Everything we know and what we want to see

Update: February 23, 2024 (5:00 AM ET): We’ve updated our Galaxy Z Fold 6 rumor hub with new claims regarding the device’s design, storage, RAM, and more.

Original article: February 22, 2024: We’re deep into 2024, and it’s about time we learn more about Samsung’s next wave of foldables. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 are expected to be the highlights of Samsung’s foldable ambitions, refreshing its lineup a bit past the middle of the year. Leaks and rumors have begun flowing in, and we now have a fair idea of how the book-style foldable, the Galaxy Z Fold 6, will shape up. Read on to learn more about this upcoming device!

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold continues to be one of the most successful foldable phones in the world, so it’s virtually certain that a Galaxy Z Fold 6 is in the works. There are already preliminary rumors indicating that Samsung is busy planning its next foldable devices and is aiming for a wider display and a slimmer design in the upcoming Fold. So we can be very optimistic that we’ll get to see a Fold 6 launch in 2024.

Will there be a cheaper Galaxy Z Fold 6?

Surprisingly, there could be a surprise newcomer to the lineup too. A report from The Elec suggests Samsung is exploring an entry-level Galaxy Z Fold 6, and ET News also corroborates along the same lines.

WinFuture says the cheaper model is internally codenamed Q6A. For reference, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is codenamed Q5, so Q6 could be the Galaxy Z Fold 6, while the Q6A could be the cheaper version.

• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 — Aug 11, 2023
• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 — Aug 25, 2022
• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 — Aug 27, 2021

Samsung has a fairly predictable release cycle for its foldables so far, so we can make a reasonable estimate on when the Galaxy Z Fold 6 could launch.

Samsung consistently unveils its next generation of foldables every year in early August, with the new phones typically becoming available for shipping in mid-to-late August.

Extending this, we expect the Galaxy Z Fold 6 to launch in August 2024, unless Samsung has a change in plans.

In saying so, we recently saw a report out of Korea that the Samsung Galaxy Ring will launch at an Unpacked event in the second half of July. This suggests an earlier launch for the Fold 6 too.

The Galaxy Z Fold 6 could be a departure from the conventional look of the Galaxy Z Fold 5, Fold 4, and Fold 3 before. That is because Samsung could be experimenting with a different aspect ratio for the device, according to multiple leaks so far.

Twitter leaker Revegnus claimed that Samsung will change the aspect ratio of the Galaxy Z Fold 6’s external display. Analyst Ross Young also claimed that the foldable and cover display on the Galaxy Z Fold 6 will be larger than that on the Galaxy Z Fold 5, though no dimensions or other details were provided on a public platform.

Leaker Yogesh Brar mentions that the cover display on the Fold 6 could be 6.4-inches diagonally, up from the 6.2-inch cover display on the Fold 5. The Fold 6 could be wider, with a 20:9 aspect ratio for the cover screen, compared to the 23.1:9 cover screen aspect ratio on the Fold 5. Consequently, the change in shape will also change the internal screen’s aspect ratio, marking it up to be a bit more squarish at 1.08:1, compared to the previous 5:6 aspect ratio.

Some of these claims were also echoed by Korean blogger yeux1122 on Naver. The blogger indeed mentioned a thinner and lighter design, a thinner and more durable hinge, a titanium design, and some S24 series stylings. However, the source also claimed that the foldable will offer more durable ultra-thin glass (UTG) with an improved feel.

Furthermore, the leaker mentioned a few other apparent tidbits that still have to be confirmed, such as the lack of an S Pen slot.

Twitter leaker Revegnus claimed that Samsung will continue to use the same image sensor as the Galaxy Z Fold 5, but the leaker also mentioned that “there’s talk of equipping the Fold 6 with the same camera sensor as the S24 Ultra,” meaning it could see a bump up to a 200MP primary camera.

A report from GalaxyClub said Samsung was planning to use a 50MP primary camera on the Galaxy Z Fold 6, adding that it is the same camera as the Galaxy S24. The outlet couldn’t comment on the 200MP primary camera claims. Leaker Yogesh Brar mentions that the camera setup could be the same 50MP primary rear camera, 10MP telephoto for 3x optical zoom, and 12MP ultrawide camera, similar to the Fold 5.

Leaker Chun VN says that the Galaxy Z could use a newer SoC, namely the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. This isn’t very surprising as Samsung practically always does an annual SoC refresh. For other specifications, it is mentioned that the phone could come with a slightly larger 4,600mAh battery compared to the 4,400mAh battery on the Fold 5. It’s under-display camera on the inner display could also be improved.

yeux1122 on Naver also asserted that the Fold 6’s battery will be 5% bigger and that the under-display selfie camera will offer an “improved aperture” and better appearance. The source added that the device could offer up to 16GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage, but cautioned that these claims have to be checked.

A report from ET News suggests that Samsung could make a bunch of changes to the Galaxy Z Fold philosophy to launch a cheaper version of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 alongside the regular (premium) version of the Fold 6. For instance, Samsung is said to have skipped out on S Pen-related functionality. This means that the cheaper Fold 6 could skip out on the digitizer needed for stylus input, so you wouldn’t be able to use an S Pen on the phone at all. The report mentions that other parts could also see changes to bring the price down.

• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 12GB/256GB: $1,799.99
• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 12GB/512GB: $1,919.99
• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 12GB/1TB: $2,159.99

We don’t have any price leaks for the Galaxy Z Fold 6 or even its cheaper variant yet. However, we can draw reasonable conclusions based on the predecessor, the Galaxy Z Fold 5’s price.

The Galaxy Z Fold 5 started at $1,800 in the US, but Samsung continues to offer a $200 discount on the listed price, so you could get the device for $1,600. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 could also be in a similar ballpark, though it remains to be seen how the pricing is affected by the changes in the display panels, the Titanium build, and other upgrades.

Samsung enthusiasts seeking a foldable phone should pick up the Galaxy Z Fold 5, as it will remain Samsung’s flagship foldable until late 2024. There’s little incentive to wait unless you’re undecided about whether foldables are right for you in the first place. If that’s the case, waiting for 2024 foldables might be a wise choice, as it will give you time to figure out if you want to jump onto the foldable bandwagon or not.

$1799.99 at Samsung

For those who are certain about wanting a foldable but find the Galaxy Z Fold 5 less impressive, an alternative could be the Galaxy Z Flip 5 ($999.99 at Samsung). Just be aware the form factors are very different, as the Flip can’t turn into a tablet.

If a device akin to the Fold 5 is preferred and brand loyalty is not a strict requirement, the Google Pixel Fold ($1799 at Amazon) is likely the most obvious choice for those in the States. International buyers can explore additional options by referring to our guide on the best foldable phones.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 wishlist

Right when the Galaxy Z Fold 5 launched, we had a fair idea of what we would want from a successor. For the Galaxy Z Fold 6, we want Samsung to fix all shortcomings and then some. Here is our wishlist for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6.

While we generally like the design of the Galaxy Z Fold 5, it is not without its flaws. There are a few design elements that we’d like to see changed for the Galaxy Z Fold 6.

First up, we’d like to see a thinner and lighter Galaxy Z Fold 6. The Fold 5 is thick and heavy, making it a challenge to fit it comfortably into a pocket or a smaller purse. While it might be possible, it’ll be snug. It’s time for Samsung to embrace a change here.

Next, let’s talk about the Galaxy Z Fold 6 cover screen. While the current display is relatively big at 6.2 inches, some apps have trouble with its awkward aspect ratio and will render incorrectly. Samsung needs to adopt a wider cover display with the Galaxy Z Fold 6 so the front screen experience feels more like a typical smartphone.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is the most expensive phone produced by Samsung, yet it lacks the company’s best mobile camera technology onboard. Samsung typically reserves its top-tier camera features for the Galaxy S Ultra, and we believe it’s time for Samsung to level the playing field.

The Samsung Z Fold 5 utilizes the same camera package as its predecessor: a 50MP main camera, a 12MP ultrawide camera, and a 10MP telephoto camera with up to 3x zoom. In contrast, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra boasts a 200MP main camera, accompanied by a 12MP ultrawide camera, a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, and a 10MP periscope camera with up to 10x optical zoom.

While the Z Fold 5 captures reasonably decent pictures, they don’t compare to some of the best Android camera phones available. We hope to see the Z Fold 6 and Galaxy S24 Ultra share the same camera configuration next year. Perhaps Samsung could even introduce an Ultra model that shares the same camera while utilizing a lesser configuration for the base model.

Samsung has kept the same 4,400mAh battery since the Z Fold 4, and it’s just not enough. As we noted in our Z Fold 5 review, it can get you through a day but not much more than that. For power users, you’ll struggle even harder. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 needs to push closer to the 5,000mAh mark. How likely is this? It’s hard to say, but we’d imagine a small boost of a few hundred mAh is more likely than a big jump.

As we mentioned earlier, there’s already a rumor claiming Samsung has reverse-engineered HUAWEI’s foldable looking for inspiration to make thinner designs while maintaining great battery life. If Samsung wants to make its devices thinner, it is more likely to come at the detriment of battery life, not the other way around. Still, we can hope, right?

The battery size wouldn’t be so bad if Samsung could include faster charging. In 2023, an expensive device like the Fold 5 shouldn’t be stuck with 25W charging, especially when the Galaxy S23 Ultra already offers 45W charging. Just like with the camera, we really want better feature parity between the S Ultra and Fold.

The Galaxy Z Fold 5 can now fold completely flat, which is awesome. What’s less awesome is the crease. While this element has improved over the last few generations, it’s still way too distracting. It would be one thing if all foldable phones had the same crease issue, but we’ve seen smaller creases on devices like the Xiaomi Mi Mix Fold 3 and OnePlus Open.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 should offer a nearly creaseless display, otherwise, it risks falling behind other newer foldable phones in 2024 and beyond.

One of the standout features of the Fold is its compatibility with the S Pen, offering users the versatility for note-taking, drawing, and various other tasks. However, it’s worth noting that the S Pen doesn’t come bundled with the device, requiring users to purchase the official accessory separately, typically priced at around $50. While cheaper alternatives are available, this additional cost may deter some users. It’s a shame because there are many cool S Pen features that some users may not even be aware of, and they might be more willing to explore the S Pen’s capabilities if it were provided for free.

It’s not enough just to include the stylus, though. If Samsung wants to stand out further from other foldables, it should include an actual S Pen storage slot built into the device. How plausible is this? Given the rumors of a larger display, it’s certainly possible there could be room to include an S Pen slot. What’s unclear is if Samsung cares enough about S Pen to spend the money adding what many consider a niche feature. we certainly hope so, at least.