Samsung desperately needed to make changes to the Galaxy Z Fold 7. The company’s book-style foldable lineup was stagnant, and users were justified in demanding more from their $2,000 smartphone.
Samsung delivered, and the Galaxy Z Fold 7 represents a significant upgrade, making it the first large foldable I’d recommend to casual users.
However, not everyone is willing to spend that kind of money. Thankfully, there’s an option for Samsung fans who want a folding phone but aren’t willing to part with a tremendous amount of cash.
The Galaxy Z Fold 6 may look ancient in comparison to the Galaxy Z Fold 7, but it still performs like a premium flagship in 2025, for less than half the price.
I love a good bargain, and whatever misgivings I had about the Galaxy Z Fold 6 at launch melt away at its new price. Here’s why it’s a fantastic deal.
Galaxy Z Fold phones were always solid
The Galaxy Z Fold 6 feels the part
I vigorously complained about the Galaxy Z Fold 6 last year.
Samsung didn’t do enough to upgrade the form factor, and it didn’t feel like a significant improvement over the Galaxy Z Fold 5. However, that didn’t make it a bad smartphone.
If you enjoy a more compact device, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 will actually appeal to you more than the Fold 7.
It’s a pleasure to hold in the hand while closed, and despite its added thickness, I can still easily hold it one-handed when unfolded.
It’s not as spacious as the outer screen on the Galaxy Z Fold 7, but the Fold 6’s 6.3-inch cover display is comfortable for typing.
Sometimes, when you buy a Samsung device, opting for an older model can actually give you more features.
The Galaxy Z Fold 6 supports an S Pen, a feature lost with this year’s device. It’s not something many people use, but it’s a wonderful option to fully enjoy the large internal display.
Its hinge is solid, and I haven’t had any durability issues in my year with the Galaxy Z Fold 6.
You won’t miss software features
One UI 8 is here
I knew Samsung would have a hard time justifying not bringing most new Galaxy AI features to the Galaxy Z Fold 6.
There’s no way the company couldn’t make it work, considering the Fold 6 is powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 with 12GB of RAM. It’s still a performance monster, and the Fold 6 flies through everything I throw at it.
It’ll be better at gaming than even Google’s newer foldables, and it’s an excellent way to get flagship performance for photo and video editing without spending the money on the Galaxy Z Fold 7.
One UI 8 is smooth. I love what Google’s done with Material 3 Expressive, but Samsung deserves credit for improving its software.
Performance is snappy, and the company cleaned up many of the UI elements that frustrated customers.
Galaxy AI is still not my favorite, but it’s now available in full force on the Galaxy Z Fold 6 with the One UI 8 update.
While Now Brief has yet to impress me, I’ve warmed to the Now Bar. It displays information cleanly on the lock screen, letting me control media or keep track of my Google Maps directions. It’ll even let me track my awful sports teams.
You’re also not shorted on software support by buying an older Galaxy Z Fold 6. There are six years of support left, meaning you’ll be getting new One UI versions for a long time.
Price makes all the difference
I’d sign for $900
I constantly see the Galaxy Z Fold 6 for sale for around $900. Whatever reservations I had about the device when it initially released melt away when I can buy one for $1,000 less.
I also don’t have the same concerns I had picking up an older Galaxy Z Fold 2 or 3. Samsung’s done a wonderful job improving build quality.
You’re always going to hear horror stories, but I’ve had no issues with folding phones the last few generations. Treat them like you would any other expensive smartphone investment, and you’ll be fine.
An excellent way to get started
If you’re a content creator or own a business, a book-style foldable is a worthwhile choice.
I love the added multitasking capabilities, and the internal display leaves plenty of room for widgets and apps.
I understand not wanting to spend $2,000 on a smartphone, and the Galaxy Z Fold 7 would make me pause at that price, but it’s hard to beat getting much of the same performance and features for significantly less with the Galaxy Z Fold 6.
7.5/10
- SoC
-
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy
- RAM
-
12GB
- Storage
-
256GB, 512GB, or 1TB
- Battery
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4,400mAh
Samsung’s latest foldable takes some cues from the Galaxy S24 Ultra, with a boxier design and an all-matte finish. It features a slightly wider cover display for a more comfortable typing experience, as well as new Galaxy AI features and an upgraded ultra-wide camera.
