Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 | Foldable | Is a little AI enough to keep foldables on the cutting edge? | Review | Smartphone | Review | Price | Features | Specs | Camera | Screen | Processor | RAM | Memory | Technology

I was lucky enough to attend the launch event in Paris last July, but I’ve only had one “hands-on” experience with a device (the one I used for nearly two days was the Galaxy Z Flip 6). So when we arrived in Lima Samsung Peru He provided me with some equipment to review and this was my first choice.

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What can I tell you? Just a few things. First, it’s impressive that a manufacturer took the lead on a concept, made it their own, and pushed a certain niche, creating such a stir in the industry that Today, there is not a single competitor that has not followed his path. But the second thing is that sometimes, You need to press it a little more. Keep reading and you’ll see what I mean.

Subtle design changes

It looks like the design hasn’t changed, but it has. Its edges are more square, and it seems to be more closed when folded than before. When folded, it is smaller than the Galaxy S24 Ultra and only weighs a few grams.While it feels more elongated when folded and requires one-handed use, the reduction in the outer screen edges actually gives the screen a little more room, alleviating the feeling of everything being crowded.

These tweaks, coupled with its slimmer edges, make the inner screen feel more square, which is obviously good for entertainment and, most importantly, for multitasking with three windows on the same screen at once.

Although the Galaxy Z Fold6 can be held in one hand when unfolded, In fact, to use it, we need both. So here comes the dilemma: I try to open the device as little as possible, or I need to be in a suitable and comfortable position and/or place to be able to operate the device with both hands.

Both the outer and inner screens are excellent in terms of color, brightness, contrast, multimedia playback, and gesture responsiveness. Ah, only the inner one interfaces with the S Pen, though I’ll get into that in a bit.

Very good camera, but not much new

As for the camera, I think there is a moment “Excellent! How horrible!” From The Simpsons. That is…

• Samsung’s high-end premium devices have become a good habit They stand out in this section. There is no way around this (Excellent!).
• However, if we compare the configurations on paper There seems to be no real update. And, more or less, that’s what happened, because we discovered what we had already seen in previous models. (How bad!).
• But now, That hardware gets a reboot thanks to Galaxy AIimproves the final effect of the photo, and also adds some other functions, which greatly improves the photo-taking experience (Excellent!)
• However, I think that due to the size of the investment, anyone who wants this device will make Expect substantial and noticeable improvements in the photography section (How bad!).

Once again, the phone camera is above all else Samsung High-end and premium Absolutely amazing.

Excellent performance

In this section, one can expect nothing less from a smartphone of this series. It is a powerful device, since it has the most modern processor on the market. (Snapdragon 8 Gen 3), along with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage.

Perhaps the lowest point (which is understandable due to the characteristics and configuration of the device) is autonomy. Its battery is only 4,400 mAh (Same as last year’s version) It lasted me a little over a day. There are also some downsides to consider: It only charges at 25W wired, 15W wirelessly, and doesn’t include a charger (wall adapter) in the box.

But, returning to the positives, its One UI 6.1.1 customization layer only confirms its maturity and It brings new Galaxy AI features.

Furthermore, to arrive at this, we must take into account Samsung There is hope Seven years of security patches and operating system updates. Something that has never been seen before and can undoubtedly serve as a new (and important) differentiator compared to the competition.

Artificial Intelligence is ready to enjoy

I will divide this section into two parts: Entertainment and productivity. In terms of entertainment, the Galaxy Z Fold6 offers a lot of options, especially with AI intervention in images. It has a lot of what we saw on the Galaxy S24 Ultra, but it has been corrected and increased.

For example, removing or moving elements in a photo The Galaxy AI icon is now in the initial menu of image editing tools. as direct access. Previously, you had to go into the menu and search for it.

Another very interesting thing it brings is the possibility of generating elements on the photos we take (placing hats, animals and other types of objects). There are still limitations to interventions on the face. For example, if you want to add a fake beard or mustache, the system may not allow it. It will only appear if the image outline is conducive to a wig.

There is another tool that lets you generate a caricature, watercolor, charcoal, or paint version. It’s very interesting to see how the system interprets faces and handles different textures.

Then, using the annotation tools, It is possible to draw some strokes and ask the AI ​​to interpret them and convert them into a regular drawing. It’s impressive to turn some scratches into scenery.

In terms of productivity, there was a combination of tasks shown in the July demo that I was able to execute almost 100% of, but ultimately This is gratifying, especially because it is key to a journalist’s job: Again, with the Notes app, you can activate the voice recorder to record a meeting, an interview or something else. Once you’re done, press the icon with a T to do a speech-to-text transcription. The clearer they speak and the more correctly the audio is captured, the better the result they get. In a few minutes (depending on the length of the recording) we had transcribed everything. But that’s not all. We can make summaries, organizing what we transcribed by topic. All this with sufficient precision thanks to Galaxy AI. I tried it myself and even with some colleagues in the newsroom and the results were amazing. Of course, if the recording is in another language, the text can also be translated.

Yes, all of this We added other AI tools that were already in S24 Ultrasuch as real-time translation in some messaging apps, translation during calls, etc. This is a question that requires some imagination Take advantage of all productivity possibilities.

Is the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 worth buying?

After a few days of using the Galaxy Z Fold6, I can say that it is, without a doubt, a great device. The question is whether it is worth investing a fortune in this year.

If you like book-style foldable phones and this will be your first phone of this kind, then it should undoubtedly be your main choice. Of course, you have to take into account that to get more functionality, you need the device’s dedicated Spen, complete with a protective case (since the S24 Ultra’s included SPen is not compatible). So there will be additional costs.

If you own or have owned an early version of the Galaxy Z Fold, you’ll likely notice how the concept has evolved and matured. If you have last year’s version (or even 4), you can probably wait a little longer to renewbecause there you will not feel the changes. If what moves you is the functionality of the Galaxy AI, remember that the company has already announced which models will receive the necessary updates over time.

Because while we already know these devices are pretty expensive — even this version and this year’s Flip have increased their prices internationally — a complication for those who want it is We still don’t have a date or price confirmed for the Peruvian market.

But if you have all this in mind, and you have the money and are planning to buy it, but you feel like there is something missing to be 100% sure, Maybe the promise of seven years of OS updates and security patches might be just what you need.

Since we finally have specs on par with high-end phones in the foldable category, I hope that next year they finally dare to stand out and offer something more that is definitely worth the investment.