Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 vs Galaxy Z Flip5

So, you are out there for a Samsung-made flip-style foldable and are naturally questioning whether or not it’s best to save a couple of bucks and go for final yr’s Z Flip5 or pony up the premium for the shiny new Z Flip6.

Straight off the bat, the 2 gadgets are very related. Samsung went for refinement greater than any main innovation this yr; therefore, both cellphone will ship an identical total expertise.

Nonetheless, because the saying goes, the satan is within the particulars, and we’re very happy to go over crucial ones with you on this article.

Desk of Contents:

For starters, you may examine the whole specs sheets or straight proceed with our editor’s evaluation within the following textual content.

Measurement comparability

Let’s begin easy with a {hardware} overview of kinds. Of their unfolded state, the 2 telephones are virtually similar in dimension. Virtually shockingly so, in truth. When folded, the brand new Z Flip6 is simply barely thinner at 14.9 mm in comparison with 15.1 mm. Samsung appears to have shaved off the girth from the chassis itself because the hinge appears borrowed from the older technology to the brand new.

Talking of the hinge, final yr’s Z Flip5 is the gadget that introduced in regards to the extra significant hinge innovation with the gapless closing. Issues are largely unchanged this yr, so it’s truthful to say that you simply get Samsung’s newest and biggest hinge know-how on both cellphone.

In one other very shocking improvement, it is usually true that the Z Flip5 and Z Flip6 are similar in weight at 187 grams. That is notably intriguing given the elevated battery capability from 3,700 mAh to 4,000 mAh from technology to technology.

So, we talked about fairly a couple of issues that have not actually modified. What has modified, then? The aluminum body within the Z Flip6 has gotten flatter, and it is now matte as an alternative of shiny. The colour panel on the again is now matte, too, making a nicer, trendy look. The 2 cameras have gotten thicker accent rings. And that is about it the design modifications.

For what it is price, Samsung says the armor aluminum body used on the Z Flip6 is in some way “enhanced” in comparison with the “common” one on the Z Flip5.

And whereas the Z Flip5 has an IPX8 ingress safety ranking, the Z Flip6 now has IP48. The added quantity ‘4’ means mud particles bigger than 1mm cannot get in there, that means there’s much less likelihood of mud or sand getting contained in the hinge.

That apart, the quilt shows on each telephones are protected by the identical Gorilla Glass Victus 2 materials.

Show comparability

The Galaxy Z Flip6’s show setup is just about unchanged, coming from the earlier technology. On the within, there is a 6.7-inch panel that bends in half, and on the quilt, you will discover a notched 3.4-inch display screen for easier duties. Each are OLEDs, in fact.

The principle panels inside have a 1,080×2,640px decision in a 22:9 side ratio. That is fairly tall and slender and since it is also a really skinny gadget when unfolded, each Flips really feel simpler to function than every other 6.7-incher with a extra typical side ratio.

The crease on the folding display screen and its perceived prominence is identical between the 2 telephones.

There are nonetheless some generational enhancements right here. One is using LTPO tech within the newer mannequin, which implies it is a extra energy environment friendly display screen.

Then, there’s the utmost brightness. The Z Flip6 predominant display screen will get notably brighter (1,475 nits) in comparison with the Z Flip5 (1,101 nits).

The quilt show is principally unchanged in its funky form and performance. Each the Z Flip5 and Z Flip6 solely get a 60Hz refresh fee on their cowl screens.

We have now not examined the max brightness of the quilt show as a consequence of technical limitations, however Samsung claims that the brand new one on the Z Flip6 maxes out at 1,600 nits.

Battery life

One of many modifications to this yr’s Flip that may move for ‘main’ is the rise in battery capability. The Z Flip6 is powered by a 4,000mAh battery – 8% greater than earlier than. This improve in capability additionally interprets right into a tangible improve in on-screen endurance, as measured by our standardized testing, which is nice to see.

In fact, the extra power-efficient LTPO display screen may assist issues within the screen-on exams, too.

The one space the place the brand new Z Flip6 does a bit worse than its predecessor is Name time endurance. We additionally noticed this development with the Z Fold6 and Z Fold5, so the newer chipset and its modem may be guilty. Even so, the Z Flip6 has a greater battery life as an entire.

Charging velocity

Samsung is not precisely maintaining with the instances relating to quick charging. Then once more, it’s also possible to select to view this as a better emphasis on battery well being and longevity over quicker top-ups. We cannot be making any excuses for Samsung, although. Each telephones cost at an official most of 25W wired and 15W wi-fi and that is not terribly excessive, comparatively talking. >

Samsung claims that the 25W wired ranking ought to lead to the identical charging fee between the 2 telephones – 50% in half-hour.

In our exams, nevertheless, the marginally bigger battery on the Z Flip6 could not even attain the marketed charging fee and is barely slower than the Z Flip5’s. A small victory, of kinds, for the outgoing mannequin.

Each telephones additionally assist 4.5W reverse wi-fi charging.

Speaker check

The Z Flip5 and Z Flip 6 have a really related speaker system. There may be one speaker on the underside and one other up prime masking earpiece duties in voice calls.

In portrait orientation, the highest one will get the left channel, whereas in panorama, the cellphone will assign the channels dynamically to correspond to the handset’s orientation in area – that is when the Flip is unflipped, in fact.

The 2 telephones are very shut when it comes to loudness and total high quality. Maybe the Z Flip6 has a really small edge right here with barely higher loudness and ever-so-slightly-better frequency response. It’s hardly substantial, although; for all intents and sensible functions, the 2 telephones sound the identical.

Efficiency

In line with custom, Samsung is placing the most recent and biggest Qualcomm chip inside its Flip fashions on the respective time of launch. That signifies that the Z Flip5 will get the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 whereas the Z Flip6 will get the present Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.

Each telephones have the AC model of their respective chipsets, also called the “for Galaxy cell platform”. The AC is basically an overclocked variant of the common AB chip. So you might be getting the most effective of the most effective.

Each the Z Flip5 and Z Flip6 might be had with both 256GB or 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage. Nonetheless, the Z Flip6 has the benefit of 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM as an alternative of the 8GB of RAM contained in the Z Flip5. That could be a fairly substantial improve proper there.

Benchmark efficiency

The precise distinction in efficiency between the Z Flip 5 and Z Flip6 is not all that substantial, to be sincere. Our Z Flip5 unit in some way managed to get the next AnTuTu 10 rating. We would not actually let efficiency dictate this shopping for resolution someway.

What’s doubtlessly extra vital is the software program assist window Samsung gives for every cellphone. With the Z Flip5 launched a yr in the past, it already has left solely three years of OS updates and 4 years of safety patches.

In distinction, the Z Flip6 will get a whopping seven years of OS updates. We aren’t certain the cellphone’s efficiency will stay usable after that a few years, however the longer the assist, the higher.

There may be additionally the matter of the brand new Galaxy AI software program options, which Samsung launched on the S24 sequence. We cannot be contemplating these intimately on this comparability as a result of Samsung delivered most, if not all, of those options to the Flip5 with an replace in April 2024.

Digital camera comparability

The Z Flip6 brings a reasonably substantial digital camera improve to the desk over its Z Flip5 predecessor. This technology will get a Tetracell/Quad-Bayer predominant digital camera, the identical one as within the Fold6 and several other different ‘common’ Galaxy S telephones from years previous (and current too). The 50MP sensor major module combines 4 pixels into one to supply higher dynamic vary and noise efficiency. Whereas the know-how itself is not groundbreaking, this improve is a giant deal for Flip because it permits the cellphone to zoom a minimum of a little bit digitally with out sacrificing high quality an excessive amount of.

There are some variations within the ultrawide cameras of each telephones, however these are hardly substantial in comparison with the foremost transfer up in the primary digital camera division.

Picture high quality

Evaluating Flip6’s photographs in opposition to these of the earlier technology, we see a extra pure, detailed presentation with much less aggressive sharpening. The brand new mannequin’s digital camera photographs are additionally cleaner, subsequent to an usually grainy Flip5.

Daylight comparability, predominant digital camera (1x): Galaxy Z Flip6 • Galaxy Z Flip5

On to some zoom photographs, then. Each telephones seize competent 2x photographs, however these from the newer mannequin comprise finer element and are rendered much more naturally, even when that typically means a bit softer presentation.

Daylight comparability, predominant digital camera (2x): Galaxy Z Flip6 • Galaxy Z Flip5

The distinction in ultrawide high quality is hardly enormous. Samsung has eased off on the sharpening, and there is most likely even much less grain within the skies and different areas of uniform coloration.

Daylight comparability, ultrawide digital camera (0.6x): Galaxy Z Flip6 • Galaxy Z Flip5

In low mild, the brand new mannequin has a pronounced benefit over the Flip5, providing higher element, much less sharpening and improved dynamic vary.

Low-light comparability, predominant digital camera (1x): Galaxy Z Flip6 • Galaxy Z Flip5

The low mild benefits aren’t as enormous at 2x zoom. The Z Flip5 fares higher than we anticipated in low mild zooming. The Z Flip’s photographs are additionally fairly noisy.

Low-light comparability, predominant digital camera (2x): Galaxy Z Flip6 • Galaxy Z Flip5

Lastly, we’ve the 2 ultrawides at evening. Despite the fact that the {hardware} needs to be almost similar right here, the Z Flip6 usually takes sharper ultrawide photographs.

Low-light comparability, ultrawide digital camera (0.6x): Galaxy Z Flip6 • Galaxy Z Flip5

Video high quality

There may be principally no distinction between the Z Flip5 and Z Flip6 relating to video seize capabilities and choices. The Z Flip6 can do 1080p@120fps, which was not a function of the older mannequin, a minimum of not initially, and the newer cellphone has 4K@60fps on the selfie digital camera. We might think about each of those area of interest options however they’re there.

High quality-wise, we might say that the 2 predominant cameras are a toss-up. The Z Flip6 appears to have a bit extra laid-back processing with much less sharpening being utilized, which could make the Flip5’s video extra engaging at first look.

The picture high quality hole grows greater for 2x movies. The Z Flip6 has a a lot gentler method, and but, the 2x video out of it’s far more detailed.

The reverse appears to carry true for the ultra-wide digital camera, the place the extra aggressive rendition of the Flip5 makes the video look a bit higher.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6: 0.6x • 1x • 2x

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5: 0.6x • 1x • 2x

The Z Flip6 has a bit extra of a noticeable edge with low-light movies from the primary digital camera. Its publicity seems to be extra pure, and the movies seize extra element.

Whereas the observations above maintain true for 2x zoom movies as effectively, the inky shadows and extra contrasty look from the Flip5 add for nicer 2x footage. Low-light video from the 2 ultrawides is kind of a toss-up.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 low-light: 0.6x • 1x • 2x

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 low-light: 0.6x • 1x • 2x

Verdict

All issues thought-about, the Galaxy Z Flip5 and Z Flip6 are remarkably related gadgets. Nonetheless, Samsung has managed to enhance the most recent Flip throughout the board (albeit, in small, incremental refinements reasonably than any main modifications).

The Z Flip6 has brighter shows for higher daylight legibility. The additional battery capability together with the extra power-efficient display screen have translated into higher battery life. The most recent Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 comes with extra RAM in addition. There may be the promise of a whopping seven years of software program assist versus merely three left within the Z Flip5. And final however not least, the brand new 50MP predominant digital camera brings about higher photograph picture high quality.

The Galaxy Z Flip5 shouldn’t be that cheaper than the Flip6 and except you discover a actually killer deal on that one, going with the Z Flip6 would be the higher deal.