Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 review: Smarter than ever, and compact, too
The latest generation of the world's bestselling folding smartphone -- the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 -- is now available, and it's chock full of new features. We're talking all kinds of AI-fueled functions, plus faster performance, a better camera system, a longer-lasting battery and a more compact design.
Whether you're an experienced Android smartphone user, or thinking about switching from an Apple iPhone to the Galaxy Z Flip6 because you're intrigued by its folding design, there are some compelling reasons to make this your next phone. The folks at AT&T Wireless sent me a review unit of this folding phone (pre-activated with its wireless service) for me to try firsthand. Before you order one for yourself, keep reading to learn about my experiences using it.
Or if you've already made up your mind (and here's a hint: I can't blame you) you can get it below.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6: At a glance
Front display: 3.4" | Main display: 6.7" | Display type: Dynamic AMOLED 2x (main), Super AMOLED (front) | Display resolution: 2,640 x 1,080 pixels (main), 720 x 748 pixels (front) | Display brightness: Up to 2,600 nits (main), 1,600 nits (front) | Refresh Rate: Up to 120Hz (main), 60Hz (front) | Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy (octa-core) | CPU speed: Up to 3.39 GHz | Storage options: 256GB or 512GB (with 12GB of RAM) | Housing material: Enhanced Armor Aluminum, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 | Dimensions (open): 6.5 x 2.83 x 0.27 inches | Dimensions (folded): 3.35 x 2.83 x 0.59 inches | Weight: 6.6 ounces | Front camera: 10MP | Rear camera system: 50MP (wide), 12MP (ultra-wide) | Rear camera zoom: 2x optical, 10x digital | Operating system: Android | Port: USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C | Waterproof rating: IP48 | Battery capacity: 4,000 mAh
The Galaxy Z Flip6 is part of Samsung's Galaxy ecosystem, which means it works with the Galaxy smartwatches, tablets, laptops, wireless earbuds and even the new health and fitness-oriented Samsung Galaxy Ring.
Aside from being a bit thinner and lighter than the previous model, a few of the standout new features include brighter and more detailed displays, more RAM, faster performance and a longer battery life. All that allows the phone to handle AI-driven features, like advanced photo and video editing, live language translation, audio transcription and summarization, and the Circle to Search feature that was introduced with the Flip5. The angle adjustability of the phone also gives it capabilities that rectangular phones can't match.
The folding design of the Flip6 and its front-facing display provide really cool ways to interact with the phone -- without opening it. Caller ID, texts, notifications, email summaries and other data appears on the display. This is a key reason to switch from a traditional phone to one with a folding design, like the Flip6.
Samsung Galaxy Flip6: 5 best AI tricks
Galaxy AI is powered by Google Gemini, which is Google's enhanced AI toolset. Here are five of the features I found to be the most powerful and useful:
- Transcript Assist - Use the Voice Recorder app to record meetings, classes, or conversations, and then watch the Galaxy AI create a text transcription, as well as a summarized list of key points.
- Photo Assist - Galaxy AI can help you move, resize or delete objects in your photos, fill in or remove backgrounds, plus enhance an image's overall appearance.
- Live language translations - Whether you're face-to-face with someone who speaks another language, or speaking with them over the phone, live language translation is fantastic. This also works with text messaging. Plus, when you point the phone's camera at a text in a foreign language, the phone translates almost instantly.
- Chat Assist - In addition to everything that Google Assistant used to do (like provide answers to questions and retrieve information from the internet), the Chat with Gemini feature can compose text, help brainstorm ideas, solve a complex math equation, and streamline portions of your daily workflow. Chat can also find content stored on your phone or on Google Drive, summarize documents or emails, and help you generate images. Plus, it can be helpful with setting timers and appointments.
- Circle to Search - Whenever there's something you're interested in on the screen, simply circle it with your finger and Google will perform an online search to provide information about it.
Who should buy the 2024 Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6?
People love the the Galaxy Z Flip smartphone. It comfortably fits in a pocket, is easy to hold, makes for easy content creation, and it now offers the latest AI features. The phone is also durable and highly customizable, plus in comes in a bunch of trendy colors.
Another reason this phone makes sense for many users is because the cover screen is interactive. It does much more than just display incoming call details and texts. As a result, a wide range of phone functions can be handled without having to unfold the phone. This includes customizing the front screen with widgets that showcase information you want to see, plus having ability to start recording audio (for later transcription), controlling your music playlist, initiating a call from a Favorites list, or launching the camera app to take a quick selfie.
And once the phone is unfolded, the Flip6 becomes a powerful entertainment tool for streaming video (including TV shows, movies, YouTube content and your TikTok FYP), all of which look amazing on the display. And thanks to the phone's fast refresh rate, the Flip6 can also serve a powerful handheld gaming system. Or, you can use it to stream music, podcasts, or audiobooks and display e-book content or the latest news headlines.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6: The camera setup
One of the most compelling things about the Galaxy Z Flip6 is its camera system. Launch the Camera app and snap a photo using the front camera (on the cover) while the phone is still folded, or open the phone to gain full access to the full array of camera functions.
You get easy access to a handful of core shooting modes -- Photo, Portrait, Video, Pro, Pro Video, Night, Food, Panorama, Slow Motion, Hyperlapse, Portrait Video, Dual Record, and Single Take. You can turn off the flash, set a timer, adjust the aspect ratio, activate the Motion picture taking feature, turn on filters, use the Face or Color Tone features, switch between the front and rear-facing cameras, and when using the rear cameras, switch between resolutions (up to 50MP).
That's all pretty straightforward and what you'd expect from most Android phones. But we haven't gotten to the new AI functions yet. The Shot Suggestions feature analyzes what's in your viewfinder and suggests how to frame the perfect shot.
Here are a few images I took with the phone. The first image was taken using the 50MP, rear-facing camera with no zoom.
The below image showcases the capabilities of the Camera app's zoom and micro photography capabilities. The rear-facing, 12MP camera can capture the extreme detail and vibrant color of small objects with no difficulty.
While walking briskly, I snapped the below selfie. The Camera app's AI-driven image stabilization was able to ensure that everything in the image remained in focus, while auto-adjusting lighting, color, contrast and other photo taking features in real time.
The camera setup built into the Galaxy Z Flip6 is certainly impressive, but the AI tools make editing and enhancing images incredibly simple. Using a few on-screen taps, I used the Blur Background feature to edit the original selfie. This feature puts more emphasis on the main subject.
With the introduction of Galaxy AI, many photo editing tools available are greatly enhanced. The below image focuses on the dog as the main subject, but the blue bow on her harness and the small objects in the background are visually distracting.
Using the AI-based Object Eraser tool, simply by drawing a lasso around the unwanted objects, I easily removed them in a matter of seconds. This is just a sample of one image editing tool that uses AI to perform tasks that in the past required advanced photo editing skills and tools being used on a powerful computer (not a mobile device).
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6: Initial impressions...
Both the front and main displays on the Galaxy Z Flip6 are touchscreens and are impressively customizable. In addition to personalizing the home screen layout, you can add custom widgets, so information and features are easily accessible. When folded, the compact size of the phone makes it easy to hold in one hand or slip into a pocket. It's this compact design that makes the phone very appealing. Plus, many of the core functions you'd use the phone for (like calls, messaging and picture taking) can be accessed from the cover screen while the phone is folded.
Based on the app you're using and whether the phone is opened at an angle or fully extended, whatever's on the screen auto-adjusts. Samsung has done an impressive job fine-tuning the interface and performance of this latest Flip phone. The most compelling features, however, are the ways AI has been integrated into the Android operating system, preinstalled Google apps and into so many of the features and functions.
Now is the perfect time to experience firsthand this powerful Android device that makes excellent use of artificial intelligence. After testing the phone for more than a week, I have an extremely positive initial impression and definitely recommend it.
