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The Galaxy Z Fold 5 the new hinge was one of the biggest differences that set it apart from the Galaxy Z Fold 4. With the Z Fold 6, design can once again be a big area of focus.
If the rumors turn out to be true, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 could have an updated look that more closely matches the Galaxy S24 Ultraalong with a larger roof screen among other changes.
But otherwise, the Z Fold 6 is expected to get the same upgrades we usually see in a new device, like a new processor. Samsung’s Galaxy AI features are also likely to be available on upcoming foldable devices, though it’s not as clear whether the company will debut new AI-driven software tricks specifically designed for its bendable phones. (However, a Samsung executive hinted that this may indeed be the case). Like the Galaxy Z Fold 5, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is also likely to support S Pen input.
The wild card, however, is the idea that Samsung could introduce an additional variant: either a more expensive Ultra version or a cheaper entry-level Z Fold, according to reports from Galaxy Club and Elec.
As one of the first companies to enter the foldable phone market, Samsung is largely considered a leader in the field. But it was recently dethroned by rival Huawei in terms of annual shipment growth for the first three months of 2024, according to the market research firm Counterpoint studies. Samsung also has more competition than ever after Google and OnePlus joined the foldable phone race.
Here’s a closer look at what we expect from the Galaxy Z Fold 6.
Read more: Samsung Galaxy Ring: When it launched and other details so far
Watch this: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: Best tips and tricks for a good lock
Galaxy Z Fold 6 release date and price
Samsung doesn’t usually discuss new products until it’s ready to announce them. But the company usually holds an Unpacked event every summer to unveil new foldable phones and smartwatches, usually in July or August.
Reports indicate that Samsung will take the same approach this year. Stories from a Korean news channel ETNews and a blog SamMobile point out that Samsung plans to hold an Unpacked event in July, keeping in line with last year’s timing. In addition to the Galaxy Z Fold 6, Samsung is also expected to announce the Galaxy Z Flip 6, the Galaxy Watch 7 series, and the Galaxy Ring at the event.
But people who were hoping Samsung would drop the price of its book-style foldable might be out of luck. According to on the Smartprix blog, Samsung may raise the price of the Z Fold 6 by $100, bringing the base configuration to $1,899.99 compared to the Galaxy Z Fold 5’s base price of $1,799.99.
The design of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 could receive several improvements
The Galaxy Z Fold 6 is expected to get a fresh look. An advertisement for the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 is said to have been leaked recently appeared on Redditlike SamMobile reports, indicating that the foldable larger size will have edges that are flatter and more angular like the Galaxy S24 Ultra. If true, the design change could create more consistency among Samsung’s top phones. It would also make the Galaxy Z Fold 6 physically feel more like a notebook, which would be appropriate given the Z Fold’s S Pen support.
But what might be even more useful is the wider roof screen that the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is expected to get. A prolific layer that ventures under the moniker Ice universe on Twitter says that the Z Fold 6 will have a slightly larger external display that measures 60.2mm compared to the 57.4mm Galaxy Z Fold 5. Giving the Galaxy Z Fold 6 a wider roof screen could make it feel more like a regular phone when closed, which would address one of my biggest criticisms of the current model.
Don’t count on saying goodbye to the crease just yet, though. Quoting testers, Ice universe says the Galaxy Z Fold 6 will still have a visible fold, although it will be slimmed down.
The Galaxy Z Fold 6’s cameras may be the same
The Galaxy Z Fold 6’s camera (no picture) is rumored to be similar to the Z Fold 5’s.
If the rumors are true, Samsung has no major camera upgrades planned for this year’s Z Fold. Both Ice universe and the blog Galaxy Club are reporting that the Galaxy Z Fold 6’s camera specs will match those of the Galaxy Z Fold 5. That means it’s expected to have a 50-megapixel main sensor, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera, a 10-megapixel telephoto camera, a 10-megapixel a selfie camera and a 4-megapixel camera below the display for use when the device is open.
However, megapixels aren’t everything. Pixel size also matters, as it determines how much light the sensor can absorb. Samsung increased the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s pixel size compared to the Galaxy S23 Ultra, for example, which allowed it to take better photos in mixed and low light than last year’s phone in my testing. Hidden upgrades, such as advanced algorithms and new processors, can also improve photography. When I review the Galaxy S23 Ultra in 2023, for example, I noticed that Samsung improved the way its algorithms improve color tones and details.
In other words, even if the Galaxy Z Fold 6’s camera is the same as the Z Fold 5’s on paper, there are other ways Samsung can improve the camera’s performance.
A Galaxy Z Fold 6 Ultra or a low-end model is likely planned
There’s a chance that Samsung is working on more than one version of the Galaxy Z Fold 6. The company is reportedly developing a cheaper edition of its larger-sized foldable to appeal to more consumers, according to a new Korean outlet Elec. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 currently starts at $1,800, making it one of the most expensive phones you can buy. Bringing the price down to a more affordable price could make Samsung’s phone-tablet hybrid more compelling.
At the same time, Samsung is also rumored to be considering the opposite approach. Galaxy Club also reports that an even more expensive model, potentially called the Galaxy Z Fold 6 Ultra, could be in development, although the report suggests that it may only be available in South Korea.
Galaxy Z Fold 6 Software
The Galaxy S24 Ultra was among the first phones to receive Circle to Search.
Samsung’s upcoming foldable phone is likely to run the latest version of the company’s software, known as the One user interface 6. It will also likely come with Galaxy AI, the suite of new AI-based software features that Samsung introduced earlier this year. Such features include the ability to translate phone calls in real time and to delete or manipulate objects in photos, as well as support for Google’s Circle to Search tool.
Samsung can expand Galaxy AI with introducing new features with its upcoming foldable devices, Samsung CEO Won-Joon Choi teased in a blog post.
“The introduction of Galaxy AI to the Galaxy S24 series was just the beginning,” wrote Choi, head of mobile research and development for the company’s mobile experience business. “To deliver a completely new and unique AI experience, we will further optimize the Galaxy AI experience for upcoming foldable devices.”
Another major question is whether Samsung will commit to providing seven generations of operating system upgrades and seven years of security updates for the Z Fold 6, just like it does with the Galaxy S24. Considering the high price of the Galaxy Z Fold, I hope the answer is yes.
We won’t know what Samsung has in store for its next foldable phone until we hear back from the company. But if the rumors are true, it sounds like the Z Fold could be getting a more dramatic upgrade this year compared to last year when the Z Flip 5 took the spotlight.
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