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Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Flip 6 first look: big software boost, US$100 price rise

  • While the new foldable phones feature design and hardware improvements, it is in the software that they look to challenge Chinese rivals

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A sample image (right) created by the new “Sketch to Image” software feature on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 - one of two new foldable phones from the South Korean tech giant, together with the Z Flip 6 - which created a real-looking hat and sunglasses from Ben Sin’s sketch (left). Photo: Ben Sin

Samsung has just launched a pair of new foldable phones: the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6.

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While there are subtle hardware improvements, the South Korean tech giant is once again betting on its software and good relationship with Google to combat the slew of more powerful Chinese foldables coming to market.

The Z Fold 6 is a large, book-like foldable that is lighter and slimmer than its previous generation, weighing 239g (10oz) and measuring 12.1mm (0.5in) thick when in folded form.

This is a welcome move, as Samsung’s foldables had begun to feel bulky in the last two years compared with Chinese rivals from the likes of Xiaomi and Huawei.

While the Z Fold 6 is still thicker and heavier than virtually every Chinese foldable phone released in the past 12 months, the gap has closed.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 (bottom), at 12.1mm, is slimmer than both the Fold 5 (middle) and Fold 4 (top). Photo: Ben Sin
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 (bottom), at 12.1mm, is slimmer than both the Fold 5 (middle) and Fold 4 (top). Photo: Ben Sin
The Z Fold 6’s main screen (right) is wider compared with the Fold 5 (left). Photo: Ben Sin
The Z Fold 6’s main screen (right) is wider compared with the Fold 5 (left). Photo: Ben Sin
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