Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 Review: Smartphone Diva With High IQ

Is it a phone? Is it a fashion accessory? If the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 had a mouth, I’m sure it would confidently answer with a resounding “Yes”. It’s been around for four long years, and has carved its space in the hearts of millions of K-Drama fans. Don’t be fooled by its sleek clamshell design and the promise of cutting-edge tech, the Galaxy Z Flip 6 is more than just a pretty face. It’s a statement piece that aims to redefine the smartphone experience, and now it even boasts AI capabilities. But does it deliver on its lofty promises? Let’s dive in and find out.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6

Rs 1,09,999
8.3

Design & Build

8.5/10

Display

8.5/10

Performance

8.5/10

Battery Life

7.5/10

Camera Quality

8.0/10

UI Experience

9.0/10

Audio

8.5/10

Day To Day Usage

8.5/10

Value for Money

7.5/10

What Is Good?

  • Looks and feels premium
  • Finally gets official dust resistance rating
  • Great performance
  • Useful Galaxy AI features

What Is Bad?

  • Pricier than the competition
  • Short battery life and slow charging
  • Flex Window needs a spec bump

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 Review: Pricing and Availability in India

The Galaxy Z Flip 6 starts at Rs 1,09,999, which is Rs 10,000 higher than the outgoing model. The foldable is available in two different variants.

Variant Price in India
12GB + 256GB Rs 1,09,999
12GB + 512GB Rs 1,21,999

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 Review: Design and Build

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 adheres to the familiar clamshell design of its predecessor. Flat edges, fingerprint sensor placement, and port configuration are all the same. Some may call it monotonous, I think it offers a sense of continuity. It maintains its appeal, grabbing eyeballs from people from all walks of life. However, the edges are pointy this time – sharp enough to make impressions on my denims. This seems like a theme with their foldables this year, as we noticed it on the Galaxy Z Fold 6 too.

Design Specifications
Weight 187 grams
Dimensions (in mm) Folded: 165.1 x 71.9 x 6.9

Unfolded: 85.1 x 71.9 x 14.9

IP Rating IP48
Port and button placements Bottom: USB Type-C port, microphone, and speaker grille

Top: Secondary microphones and speaker grille

Left: SIM Tray

Right side: Power button and volume rocker

Samsung has made strides in hinge technology, reducing components for increased durability. The real showstopper in the design department is the dust and water resistance. That’s right, the Flip finally has a dust rating (IP48). Particles smaller than a millimetre are still the Galaxy Z Flip 6’s kryptonite, but hey it’s a welcome change nevertheless.

I’m notoriously tough on phones when reviewing them, but the Z Flip 6 has held up remarkably. Three weeks case-free, it only shows minor scratches on the outer display. The matte finish on the frame is a clear upgrade over previous models, and there’s no hint of creaking from the hinge.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 Review: Hardware and performance

Samsung has a way of making sure every foldable it launches every year has top-notch performance, and that’s true this time as well. It’s a necessity, too, given that the USP of Samsung’s foldables this year is AI. We observed a nearly 24% performance bump in the AnTuTu benchmark, following a similar year-on-year trend.

Hardware Specifications
Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
RAM Up to 12GB
Storage Up to 512GB
Storage Test 167372
Geekbench 6 Single core – 1932, Multi-core – 5891
Software version One UI 6.1.1 based on Android 14

The base configuration of the RAM has also been increased to 12GB. Needless to say, the phone excels in handling demanding tasks. Samsung for the first time has introduced vapor cooling, which effectively manages heat dissipation. I have never seen the phone heat up and slow down even under 4K video editing loads on VN.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 Review: Software

The Galaxy Z Flip 6 inherits a suite of Galaxy AI features, detailed in our Z Fold 6 review by Robin John. These features include Note assist, transcription, smart translation, generative image editing and browsing tools. While promising, the full potential of Galaxy AI remains untapped due to a lack of clear user guidance. Features like the AI-powered keyboard, though helpful, require a learning curve that many users, including me, may find steep. Samsung could significantly enhance user experience by providing more intuitive tutorials and making these features more accessible.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 Review: Camera

My prayers for a better camera setup in the Flip series have finally been answered! The Galaxy Z Flip 6 features a new 50-megapixel primary camera. Yes, the 12-megapixel ultrawide is still carried over, but that’s alright.

Camera Specification
Primary (rear) 50-megapixel, ƒ/1.8, 23mm (OIS)
Ultrawide (rear) 12-megapixel, ƒ/2.2, 12mm, 123-degree FoV
Selfie Camera (foldable screen) 10-megapixel, f/2.2, 23mm

While the primary sensor delivers improved low-light performance, capturing more details compared to its predecessor, I wish it was fitted with a slightly better set of lenses. Light flares can be an issue in low-light environments due to the absence of lens coatings.

Daytime shots exhibit Samsung’s signature vibrant aesthetic, with a particular emphasis on blues and greens, while digital zoom holds up surprisingly well up to 3x, thanks to AI enhancements.

The ultrawide camera captures sharp images in daylight but loses clarity at night. In really trashy lighting, you may have to be still for a second or more to get a half decent shot. Selfie quality is satisfactory, and the flex window remains a convenient feature for self-portraits using the rear cameras.

Instagram’s night mode integration is a welcome addition for users who prefer the platform’s image processing.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 Review: Display

The Z Flip 6 boasts significantly brighter displays compared to its predecessor. Samsung claims that brightness on the foldable screen can reach 2600 nits, which is almost a 50% improvement. The cover screen also benefits from increased brightness, and that’s almost twice as bright when compared to the Galaxy Z Flip 5.

Cover Screen Specifications
Type Super AMOLED
Size 3.4-inch
Resolution 720 x 748 pixels
Refresh rate 60Hz
Pixel density 306ppi
Brightness Claimed: 1600 nits
Display Protection Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2

Main Screen Specifications
Type Dynamic AMOLED 2X
Size 6.7-inch
Resolution 1080 x 2640 pixels
Refresh rate 120Hz
Pixel density 426ppi
Brightness Claimed: 2600 nits

I don’t really have to say much about the image quality of the main display – it’s just as punchy, vibrant as any other high-end Samsung AMOLED in the market. But, the refresh rate remains unchanged on both the displays. That’s perfectly normal for the main display, but the Flex window could’ve definitely used a bit of a bump in this regard.

To make the Flex Window more useful, Samsung has added even more widgets. You can also now add multiple widgets to a single screen. The wallpapers are now more immersive, and change their colours depending on the weather conditions – neat.

Other clamshell form factors in the market now offer extensive app support to their cover screens. Moto Razr 50 Ultra’s lets you use nearly every Android app and so does OPPO’s Find N3 Flip. I believe Samsung wants to leave a little incentive to use the main display, and probably that’s why it’s limiting how many apps you can use from its Flex Window. That’s a very Samsung way of doing things, if you ask me.

There’s plenty of third party support out there, so technically you’re not missing out on much. But I really wish I could receive WhatsApp calls without having to deliberately open the phone.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 Review: Battery and charging

The Z Flip 6 features a slightly larger battery compared to its predecessor, leading to modest improvements in battery life.

Battery Specifications
Battery 4000mAh
Charging Adapter No
Charging Time 1 hour and 30 minutes
PCMark Battery Test 8 hours 36 minutes

Users can expect to get through a full day of moderate use on a single charge. While charging speeds remain unchanged, taking about an hour and a half to charge fully over 25W, the increased capacity provides some additional peace of mind.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 Review: Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 is undeniably a stylish and compact device that packs a punch. Its performance is flagship-level, and the camera, while not perfect, captures decent shots. The AI features, though promising, require a bit of user familiarisation. It carries forward the same design from the Flip 5, but works on its durability by attaining an IP certification.

However, the competition has matured and nearly every alternative offers truly fast charging capabilities and longer battery life. The Flex window also needs a bit of an upgrade in terms of refresh rate and native support for a larger range of apps, but third party support takes care of the latter. Ultimately, the Galaxy Z Flip 6 caters to those who prioritise a fashionable and portable device without compromising on core functionalities while offering the same AI capabilities of the S24 series.