Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 leak reveals two design upgrades that'll make Google and OnePlus sweat
I've followed the foldable phone scene since the very first one hit the market. Royole, not Samsung, made the first foldable phone, believe it or not, but many would argue that Samsung popularized the tech.
While I agree with that, it's becoming harder and harder for me to say that the Galaxy Fold line is the best in the business. With new competitors joining the fray in 2023, and a rather uninspiring successor in the Galaxy Z Fold 5, I ended up giving the foldable crown to the OnePlus Open last year. Even between the Z Fold 5 and the Google Pixel Fold, the latter won simply based on an unassuming spec: display aspect ratio.
Also: The 6 best foldable phones to buy right now
Samsung has some catching up to do. Based on a recent leak by @UniverseIce, the upcoming Galaxy foldable may finally be on the right track in terms of design and form factor. In a post on X, the China-based analyst suggested that the Galaxy Z Fold 6 will feature an unfolded thickness of 5.6mm, a folded thickness of 12.1mm, and a weight of 239 grams.
For reference, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 weighed 253 grams, and the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra clocks in at 232 grams. The new dimensions make the Z Fold 6 the thinnest and lightness big-screen foldable from Samsung yet, a trend that's always nice to see for such devices.
This is the prototype of Galaxy Z Fold6. pic.twitter.com/RL7d8Ny2XP
— ICE UNIVERSE (@UniverseIce) April 3, 2024
The displays on the Z Fold 6 are rumored to be getting "upgrades" too, with a new 6.3-inch external screen that now follows a 22:9 aspect ratio (wider than last year's 23.1:9) and a 7.6-inch internal screen. I'd argue that this change is just as significant as the size reduction, because it affects the ergonomics and hand feel of the phone.
Also: I wore Motorola's bendable smartphone-watch hybrid, and it left me all kinds of confused
Since the first Galaxy Fold, Samsung has stuck with a taller, remote-control-like form factor when the device is closed shut. While this makes it easier to reach from one side of the phone to the other, tapping on the top and bottom corners can be a real struggle.
With a wider aspect ratio, the Z Fold 6 should feel much more familiar to traditional phone users looking to make the switch this year -- I expect this group to substantial should Samsung lower the price of entry. While Google and OnePlus outdid Samsung with more normalized foldable phone designs in 2023, that looks set to change in 2024.