Last 12 months I bought the Galaxy Z Flip 5 and proceed to benefit from the telephone, even when I’m not “flipping” it in the best way Samsung would in all probability want. I’ve been utilizing its successor, the Galaxy Z Flip 6, for the final week and have already been impressed by the camera alterations — however has it been sufficient to tempt me into an improve?
I’ve made my choice, and in case you’re in the identical state of affairs however have but to select, right here’s what I’ve realized concerning the two telephones up to now week.
A compact measurement remains to be the perfect
The Galaxy Z Flip 6 sat in its field for a few weeks whereas I reviewed the Galaxy Z Fold 6, and I didn’t actually give it some thought a lot. It was the identical state of affairs once I first noticed the brand new folding telephones earlier than launch when the Z Fold 6 took all my time. It’s the telephone Samsung has given essentially the most consideration to this 12 months after spending extra time refining the Z Flip sequence final 12 months. Pair this with our assessment of the telephone, which referred to as it a “lazy” replace, and I wasn’t dashing to make use of it.
Now that I’ve been utilizing the Z Flip 6 for every week, was I fallacious to disregard it? Yes, in that I actually love the comfort of such a small, folded-up telephone. It is way much less annoying to have in my pocket than different big-screen telephones, and it takes up much less room in my bag but nonetheless delivers the identical expertise as another telephone with a 6.7-inch display screen. But each you and I know this already, and the Galaxy Z Flip 6 doesn’t change this a lot in any respect in comparison with the Z Flip 5.
But it does change one factor, and it’s the one factor Samsung ought to have left alone. The telephone now shares the Galaxy Z Fold 6’s sq. chassis and corners as an alternative of continuous the Z Flip 5’s rounded form, and it’s a step backward in ergonomics. There’s a purpose a dumbbell bar is spherical and never sq., as nobody would wish to grip a sq. bar for lengthy in any respect, and the identical applies to the Z Flip 6.
It’s the place Motorola wins factors over the Z Flip 6, too, as I’ve been utilizing the Razr 2024 alongside it for a forthcoming digicam comparability, and it has a lovely curve to the physique that makes it extra snug to carry. It might sound like a small factor, however we maintain these units for hours every day, and on the very least, they shouldn’t dig into our palms in an ungainly method. It’s clearly not like holding a razor blade, nevertheless it’s not a step ahead, and that’s what I search for when contemplating an improve.
Battery life and extra options
While I nonetheless solely get about one-and-a-bit days from the Z Flip 6’s battery, which is about the identical because the Z Flip 5, there are some attainable slight effectivity enhancements which will change this efficiency for others. For instance, a 30-minute YouTube video at 1440p decision and full brightness takes 5% from the Z Flip 6’s battery and eight% from the Z Flip 5. I ran the 20-minute Solar Bay Stress Test from the 3DMark benchmarking app on each telephones, and it drained 10% from the Z Flip 6 and 11% from the Z Flip 5. I’m not going to get carried away with these outcomes, although, because the Z Flip 6 is new, and the Z Flip 5 is a 12 months previous with some use behind it.
I’ll be aware the Z Flip 6’s display screen has a tiny enchancment, or at the very least the software program working it does, because it has a barely extra pleasing look to it. The colour temperature is extra correct, and it’s not as saturated, making it much less arduous on your eyes to observe for any size of time. Similarly, tiny enhancements have been made to the audio system, with much less distortion at excessive volumes on the Z Flip 6. I haven’t observed any distinction in warmth buildup from the processors, with each telephones having the identical diploma of heat by the highest half of every system after the 3DMark check.
Then there’s Galaxy AI. Samsung desires me to suppose it’s a giant deal, however I wrestle to seek out any use for the instruments throughout my day-to-day life. There are three options involving translation (calls, chats, and dwell situations), and the one time I’ve used them was to check simply one of many choices out. It labored, however I’ve but to be in a state of affairs the place I’d even have to think about using it once more. I really feel the identical concerning the photograph AI instruments. Galaxy AI may help with note-taking, making transcriptions, and summarizing… stuff. I do know I gained’t miss having Galaxy AI if I stick to the Z Flip 5.
I’m not upgrading
Overall, there are enhancements with the Z Flip 6, however they’re actually small and I solely discover them once I examine it immediately with the Z Flip 5. If it looks like I’m stuffed with negativity concerning the Galaxy Z Flip 6, it’s not true. It’s a superb telephone to personal and use. There are nice colour choices out there, it’s extremely well-made, and as soon as set as much as the best way you prefer it, the software program is trouble-free. The solidity of the hinge is an enormous promoting level over the Razr 2024, as whereas Motorola has improved it this 12 months, the resistance, smoothness, and silence of Samsung’s hinge are nonetheless far forward.
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When I swapped my SIM from the HMD Skyline into the Galaxy Z Flip 6, I puzzled if I’d come to a unique conclusion concerning the telephone than the one we had in our assessment. Is it a “lazy” telephone? There are particular enhancements within the digicam over the Z Flip 5, however the form of the telephone makes me suppose twice about upgrading it, and since there’s no actual battery life or nice efficiency benefit and I don’t care concerning the Galaxy AI stuff, I’ve determined to stay with the Galaxy Z Flip 5.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 is a delight, and I’ve cherished utilizing it for the final week, however the Z Flip 5 is equally as pleasant, and I haven’t felt I used to be lacking out on something a lot after utilizing this 12 months’s mannequin. I’m not going to improve, though I’m conscious that subsequent 12 months my Z Flip 5 will be worth even less if I wish to commerce it in. If you’re in the identical state of affairs as me, I’m not going to let you know it’s not price upgrading in any respect, however you’ll in all probability suppose you’ve purchased principally the identical telephone once more.