‘But can you see the crease?’ is what I always end up asking myself when I ponder the new generation of flip phones. That you can even fold over a screen at all strikes me like something out of science fiction – however, this (admittedly small) section of the smartphone market always came with the slight whiff of gimmick.
With this in mind, I looked forward to giving the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 a test drive. It’s the top of line when it comes to foldables so if this didn’t pass the test nothing would.
The Z Flip6 folds horizontally, so in its smallest form it can easily fit into your pocket. When unfolded, you’re presented with a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED display that boasts stunning, vivid colours and deep contrasts. The glass is durable, with Corning’s Gorilla Glass Victus 2, and the hinge feels robust and smooth with less resistance, showing that Samsung has worked on refining the fold.
You can still see the crease when you open up the screen but once you’re watching, say, a video it even in nonmal use you are not going to notice it. When folded, the phone transforms into a compact square shape, easily slipping into pockets or bags.
The external 3.4-inch Super AMOLED cover display is functional, allowing for notifications, quick replies, and interactions without unfolding the phone. But more on that later.
Under the hood, the Galaxy Z Flip 6 is powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset, which, coupled with 8GB of RAM, means it’s more than up to the task even if you’re a heavy multitasker or gamer.
Storage options range from 256GB to 512GB, but there’s no microSD slot, so users need to choose wisely based on their needs. The Z Flip 6 runs on Android 14 with Samsung’s One UI, offering a pretty refined experience with useful features like Flex mode, which allows the phone to be partially folded and used hands-free for activities like video calls or watching content.
You also get Galaxy AI, which is making a good stab of getting ahead of Apple Intelligence before to arrives and includes features like live translate, circle to search and plenty of camera whiz-bangs.
The Flip6 camera comes with the same tech as the Galaxy S24 so you’re in good hands with sharp, vibrant photos, especially in well-lit conditions.
Battery life is solid, with a 3,700mAh battery that lasts a full day with moderate use, including streaming, gaming, and social media. While it’s not class-leading, it’s on par with other models. The 25W fast charging feature gets you back up to 50% charge in about 30 minutes, although wireless charging is limited to 15W.
The Flip6 is IPX8 water-resistant, meaning it can withstand immersion in water up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes. However, it’s not dustproof, so care should be taken in dusty environments. Samsung’s continuous improvement in foldable technology has made the hinge more durable, and the device overall feels sturdy in hand.
A versatile and powerful foldable smartphone, the Flip6 certainly doesn’t feel like a gimmick. The only real disappointment is when the phones is flipped. There’s really not much you can do with cover display. I was expecting an Apple Watch-like experience with lots of widgets to play around with but it’s a pretty bare cupboard.
It’s a missed opportunity but I can only imaging that Samsung’s promise of seven years of major Android OS updates means there are plans to make more use out of it.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 is a versatile and powerful foldable smartphone, great for users who want a unique blend of portability, style, and performance. The super display, decent camera, and powerful performance make it an appealing choice. However, its price tag remains steep, which may limit its appeal to those who are looking for more traditional smartphones at a lower cost.
What users say
Poppy: I absolutely love this phone. It looks wonderful and is so easy to use. Very neat to put into my bag. I love the all the extra features. Fantastic value for money.
Stuart: The idea of this phone is great. Small so goes in the pocket, small screen on front so dont have to keep opening the phone up. Three weeks ago the USB socket stopped charging. I’m not sure if this is common on this phone but have a read a few threads on these sort of occurrences.
Alternatives
Motorola Razr 50 Ultra Foldable Smartphone