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Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 review - The dustproof foldable smartphone with an S Pen gets throttled
Marcus Herbrich, 👁 Daniel Schmidt (translated by Daisy Dickson) Published 🇩🇪 🇫🇷 ...
This year, Samsung has again stayed true to the series and has only made minimal improvements to its Galaxy Z Fold6 compared to the predecessor model. Its subtle redesign in the style of the Galaxy S24 Ultra has given the foldable a slightly wider cover display as well as a more robust case. Apart from this, nothing much has changed and Samsung seems to want to reserve the real big changes for the Ultra model of its foldable range.
Even so, the Fold6's price has risen a little. Your entry into the world of the Fold 6 world will cost you US$1,899.99. Outside of the Samsung store, there are storage options with 256 GB and 512 GB available, with Samsung also offering a 1 TB option directly.
Possible competitors compared
Rating | Version | Date | Model | Weight | Drive | Size | Resolution | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 86.1 % | v8 | 08/2024 | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 SD 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy, Adreno 750 | 239 g | 512 GB UFS 4.0 Flash | 7.60" | 2160x1856 | |
| 88.8 % | v7 (old) | 05/2024 | Vivo X Fold3 SD 8 Gen 2, Adreno 740 | 219 g | 1 TB UFS 4.0 Flash | 8.03" | 2480x2200 | |
| 89.1 % | v7 (old) | 02/2024 | Honor Magic V2 RSR SD 8 Gen 2, Adreno 740 | 234 g | 1 TB UFS 4.0 Flash | 7.92" | 2344x2156 | |
| 87.3 % | v7 (old) | 11/2023 | Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 SD 8 Gen 2, Adreno 740 | 259 g | 512 GB UFS 4.0 Flash | 8.03" | 2160x1916 | |
| 89.1 % | v7 (old) | 08/2023 | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 SD 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy, Adreno 740 | 253 g | 256 GB UFS 4.0 Flash | 7.60" | 2176x1812 |
Please note: We have updated our rating system and the results of version 8 are not comparable with the results of version 7. More information is available here.
Case - The Galaxy Z Fold6 with an IP rating
Not only is the Galaxy Z Fold6 thinner and more lightweight than the Fold5, it is also more angular and symmetrical. In its folded-together state, the phone's case is now 1.3 mm slimmer and 14 grams lighter. We undoubtedly recognize the continuous further development of the XXL foldable from Samsung, but the Galaxy model is nowhere near as compact as the competition from China—such as the Vivo X Fold3. The display fold on the Fold6 is also much more prominent than on foldable phones from Chinese manufacturers. Samsung claims that the folding edge has been reinforced and coated differently to better compensate for external influences.
Its new IP48 rating is nominally more resistant than its predecessor's IPx8 certification. This means that dust particles larger than 1 mm are no longer a threat to the foldable. The front and back of the device are now made of Gorilla Glass Victus 2, while its case is still made of Armor aluminum.
The phone has a great build quality. Its super tight and stepless flex hinge also makes it feel high-quality and durable.
Connectivity - The Samsung smartphone with USB 3.2
There are three different storage variants of the Galaxy Z Fold6 to choose from and they all offer a comprehensive range of features including Bluetooth 5.3, USB OTG, NFC, a UWB chip, Miracast, and Samsung DeX. The Samsung foldable also uses a fast USB standard (3.2 Gen. 1), which supports wired image output to HDMI or DisplayPort interfaces. In our copying test using a Samsung 980 Pro (M2.SSD hard disk), the USB port achieved transfer rates of 224 MB/s. The connected storage media can be formatted with NTFS (read only) or exFAT.
Software - The Galaxy phone with long updates
The Galaxy Z Fold6 comes with Android 14 and Samsung's in-house operating system called One UI 6.1. Thanks to an exclusive partnership between Samsung and Google, the Google Gemini app is integrated into the system and the Circle-to-Search function can be used. Galaxy AI, which is known from the Galaxy S24 Ultra, is also available. At the time of testing, the Samsung foldable's operating system featured security patches from June 2024.
Sustainability
Samsung relies on recycled materials for its Galaxy Z Fold6. In addition to recycled plastics, cobalt, aluminum and glass, it also uses recycled gold and copper. Its packaging is also made entirely from recycled paper. As no charger is included, the packaging is smaller and lighter, which means that fewer emissions are produced during transportation. The box is printed with soy ink.
Long-term support in the shape of software updates is a big plus point of the Samsung phone. Seven generations of operating system upgrades and seven years of security updates are very sustainable indeed.
Communication and GNSS - The Galaxy Z Fold6 with WiFi 6E
The Galaxy foldable supports all current mobile communications standards and a comprehensive range of frequencies including 5G Sub6. Within home Wi-Fi networks, the Fold6 still doesn't support the latest Wi-Fi 7 but, like the Fold5, it falls back on the ax standard. Using the Asus ROG Rapture GT-AXE11000 as a reference router, our test device revealed relatively low transfer rates when sending data within the 6 GHz band.
| Networking | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 |
|
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 |
|
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz |
|
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz |
|
| Vivo X Fold3 | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 |
|
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 |
|
| Honor Magic V2 RSR | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 |
|
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 |
|
| Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 |
|
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 |
|
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz |
|
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz |
|
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 |
|
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 |
|
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz |
|
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz |
|
| Average of class Smartphone | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 |
|
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 |
|
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz |
|
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz |
|
When compared with our comparison device—the Garmin Venu 2—our test sample's location services proved to be excellent. In part thanks to its dual-band GNSS, the Fold6 only showed minor deviations compared to the actual route we took.
Telephone features and call quality - The Samsung smartphone with eSIM support
The Samsung smartphone offers fully-fledged dual SIM support with two nano-SIM card slots and/or two eSIM profiles. Its call quality is very good and voices are reproduced clearly. VoLTE and Wi-Fi calls as well as live translation are also supported.
Cameras - The Galaxy Z Fold6 with 50 MPix
As in previous years, Samsung has hidden a 4 MPix camera under the phone's main display. You can also take selfies using the 10 MPix punch-hole lens which has been installed into the outer display. Neither supports autofocus and only the outer camera delivers videos in UHD quality. However, if you have a suitable storage location ready, you should use the main camera and the front panel as a viewfinder when it is opened.
The sixth generation's camera system on the rear also hasn't had many changes made to it compared to the Fold5 and even the Fold4. Its 50 MP main camera still managed to impress us with its strong dynamic range and good sharpness. Even in low light, the Fold6 provides good illumination without any pronounced soft focus. Its color reproduction is equally impressive.
The Galaxy Z Fold6's ultra-wide-angle lens and 10 MP telephoto camera both achieve good results for a foldable phone. Foldables featuring better cameras on paper—such as the Honor Magic V2—produce visibly poorer photos in everyday use.
Image Comparison
Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.
Wide angleWide angleLow lightUltra-wide angleZoom 5x
Accessories and warranty - The foldable phone without a power supply
There is no power adapter or case included in the phone's scope of delivery, but a data or charging cable (USB-C to USB-C) and a SIM tool are included. Samsung offers a large selection of matching protective covers for the Fold6 as an option. The S Pen must also be purchased separately.
The Samsung phone is covered by a standard 12-month warranty as long as it was purchased in the United States. Care+ is also included free of charge for one year with the purchase of a Fold6.
Input devices & operation - The Samsung smartphone with Face Unlock
The 6.3-inch OLED panel on the outside of the Samsung smartphone and the 7.6-inch main display on the inside respond quickly and display content smoothly thanks to their refresh rate of 120 Hz. Flex mode in the phone's partially unfolded state is made possible at almost any angle thanks to what is probably the best hinge design in a foldable so far. Pen support is additionally a special feature of the Galaxy Z Fold series. Unfortunately, Samsung has failed to provide the Fold6's now wider outer display with S-Pen compatibility, which would definitely have been useful in everyday use.
A fingerprint sensor is integrated into the power button, and it unlocks the Samsung phone very reliably. Users can also make use of a less-secure 2D facial recognition system using the front camera and the camera beneath the display. As is to be expected within this price range, its linear vibration motor (X-axis) is crisp and precise.
Display - The Galaxy phone with a foldable screen
During our test, the Galaxy Z Fold6's main display managed a peak brightness of 2,778 cd/m² (HDR content). But even when depicting an even distribution of light and dark areas (APL18), the Fold6 achieved a similarly high luminosity (2,724 cd/m²).
Both displays are LTPO panels and can adjust their refresh rate variably between 1 and 120 Hz. Due to the screens using OLED technology, they both use pulse width modulation to control their brightness. We measured a screen flickering frequency of 120 Hz using the Rigol software (automatic), which is probably due to BFI (Black Frame Insertion). Our manual measurement resulted in a frequency of 480 Hz. The PWM measured with the oscilloscope is even, and the amplitude is also quite flat at just over 16 per cent.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brightness Distribution: 89 %
Center on Battery: 1396 cd/m²
Contrast: ∞:1 (Black: 0 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 1.7 | 0.5-29.43 Ø4.94
ΔE Greyscale 1.5 | 0.5-98 Ø5.2
99.3% sRGB (Calman 2D)
Gamma: 2.16
Foldable display
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 AMOLED, HDR - HDR10+, HGL, 2nd Screen: 6.3", 2376x968, Glass Victus 2, 2160x1856, 7.6" | Vivo X Fold3 AMOLED, 2480x2200, 8" | Honor Magic V2 RSR OLED, 2344x2156, 7.9" | Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 AMOLED, 2160x1916, 8" | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 Dynamic AMOLED, 2176x1812, 7.6" | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen | 21% | 10% | 12% | -47% | |
| Brightness middle | 1396 | 1793 28% | 961 -31% | 1307 -6% | 1104 -21% |
| Brightness | 1387 | 1806 30% | 950 -32% | 1308 -6% | 1107 -20% |
| Brightness Distribution | 89 | 99 11% | 97 9% | 96 8% | 97 9% |
| Black Level * | |||||
| Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 1.7 | 0.9 47% | 0.8 53% | 1 41% | 3.1 -82% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 2.5 | 2.1 16% | 1.5 40% | 1.7 32% | 4.2 -68% |
| Greyscale dE 2000 * | 1.5 | 1.6 -7% | 1.2 20% | 1.5 -0% | 3 -100% |
| Gamma | 2.16 102% | 2.2 100% | 2.23 99% | 2.24 98% | 2.01 109% |
| CCT | 6495 100% | 6595 99% | 6396 102% | 6313 103% | 6594 99% |
* ... smaller is better
The dynamic 6.3-inch cover display is not only slightly larger than the Fold5, but it also features a wider 22.1:9 aspect ratio. Its peak brightness is on par with the inner screen (APL18: 2,623 cd/m², HDR: 2,649 cd/m²).
Outer display
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 AMOLED, 2376x968, 6.3" | Vivo X Fold3 2748x1172, 6.5" | Honor Magic V2 RSR OLED, 2376x1060, 6.4" | Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 AMOLED, 2520x1080, 6.6" | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 Dynamic AMOLED, 2316x904, 6.2" | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen | |||||
| Brightness middle | 1363 | 1580 | 1093 | 1020 | 957 |
| Brightness | 1369 | 1585 | 1087 | 1065 | 958 |
| Brightness Distribution | 94 | 94 | 96 | 84 | 97 |
| Black Level * | |||||
| Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 3.3 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 2.3 |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 4.5 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 2 | 4 |
| Greyscale dE 2000 * | 2.3 | 3.4 | 2.7 | 1.2 | 2 |
| Gamma | 2.06 107% | 2.38 92% | 2.21 100% | 2.26 97% | 2.02 109% |
| CCT | 6633 98% | 6700 97% | 6412 101% | 6436 101% | 6465 101% |
* ... smaller is better
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
| Screen flickering / PWM detected | 120 Hz Amplitude: 16.45 % |  | |
The display backlight flickers at 120 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) . The frequency of 120 Hz is very low, so the flickering may cause eyestrain and headaches after extended use. In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 17212 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured. | |||
Measurement series with fixed zoom level and different brightness settings (The amplitude curve at minimum brightness looks flat, but this is due to the scaling. The info box shows the enlarged version of the amplitude at minimum brightness).
Measurement series with fixed zoom level and different brightness settings (cover display; the amplitude curve at minimum brightness looks flat, but this is due to the scaling. The info box shows the enlarged version of the amplitude at minimum brightness).
We examined the screens' color calibration using the Calman analysis software and a photo spectrometer. The color deviations for both panels were roughly within the target range (<3), although the main panel's DeltaE values that we measured were lower overall.
Display Response Times
| ↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1.87 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 0.986 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 0.884 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows very fast response rates in our tests and should be very well suited for fast-paced gaming. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 7 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (21.1 ms). | ||
| ↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
| 3.15 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 1.46 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 1.69 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows very fast response rates in our tests and should be very well suited for fast-paced gaming. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.165 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 9 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (33.1 ms). | ||
Outdoors, both of the Fold6's displays make a very strong impression—even in summery conditions. The panels' viewing-angle stability is also very good.
Performance - The Galaxy Z Fold6 with a Qualcomm SoC
The Snapdragon 8 Gen. 3 for Galaxy installed into the Fold6 performed very well during our benchmarks with its 12 GB DDR5x RAM and 512 GB UFS 4.0 storage. Compared to a Galaxy S24 Ultra, however, its scores were somewhat lower. The Fold6's UFS 4.0 storage is noticeably weak when writing small data blocks.
| UL Procyon AI Inference for Android - Overall Score NNAPI | |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy (15793 - 18852, n=3) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (1267 - 74958, n=143, last 2 years) | |
| Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 | |
| Vivo X Fold3 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 | |
The Adreno 750 scored very well during our graphics tests, but it unfortunately did its job with the handbrake on. The Fold6's scores in the GFXBench and 3DMark tests were sometimes on par with the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, but for the most part, its results were significantly lower—even though the foldable only has to calculate a slightly lower number of pixels on its main display. The successor model's graphics performance is also only partially better than that of the Fold5.
GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7: T-Rex Onscreen | 1920x1080 T-Rex Offscreen
GFXBench 3.0: on screen Manhattan Onscreen OGL | 1920x1080 1080p Manhattan Offscreen
GFXBench 3.1: on screen Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen | 1920x1080 Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen
GFXBench: on screen Car Chase Onscreen | 1920x1080 Car Chase Offscreen | on screen Aztec Ruins High Tier Onscreen | 2560x1440 Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen | on screen Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Onscreen | 1920x1080 Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Offscreen | 3840x2160 4K Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen
3DMark: Steel Nomad Light Unlimited Score | Steel Nomad Light Score
| 3DMark / Wild Life Extreme Unlimited | |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 | |
| Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 | |
| Vivo X Fold3 | |
| Honor Magic V2 RSR | |
| 3DMark / Wild Life Extreme | |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 | |
| Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 | |
| Honor Magic V2 RSR | |
| Vivo X Fold3 | |
| 3DMark / Wild Life Unlimited Score | |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 | |
| Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 | |
| Honor Magic V2 RSR | |
| Vivo X Fold3 | |
| 3DMark / Wild Life Score | |
| Vivo X Fold3 | |
| Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 | |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | |
| 3DMark / Solar Bay Score | |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 | |
| Honor Magic V2 RSR | |
| Vivo X Fold3 | |
| 3DMark / Solar Bay Unlimited Score | |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 | |
| Honor Magic V2 RSR | |
| Vivo X Fold3 | |
| GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7 / T-Rex Onscreen | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 | |
| Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 | |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 | |
| Vivo X Fold3 | |
| GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7 / T-Rex Offscreen | |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | |
| Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 | |
| Vivo X Fold3 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 | |
| GFXBench 3.0 / Manhattan Onscreen OGL | |
| Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 | |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 | |
| Vivo X Fold3 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 | |
| GFXBench 3.0 / 1080p Manhattan Offscreen | |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | |
| Vivo X Fold3 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 | |
| Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 | |
| GFXBench 3.1 / Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 | |
| Vivo X Fold3 | |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | |
| Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 | |
| GFXBench 3.1 / Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen | |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 | |
| Vivo X Fold3 | |
| Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 | |
| GFXBench / Car Chase Onscreen | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 | |
| Vivo X Fold3 | |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | |
| Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 | |
| GFXBench / Car Chase Offscreen | |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | |
| Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 | |
| Vivo X Fold3 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 | |
| GFXBench / Aztec Ruins High Tier Onscreen | |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 | |
| Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 | |
| Honor Magic V2 RSR | |
| Vivo X Fold3 | |
| GFXBench / Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 | |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | |
| Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 | |
| Honor Magic V2 RSR | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 | |
| Vivo X Fold3 | |
| GFXBench / Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Onscreen | |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 | |
| Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 | |
| Vivo X Fold3 | |
| Honor Magic V2 RSR | |
| GFXBench / Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Offscreen | |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | |
| Honor Magic V2 RSR | |
| Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 | |
| Vivo X Fold3 | |
| GFXBench / 4K Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen | |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 | |
| Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 | |
| Honor Magic V2 RSR | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 | |
| Vivo X Fold3 | |
| 3DMark / Steel Nomad Light Unlimited Score | |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 | |
| 3DMark / Steel Nomad Light Score | |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 | |
| Jetstream 2 - Total Score | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 (Chrome 115) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy (155.8 - 210, n=3) | |
| Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 (Chrome 118.0.05993.111) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 (Chrom 127) | |
| Vivo X Fold3 (Chrome 124) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (13.8 - 387, n=158, last 2 years) | |
| Speedometer 2.0 - Result | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy (237 - 281, n=3) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 (Chrom 127) | |
| Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 (Chrome 118.0.05993.111) | |
| Vivo X Fold3 | |
| Average of class Smartphone (15.2 - 569, n=145, last 2 years) | |
| WebXPRT 4 - Overall | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 (Chrom 127) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy (181 - 211, n=3) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 (Chrome 115) | |
| Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 (Chrome 118.0.05993.111) | |
| Vivo X Fold3 (Chrome 124) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (22 - 267, n=150, last 2 years) | |
| WebXPRT 3 - Overall | |
| Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 (Chrome 118.0.05993.111) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy (192 - 218, n=2) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 (Chrome 127) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (38 - 347, n=84, last 2 years) | |
| Octane V2 - Total Score | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy (66754 - 72835, n=3) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 (Chrom 127) | |
| Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 (Chrome 118.0.05993.111) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 (Chrome 115) | |
| Vivo X Fold3 (Chrome 124) | |
| Honor Magic V2 RSR (Chrome 121) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (2228 - 98997, n=193, last 2 years) | |
| Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total | |
| Average of class Smartphone (277 - 28190, n=157, last 2 years) | |
| Vivo X Fold3 (Chrome 124) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 (Chrome 115) | |
| Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 (Chrome 118.0.05993.111) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy (555 - 599, n=3) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 (Chrom 127) | |
* ... smaller is better
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 | Vivo X Fold3 | Honor Magic V2 RSR | Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 | Average 512 GB UFS 4.0 Flash | Average of class Smartphone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AndroBench 3-5 | 249% | 298% | 258% | 74% | 241% | 108% | |
| Sequential Read 256KB | 4115.34 | 3556.73 -14% | 3359.31 -18% | 3572.73 -13% | 4384.43 7% | 3610 ? -12% | 1792 ? -56% |
| Sequential Write 256KB | 2083.25 | 3076.11 48% | 3399.45 63% | 2897.27 39% | 2449.23 18% | 2940 ? 41% | 1387 ? -33% |
| Random Read 4KB | 398.01 | 387.96 -3% | 416.98 5% | 389.81 -2% | 459.94 16% | 393 ? -1% | 270 ? -32% |
| Random Write 4KB | 45.73 | 486.21 963% | 568.29 1143% | 506.41 1007% | 161.39 253% | 474 ? 937% | 298 ? 552% |
Games - The Galaxy Z Fold6 manages 120 fps
We used the GameBench app to see how smoothly games run on our test device and to what extent HFR gaming is possible. The Fold6 achieved a maximum of 120fps during our recording. The Android games we tested all ran smoothly and without any noticeable anomalies.
Emissions - The Samsung phone gets super hot
Temperature
The phone's surface temperatures were very mixed during our measurements, with the Fold6 even exceeding the 50-degree Celcius mark at its peak.
According to Samsung, its vapor-chamber cooling system has been enlarged compared to its predecessor, but this has only slightly improved the phone's throttling during everyday use. The thermally induced reduction in performance that we measured was around 25 to 40 per cent. We measured the throttling of the Snapdragon 8 Gen. 3 for Galaxy using the 3DMark stress tests.
(-) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 50.8 °C / 123 F, compared to the average of 35.1 °C / 95 F, ranging from 21.9 to 63.2 °C for the class Smartphone.
(-) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 51 °C / 124 F, compared to the average of 33.8 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 26.5 °C / 80 F, compared to the device average of 32.8 °C / 91 F.
3DMark Steel Nomad Stress Test
| 3DMark | |
| Wild Life Stress Test Stability | |
| Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 | |
| Vivo X Fold3 | |
| Honor Magic V2 RSR | |
| Wild Life Extreme Stress Test | |
| Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 | |
| Vivo X Fold3 | |
| Honor Magic V2 RSR | |
| Solar Bay Stress Test Stability | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 | |
| Vivo X Fold3 | |
| Honor Magic V2 RSR | |
| Steel Nomad Light Stress Test Stability | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 | |
Speakers
The Fold6 relies on two speakers that deliver great stereo sound for a smartphone. Although the foldable's sound doesn't offer a great deal of depth, its bass is comparatively present. The Pink Noise also showed a linear frequency response in the mids and highs, with only the super tweeters breaking up.
If you output sound externally, you can use the device's wired USB connection or wireless Bluetooth 5.3. However, the latter uses a limited range of codecs (SBC, AAC, aptX, LDAC, SCC.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (91.8 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 17.8% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (6.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 2.8% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (4.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 7.5% higher than median
(+) | highs are linear (1.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (15.5% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 3% of all tested devices in this class were better, 2% similar, 95% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 37%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 20% of all tested devices were better, 4% similar, 76% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (88.4 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 20.2% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (11.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 6.2% higher than median
(+) | mids are linear (5.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 6.5% higher than median
(+) | highs are linear (4.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (18.3% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 14% of all tested devices in this class were better, 8% similar, 78% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 37%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 36% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 57% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Battery life - The Galaxy Z Fold6 only charges at 25 watts
Power consumption
The Fold6's power consumption with its large main screen is pretty good, although the Fold5 was somewhat more frugal in idle mode. Its battery can still only be charged at 25 watts using the company's own wired "Super Fast Charging" technology, and 15 watts wirelessly. Charging takes around 90 minutes.
| Off / Standby |   0.02 / 0.11 Watt |
| Idle |  0.83 / 1.3 / 1.44 Watt |
| Load |
13.57 / 16.03 Watt |
    
| |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 4400 mAh | Vivo X Fold3 5500 mAh | Honor Magic V2 RSR 5000 mAh | Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 4800 mAh | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 4400 mAh | Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy | Average of class Smartphone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Consumption | 6% | -19% | 3% | 32% | 11% | 13% | |
| Idle Minimum * | 0.83 | 0.91 -10% | 1.31 -58% | 0.86 -4% | 0.55 34% | 0.69 ? 17% | 0.906 ? -9% |
| Idle Average * | 1.3 | 1.61 -24% | 1.99 -53% | 1.05 19% | 0.9 31% | 1.233 ? 5% | 1.441 ? -11% |
| Idle Maximum * | 1.44 | 1.7 -18% | 2.15 -49% | 1.07 26% | 1 31% | 1.33 ? 8% | 1.605 ? -11% |
| Load Average * | 13.57 | 6.36 53% | 8.92 34% | 15.27 -13% | 9.58 29% | 12.1 ? 11% | 6.34 ? 53% |
| Load Maximum * | 16.03 | 11.26 30% | 11.05 31% | 17.78 -11% | 10.74 33% | 13.5 ? 16% | 9.35 ? 42% |
* ... smaller is better