The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 is all concerning the display screen. That can be evident for the reason that its tablet-size inside exhibit is what units it with the exception of an ordinary smartphone. However telephones — particularly foldable ones — are constructed to do a large number of issues, from snapping pictures to enjoying tune and streaming video. Revisiting the $1,900 Galaxy Z Fold 6 3 months after it got here out has most effective bolstered the concept that that is for anyone who desires a telephone that may profit from having two displays in a single.Samsung’s prioritization of making sure that device works throughout the principle display screen in any place is the Z Fold 6’s largest merit over its competitor, the $1,799 Google Pixel 9 Professional Fold. The brand new model of Google’s book-shaped foldable telephone is best than the unique in with reference to each method. However Samsung nonetheless excels at optimizing apps to conform to the display screen when it is folded midway, which makes a global of a distinction when the usage of the telephone in numerous positions. General, I believe the similar method concerning the Galaxy Z Fold 6 as I did once I first of all reviewed it in July. The telephone’s device and its sharp, shiny display screen make it the most effective foldables you’ll be able to purchase — if you’ll be able to take care of its eye-watering top worth.Learn extra: Samsung Galaxy S25 Want Checklist: The Greatest Options I am Ready For Watch this: Galaxy Z Fold 6 Assessment: Samsung’s Highest Foldable But Comes at a Top Price
07:57 The Galaxy Z Fold 6’s largest merit over the Pixel 9 Professional Fold The Galaxy Z Fold 6 (left) has a narrower quilt display screen than the Pixel 9 Professional Fold (proper) Lisa Eadicicco/CNETThe Pixel 9 Professional Fold can have a bigger inside display screen in comparison to the Galaxy Z Fold 6 (8 inches in comparison to 7.6 inches), however for my part, the Z Fold 6 does a greater activity of making sure apps comply with the display screen when it is folded midway at a 90-degree attitude. That is vital as a result of some of the largest benefits of a foldable telephone is the facility to prop the telephone up with out a kickstand, because of its folding display screen and hinge.At the Pixel 9 Professional Fold, sure apps such because the digicam and video streaming apps like YouTube can shift to the highest of part of the display screen when the exhibit is propped open like a pc. (Google calls this Tabletop mode, whilst Samsung calls it Flex mode.) However the overwhelming majority of apps do not do that. As a substitute, they stretch around the display screen like a waterfall, which is not the absolute best viewing revel in. The Galaxy Z Fold 6, through comparability, can break up any app on this method. And higher but, you’ll be able to use the ground portion of the display screen as a touchpad to navigate the highest part of the exhibit. I have discovered this convenient for managing Spotify with no need to select up my telephone, or the usage of the Z Fold 6 as a miniature secondary exhibit in order that I will be able to stay my team chats with pals over Discord and Google Chat open on my table as I am operating all over the day. Do not get me fallacious; this is not explanation why sufficient to shop for a foldable telephone just like the Galaxy Z Fold 6. As a substitute, it is roughly a solution to an issue that foldables have created. However I recognize that Samsung has no less than made it in order that you do not have to fret about whether or not apps will serve as correctly when the usage of the Z Fold 6 as it is supposed for use. It is the largest reason I might make a selection the Galaxy Z Fold 6 over the Pixel 9 Professional Fold for my part. Galaxy AI wishes extra The Galaxy Z Fold 6 can generate photographs in line with sketches. Andrew Lanxon/CNETSamsung offered a bevy of latest Galaxy AI options at the Z Fold 6 and Z Turn 6 once they debuted in July, together with the facility to show selfies into AI-generated artworks, create polished photographs from tough sketches, and make the most of the Z Fold 6’s two displays to translate real-world conversations in an instant. The foldables additionally give a boost to in the past launched Galaxy AI options that mean you can erase or manipulate items in pictures, translate textual content messages and call calls, release a Google seek simply by circling an object, and summarize, reformat and translate notes. Sadly, I do not in reality in finding myself the usage of those options in on a regular basis existence. Samsung’s Portrait Studio (for producing creative variations of your selfies) used to be a large number of a laugh to mess around with once I first were given the Z Fold 6, however the novelty wore off speedy. Many Galaxy AI options really feel centered at particular instances, reminiscent of picture modifying and language translation, somewhat than meaningfully converting the on a regular basis revel in. The model of Galaxy AI that is to be had nowadays is most probably just the start. However at some point, I am hoping Samsung comes up with options that really feel extra like to hand shortcuts for purchasing issues carried out, somewhat than area of interest gear. Circle to Seek, which helps you to seek for almost the rest to your telephone’s display screen through circling it, is a superb instance of the course I might like to peer, no longer only for Samsung’s AI however all smartphone-based AI at some point.I additionally recognize that Samsung permits you to flip off cloud processing for Galaxy AI options for individuals who wish to keep privateness. When you flip off cloud processing, the revel in shall be restricted making an allowance for many options, reminiscent of Composer (for writing textual content messages and emails for you), Caricature to Symbol (for producing photographs in line with tough drawings) and Circle to Seek depend at the cloud. However it is nonetheless great to have a grasp transfer in case you do not care about the usage of those options and wish the additional peace of thoughts. Lengthy battery existence for a foldable, and a shiny exhibit The Galaxy Z Fold 6 carried out smartly in CNET’s battery check. Lisa Eadicicco/CNETLike remaining yr’s Galaxy Z Fold 5, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 carried out smartly in CNET’s video-streaming check — which is excellent news making an allowance for leisure is precisely what that large inside display screen is meant for. After streaming a YouTube video for 3 hours at complete brightness at the primary 7.6-inch display screen, the Galaxy Z Fold 6’s battery dropped to 82%. That is virtually on par with the Galaxy Z Fold 5, which dropped to 86% all the way through the similar check, and it is higher than the Google Pixel 9 Professional Fold, which reduced to 76%. Nonfolding telephones just like the Galaxy S24 Extremely carried out higher (89%), however no longer dramatically so.Samsung telephones are identified for his or her shiny displays, and that’s the reason no other with the Galaxy Z Fold 6. Whilst the interior displays at the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Pixel 9 Professional Fold each appeared similarly luminous at complete brightness in daylight (which is sudden, as a result of I have discovered the presentations on Pixel telephones up to now to be moderately dim), Samsung’s telephone appeared noticeably brighter indoors at part brightness. That, to me, is extra telling as it represents the stipulations beneath which persons are most probably the usage of their telephones maximum incessantly. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 has a shiny 7.6-inch display screen. Lisa Eadicicco/CNETWhen it involves foldable telephones, design is extra vital than same old. Samsung made notable enhancements on this regard at the Galaxy Z Fold 6 with its extra symmetrical quilt display screen and lighter construct. However to not be outdone, Google dramatically overhauled its foldable, leading to a telephone that is simpler and engaging than the first-generation Pixel Fold, all whilst packing higher displays. Which design you favor relies on your personal tastes, despite the fact that I believe Google typically has the higher hand. Google’s telephone has a much broader quilt display screen, which makes it really feel extra like a standard telephone when closed and offers more room for the usage of apps with out opening the tool. Samsung’s quilt display screen is skinnier, which feels much less pure however may well be extra supreme for the ones with small palms.Google’s telephone additionally lies flatter when spread out in comparison to Samsung’s, making it glance sleeker as a capsule when resting on a desk or floor. You’ll nonetheless see the crease on each telephones, despite the fact that it isn’t all the time noticeable when viewing the exhibit directly on. A just right digicam, nevertheless it cannot all the time fit Google’s The Galaxy Z Fold 6 (entrance) and Pixel 9 Professional Fold (again) Lisa Eadicicco/CNETThe Galaxy Z Fold 6’s digicam device, which is composed of a 50-megapixel primary digicam, 12-megapixel ultrawide digicam and 10-megapixel telephoto digicam, can take transparent and colourful pictures. In comparison to the Pixel 9 Professional Fold, which has a 48-megapixel primary digicam, 10.5-megapixel ultrawide digicam and 10.8-megapixel telephoto digicam, it succeeded and fell brief relying at the circumstance. The Pixel 9 Professional Fold carried out higher when taking colourful pictures of nonetheless items and landscapes, and zoomed-in pictures appeared crisper than the ones shot on Samsung’s telephone. Check out the photographs beneath taken at a 20x zoom to peer what I imply. Google’s picture has so much much less noise, and you’ll be able to see the separation between the bricks a lot more simply. Galaxy Z Fold 6 A photograph of the highest of a church zoomed in at 20x taken at the Galaxy Z Fold 6. Lisa Eadicicco/CNETPixel 9 Professional Fold This picture used to be taken at a 20x zoom at the Pixel 9 Professional Fold. Lisa Eadicicco/CNETBut the pictures I captured of other folks, whether or not it used to be portraits taken at evening and all the way through a sunny day, or a gaggle of pals chatting in a dim bar, appeared higher when involved in Samsung’s telephone. This picture of my buddy Randy is one instance. Even though it has a bit of of a golden tint to it in comparison to Google’s, I believe the picture feels extra full of life.Galaxy Z Fold 6 This picture used to be involved in the Galaxy Z Fold 6 Lisa Eadicicco/CNETPixel 9 Professional Fold This symbol used to be involved in the Pixel 9 Professional Fold. Lisa Eadicicco/CNETOf direction, cellular images can also be subjective. Some might choose extra natural-looking pictures, whilst others might recognize an additional tinge of colour. Galaxy Z Fold 6 total ideas The Galaxy Z Fold 6 seems to be virtually like a standard telephone when closed Lisa Eadicicco/CNETI did not intend for this three-month check-in to be a comparability between the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Pixel 9 Professional. However it is laborious to forget about Google’s new foldable, without a doubt the largest challenger to Samsung’s, when revisiting the Galaxy Z Fold 6. For me, the Galaxy Z Fold 6’s talent to conform all apps to the display screen when it is folded midway is going far in boosting its attraction. However the Pixel 9 Professional’s sublime design and bigger displays additionally give it a leg up — which of those is extra vital to you relies on your personal tastes. The true query is whether or not the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is value the additional $100 in comparison to Pixel 9 Professional Fold. Each gadgets are painfully dear, so I might counsel sparsely making an allowance for what issues to you maximum in a telephone and letting that information your choice since you can be spending a sexy penny both method. When you assume you can be the usage of the telephone within the so-called Flex or Tabletop mode incessantly and wish all kinds of apps that paintings smartly in that mode, the Z Fold 6 is most likely the appropriate selection. However should you care extra about having a much broader quilt display screen, you can most probably be happier with the Pixel 9 Professional Fold. Regardless, booting up the Galaxy Z Fold 6 once more has jogged my memory what I in reality like about Samsung’s foldable, and the place it nonetheless has room to develop. In terms of the latter, I might nonetheless like to peer much more from Galaxy AI. Plus, Z Fold 6’s top worth continues to be in reality laborious to swallow. I have no idea if Samsung will ever decrease the Galaxy Z Fold 6’s worth. However I am virtually sure Galaxy AI is solely in its starting phases. Galaxy Z Fold 6 vs. Pixel 9 Professional Fold
Google Pixel 9 Professional FoldSamsung Galaxy Z Fold 6Cover exhibit length, tech, answer, refresh fee 6.3-inch OLED; 2,424×1,080 pixels; 60-120 Hz variable refresh rate6.3-inch AMOLED; 2,376×968 pixels; 1-120Hz variable refresh rateInternal exhibit length, tech, answer, refresh fee 8-inch OLED; 2,152×2,076 pixels, 1-120 Hz variable refresh fee (LTPO)7.6-inch AMOLED; 2,160×1,856 pixels;1-120Hz variable refresh ratePixel density Duvet: 422 ppi; Interior: 373 ppiCover: 410 ppi; Interior: 374 ppi Dimensions (inches) Open: 6.1×5.9×0.2 in.; Closed: 6.1x3x0.4 in.Open: 6.04×5.21 x0.22 in.; Closed: 6.04×2.68×0.48 in.Dimensions (millimeters) Open: 155.2×150.2×5.1mm; Closed: 155.2×77.1×10.5mmOpen: 153.5×132.5×5.6mm; Closed: 153.5×68.1×12.1mmWeight (grams, oz) 257g (9.1 ounces.)239g (8.43 ounces.)Cell device Android 14Android 14Cameras 48-megapixel (vast), 10.5-megapixel (ultrawide), 10.8-megapixel (5x telephoto)50-megapixel (vast), 12-megapixel (ultrawide), 10-megapixel (3x telephoto)Interior display screen digicam 10-megapixel (inside display screen); 10-megapixel (quilt display screen) 4-megapixel (inside display screen under-display); 10-megapixel (quilt display screen) Video seize 4K8KProcessor Tensor G4Snapdragon 8 Gen 3RAM/garage 16GB + 256GB, 512GB12GB + 256GB, 512GB, 1TBExpandable garage NoneNoneBattery 4,650 mAh4,400 mAhFingerprint sensor SideSideConnector USB-CUSB-CHeadphone jack NoneNoneSpecial options IPX8 ranking, 7 years of OS, safety and Pixel Drop updates, Satellite tv for pc SOS, Wi-Fi 7, extremely wideband chip, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 quilt and again glass, quilt display screen peek brightness 2,700 nits, inside display screen peek brightness 2,700 nits, 45W stressed speedy charging (charger no longer integrated), Qi-certified, loose Google VPN, Tremendous Res Zoom, Upload Me, Face Unblur, Made You Glance, Magic Editor, Magic Eraser, Highest Take, Video BoostIP48 ranking, 25W stressed charging, wi-fi charging + PowerShare, 3x optical zoom (as much as 10x virtual and 30x Area Zoom with AI Tremendous Answer tech)US worth begins at $1,799 (256GB)$1,900 (256GB)UK worth begins at Converts to £1,410 (256GB)£1,799 (256GB)Australia worth begins at Converts to AU$2,770 (256GB)AU$2,749 (256GB)