Samsung Z Flip 6 / Z Fold 6 Review - Don't make a mistake!

Summary

The script reviews Samsung's latest folding phones, the Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6, highlighting their improvements but also persistent issues like the noticeable screen crease and underwhelming cameras, especially for the high price. The Fold 6 is criticized for its compromised features despite its cost, while the Flip 6 is praised for offering flagship specs with a fun, folding twist and better selfie camera. The reviewer suggests that while folding phones have their perks, they still require significant compromises, recommending them mainly for those who value the unique folding experience.

Takeaways

• 📱 The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 are the latest folding phones from Samsung, with the Z Fold 6 being criticized for not addressing fundamental issues from previous models.
• 🔄 The Z Fold 6 still has a noticeable crease down the middle of the screen, an issue that has not been resolved even after six generations, contrasting with the improvements made by other companies like OnePlus.
• 📸 The camera quality on the Z Fold 6 is seen as a compromise compared to the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, with limitations in zoom range, focusing system, and increased graininess in low light.
• 💰 The Z Fold 6 is significantly more expensive than the S24 Ultra, raising questions about the value proposition given the price difference and the perceived lack of improvements.
• 🔥 The Z Fold 6 has thermal issues, with the larger screen area and thicker body leading to overheating and dimming of the screen under certain conditions.
• 🔋 The battery life of the Z Fold 6 is not as impressive as the S24 Ultra, with a faster drain due to a smaller battery capacity and larger screen.
• 🆕 The AI features introduced in the Z Fold 6 are mostly fun to play with but not necessarily practical for everyday use, with some showing potential like the automatic translation and smart select tool.
• 🎨 The 'Sketch to Image' feature is highlighted as an exciting addition, allowing users to add unique elements to photos, although it has limitations and doesn't always work seamlessly.
• 🖊️ The lack of a built-in S Pen for the Z Fold 6 is noted as a missed opportunity, especially considering its design to resemble a notepad.
• 📲 The Z Flip 6 is positioned as a more practical and fun option compared to the Z Fold 6, with a more distinct feature set and less compromise on usability.
• 🌐 The use of a VPN is highlighted as a solution to bypass geographic licensing restrictions, allowing the user to stream content that would otherwise be unavailable.

Q & A

What are the two Samsung folding phones mentioned in the script?

The two Samsung folding phones mentioned are the Z Fold 6 and the Z Flip 6.

What is the main issue the user has with the Samsung Z Fold 6's display?

The main issue is the noticeable crease down the middle of the screen, which Samsung has not managed to fix even after six generations.

How does the camera quality on the Z Fold 6 compare to the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra?

The camera quality on the Z Fold 6 is compromised with a more limited zoom range, less reliable focusing system, and increased graininess in dark photos and videos due to a smaller sensor.

What is the price difference between the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and the Z Fold 6?

A brand new Galaxy S24 Ultra can be purchased for around $1,000, while the Z Fold 6 costs $1,900.

Why does the user feel the price of the Z Fold 6 is not justified?

The user feels the price is not justified because the phone has fundamental issues, such as the crease and camera quality, and it costs significantly more than a non-folding flagship phone with similar features.

What is the user's complaint about the Z Fold 6's selfie camera?

The inside 4-megapixel selfie camera produces low-quality images, reminding the user of the PlayStation Portable camera from 15 years ago.

How does the battery life of the Z Fold 6 compare to the Galaxy S24 Ultra?

The Z Fold 6 has a shorter battery life, running out 15 to 25% faster than the Galaxy S24 Ultra.

What is the user's opinion on the AI features of the Z Fold 6?

The user finds some AI features useful, like automatic translation and the smart select tool, but most of them are fun to play with but not used often.

What unique feature does the Z Flip 6 offer that the Z Fold 6 does not?

The Z Flip 6 offers unique front screen customization and a distinct feature set compared to the main screen, making it more appealing and useful.

How does the user describe the physical experience of using the Z Fold 6 compared to a normal phone?

The user describes the Z Fold 6 as feeling like a 'slightly worse smartphone' when folded and not as efficient or easy to use as a normal phone with a kickstand case.

What is the user's final recommendation regarding the purchase of the Z Fold 6?

The user recommends ensuring that the specific folding features of the Z Fold 6 are something the buyer will definitely use, as it may not be worth the cost for those who only want the best value for money.

Outlines

00:00

📱 Samsung Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 Review

The reviewer discusses their experience switching from the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra to the new folding phones, the Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6. They express dissatisfaction with the persistent crease issue in the folding screen, even after six generations, and compare it unfavorably to OnePlus's folding phone. The camera quality is criticized for being a step down from the S24 Ultra, with limitations in zoom range and sensor size. The high price of the Z Fold 6 is questioned, given its similarity in camera setup to the less expensive Galaxy S24 and the poor quality of the under-display selfie camera. The reviewer also notes issues with thermal management and battery life, which degrade performance under stress.

05:01

🤖 AI Features and Practicality of Foldable Phones

The script addresses Samsung's new AI features in the Z Fold 6, highlighting the usefulness of automatic translation and the smart select tool for improved efficiency. However, the reviewer finds many AI features to be more of a novelty than practical. They also touch on the limitations of the sketch to image feature and the lack of a built-in S Pen, which feels like an oversight for a device designed to mimic a tablet. The physical benefits of the foldable design, such as the ability to prop the phone up for various uses, are acknowledged, but the overall practicality and value of the Z Fold 6 are questioned due to its high cost and compromised features.

10:01

🔄 The Distinct Appeal of the Samsung Z Flip 6

The reviewer contrasts the Samsung Z Flip 6 with the Z Fold 6, finding the former to be a more practical and enjoyable foldable phone. They appreciate the Z Flip 6's distinct feature set, which includes a unique front screen and improved selfie experience compared to the Z Fold 6. Despite some compromises, such as the crease and button placement, the Z Flip 6 is seen as a flagship phone that offers a fun and useful folding experience without the excessive price tag of the Z Fold 6. The reviewer also shares a personal anecdote about using a VPN to stream a football match, highlighting the versatility of such tools in overcoming content restrictions.

Keywords

💡Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 is the latest iteration of Samsung's folding smartphone series. It represents the evolution of mobile technology with its flexible display and unique form factor. In the video, the Z Fold 6 is criticized for not resolving fundamental issues such as the noticeable crease on the screen, which affects the user experience despite being in its sixth generation.

💡Crease

A 'crease' in the context of the video refers to the visible line that appears on the folding screen of the Z Fold 6 when it is unfolded. It is a critical point of contention for the reviewer, who is perplexed that Samsung has not yet managed to eliminate this imperfection in the screen even after multiple generations of the device.

💡Hinge

The 'hinge' is a crucial component of folding phones, allowing the device to fold and unfold smoothly. The video script mentions the need for an improved hinge mechanism in the Z Fold 6, suggesting that the current design pinches the screen and contributes to the persistent crease issue.

💡Camera Compromise

The term 'camera compromise' in the script refers to the perceived reduction in camera quality when comparing the Z Fold 6 to the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. The reviewer notes a more limited zoom range, less reliable focusing system, and increased graininess in low-light conditions due to a smaller sensor.

💡Price Point

The 'price point' discussed in the video is the cost of the Z Fold 6, which is significantly higher than that of a standard flagship phone. The reviewer questions the value proposition, given that the folding phone does not offer a corresponding increase in features or performance to justify the higher price.

💡Galaxy S24 Ultra

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is mentioned as a comparison point to the Z Fold 6. It is a non-folding flagship phone with a high-end camera system and is positioned as a more cost-effective option in the script, highlighting the perceived overpricing of the folding phone.

💡Under Display Camera

The 'under display camera' is a feature of the Z Fold 6 that is criticized for its low resolution and poor image quality. The reviewer compares it unfavorably to older technology, such as the PlayStation Portable camera, and notes its limitations in recording 4K video.

💡Thermal Compromise

A 'thermal compromise' refers to the issues with heat management in the Z Fold 6. The larger screen area when unfolded and the thicker body when folded contribute to increased heat generation and difficulty in heat dissipation, leading to potential performance issues.

💡Battery Life

The 'battery life' of the Z Fold 6 is another point of contention in the video. The reviewer notes that the device has a shorter battery life compared to the Galaxy S24 Ultra, which is attributed to the smaller battery capacity and the larger screen requiring more power.

💡AI Features

The 'AI features' mentioned in the script refer to the artificial intelligence capabilities of the Z Fold 6, which are intended to enhance user experience. However, the reviewer finds most of these features to be more of a novelty than practical tools, with some exceptions like automatic translation and the smart select tool.

💡Sketch to Image

The 'sketch to image' feature is an AI-powered tool that allows users to draw and then integrate their drawings into real-world photos. While the reviewer is excited about its potential, they also note its current limitations and the need for further refinement to meet user expectations.

💡Galaxy Z Flip 6

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 is another folding phone model discussed in the video. Unlike the Z Fold 6, the Z Flip 6 is portrayed as a more practical and fun option, with a more reasonable price point and a distinct set of features that make it appealing for a broader audience.

💡Folding Features

The 'folding features' encompass the unique aspects of the Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 that differentiate them from traditional smartphones. The reviewer questions whether these features justify the higher cost and the compromises made in other areas of the device's performance and functionality.

Highlights

Switched from Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra to Samsung's Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6.

Z Fold 6 is a lighter, thinner, and faster version, but fundamental issues remain unaddressed.

The crease issue on the folding screen persists even after six generations.

Comparison with OnePlus folding phones shows a better hinge design.

Camera quality on Z Fold 6 is compromised compared to S24 Ultra.

Z Fold 6 is significantly more expensive than the S24 Ultra without corresponding camera improvements.

The folding screen and hinge are now standard parts, but the price remains high.

Z Fold 6 has a low-quality under-display camera, similar to older technology.

Front screen of Z Fold 6 is wider and has improved aesthetics.

Thermal issues with Z Fold 6 due to larger screen area and thicker body.

Battery life on Z Fold 6 is notably shorter than the S24 Ultra.

AI features in 2024 are highlighted, but most are not practical for everyday use.

Automatic translation and smart select tool are noted as useful AI features.

Sketch to image feature shows potential but has limitations.

Lack of a built-in S Pen in Z Fold 6 is a drawback.

Z Fold 6's folding features may not justify the high price for most users.

Z Flip 6 is positioned as a more practical and fun folding phone compared to Z Fold 6.

Z Flip 6 offers flagship-level specs with a folding form factor at a slightly higher price.

Unique front screen customization and features like photo ambient add to the Z Flip 6's appeal.

Z Flip 6 provides a distinct user experience with its folding form factor.

Selfie camera on Z Flip 6 is more convenient than on Z Fold 6.

Compromises on Z Flip 6 are acknowledged, but it offers a unique proposition.

Sur Shar VPN allows bypassing geographic restrictions, demonstrated during a flight.

Transcripts

a few weeks ago I switched out my

Samsung Galaxy s24 Ultra for Samsung's

newest folding firms the Z fold 6 and

the Z flip 6 and cards on the table I

got some bones to pick so starting with

the fold on one hand this is nice a

neatened up lighter thinner faster

version of the last phone but every time

I take it out my pocket I also can't

help but feel like Samsung hasn't fixed

the fundamental issues here and I'm not

sure Samsung is even trying to fix the

fundamental issues so if you're coming

from a non-folding phone the first thing

that you're going to instantly notice is

the crease and it's getting to the point

where now I am perplexed I am perplexed

how even six Generations in Samsung

still hasn't managed to just fix this

line going down the middle of their

screen that companies like OnePlus have

already proved can be done better with

their gen one folding phones they just

need to improve the hinge it's the way

this phone is pinching on the screen

every time you close it and it's only

going to get more noticeable the more

you use it the main rear cameras are

good is what I would say if this was an

$800 phone coming from the s24 ultra you

really can feel the compromise whether

that's the more limited Zoom range the

slightly less reliable focusing system

thanks to the lack of laser autofocus or

just the extra bit of graininess that

creeps into dark photos and videos

because of the smaller sensor here now

most people who go out and buy and use

this phone probably won't know what

they're missing out on but that's my job

having used both of these phones to tell

you that what you're getting here stings

a little bit especially considering that

you can now get a brand new Galaxy s24

Ultra for like $1,000 while the zold 6

will run you $1,900 it's two times the

price and it shouldn't be see it made

complete sense to me that the first

Galaxy fold was significantly more

expensive than a normal phm I mean a lot

of R&D would have been required to build

all the new parts and Concepts from

scratch for something that Samsung

didn't expect to sell many units of so

they had to recoup the cost somehow but

that's not the case anymore in the

current market this hinge and this

folding screen these are standard Parts

this phone almost definitely does not

cost more than $200 extra to produce

than this but it's like $8 to $900 more

expensive to you for no other reason

then that's become the default

expectation for a fault and they know

they can get away with it paying $1900

for a phone you would expect this to be

the place where Samsung throws every

single thing they got at the wall but

instead you get basically the same

camera setup as not even the s24 ultra

but the tiny base Galaxy s24 and your

selfie cameras are even worse the front

one's not too bad it takes 10 megap

shots that make you look nice it's

standard Samsung fair but the inside 4

megapix camera makes you look sick and I

I don't mean that as a compliment I mean

that literally shooting photos on this

reminds me of shooting photos on the

PlayStation Portable camera like 15

years ago and I have heard a few people

saying well this camera is designed for

video calling which is low quality

anyway so you're not going to notice the

resolution but disagree the resolution

is so low that you can't record 4K video

with it which I have found myself

wanting to do a pretty decent amount the

camera seems to have a persistent

faintness to it presumably because of

the extra layer of pixels on top of it

but also since the whole appeal of a

phone is to use it while it's open and

use flex mode to prop the thing up to

record videos I don't think you can

argue that this camera is only for video

calls at least 20% of the time this is

the camera that you're going to want to

use to shoot stuff so the quality really

matters and it just makes you wonder how

did this happen Samsung introduced this

4 megapixel under display camera on the

zold 3 it was terribly received then and

they've had the four the five and now

the six to fix this and so how have we

ended up in a situation where this is

the camera experience from a $2,000 2024

Flagship grade Enthusiast smartphone

anyways the front screen is wider than

it was before which is a nice

Improvement it looks neater they've got

rid of all of the weird Corner screen

bezels but it does still feel just a

little bit like like no man's land it's

very close to feeling like you're using

a normal phone and that's impressive

considering what this is but it's still

just a little worse in every way a

little bit too tall a little bit too

narrow and a decent amount chunkier than

a Barone and this whole structure

creates a bit of a thermal compromise

too it's not hugely surprising I mean

when unfolded you're having to light up

a larger screen area which creates more

heat and then when folded this is a

thicker slab which makes it harder for

that heat to escape and this isn't some

Niche perk that only affects your gaming

frame rates after prolonged periods of

play so many times when I have this

phone open and it's like slightly warm

outside I'm noticing I can barely see my

screen because it's dimming itself to

try and prevent overheating and two

times it's actually gone one step

further and refused to open my apps cuz

of temperature just to clarify I don't

live on some subtropical Paradise Island

basked in Sun all day I live in the UK

there is no reason I should be getting

temperature warnings this severe with

normal usage oh yeah also one of the

things I love about the Galaxy s24 Ultra

is the battery life that's one phone

that I've never had to worry about but

this with both a smaller battery

capacity and a larger screen to power it

runs out anywhere between 15 and 25%

faster and that puts it very much in the

anxiety Zone I mean I do nowadays pretty

much always carry around a power bank so

I'm not left stranded but that's just

made me realize how much more often I

reaching for power here the flip does

kind of fix this issue but I'm getting

to that phone there was also quite a bit

of emphasis that Samsung placed on the

new AI features here of course they did

it's 2024 but uh are they good some of

them are I'd say the vast majority do

still fall into the fun to play with but

I won't use often category I suppose the

most useful kinds of AI features are the

ones that allow you to do things that

you already do but better or faster as

opposed to the ones that just

continuously add more different options

because you know we're only human

there's only so many features that

you're going to be able to integrate

into your life but this is why I love

the idea of all of this automatic

translation stuff like being able to

have a WhatsApp chat across a usually

impenetrable language barrier but not

not actually having to think about the

language barrier anymore and also the

new smart select tool it's exactly what

I was saying it's making the kinds of

things that you'd already be doing

anyways trying to fiddle around and

select stuff faster I was also super

excited about this new sketch to image

and there are moments where it all works

the way you expected where you manage to

perfectly place a one-of-a-kind dinosaur

within the scene of your day out in the

park and you feel like the protagonist

in a superh hero movie at the single

moment where unlimited power has just

been dropped in your lap but I would say

there's too many constraints right now

it seems like there's some sort of

safety restriction when it comes to

adding things to faces which I mean it

makes sense considering all the Havoc

that's been wrought by Deep fakes lately

but then at the same time faces are the

main useful thing that you might want to

add things to and there's also other

issues I'm bumping into like draw

smaller objects or Draw objects closer

together to generate I think Samsung's

just not ready for my big Ideas yet and

you know what using this feature

consistently reminds me of just how

silly it is that the one phone

specifically designed to look and feel

like a not ad does not come with a

built-in S Pen like the s24 ultra does

you know the smaller of the two phones

so the only real remaining question is

then do the folding features make it all

worth it I feel like I've made it pretty

clear at this point that you're giving

up a lot to get these features you're

paying twice as much money you're having

to deal with a crease a terrible unders

screen camera two displays with

unorthodox aspect ratios a compromised

battery and no S Pen so should you well

as far as the physical act of being able

to prop your phone up on flat surfaces

it feels cool I've used it a fair bit to

record time lapses of things happening

or watch movies on a Plane by sitting

the phone up on my trade table but it

doesn't really matter I would say you'll

actually have a distinctly better

experience just using a normal phone

with a kickstand case since you'll get a

bigger more natural screen ratio and

also often times with these cases

magnets for better wireless charging I

mean there are things that do uniquely

utilize the display on this phone the

taskbar for starters is an amazing

addition this whole one tap to instantly

being in another R is a genuinely UNG

gimicky efficiency Improvement that you

just can't have on a smaller phone but

ultimately it's not for me you might

know that I spent a few months trying to

use an iPad as my main computer and the

whole reason that failed was simply

because of the mobile operating system

same thing here while it is impressive

how much this thing can do for a phone

the truth is that for most people this

phone is still a little bit too fiddly

and not quite efficient enough to be a

good main computer which makes it hard

to justify given that for this price you

can actually buy a good equivalently

performing flagship phone and still have

the money left over for a great laptop

so I fold and if you're looking at

buying this please make absolute sure

that these specific folding features are

things that you'll definitely use

because if you splurge on a fold and all

you end up doing is playing Candy Crush

but either squeezed or stretched that

will be a poor purchase decision I just

feel like these Z folds are a little bit

stuck not that many people are buying

them so Samsung seems to have lost the

drive to actually fix the fundamental

compromises which in turn makes them

persistently hard to recommend outside

of their Niche the flip six though is

actually very different and in my

opinion a phone that makes more sense if

the fold is the insecure teenager trying

desperately to be something they're not

the flip is its eccentric sibling who

sure they're a little bit odd but they

understand who they're trying to be

through many years of bulking up the

specs on these phones ITA Samsung's now

got to a stage where the Galaxy Z flip 6

is basically a flagship Galaxy s24 plus

that costs $1 to $200 more more but

folds in half and that isn't pointless

it's partly just a bit of fun which

doesn't hurt in an era where everyone's

always saying that smartphones have

peaked I can't lie if Samsung ever gave

you the option to have their top end

Ultra phones also fold without any

compromises I take it in a heartbeat and

they've really dialed into that fun with

all the unique front screen

customization and funky case options and

this new uh photo ambient feature which

overlays real weather effects onto

photos that you've taken it's very

pointless but brings me joy it's got a

potential lifestyle benefit because

unlike the front of the zold 6 which is

basically just a slightly less

comfortable phone the front of the flip

6 it has a very clearly distinct feature

set to the main screen this is much more

like having a smartphone and then a

completely separate smart watch as

opposed to this which is like a

smartphone and then a slightly worse

smartphone and when I switched over to

the zflip 5 last year I did find that

the physical barrier to go from this

Smartwatch stage to the smartphone stage

actually did make me use my phone L and

then you do lose the three times

telephoto camera that the s24 plus has

so you only get a main and an ultra wide

but I would actually say that it makes

up for it with selfies see unlike the

fold which can use its high-end rear

cameras to take selfies here that's

actually the default way to take selfies

if you want to take good selfies on the

fold you have to unfold open the camera

flip that camera tap the cover screen

preview button physically turn the phone

over being careful not to swipe anything

on screen and then take your shot before

closing it all back up again here you

just double tap the power button and

then tap the screen it's not a perfect

system because then at the same time

anytime you want to take a photo of

what's in front of you you do have to

manually flip the phone open but the

point is this phone is a unique

proposition that makes it distinct and

useful for more than 1% of the

population now there are a few things

that I would say are compromised like

you still have to deal with the crease

but for whatever reason it is

significantly less noticeable on this

flip than it is the fold the buttons are

a little high up when the phone's open

and I do feel like they could quite

easily shove them down and they'd still

work fine in both unfolded and folded

States the screen is a little bit tall

not as tall as the cover screen on the

fold but still taller than I'd like and

it's only got a 1080p resolution as

opposed to the Quad HD that you get on

their flat flagships but I think that's

okay I keep my phone on 1080p anyways

for battery life and temperature reasons

and it's got the same chip as the s24

ultra same Ram same base storage same

wireless charging speeds and yeah the

battery capacity is smaller too just

like the fold also has a smaller battery

than normal bar phones but unlike the

fold which is like a normal phone that

extends into a big tablet this is a

normal phone that folds into something

half that size which means you save a

lot of battery compared to a normal

phone and you end up with something very

close to that of an s24 plus so my

through line for this phone is very much

that six Generations in you still have

to make compromises for a phone that

folds if all you want is the best bang

for your buck it isn't this and to be

honest it never will be this however if

you just really like the idea of a

folding phone then you're giving up

surprisingly little to get it here and

you also scoop up a couple of little

perks while you're at it too so I had a

funny situation a couple of weeks ago I

was stuck in a plane while England was

in the Euros football final which by the

way the men's team has never won so this

was a big deal and it felt like every

single person on that flight wanted to

do one thing and one thing only find a

way to stream the game but they couldn't

the football was being streamed for free

in the UK on BBC player but you know

when you're flying 40,000 ft above the

Atlantic Ocean your phone is going to

know that and the app will refuse to

play due to Geographic license

restrictions I could literally see the

lady in front of me searching live for

the best VPN deals on this flight so you

can imagine how desperately desperately

I wanted to grab her and tell her that I

had it is this Sur Shar VPN we pulled it

up we switched our location to the UK

and we managed to watch England fudge

the finals once more live after which we

kind of wish we hadn't bothered but the

point is I'm consistently glad that I

have this subscription and given that

with the code boss you can now get it

for just $29 a month with a 30-day money

back guarantee for an unlimited number

of users with four extra months for free

it's a bit of a no-brainer