Between its Z Flip and Z Fold strains, Samsung used to have the folding telephone market sewn up – however challengers are arriving thick and quick, that means the agency can’t afford to coast any extra. Which means all eyes at the moment are on the Galaxy Z Fold 6, which is nearly sure to launch in summer season 2024.
How will it differ from the Galaxy Z Fold 5, which is definitely one of many best-selling foldable telephones worldwide? Will it take design or {hardware} inspiration from the Google Pixel Fold or OnePlus Open, the 2 rivals snapping at its heels? And can its cameras lastly be on par with the perfect conventional smartphones? Right here’s all the things we’d heard in regards to the upcoming foldable up to now – together with whispers there could also be two fashions launched.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 anticipated launch date
Whether or not Samsung will launch a Galaxy Z Fold 6 or not isn’t actually up for debate: firm reps hinted that they had already began work on a Z Fold 5 follow-up after we visited Samsung’s HQ as a part of that telephone’s launch occasion. And given Apple has but to aim a foldable telephone of its personal, Samsung will certainly wish to prolong its lead as a lot as doable.
As for when a Z Fold 6 will arrive, although? That’s extra of an unknown. Final 12 months Samsung combined issues up by introducing the Galaxy Z Fold 5 in July, a number of weeks sooner than its conventional August launch slot:
Galaxy Z Fold 5: launched 26 July 2023
Galaxy Z Fold 4: launched tenth August 2022
Galaxy Z Fold 3: launched twenty fourth August 2021
Galaxy Z Fold 2: launched fifth August 2020
The times of Samsung piggybacking on commerce reveals reminiscent of Cell World Congress or IFA are lengthy gone. Count on the Z Fold 6 to reach alongside a Galaxy Z Flip 6, and presumably new Galaxy Watch wearables, at a devoted Unpacked occasion. July is the most probably candidate proper now.
Pricing hasn’t modified an entire lot for the previous few Fold generations, with Samsung focusing on $1799/£1749 at launch. This will change in 2024 as a result of the agency is reportedly engaged on two completely different gadgets – one ‘Extremely’ variant and yet another reasonably priced mannequin. If true, it’s inconceivable to guess what figures Samsung can be aiming for.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 {hardware} & design rumours
There might not be any official details about the Galaxy Z Fold 6 proper now, however that doesn’t imply we’re at the hours of darkness about what to anticipate when it arrives.
The most recent leak suggests Samsung really has two Fold fashions within the works: a extra reasonably priced model and an ‘Extremely’ high-end variant. In accordance with GalaxyClub, mannequin quantity SM-F958 has been noticed doing the rounds; the 8 signifies an Extremely mannequin, because it has been used for every earlier Galaxy S Extremely, together with the S24 Extremely and S23 Extremely earlier than it. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 was identified internally as SM-F946, with the 6 getting used for high-end gadgets.
Different rumours level to the Galaxy Fold 6 (maybe unsurprisingly) taking design inspiration from the Galaxy S24 collection. In accordance with Onleaks and Smartprix, it should arrive with flat sides and a relocated speaker grille. Which means the Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely would be the solely top-tier mannequin with curved sides this 12 months. Measurement-wise, you’ll be able to anticipate a 1.4mm shorter and a couple of.6mm wider handset than the outgoing Z Fold 5, which was undeniably on the slender facet. There received’t be an S-Pen slot both, which can disappoint productiveness followers.
That leak contradicts earlier rumours of this being Samsung’s thinnest foldable telephone up to now, measuring in at simply 11mm skinny (in comparison with the Fold 5’s 13.4mm skinny profile). The renders under are courtesy of X person RjeyTech. There are additionally whispers of a titanium construct, which might deliver the Fold 6 on par with the premium Galaxy 24 Extremely if true.
Throughout a visit to Samsung’s HQ again in July 2023 we obtained to see a number of dummy handsets used as design research for an upcoming foldable telephone; virtually all had wider outer screens than the present Z Fold 5, suggesting Samsung is lastly planning to change the Fold format from ‘slim and thin’. We additionally noticed one prototype with a built-in S Pen stylus. The digicam bump and central body are unlikely to vary too dramatically, as they’re now according to the remainder of Samsung’s Galaxy telephone line-up.
Naver, a leaker with a superb observe report, has steered the Z Fold 6 is getting new side ratios for each its inside and outer screens. There aren’t any specifics, however the sensible cash could be on Samsung utilizing a wider outer display, because it’s what many individuals have been clamouring for. One other suggestion is that the design will present a touch on the Galaxy S25 line-up, which isn’t due till early 2025.
Internally, a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor appears to be like sure; Qualcomm and Samsung introduced a ‘multi-generation’ deal when the agency swapped from its personal Exynos CPUs, and performance-wise it’s already shaping as much as be fairly the flagship chip. It’ll additionally deliver AI smarts into the fold, serving to Samsung compete with Google and the rumoured AI-assisted Apple iPhone 16 Professional.
Reminiscence and storage choices will in all probability stay unchanged, whereas battery capability will depend upon whether or not the display dimension will increase by any significant quantity, releasing up area contained in the handset for an even bigger cell. The Galaxy S24 Extremely is rumoured to be getting quicker 65W charging speeds, that are then more likely to filter by to the Z Fold 6. The present Z Fold 5 can solely cost at 25W, which is a good distance wanting some rivals.
Bbased purely on Samsung’s prior type we have been anticipating some digicam {hardware} upgrades this era. That’s as a result of the Z Fold 2 and three used the identical sensors, which have been then modified for the Z Fold 4 and 5 fashions. An apparent transfer could be so as to add a 5x zoom lens, as loads of rivals can now attain that far with out digital trickery. Nonetheless, the newest experiences recommend the rear lens trio can be unchanged for the brand new era.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 characteristic want listing
As a lot as we beloved the Galaxy Z Fold 5, it solely earned 4 stars in our assessment. There’s loads of room for enchancment, and these are the areas we reckon Samsung ought to handle first so its subsequent mannequin scores even larger. Oh and if these sound acquainted, it’s as a result of we had an identical want listing for final 12 months’s mannequin. Fingers crossed Samsung is listening this time round…
Killer cameras
It’s a narrative that isn’t distinctive to Samsung, however we’re uninterested in seeing foldable telephones costing north of $1500/£1500 packing digicam package that isn’t as succesful as a standard handset costing half the worth. Google is responsible of it, too. OnePlus appears to have bucked the development, although, and we’d like to see the Z Fold 6 do the identical.
A shorter, wider outer display
That is very wishful considering on our half, given Samsung appears set on maintaining the tall, skinny display seen on the Galaxy Z Fold 5, however we’d like to see some completely different dimensions as an alternative. The OnePlus Open discovered a candy spot that’s rather a lot simpler to make use of whereas folded shut, single-handed or in any other case than both the Z Fold 5 or stubby Google Pixel Fold. Samsung following go well with would make the Z Fold 6 way more usable as a telephone, somewhat than a pill that may be folded up to slot in your pocket.
Discover room for an S Pen
The Galaxy Z Fold 5 formally helps Samsung’s S Pen digital stylus – however you continue to don’t get one within the field, and there’s nonetheless nowhere to retailer it contained in the telephone itself, like there’s on the Galaxy S23 Extremely. We get that folding inside screens are extra delicate than a standard telephone show, however one other 12 months of analysis into supplies hopefully means the Z Fold 6’s show can be harder – that means extra house owners will be trusted with a stylus.
