix imperfections, move and remove objects and enhance colors using AI smart tools like Generative Edit and more³
IMMERSIVE SCREEN. IMPRESSIVE GRAPHICS: Level up your screen and level up your gaming experience; Totally immerse yourself with Galaxy Z Fold6 thanks to a huge screen, a lightning-fast processor and incredibly realistic graphics
MULTIPLE WINDOWS. MULTIPLE POSSIBILITIES: Edit, scroll and organize; Or chat, shop and stream — all at the same time on up to three windows; When it comes to viewing and doing more, Fold6 is built to handle more⁴
First impressions and the setup experience is superb. In person, this is a much more impressive device than when watching videos and photos of it online. Packaging and unboxing is... meh... but the actual device really shines!
The position of the hinge and fingerprint scanner all favor right-handed individuals. Opening and closing the phone is a two-handed operation and I found it to be a little clumsy at first. It took some getting used to...
Going into this purchase, I knew this was the most expensive phone I have ever owned. And with the price tag, I'd expect the absolute best. I know this phone can take a stylus/pen input, but it is not included.
There is very little manuals/literature. The fact that there are eSim and a physical SIM tray could be explained in writing or something... It really could use a more substantial user manual since this device is so different.
The camera is outstanding! The video quality and main camera are amazing but sharing these is quite difficult. There is a "quick share", which works for photos but not as well for videos. Ease of sharing is probably one of the main things I missed when coming from iOS. The default is to share very low resolution versions.
My main complaint is how slippery the actual device is. I am quite clumsy and without some kind of protective case, I have been worried about dropping this phone.
The actual hinge and crease on the screen I almost forgot about after the first day of use. Watching videos on it has been nice (some apps make me turn the device 90 degrees for full screen) and the sound is really good.
When it's all said and done, going back to a regular phone seems almost awkward because I got used to opening the Galaxy fold for a larger screen. All I need now are some accessories to make this experience complete....
Goods:
This is a very high quality phone. The build is great, it's slim, has a satisfying hinge close, solid quality speakers, screens look great, and I can go on. It's obviously got all the new bells and whistles in there. Galaxy AI is the new thing with it. It includes translation features, summarizing websites, notes assist with formatting/decorating, and photo/drawing assists. They seem to work fine but honestly not game changing in terms of day to day use. The massive folding screen is cool. It's got a function where if it's like half open you can use the bottom part as a mousepad+other functions and the top part as your screen. Not all apps support it very well but most basic ones I've used work fine. I really don't have any faults with the features and the overall quality of the phone, it's great which it should be for being nearly 2k. That's where I get to my criticisms.
Downsides:
So it's hard for me to to give this a full 5 stars for a couple reasons. For the cost of this device I expect a little more. It's got many features and functions to work with an S pen but somehow does not come with one. Doesn't even come with a holder for one. It doesn't come with a power brick either, not a huge deal for me but for 2k? Even just a screen protector for the front screen would've been nice. Come on. Yes I am being picky and honestly if you are looking at a phone that costs this much you probably don't care to spend a little more on an S pen and case with holder but I just had to put it out there. Another point, as someone who isn't an artist or doesn't power use their phone I don't see myself getting the full use of a giant screen like this. I can see drawing and taking notes, which would be nice with an s pen... but there are videos which do look nice on the big screen.
While my large "downsides" section seems to make it look like I don't like this phone, in reality I do because it's a great phone. I love that the single main screen is super functional as a regular phone then I can open it up for big screen movies or videos. I can't in good conscious give this phone any lower than a 4 since there are really no issues with the phone itself, just the value and what's included in the box.
Overall, this phone isn't for everyone or even for most people I'd say but if you think that it would be a good fit for you then you will not be disappointed. I would definitely recommend this phone to people who could get good use out of a phone like this!
My original review of the Fold3 surmised that I loved the device, but would only recommend it to those who had a clear need for the interior "main" display; those who frequently watch movies/TV, play games, or (like me) like to read manga/manhua on the go. I think most of this is still true, but Samsung has made such significant changes in terms of "usability" that this is now a much easier recommendation, to even those who may only use the main display once or twice a day at most, possibly only a few times a week. The biggest change is how one-hand-friendly the device has become; cutting the weight by 12% and thinning the bezels down to the point that the outer screen just feels like a regular (albeit thinner) phone. It used to be I would try and use the outer display with one hand, but would often use two because the heft left me feeling a bit insecure (just physically, emotionally that's always been true.) This is now a thing of the past being lighter than ever, but also the hinge now has a matte texture instead of glossy; a small change that gives my fingers a better feel they have total control over the device as I grip it, to the point that I don't think I'll be putting a case on it (something I tried on the 3, but got tired of after a while.) The interior display is the same size it has been, but now that the screen-to-body ratio is tighter with smaller bezels, the whole device has become tangibly smaller, making "pocketability" so much easier. Which is also nice with its improved "flatness" when folded, as I have noticed less dust getting into the crease as compared to my 3.
But there are still a couple weird things to note; the camera, and the phone's "sharpness." The phone overall has become thinner and folds slimmer, but the camera bezels are so much larger/more pronounced that the phone is still technically the same thickness. Its like the phone phone was shaved down around the camera, and they forgot to go back and finish. This isn't a huge issue, but you definitely notice is when you pick it up/grab it in your pocket. Speaking of grabbing it, if you have incredibly soft hands watch out, you might cut yourself on these edges. Yes that's a joke, but it doesn't change just how angular this phone feels. I guess 90° angles are "in"? The phone looks very nice with its clean angled edges, but in practice I'd be lying if I said I never got tired of holding this phone for extended periods of time (something that while writing, I realized does mean I should make this a 4/5 rating.) This feels like a case of "form over function," which is something I've long hated because if you make something more unpleasant to use just to look better, that to me is a tradeoff not worth making.
But the main question will always be: How long will the folding screen last? As seen, my Fold3 interior display did get small hairline fractures all along the hinge after being folded and unfolded so many times. Thing is, they didn't start until about 1.5 years into use, and as long as whatever I was viewing wasn't a purely white screen, they were easily missed unless laser-focused on. Hopefully with development this newest version will last longer than ever, but I will update this as soon as it starts to degrade. So if you're thinking about upgrading from a couple generations ago I do think this is a vastly improved device, and would recommend it. If you're looking to get into the "foldable" market I think this is a great entry point, and even if you don't fall in love with the interior display, the outer one is so good you may not even care, especially now that the phone folds almost perfectly flat with those thinner bezels. This continues to be an incredible device for people like me who used to carry a tablet for movies and reading, and will continue to be my go-to device until someone makes a phone that unfolds even larger (I miss my 10in tablet screen.) If it wasn't for the squared-off edges I'd feel completely safe giving this a perfect 5/5, but it is still a very recommendable device at a 4/5, since I'd give it a 4.5/5 if I could.
The main inside screen is fantastic. Super sharp and bright. The crease is noticeable but I do not find it intrusive. This screen is great for streaming videos. The biggest advantage is the way you can have several apps displayed at once for multitasking. Battery life is sufficient. I am new to this phone so have been playing with it a lot. I can still get pretty much a whole day’s usage without charging. Charging is decently fast but not as good as some competitors. Considering this is Samsung’s top phone, I wish they would have provided a bigger battery with quicker charging.
The processor is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 so performance, as expected is quick and snappy. In fact, I have changed the performance profile in settings to light as opposed to standard and have not noticed a decrease in performance. This did increase battery life which was a nice plus. The cameras (5 of them) are acceptable. The main cameras, a 50mp main camera, a 10mp, 3X optical zoom telephoto, and a 12mp ultra wide take very good photos. The phone also has a 10mp selfie camera on the cover screen and a 4mp camera on the main screen when opened. As I said, the cameras are acceptable but given the price of this phone, Samsung could do better. Their competition has.
This phone comes with the usual Samsung bloatware, but also has an impressive array of AI features. I find the translating apps especially impressive. Some of the AI features are really neat (circle to search, sketch to image, portrait studio) but not something I would use on a daily basis. More of something to wow your friends with.
Overall, I am very happy with this phone. I am sure the more I use it, the more great features I will find. However, at a price of $1899, I feel Samsung could have done better. Especially the camera and the battery and charging. This super expensive phone will certainly not be for everyone, but if you multi task a lot, have to have the latest and greatest tech, and can find a good deal out there with trade ins, it could be for you.
It doesn't come with an s-pen so you have to buy one and a case that can hold it unless you're okay with not having a designated place to store your pen. The outer screen scratches really easily so you would want to get a screen protector asap. I used my phone for a week without a case and already got a bunch of scratches on it from accidentally leaving it in with a set of keys in my backpack for 10 minutes.
I love the size of the unfolded screen. It allows me to browse the web with a much better view because I noticed a lot of websites are still not that mobile-friendly. I also use it to edit photos with the AI feature which is super fun editing my friends' photos and sending them to them. Works surprisingly well. Doing math problems on the inner screen feels quite nice and I no longer have to reach for my tablet. The crease is still noticeable when using the s-pen on it but if you're just viewing it you won't notice it unless you look at it at an angle.
Battery life is good. On weekends when I use the phone all day, it can last me the whole day but on weekdays it would last me about 2 days. The camera is good. I'm not a photographer so it's good enough for me.
It supports a pen, but doesn't have any way to store it. There's no wall charger, just the cord as well.