Having relied on conventional smartphones as my daily driver all my life, switching to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 was a game-changer—in the best way possible. For those unfamiliar, the Galaxy Z Fold6 is Samsung’s latest book-style foldable smartphone, priced at Rs 1,64,999. The smartphone stands out with its solid build quality, useful Galaxy AI features, smooth performance, and long-term software support.
With the device in hand, I decided to delve into Samsung’s foldable smartphone to assess its usability and potential to enhance productivity for people like me who are constantly on the go. Keep reading to discover more.
Table of Contents
Ergonomic design with durability
It took me some time, but getting used to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 form factor was relatively easy. The flat edges and slender design when closed make it comfortable to hold, and the handset fits easily into my jeans or trouser pockets without feeling bulky or adding an awkward protrusion. While the handset’s weight touches north of 200 grams, it feels nicely balanced even when unfolded. When unfolded, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 measures 5.6mm in thickness, which is slimmer than most smartphones out there. Moreover, the phone feels sturdy even when folding and unfolding, thanks to the vertical hinge that can hold that inner display at any angle from 45 degrees to 135 degrees. The Armor Aluminium body, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 glass protection, and IP48 water and dust-resistance rating are features you won’t find on any other foldable smartphone, and add to the peace of mind.
While the overall design is impressive, I can’t call the 6.3-inch cover display typing-friendly. Since the display is narrower than the regular phones, the keyboard appears a bit cramped in the vertical orientation. That said, you have the option to switch to the 7.6-inch main display that provides a much easier typing experience. Samsung has enhanced the main display to make it feel more like a traditional screen than a foldable one, with a barely noticeable crease and a durable plastic layer that resists fingernail scratches. Plus, there’s no need to worry about frequent folding and unfolding, as the brand has rated it to last over five years, even with 100 folds per day.
Vibrant displays
Moving on, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 also excels when it comes to the viewing experience. Both the main and cover displays feature Samsung’s Dynamic AMOLED LTPO panels, offering an impressive 2,600 nits peak brightness, up to 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+ support, and ultra-thin bezels. These specifications deliver a vibrant and immersive experience, both indoors and outdoors, with punchy colours, deep contrast, and excellent viewing angles. The only concern is the aspect ratio of the displays, especially the main one (21.6:18), due to which videos from OTT platforms such as Netflix and Jio Cinema don’t look optimised. But, that’s not the primary use case of the main display.
The 7.6-inch display is best suited for productivity-based work, such as reviewing lengthy documents or PDFs, where the larger screen real estate allows for better readability and multitasking. I found it incredibly convenient to read online articles and e-books on the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6, without straining my eyes or needing to switch to a tablet. While it might not replace a laptop or PC for drafting articles or managing big spreadsheets, it makes making minor changes or edits much easier than on a regular smartphone on the move.
A foldable powerhouse & impressive software support
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6’s custom Android platform OneUI 6.1.1 provides DeX support, which enables users to extend the device into a desktop-like experience with the help of an external monitor, keyboard, and mouse. The handset has enough raw power to handle that and everything else thrown at it. During my usage—ranging from work tasks to social media scrolling, browsing, streaming, and photo editing with Galaxy AI features—the handset never stuttered or showed any signs of weakness. The phone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC paired with 12GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage. The chipset is quick on its feet, providing smooth and reliable performance, whether for everyday tasks or more demanding activities like multitasking or gaming.
What also impressed me was the level of software optimisation on the Z Fold6. Both Samsung’s own apps and Google’s apps work seamlessly on the device, automatically adjusting to the aspect ratio of both display sizes without crashing or freezing. Furthermore, the continuity feature allows users to effortlessly continue their work from the cover screen to the main display. However, some third-party apps, such as Instagram and Kindle, still lack full compatibility with the foldable design—an issue that only the respective app developers can address. On Samsung’s end, the Galaxy Z Fold6 is built to last at least till 2031, with 7 major OS upgrades and monthly security updates.
Innovative Galaxy AI tools
The Galaxy AI features are another highlight of the Z Fold6, blending practical tools with fun, creative options powered by artificial intelligence. Highlights include Notes Assist, which summarises notes—whether typed or handwritten with the S Pen (sold separately); Call Assist, offering real-time voice call translations; Circle to Search, for identifying objects within photos; and Interpreter, which translates foreign languages on the fly.
However, the tool that I found particularly interesting is photo editing, which allowed me to stylise or reimagine a photo according to my preferences. These tools include such as Sketch to Image, allowing you to draw on an image and generate it using AI, and Portrait Studio, which transforms simple selfies into stylised portraits with effects like Comics, 3D cartoons, Sketch, and Watercolour. While the Galaxy AI features certainly make the device more interesting, they may not generate anticipated results at times.
Decent battery life
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 is equipped with a 4,400mAh battery, offering at least a day’s battery life between charges, depending on usage. However, on days with heavier use, it may need to be charged once, which is not very convenient given its support for only 25W wired fast charging. A compatible charger must be purchased separately, and fully charging the device from 0 percent to 100 percent can take over an hour and a half. The handset also comes with 15W wireless and 4.5W reverse wireless charging solutions.
Good cameras
The camera setup on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 comprises a 50MP OIS primary sensor, paired with a 12MP ultrawide lens and a 10MP 3x telephoto lens. Additionally, it offers a 10MP front-facing camera in a punch-hole design on the cover screen and a 4MP under-display camera on the main screen. While the 4MP under-display camera is not so remarkable, the other cameras deliver vivid images with slightly over-saturated yet pleasing and true-to-life colours, along with impressive detail across various lighting conditions.
However, considering the smartphone’s premium price tag, the overall image quality can be described as good, but not amazing. That said, for a foldable device with this unique form factor, the camera performance is commendable and strikes a balance between innovation and capability.
Final thoughts
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 offers a transformative experience for those seeking a device that blends innovation, performance, and productivity. While there are a few areas that could benefit from refinements—such as third-party app compatibility and charging speeds—the overall package is undeniably impressive. From its robust design and vibrant displays to its powerful performance and forward-thinking software features, the Z Fold6 stands as a standout option in the foldable smartphone market. If you’re looking for a device that pushes the boundaries of what a smartphone can do, the Z Fold6 is certainly worth considering, especially with the impressive Rs 28,000 discount currently available.
