Written By Manik Berry
Published By: Manik Berry | Published: Aug 31, 2024, 02:52 PM (IST)
Two questions. One: Should I buy the Galaxy Z Flip5 because it is now slightly more affordable? Two: I have the Flip5, should I upgrade to the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6? These questions are eating away at both current Flip users and those who want to buy their first Flip phone. Also Read: Samsung Galaxy S25 FE India Price Leaked: Here’s How Much It May Cost
And I’ll answer these for you in this article. But before we jump into our detailed Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 review, here’s a quick spec sheet. Also Read: Samsung Galaxy F17 5G Launched In India Under Rs 20,000 Price Segment: Check FULL List Of Specifications
Specifications | Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 |
---|---|
Display | Main: 6.7-inch Foldable AMOLED FHD+ AMOLED (120 Hz) Cover: 3.4-inch sAMOLED (60 Hz) with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
Cameras | Rear: 50MP wide + 12MP ultrawide |
Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 |
RAM and storage | 12GB + 256GB 12GB + 512GB |
Battery | 4000mAh split battery |
Charger | 25-watt wired charging 15-watt wireless charging 5-watt reverse wireless charging |
Connectivity | WiFi Bluetooth 5.3 |
Dimensions and weight | Unfolded: 165.1 x 71.9 x 6.9 mm Folded: 85.1 x 71.9 x 14.9 mm187 grams |
Colours | Victory Gold, Speed Green, Dark Purple |
Box contents | Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6, USB-C cable, SIM tool, paperwork |
Price | Blue, Yellow, Mint, Silver Shadow Online exclusive colours: Crafted Black, White, Peach |
All the specifications of a Flagship and a design that allows much more. This can be a TL;DR about the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6. It has IP48 water resistance, a massive improvement over last year’s Flip5. The Flip6 gets a clean, industrial, no-nonsense design that a couple of friends have described as a “very Korean design”. Also Read: Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Might Not Get The Camera Boost Fans Expected
While I agree with the muted and clean design, I believe it doesn’t feel as premium as its price tag. There is a proper usable cover display, but it pales to the latest Moto Razr or the cover screen on the Oppo Find N3 Flip. But look past that, this phone has its signature design and a ton of features that make full use of its form factor.
I say displays because I’ll be treating the cover and main screen separately. Starting with the 3.3-inch cover screen, this is a 720p, 60hz sAMOLED screen. In comparison, the Moto Razr 50 Ultra gets a 165 hz FHD cover screen. While you can watch Netflix or use WhatsApp on the Samsung Flip6 cover screen, it isn’t as convenient as it should be.
The main screen is a 6.7-inch folding screen with a sweet 120Hz, 2600 nits bright Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel. But this too is only an FHD+ display. Samsung has upped the Flip6 price to cost Rs. 1,09,999 now, which makes it more expensive than the S24 Ultra, which has a QHD+ display.
Samsung makes good displays and the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 is no exception. However, this is the first time I’ve seen a Samsung phone struggling under direct sunlight. The folding part which makes it exceptional also makes the display highly reflective, causing a lot of glare.
As for the tech used, the phone does a phenomenal job at hiding the crease. Unless you’re scrolling from the centre, you won’t even notice it is there. I watched a ton of YouTube videos as well as Netflix on this phone, and it cleverly hides the crease every time.
Samsung has finally given this phone the flagship cameras that it always missed out on. The Z Flip6 gets a 50MP main camera with a 12MP ultrawide. These are good cameras with consistent performance in almost all conditions. However, the ultrawide struggles a bit with low light, but Samsung has solid backend processing to bring out the details in most shots.
The Flip’s cameras are also massive upgrades because a 50MP lens on this form factor means you have a 50MP selfie camera. There are AI features like auto-framing and gesture detection that add to the camera experience. Overall, the Flip 6 is a big camera upgrade over last year’s Flip5.
Let’s get to the heart of the matter now. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 flips, and that’s one big reason you’d want to buy this phone. So here’s a list of everything you can do with the folding features on the Flip 6:
Samsung has gone big on the AI features this year, but what exactly is Galaxy AI? Here’s a quick list of all the Galaxy AI features on the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6:
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is the right choice for this phone. I’ve tested Exynos chips on past Samsung flagships, but they’re now gone for the better. Samsung has fitted this phone with a vapour chamber, so the heating is pretty much-taken care of. However, heavy titles like Genshing or San Andreas do heat the device.
Multitasking is smooth, heavy tasks run just fine, and the phone also manages to squeeze out a full day of battery life in most cases. The Flip 6 also gets 12GB RAM with 256GB storage in the base model, making it future-proof. Lastly, you’re getting 7 years of Android updates, so if you want to squeeze the most out of this phone, you’ll have the backend security to do it.
With its 4000mAh cell, the Flip6 has a 300mAh bigger battery than last year’s Flip5. However, modern Android phones are packing over 5000mAh cells in strangely slim form factors. As a result of the Flip’s smaller battery, there’s only enough power to get you through the day.
In my usage, I charged this phone in the morning, which takes a significantly long time, and then I charged it again at night so it wouldn’t switch off before morning. Charging is also one of the weakest parts of the Flip6. You only get 25-watt wired charging, while phones half of its price have 70-watt fast chargers.
Again for reference, the Oppo Find N3 Flip comes with 44-watt fast charging, and the Moto Razr packs 45-watt charging speed. This is one department where Samsung needs to take the competition seriously, because the slow charging on this phone compromises the whole experience.
Q1: Should I buy the Galaxy Z Flip5 because it is now slightly more affordable?
Ans: That’s a bad idea. The Flip6 has an IP48 rating, which makes it dust and dirt-resistant to some extent. The Flip5 is IPX8, which means it can take on water, but dust is a big no-no. So the Flip6 is the better choice for travelling and daily use.
Q2: I have the Flip5, should I upgrade to the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6?
Ans: This is a mixed bag but let me try and answer this for you. If you already have a Flip5, most of the AI features are going to make it to that phone anyway. Just hang on to it and keep using it. But if you still want to upgrade, then Samsung has trade-in programmes to make it lighter on your pocket. Just consider all the options before you jump from the Flip5 to the Flip6.
Q3: Should I buy the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6?
Ans: If you want a flip phone with a clean, durable design, a decent IP rating, a good folding display with a reliable hinge, and 7 years of OS updates, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 is a no-brainer. However, for all those goodies, you get a slow 25-watt charging speed and a cover display that’s only 60hz.
To put it in a nutshell, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 is a good flip phone and a decent package. You’ll love the compact form factor and clever software optimizations done across the board by Samsung. But yes, the Rs. 1,10,000 price tag is a big ask for this phone, especially if you can get the S24 Ultra for 7,000 rupees less than that. So if you get a good discount on this phone or a solid trade-in value for your current one, then the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 is a good flip phone for you.