You're the ONLY reviewer I've seen actually thoroughly give credit to both sides of opinion on the cover screen. Most others have their opinion, and completely discard the others'. I personally LOVE the narrow cover screen , and hope that they continue with the same cover screen they have now for the fold 6, and try their new things with a Fold Ultra. I think the tablet first, phone second philosophy is perfect for my workflow, but others want a phone first and tablet second and both sides of that coin are valid
I don't mind the narrow screen as long as I don't use a front case. I feel like the front case is the thing that makes typing more difficult than it needs to be.
I agree with most of this (build quality, cameras, slow charging) but your software section lost me. Most of the problems you have probably stem from you not being familiar with One UI (I prefer the back gesture to only apply to app I’m currently interacting with by far). Samsung’s App Store is a huge plus. You say you’re using it to fix what you don’t like but that’s the whole point. Some of the things you changed I wouldn’t touch, but the option to change it exists and that’s what it’s there for. That lack of being able to tweak software is what keeps me from switching, honestly.
For a device that changed very little over the previous version I have to say all the minor changes made a big difference. I really didn't care for the ZFold5 to the point I traded it in for the S24 Ultra. Unfortunately I had many issues with that device so I decided to trade it in for the ZFold6 and I'm really glad that I did. I really like the changes and I now have a device I can use outside for longer than 10 minutes without it fading to completely black. As crazy as it sounds the pictures are better too.
@@MST3K56 overall the device is nice. But mine has an issue with heat management. Within 10 minutes of use outside in sunlight the screen would begin to dim and continue to fade to the point that I couldn't even see what was on the display. I tried everything including troubleshooting with Samsung support and nothing helped. Initially they thought it was an ambient light sensor but through Good Guardians I discovered that it was related to heat. I don't think the titanium frame is as good as aluminum at dissipating heat. Another issue I had was the camera never produced very good pictures. I'm willing to accept the fact that I'm partially to blame for that as I'm not at all a camera expert but using the default settings on both my ZFOLD6 and S24 Ultra side by side the ZFOLD6 wins. The final issue I had was problems with the WiFi staying connected. Using my tablet to diagnose the network connections I wasn't able to figure out why it would simply drop my network connection in the middle of streaming audio/video. I spent many hours searching forums for answers and solutions but nothing seemed to help. Could be I just got a defective product as most people love theirs. I'm very happy with the ZFOLD6 now.
Hard to believe you think the s24 is worst than the z fold 6 but hey man it is what it is since I also have a z fold 6 from a a note 20 ultra to z flip 5 to z fold 6
@@Prodigyredd Naw bro the 24 series took a massive L this year. I couldn't be happier with my z fold 6 bro. Only thing u are downgrading from are the cameras honestly
Refined to perfection, is what the title should've read. The level of polish this iteration of the Fold maintains really makes it a major upgrade, especially over the Fold 4.
@@Anonymous-pm7jf There's a lot more to it than that. But you can be dismissive and ignorant. If you're an actual tech fan, you give each new foldable an honest assessment before declaring the last thing you jumped on the bandwagon for is still the best. I had the fold 4 and 5, was frustrated and trade for the oneplus open. it's a great phone. The Fold 6 is BETTER
Shane's analogy of the football team is probably better than mine. I was going to say the Z-Fold 6 is like someone you could marry, whereas other foldables you could date but wouldn't want to get married to. In simpler terms; the Z-Fold 6 is a jack of all trades, master of none.
The z fold is the only foldable for now with a reliable stylus which is a big deal for some people plus the samsung dex. Samsung z fold is the master of software in terms of foldable hence why people go for it. Chinese oems may have nicer hardware but they don't have samsung's 7 years of update.
Hahaha I use the same analogy when I owned the Flip 4 and S23 Ultra. Flip 4 is the trophy girlfriend, but S23 Ultra is the one you want to mother your children.
Thanks, Shane. I actually kinda like the square/boxy look of the ZF6. It reminds me of the GameBoy SP or whatever it was called. I still cant get past the tall/skinny design though. Hoping eventually the PF gets to this boxy look, but don't see that happening for years.
Great stuff! All fair points. I'm still waiting on my Fold 6 (white), but I'm a big fan of my Fold 5, so while I acknowledge all the lack of innovation, the small improvements add up for me. I bought/returned Fold 4 because of how hard it was to open (always thought it was going to slip out of my hands), it had the gap and it was so heavy. All of that was fixed in Fold 5 and made me love that phone.
If you loved the Z Fold 5, you're absolutely going to adore this phone. The best way I could describe it is that this feels like a truly finished product. It's not quite the product I want, but it is certainly excellent lol.
I am extremely grateful for your side by side inner screen comparison. Before buying the ZF6 and after hearing all the hoopla about the screens, I developed an expectation of a huge difference between it and the OP Open (my other choice). Now that I've seen an actual comparison with a video running, I see the difference is truly negligible. I was also terrified of ever possibly needing warranty work on the OP. With minor screen differences and the availability of care+ plans for the ZF6 I really do feel much, much better about my decision to go with the Samsung. I immediately learned I actually like the outer screen + it's nice to have a phone fit in my shirt pocket again.
Hey Shane, after watching all your videos, I decided to upgrade from Fold 3 to Fold 6. And I love it... ❤ The difference is actually huge for my case. I never cared for the spen or better cameras, I prioritise software, regular updates and device durability, all of which Samsung is and will be king for many years till the other vendors catch up. Dex, Oneui and Good Lock is the perfect combination to customise and add smart automations with Routines etc. The entire Samsung OS is so well thought out. Just a quick note on Dex, this should be a critical point when comparing to other phones not having any proper solution for casting to a TV or monitor. It is a unique and huge advantage for Samsung users and it must be highlighted. Especially as Fold users are more advanced users, the possibilities to utilise Dex are endless. For example, using a 3rd party yt app on Dex on Tv, I have never seen an ad on yt for years. Having apps like Stremio etc on a huge TV is major to watch movies. No one else is offering anything remotely close to that. Dex transforms Folds to a 3 in 1 device, phone/tablet/pc-smart TV. All the rest of the competition is stuck in 2 in 1. Although the price is very high, when I upgraded, I remembered one of the main reasons why sticking with Samsung was the right choice. With smart switch, I just copied everything from my old phone and in a few hours of copying, my Fold6 is now a carbon copy of my F3, apps, files, app and system settings everything is there. This is Huge. Fold 6 external screen now feels much more spacious and normal aspect. It just feels natural using it. F3 feels tiny in comparison. So in specs it might be a few mm increase but this fixed the main issue with the Fold design for me. Shorter, Thinner and lighter, with a new sexy modern design, F6 is a really cool phone to use. About the internal screen crease, I was never bothered on Fold3 and now it is almost gone, so although on a review it has to be mentioned, I believe that in 99% of the cases, normal users would not even notice it now. Shane is a fair reviewer but others exaggerate just for the click bait. My Fold 3 (without a case) lasted without any damage for the past few years, dropped it multiple times, never had to take it for service. Just a few scratches and back glass broken in a corner only. That is amazing, gives me confidence and peace of mind. Remember Surface Duo? That thing was stressing me hard, it could break on any given moment. If anyone is looking to upgrade from older versions, even F5, I would say go for it. It's expensive but you will actually get the true Fold experience as it should be from the beginning (so far). It is so refreshing you will not regret it. @Shane if you could do in the future another in depth guide on how to use the new AI features and also tips for Routines/Modes or other goodlock settings, I think it would help all of us get the most out of the F6. Your Routines video changed in many ways how I used my F3! It can automate so many things that would require a lot of manual steps. Thanks Shane for the so many years of quality videos, you are the true Foldable channel ❤❤
As usual, it's a really great review, Shane! Regarding the speakers' location, I think that Samsung chose to put them this way so that when gaming on the phone typically in the landscape view, or when watching videos also in landscape view, the speakers wouldn't be blocked since both can be firing from the top half of the phone without being blocked by the palms of the hands. You are one of those reviewers that I trust way more than others with millions of followers. With that being said, I am sure that you will have millions of followers soon! Thanks for your great work!
So glad to see more people addressing the "direct vs off-access" visibility of the crease. Conspiracy brain here, but I kinda feel like that's used to manipulate everyday slab phone people who don't have enough experience with foldables to question the angle these journos show it off at.
I like that they moved the flash. I've got a 4 until my 6 gets here. One issue I've had quite often is my finger tinting the light of my flash in pictures
First time fold user and bought the 6. I actually LOVE the thinner front screen. I downloaded Apex launcher for the fold, just like I have for all my past phones, and was able to have the exact same app setup on the front screen as my S23 Ultra. Same exact experience, only slightly thinner. When I want way bigger, boom, I have the option. Zero regrets. Camera is no where near as bad as the hype suggests. I can tell VERY little to NO dif. The crease? There has not been a single time I've been digesting content on the large screen and thought "man... this little crease really takes away from this..." My only concern, and time will have to tell, is how long the stock screen protector will last. But from what I've seen, it just peels off like a regular screen protector and you can just slap another skin screen protector on in it's place. We'll see, but so far, I don't ever see myself going back to the brick style phones again.
The matte finish on the Samsung web exclusive Fold 5 was great (I have the grey version) and it was smart to make that the standard finish for the 6. It's super durable. I have no scratches on the back, sides or hinge. I really wish the cover screen were made S Pen capable, and I'm still waiting for DeX on the inner display (we're almost at 300 likes on the Samsung Members thread!). Re: back gestures, I use my Fold one handed all the time so having "last app" be the back gesture target works well. The OP method necessitates two handed use to reach the other side of the screen to do the back gesture.
I used to watch all of your pixel fold videos. When yours cracked i decided to get rid of mine because of the weight. But i just picked up the z fold 6. Wow. This phone is possibly my favorite of all time. The screen is fantastic!
I also thought of a couple of negatives/items to note about the Fold 6: (1) The addition of Samsung's Auto Blocker (which your previous video points out can be turned off) prevented my 10(?)-year-old checkbook program from being moved from my previous Fold to the Fold 6. This used to be a "backdoor" to bypass the Google Play installation restrictions, but since it's turned on by default that no longer works - even though the older app works better on Android 14 and has more functionality than any current, "similar" app. (2) Starting with the Fold/Flip 6, Samsung no longer supports/includes their texting/SMS app. Instead they install Google's app. Not necessarily a problem, but a learning curve to be aware of if you're a fan of/prefer the Samsung app.
Ive been using the Fold 6 and the main things I miss from the S24 Ultra is the AR screen, the battery life and charging speeds. The cameras are fine. My least used camera on the S24 Ultra was the telephoto, most was the main camera and second the ultra wide. If I really care about picture quality I bring a mirrorless camera.
I just went through 7 cases. I'm picky. I have a winner 🏆 the Benks KEVLAR with hinge protector but you'll need a front screen case from a different case because Benks doesnt do front protection. I always use aramid carbon cases but this kevlar is crazy lightweight. I'm getting about 9 hours screen on time with a full charge (2.5 hours SOT for 25% battery use). Only gripe My current keyboard SUCKS!
I use the pen for everything, pointing, selecting, etc., and I rarely have to clean fingerprints from the main screen. Did not buy a Fold until the 3 when they introduced the pen and that to me was the deciding feature that got me to pay the big bucks. No other foldable has a pen. Just upgraded to the 6 and feel it's a major upgrade from the Fold 3. The $900 trade-in offer was the deciding factor but wish Samsung would make allowances for the various versions of the phone, especially internal memory which can cost hundreds of dollars extra. I always opt for the max available since there is no longer an external memory card slot.
i had the s3 and it took excellent pictures and video with an 8mp camera. im sure this will take fine pictures. if the specs on the camera are the same as last year, why is the bump mso much larger?
I have the 4 and am on the fence. Would love the lighter phone and nicer look, but want the camera upgrade. You think they would slack another year on the camera with the 7?
@CharlesVanexX interesting. There has to be a reason why samsung has been confident trotting out the same camera for years. Maybe software upgrades are beating hardware upgrades, at a certain point. Sounds like maybe your experience.
if you're in any country that gets crazy trade in deals that samsung offers, it's worth it. I got mine for 424 dollars. There aren't many flagship phones you can get at that price point day one. I also think there is more to a phone than just specs on paper. Is this phone going to be pushing the bleeding edge of folds? No. But it does feel way more polished than any other samsung fold. Just the improvements to the hinge and weight distribution alone coupled with the better cooling and larger front screen make it feel way different. I've tried switching back to my 5, and my hand immediately knows the difference. If you use your phone for 10-15 hours straight for work or productivity like I do, then it is definitely a noticeable upgrade. If you rarely use your phone any way or only do light browsing or just keep it in your pocket most of the day, then no, it's not worth it. It just depends on your use case. If you're a heavy user and you dont want to switch to a chinese brand or a different ecosystem to get the best hardware, i think it's an upgrade for core users who want the reliability of the samsung brand theyre used to. The internals might not be something to write home about, but the design improvements really increase the usability and feel of the phone substantially if you use the phone a lot. I'm currently caseless, and it doesn't heat up anywhere close to the 4 or 5, which made it uncomfortable to hold on your lap or in hand even with a case. The hinge is also truly out of the way instead of feeling like it's part of the front screen /in the way which makes a difference if you have big fingers. It really feels like a slab phone when closed. The crease is also significantly diminished which doesn't show on video. It's way less noticeable in person even on light scenes vs the 5. Dont buy it if you're paying full price unless you're loaded. But if they offer you a deal, I think it's worth it.
I will say I think samsung was a generation too late in the sense that had they released this iteration as the fold 5 it would have gotten the praise it deserves but with the release of so many other competitors it gets lost in the mix. I don't think they were expecting how quickly competitors would improve. I hope they really blow it out of the water for the 7 or they'll really be in trouble for market share.
I caved and got it. Said I would wait for pixel but the pixel specs for the fold disappointed me. So far my complaints: 1. Cover screen is too narrow 2. Difficult finding a case that has a spen holder and a kickstand 3. The phone does not lay flat for writing when expanded out 4. Battery life is okay
Great video, I had this playing in the background and heard you mention the inner camera and how you want to have the hole punch dark instead of the see through option which made me think that everyone is different and cant please everybody which is basically what this folding phone is about. 99% of the time, im not focusing on the crease or the camera punch out and it doesn't bother me as such. Ive been wanting to get the fold 6 but thinking about the Pixel Fold
The only way around the speaker issue is the way that OnePlus did it. Because if Samsung placed the speakers the way that Google did it, when you rotate the phone to watch content in landscape one hand would be covering one of the speakers. Of course this isn't an issue for the Picel fold since it opens in landscape due to the aspect ratio. But with the Zfold it's necessary to have both speakers on the same side for this reason. The only other option would be OnePlus with 3 speakers.
Rocking the 24Ultra, while testing out the ZF6. I'm not sold yet. Might be returning it... we'll see. Intrigued about the rumor of another larger variant coming out.
Ive had mine since Jul 18 and its been constantly heating up alot...while watching youtube...browsing the et...charging (much hotter than the normal warm charging temp. My fold 3,4 and 5 never did this and neither does my S24 ultra. Its going back 100% im lucky to get 4hrs SOT with this going on.
I don't understand why they don't do quad speakers. It doesn't take up that much space. Weird seeing people doing battery test and getting 8-10 hours of screen on time. I figured the 6-7 hours would be more realistic. I still like Oneplus split screen options a little better and I wish Good lock would give you the option to set it up whichever way you like it. Hopefully Samsung with the ZF7 will just give us the S25u or S25+ design fold 7 like we want. Top tier cameras, faster charging, built-in Spen. Drop the UDC camera and selfie camera and give us the best cameras they have ever put in a phone. We can use the back cameras.
I had the same problem you describe with the Samsung Calendar app duplicating notifications/reminders. You don't have to uninstall the Samsung Calendar app, however, to get around that. I just de-selected the Google Calendar from the settings. Apparently, it only plays reminders for calendars that are displayed. I use the Samsung Calendar to be a "clean" calendar and the Google Calendar to be my appointments, etc.
@Shane. I’m struggling between this and OP Open. I know money is also a big part of it but if money factor taken out, which do you choose? Love the fold dex and Samsung fold software but OP came out swinging and I don’t want to wait for OP 2
Now that they release a folding phone every year it feels less important to keep up especially with the minimum upgrades they're giving. I did upgrade to the fold6 as my first folding phone because i got a sweet deal (paid 987$ after tax for the 512gb/with trade in from 22 ultra),but now that im in the folding world i won't be upgrading unless the battery gets a big upgrade and the closed screen gets bigger.
I still can't get over the screen colors which are not as vibrant as the 3. I think it started with the 5 and carried over to the 6. And with that, even though I know the differences are massive, they still *feel* minimal. Maybe with the Ultra.
@@scaryifliteral I only issue with this is....A few I know that owns the Open inside screen split down the middle for no reason. Then you have to try to get it fixed and that takes months at this point at least. Thats one problem I see with Chinese phones.
Thanks for the great review. I appreciate your unbiased opinions. I would like to see a review for an Honor V3 (which I think is the way Samsung should be now, after six years) from you, but I think you may not be able to get one. Regardless, I will make a decision about my new phone after seeing your review.
Personnaly, i like the speakers placement...you do realize that by turning the phone you have the biggest area for 16/9 video playing where the speakers are positioned left and right... I also love the UDC camera . Finally with good lock you can also change a lot of multiwindow features.. with a bit of tinkering....so i cannot see where one plus open does better in multi tasking (but i dont have a one plus so maybe i am missing something?) .
Having the speakers be offset wouldn't change any of that. You could rotate it and have stereo or leave it alone and have stereo. There's no downside. I'll talk about Open Canvas more in a later video.
I agree on the battery time. As you pointed out OnePlus does it better. I bought the fold 6 for not only form factor, but also software. In the back of my head, I can't let go of the fact that OnePlus does it better.
Shane you have been the most honest reviewer 💯 I'm stuck paying off my fold 4 because samsung Has no shame releasing the 5 and 6 with tiny baby incremental changes 🙄 I'm not gonna start paying off another fold..
Thanks for the detailed review. I'm torn between the Fold6 and Vivo X Fold 3 Pro I recently got as well. I wish it was viable for you to review the Vivo but I understand.
I don't know... I'm still waiting for my z fold 6 from spectrum... They are on back order... I've got the one plus open and the Google fold, so I'm not sure I'm gonna like the Samsung since I traded the z fold 5 for the one plus open... And all the TH-cam reviewers aren't too Keen on it... Maybe I cancel my order... What do you think if you've got this one?
thanks for this video. I will ask again, though...what exactly is so amazing about 'Open Canvas'? how does 'One UI' multitasking not compete with 'Open Canvas'?
I didn't say it didn't compete, just that I think it's really well done. Open Canvas allows split screen apps to be expanded off the screen. Hard to explain with text. Basically, it let's you quickly swap between two or three apps on a grid that can all either be normal split screen or expanded for a full view. I'll talk about this more in a later video.
@scaryifliteral I've used the Fold 3,4,5, and now 6. I'm saying it's not an issue. The Fold speakers have always been great. It's just a picky complain
Great review, the hardware and build is no doubt fantastic on the Galaxy Fold 6, as is the software pretty fantastic also, I would think, however it's the little software additions, that a Google Pixel has that I miss when I was using a Galaxy Fold 5 for a while, I was always trying to change everything to look and feel like a Pixel device, only so far you can go with installation of all Google applications, and making them default, plus the little exclusive features like now playing, and others cannot be installed on a Samsung device, I also hate that some of Samsung's applications you can't delete, you can hide them, but having applications that I would never use, and having double applications, Samsung's and Google's is something I hate.
I do have one question after your review. One thing you didn't mention is that the Fold 6 now has an IPX48 rating, meaning it is now both dust resistant and (very) water resistant. This is an important hardware factor to consider since it's phone that humans will be tempted to take into the rain and dusty environments. How does that rating fair with other foldable phones?
It's important to note that IP48 means it's safe from object 1mm and larger, so real dust is still an issue. I see this as a step in the right direction, but still very minimal protection from dust.
Do you find yourself compelled to unfold the phone to use it properly? I know you said you did on the Z Fold 4 compared to the Pixel Fold. I felt the same way coming from the Z series to the Pixel fold.
@@scaryifliteral Thank you. That is what I really needed to know. As tempting as a new shiny new phone is, I am waiting a month for the Pixel 9 Fold. Fingers Crossed that is the right decision for me.
865 🤜🤛. I was hoping for a wider cover display than this. I’ll hold out to see how the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is in hand before making a decision. I prefer the Pixel Experience over One UI
I wonder why no one else caught on to speakers in the charging port? My Huawei Mate 20 Pro has the sound coming out of there. If they did that on these folds they could have 4 speakers.
I think Samsung is protecting the ultra, at least by not manking a fold ultra, with top of the line camera etc. Maybe they hope people buy both, on the have the best camera and one to have the foldable. Personally I am not buying either for now and stying with a S23. But a fold with a great camera and zoom may change things
I have the s24 ultra , and the 25w charging speed is driving me crazy.... With the s24 ultra I don't even worry about the battery, with this one, it is in the back of my mind that I won't be able to charge it back up fast.
Samsung is still far behind in the hardware dept. They are killing it on the software side but there are several other folds that have much better hardware. Thinner, lighter, better cameras, bigger battery, faster charing speeds etc.
I think we still need more people to switch to folds. Those of us using folds are the minority of sales. (Even though we pay more) Maybe they'll push more into their software and hardware in the coming years. Side note: The glossy interiors, maybe they should switch the interior screen protectors for a matte or the paper? Might look a little muted on the graphics, but fingerprints and gloss would be almost non-existent, which would be nice. Good video, as always, Shane.
It seems weird to me you'd be getting 6 hours on light performance. I get 8-9 on standard. And that's spending a lot of time outside, on cellular, screen brightness really high. I'm trying switching to light now, just out of curiosity.
One of the reasons why screen on time is just not a great metric. It'll vary so much depending on what you're doing. All I can do is give context by saying what other phones get for me.
Fold 2, 3 and 4 user here. I basically bought the same phone 3 times. Decided to skip the Fold 5 and never looked back. This is the worst foldable on the market right now.
Just a comment: everyone RAVES about the Chinese Foldable hardware, but no one ever seems to address the fact that they all use less-than-premium materials for the rear back plate. I think this is a cop-out on their end to make manufacturing easier, make the device lighter... Etc. Samsung used to get so much crap for using textured plastics and "leather" material on their backplates until the S7. Funny how that is completely being overlooked as it is an engineering and design challenge to incorporate premium materials everywhere on the device.
@@scaryifliteral I know but it's kind of a contradictory thing. "premium hardware" when they are taking cheap shortcuts. Clearly the Chinese phone manufacturers are trying to hit marketing bullet points so influencers can rave about them, when the phone still uses less premium cheapo materials and they skirt the whole "very thin" foldable thing when they have a massive camera bump that negates it completely.
It seems like you have very strong opinions about materials and camera bump sizes that should guide your purchasing decisions well. That's really all we can do. For me, the trade offs for the Open are well worth it.
Hello Shane, you can have a floating window with 2 or 3 apps open on the oneplus open as well. The trick is you have to open the floating app first, then the other apps in split screen. So basically you have to do it backwards if your comparing it to Samsung folds
Samsung is doing the apple thing, not the best at everything but focuses on the overall experience. The iPhone is not the best at everything but the experience is consistent + software features such as imessage, etc.
@@scaryifliteral Yeah I have no idea why people do this! If it gets crappy you can get a free replacement installed. It does not look any better. I still have the preinstalled screen protector on my Oneplus 12, it has scratches and stuff but I never see it when using the phone. And the screen beneath is virgin baby! Once you peel that sucker away you're vulnerable and all it takes is some unexpected thing to ruin it forever. If you have dogs you know what I mean. (Especially crazy ass blue heelers! 😛)
ZF6 lover here. Screens are a 10, rest of hardware is a 4 lol. You buy the zf6 for displays and software. Camera performance is usable but below average.
this zfold 6 phone has statement....a tab turn into phone. rest are phone that turn into more wider screen. thats why samsung name fold....and felt only oneplus has the right term....open. some people say more wider cover screen....then where is uniqueness... some say more camera spec....but this is productivity phone not take picture phone. need s pen use on cover screen....well cover screen is for phone purpose and main screen is tab purpose for me.....fast wired and wireless charging was great option but im ok with it. nil crease would have been best but im still ok with it. maybe more ram like 16 and wifi 7 would have been latest with more fancy impression most question is why pay more....thats huge problem. what is there??? i remember when iphone came...what a costly phone...all had same issue....now every single member has a iphone....so is it actually price ?? hehe
Whenever I see Samsung reviews and the reviewers are using goodlock, then praising Samsung for it...kinda weird. Like you're praising features, a third party app is doing to make the Samsung experience better...to me that means the vanilla Samsung experience is mediocre. Btw I'm not calling out Shane he didnt do it...but other TH-camrs I watch always mention goodlock and end up praising the product for great features even tho those features are coming from a third party app, and shouldnt be praised part of the product review imo...regardless if it's in the Samsung store or not.
Goodlock isn't a third party app though. Goodlock was literally made by Samsung for the user, making it a first party app. The point of it is to provide Galaxy users an extra set of settings to redesign how all the software elements/features of the UI on their phone look and function. I'm not talking about broad/basic software elements/features that can be changed on almost any phone, rather the more intricate elements/features of the UI that most other OEMs have preset that most casual users wouldn't even think about or care to change. With all that in mind, Goodlock isn't necesary or required to make the Samsung experience better. Vanilla One UI without Goodlock, still has more features and customization options than pretty much any other Android phone and CERTAINLY MORE than ANY iPhone. Goodlock is just extra/extended settings that allow the user to change a lot of the finer, more intricate software elements/features of the UI that can't really be changed on the UI of any other Android brand phone. It allows the user to change nearly every single aspect of the UI to look and function exactly how they want it to. It's not at all necessary in order to make the Samsung experience better. It's just a way for the user to enhance their own Samsung experience and more extensively customize and personalize the UI on their device.
@@MADJOEFC something that should already be in the settings, or minimum be a default app...people like us know about this...most users will not experience most of these benefits.
@megamegaO I should've added in my paragraph that due to the nature of Goodlock being a subset of extra settings, allowing the user to change/finetune more intricate elements/features that most casual users WOULDN'T CARE or FEEL BOTHERED to change, the app isn't needed for them, the casual user. All the enhanced benefits available to users through Goodlock are extremely extensive features and customization options for the most miniscule aspects of the UI that again, casual users wouldn't care or feel bothered to change. We know about and use Goodlock because we DO CARE about extensively customizing the crap out of our phone, changing every miniscule aspect of how the UI looks and functions. Casual users don't care about extensively customizing their phone. They care about being able to change mainly the very noticeable and surface level aspects of the UI to look and function however they want it to. Which is able to be done in the regular settings. Then for us power users who want to more deeply and extensively customize the more miniscule/less noticeable aspects of the UI, Goodlock is there for us to do that. All the enhanced benefits that Goodlock provides are ones that casual users just don't really care about experiencing and don't feel bothered to change. So there's regular settings for the casual users and then there's Goodlock for the power users. Now I will say imo Goodlock should already be pre-installed on all Galaxy phones and placed on the homescreen upon first boot up of the phone. That way every casual user with a Galaxy phone at least sees it. Hopefully leading to more casual users going in the app and seeing there's so much more they can do with almost every aspect of their phone's UI in terms of features and customization, in comparison to mostly any other phone's UI.
Very poor, Shane! Not on the review... but playing that freaking Crab Rave video!!! My kids play it all the time and it drives me nuts... and now you? Come on, man!!! 😂
Said this on threads but i feel it requires repeating here. Samsung went from being the book style foldable zeitgeist to merely chasing it. It's a solid device but it's a safe device. Charging speeds are the same as is the battery pack and the camera (except the ultrawide...slight improvement there.) I'll put it like this...its good enough for me to not send back as i enjoy it for the same reasons you do...but it's not good enough for me to daily drive it consistently when their competition's foldables from LAST YEAR run circles around it. Great review as always.
No real weaknesses? Crap battery No embedded stylus No stylus support on the outside screen 6.3 inches when it should be 6.9 Still narrow AF There you go all your weaknesses right there. Not to mention as well the Z Flip 6 also sucks compared to the new Motorola flip phones. If one plus had put an embedded stylus I would have bought that right out the bat. I want to see what the one plus open 2 is like
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I upgraded from the Z Fold 3 to the 6, and it was a pretty massive upgrade. I've been rocking the Navy Blue.
💙💙
Love my navy 👍
Navy gang!!
Navy here as well
Upgrade from fold 3->fold6 navy as well! Gonna be picking it up this weekend!!!!🎉
You're the ONLY reviewer I've seen actually thoroughly give credit to both sides of opinion on the cover screen. Most others have their opinion, and completely discard the others'. I personally LOVE the narrow cover screen , and hope that they continue with the same cover screen they have now for the fold 6, and try their new things with a Fold Ultra. I think the tablet first, phone second philosophy is perfect for my workflow, but others want a phone first and tablet second and both sides of that coin are valid
I don't mind the narrow screen as long as I don't use a front case. I feel like the front case is the thing that makes typing more difficult than it needs to be.
I agree with most of this (build quality, cameras, slow charging) but your software section lost me. Most of the problems you have probably stem from you not being familiar with One UI (I prefer the back gesture to only apply to app I’m currently interacting with by far). Samsung’s App Store is a huge plus. You say you’re using it to fix what you don’t like but that’s the whole point. Some of the things you changed I wouldn’t touch, but the option to change it exists and that’s what it’s there for. That lack of being able to tweak software is what keeps me from switching, honestly.
For a device that changed very little over the previous version I have to say all the minor changes made a big difference. I really didn't care for the ZFold5 to the point I traded it in for the S24 Ultra. Unfortunately I had many issues with that device so I decided to trade it in for the ZFold6 and I'm really glad that I did. I really like the changes and I now have a device I can use outside for longer than 10 minutes without it fading to completely black. As crazy as it sounds the pictures are better too.
If you don't mind me asking, what problems were you having with the S24 Ultra?
@@MST3K56 overall the device is nice. But mine has an issue with heat management. Within 10 minutes of use outside in sunlight the screen would begin to dim and continue to fade to the point that I couldn't even see what was on the display. I tried everything including troubleshooting with Samsung support and nothing helped. Initially they thought it was an ambient light sensor but through Good Guardians I discovered that it was related to heat. I don't think the titanium frame is as good as aluminum at dissipating heat. Another issue I had was the camera never produced very good pictures. I'm willing to accept the fact that I'm partially to blame for that as I'm not at all a camera expert but using the default settings on both my ZFOLD6 and S24 Ultra side by side the ZFOLD6 wins. The final issue I had was problems with the WiFi staying connected. Using my tablet to diagnose the network connections I wasn't able to figure out why it would simply drop my network connection in the middle of streaming audio/video. I spent many hours searching forums for answers and solutions but nothing seemed to help. Could be I just got a defective product as most people love theirs. I'm very happy with the ZFOLD6 now.
Hard to believe you think the s24 is worst than the z fold 6 but hey man it is what it is since I also have a z fold 6 from a a note 20 ultra to z flip 5 to z fold 6
@@Prodigyredd Naw bro the 24 series took a massive L this year. I couldn't be happier with my z fold 6 bro. Only thing u are downgrading from are the cameras honestly
I've had the Fold 5, s24 ultra and now this....I absolutely love it...zero complaints.
You upgrade every 6 months? Seems like a waste of money to me...
Haha I do too. I have to have the newest.
Do you like the 24 ultra or fold 6 better
Refined to perfection, is what the title should've read.
The level of polish this iteration of the Fold maintains really makes it a major upgrade, especially over the Fold 4.
Facts. Love this upgrade over my 4
Gains 3 mm of cover screen and calls it perfection 😂
@@Anonymous-pm7jf There's a lot more to it than that. But you can be dismissive and ignorant. If you're an actual tech fan, you give each new foldable an honest assessment before declaring the last thing you jumped on the bandwagon for is still the best. I had the fold 4 and 5, was frustrated and trade for the oneplus open. it's a great phone. The Fold 6 is BETTER
Perfection is crazy. There are plenty of things they could have done better and probably should have. They are still far behind in the hardware dept.
Shane's analogy of the football team is probably better than mine. I was going to say the Z-Fold 6 is like someone you could marry, whereas other foldables you could date but wouldn't want to get married to. In simpler terms; the Z-Fold 6 is a jack of all trades, master of none.
I am happily married to my 1+Open!
The z fold is the only foldable for now with a reliable stylus which is a big deal for some people plus the samsung dex. Samsung z fold is the master of software in terms of foldable hence why people go for it. Chinese oems may have nicer hardware but they don't have samsung's 7 years of update.
@@recercaworksSame here, it's truly an excellent foldable and IMO the best yet (pending Pixel 9 Pro Fold Review).
Hahaha I use the same analogy when I owned the Flip 4 and S23 Ultra. Flip 4 is the trophy girlfriend, but S23 Ultra is the one you want to mother your children.
I am proposing to the 9 Pro Fold 😂
Pink phone with flower wallpaper. Nice.
Thanks, Shane. I actually kinda like the square/boxy look of the ZF6. It reminds me of the GameBoy SP or whatever it was called. I still cant get past the tall/skinny design though.
Hoping eventually the PF gets to this boxy look, but don't see that happening for years.
The box look is why I got it. I haven't touched folds until the 6 and I have zero regrets.
Great stuff! All fair points. I'm still waiting on my Fold 6 (white), but I'm a big fan of my Fold 5, so while I acknowledge all the lack of innovation, the small improvements add up for me. I bought/returned Fold 4 because of how hard it was to open (always thought it was going to slip out of my hands), it had the gap and it was so heavy. All of that was fixed in Fold 5 and made me love that phone.
If you loved the Z Fold 5, you're absolutely going to adore this phone. The best way I could describe it is that this feels like a truly finished product. It's not quite the product I want, but it is certainly excellent lol.
Held off getting the OnePlus for this. I'm happy I waited, but not over the moon. Cameras are so poor but I enjoy the software and spen.
Your content is so refreshing. Clear and extensive. All the relevant information. Thank. You.
I appreciate that!
I am extremely grateful for your side by side inner screen comparison. Before buying the ZF6 and after hearing all the hoopla about the screens, I developed an expectation of a huge difference between it and the OP Open (my other choice). Now that I've seen an actual comparison with a video running, I see the difference is truly negligible. I was also terrified of ever possibly needing warranty work on the OP. With minor screen differences and the availability of care+ plans for the ZF6 I really do feel much, much better about my decision to go with the Samsung. I immediately learned I actually like the outer screen + it's nice to have a phone fit in my shirt pocket again.
Hey Shane, after watching all your videos, I decided to upgrade from Fold 3 to Fold 6. And I love it... ❤
The difference is actually huge for my case. I never cared for the spen or better cameras, I prioritise software, regular updates and device durability, all of which Samsung is and will be king for many years till the other vendors catch up. Dex, Oneui and Good Lock is the perfect combination to customise and add smart automations with Routines etc. The entire Samsung OS is so well thought out.
Just a quick note on Dex, this should be a critical point when comparing to other phones not having any proper solution for casting to a TV or monitor. It is a unique and huge advantage for Samsung users and it must be highlighted. Especially as Fold users are more advanced users, the possibilities to utilise Dex are endless. For example, using a 3rd party yt app on Dex on Tv, I have never seen an ad on yt for years. Having apps like Stremio etc on a huge TV is major to watch movies. No one else is offering anything remotely close to that. Dex transforms Folds to a 3 in 1 device, phone/tablet/pc-smart TV. All the rest of the competition is stuck in 2 in 1.
Although the price is very high, when I upgraded, I remembered one of the main reasons why sticking with Samsung was the right choice. With smart switch, I just copied everything from my old phone and in a few hours of copying, my Fold6 is now a carbon copy of my F3, apps, files, app and system settings everything is there. This is Huge.
Fold 6 external screen now feels much more spacious and normal aspect. It just feels natural using it. F3 feels tiny in comparison. So in specs it might be a few mm increase but this fixed the main issue with the Fold design for me.
Shorter, Thinner and lighter, with a new sexy modern design, F6 is a really cool phone to use.
About the internal screen crease, I was never bothered on Fold3 and now it is almost gone, so although on a review it has to be mentioned, I believe that in 99% of the cases, normal users would not even notice it now. Shane is a fair reviewer but others exaggerate just for the click bait.
My Fold 3 (without a case) lasted without any damage for the past few years, dropped it multiple times, never had to take it for service. Just a few scratches and back glass broken in a corner only. That is amazing, gives me confidence and peace of mind. Remember Surface Duo? That thing was stressing me hard, it could break on any given moment.
If anyone is looking to upgrade from older versions, even F5, I would say go for it. It's expensive but you will actually get the true Fold experience as it should be from the beginning (so far). It is so refreshing you will not regret it.
@Shane if you could do in the future another in depth guide on how to use the new AI features and also tips for Routines/Modes or other goodlock settings, I think it would help all of us get the most out of the F6. Your Routines video changed in many ways how I used my F3! It can automate so many things that would require a lot of manual steps.
Thanks Shane for the so many years of quality videos, you are the true Foldable channel ❤❤
As usual, it's a really great review, Shane! Regarding the speakers' location, I think that Samsung chose to put them this way so that when gaming on the phone typically in the landscape view, or when watching videos also in landscape view, the speakers wouldn't be blocked since both can be firing from the top half of the phone without being blocked by the palms of the hands.
You are one of those reviewers that I trust way more than others with millions of followers. With that being said, I am sure that you will have millions of followers soon! Thanks for your great work!
I just got mine yesterday. I absolutely love it. Traded in my s24, which pretty much had the same specs.
So glad to see more people addressing the "direct vs off-access" visibility of the crease.
Conspiracy brain here, but I kinda feel like that's used to manipulate everyday slab phone people who don't have enough experience with foldables to question the angle these journos show it off at.
I like that they moved the flash. I've got a 4 until my 6 gets here. One issue I've had quite often is my finger tinting the light of my flash in pictures
First time fold user and bought the 6. I actually LOVE the thinner front screen. I downloaded Apex launcher for the fold, just like I have for all my past phones, and was able to have the exact same app setup on the front screen as my S23 Ultra. Same exact experience, only slightly thinner. When I want way bigger, boom, I have the option. Zero regrets. Camera is no where near as bad as the hype suggests. I can tell VERY little to NO dif. The crease? There has not been a single time I've been digesting content on the large screen and thought "man... this little crease really takes away from this..."
My only concern, and time will have to tell, is how long the stock screen protector will last. But from what I've seen, it just peels off like a regular screen protector and you can just slap another skin screen protector on in it's place. We'll see, but so far, I don't ever see myself going back to the brick style phones again.
The matte finish on the Samsung web exclusive Fold 5 was great (I have the grey version) and it was smart to make that the standard finish for the 6. It's super durable. I have no scratches on the back, sides or hinge.
I really wish the cover screen were made S Pen capable, and I'm still waiting for DeX on the inner display (we're almost at 300 likes on the Samsung Members thread!).
Re: back gestures, I use my Fold one handed all the time so having "last app" be the back gesture target works well. The OP method necessitates two handed use to reach the other side of the screen to do the back gesture.
I used to watch all of your pixel fold videos. When yours cracked i decided to get rid of mine because of the weight. But i just picked up the z fold 6. Wow. This phone is possibly my favorite of all time. The screen is fantastic!
I also thought of a couple of negatives/items to note about the Fold 6:
(1) The addition of Samsung's Auto Blocker (which your previous video points out can be turned off) prevented my 10(?)-year-old checkbook program from being moved from my previous Fold to the Fold 6. This used to be a "backdoor" to bypass the Google Play installation restrictions, but since it's turned on by default that no longer works - even though the older app works better on Android 14 and has more functionality than any current, "similar" app.
(2) Starting with the Fold/Flip 6, Samsung no longer supports/includes their texting/SMS app. Instead they install Google's app. Not necessarily a problem, but a learning curve to be aware of if you're a fan of/prefer the Samsung app.
Ive been using the Fold 6 and the main things I miss from the S24 Ultra is the AR screen, the battery life and charging speeds.
The cameras are fine. My least used camera on the S24 Ultra was the telephoto, most was the main camera and second the ultra wide. If I really care about picture quality I bring a mirrorless camera.
So at this stage would you recommend the OPO or the ZF6?
For people who are not heavily invested in the Samsung ecosystem, yes.
I just went through 7 cases. I'm picky. I have a winner 🏆 the Benks KEVLAR with hinge protector but you'll need a front screen case from a different case because Benks doesnt do front protection. I always use aramid carbon cases but this kevlar is crazy lightweight. I'm getting about 9 hours screen on time with a full charge (2.5 hours SOT for 25% battery use). Only gripe My current keyboard SUCKS!
Use SwiftKey for the keyboard. Way better than the stock one.
My problem with most of this AI stuff on phones is that it's "cool" stuff that no one is going to use after the first week. We need USEFUL AI tools.
Like Apple is going to implement?
My problem is with people who confuse, they're never going to use, with no one is going to use.
@@joshuabergeman354 I agree, most of the ai features are pretty handy
@@joshuabergeman354and my problem is with people who confuse "their never going to use" with "they're never going to use."
/S 😂 jk
@@J23LA24 fixed it 😅
I use the pen for everything, pointing, selecting, etc., and I rarely have to clean fingerprints from the main screen. Did not buy a Fold until the 3 when they introduced the pen and that to me was the deciding feature that got me to pay the big bucks. No other foldable has a pen. Just upgraded to the 6 and feel it's a major upgrade from the Fold 3. The $900 trade-in offer was the deciding factor but wish Samsung would make allowances for the various versions of the phone, especially internal memory which can cost hundreds of dollars extra. I always opt for the max available since there is no longer an external memory card slot.
i had the s3 and it took excellent pictures and video with an 8mp camera. im sure this will take fine pictures. if the specs on the camera are the same as last year, why is the bump mso much larger?
On the OnePlus open you can have two apps side-by-side and a floating window on top. You just have to open the floating window from the sidebar.
Good call, forgot about that
I have the 4 and am on the fence. Would love the lighter phone and nicer look, but want the camera upgrade. You think they would slack another year on the camera with the 7?
I came from the ultra 24, for whatever reason, my fold 6 takes much better pictures.
@CharlesVanexX interesting. There has to be a reason why samsung has been confident trotting out the same camera for years. Maybe software upgrades are beating hardware upgrades, at a certain point. Sounds like maybe your experience.
It's surprising that they've done so little for this long, so who knows. Hard to say.
Strong disagree there. My S23 Ultra takes better photos on all three/four sensors.
if you're in any country that gets crazy trade in deals that samsung offers, it's worth it. I got mine for 424 dollars. There aren't many flagship phones you can get at that price point day one. I also think there is more to a phone than just specs on paper. Is this phone going to be pushing the bleeding edge of folds? No. But it does feel way more polished than any other samsung fold. Just the improvements to the hinge and weight distribution alone coupled with the better cooling and larger front screen make it feel way different. I've tried switching back to my 5, and my hand immediately knows the difference. If you use your phone for 10-15 hours straight for work or productivity like I do, then it is definitely a noticeable upgrade. If you rarely use your phone any way or only do light browsing or just keep it in your pocket most of the day, then no, it's not worth it. It just depends on your use case. If you're a heavy user and you dont want to switch to a chinese brand or a different ecosystem to get the best hardware, i think it's an upgrade for core users who want the reliability of the samsung brand theyre used to. The internals might not be something to write home about, but the design improvements really increase the usability and feel of the phone substantially if you use the phone a lot. I'm currently caseless, and it doesn't heat up anywhere close to the 4 or 5, which made it uncomfortable to hold on your lap or in hand even with a case. The hinge is also truly out of the way instead of feeling like it's part of the front screen /in the way which makes a difference if you have big fingers. It really feels like a slab phone when closed. The crease is also significantly diminished which doesn't show on video. It's way less noticeable in person even on light scenes vs the 5.
Dont buy it if you're paying full price unless you're loaded. But if they offer you a deal, I think it's worth it.
I will say I think samsung was a generation too late in the sense that had they released this iteration as the fold 5 it would have gotten the praise it deserves but with the release of so many other competitors it gets lost in the mix. I don't think they were expecting how quickly competitors would improve. I hope they really blow it out of the water for the 7 or they'll really be in trouble for market share.
I caved and got it. Said I would wait for pixel but the pixel specs for the fold disappointed me.
So far my complaints:
1. Cover screen is too narrow
2. Difficult finding a case that has a spen holder and a kickstand
3. The phone does not lay flat for writing when expanded out
4. Battery life is okay
Great video, I had this playing in the background and heard you mention the inner camera and how you want to have the hole punch dark instead of the see through option which made me think that everyone is different and cant please everybody which is basically what this folding phone is about. 99% of the time, im not focusing on the crease or the camera punch out and it doesn't bother me as such. Ive been wanting to get the fold 6 but thinking about the Pixel Fold
The only way around the speaker issue is the way that OnePlus did it. Because if Samsung placed the speakers the way that Google did it, when you rotate the phone to watch content in landscape one hand would be covering one of the speakers. Of course this isn't an issue for the Picel fold since it opens in landscape due to the aspect ratio. But with the Zfold it's necessary to have both speakers on the same side for this reason. The only other option would be OnePlus with 3 speakers.
Rocking the 24Ultra, while testing out the ZF6. I'm not sold yet. Might be returning it... we'll see. Intrigued about the rumor of another larger variant coming out.
Me, too.... Waiting for the fold 6 ultra , which is currently only available in Korea ... hopefully, they'll market it in the US soon
Ive had mine since Jul 18 and its been constantly heating up alot...while watching youtube...browsing the et...charging (much hotter than the normal warm charging temp. My fold 3,4 and 5 never did this and neither does my S24 ultra. Its going back 100% im lucky to get 4hrs SOT with this going on.
Z fold 3 to Zfold 6 got $1,100 rebate plus 512 free upgrade i'm loving it, awesome video as always
I just cant go back to the very narrow screen design worried about the pixel fold 2 hopeful the taller phone doesnt lose any width
Hey man, nice video but how did you add google home to your home screen as widget? Tks
Join the public preview in the app
I don't understand why they don't do quad speakers. It doesn't take up that much space. Weird seeing people doing battery test and getting 8-10 hours of screen on time. I figured the 6-7 hours would be more realistic. I still like Oneplus split screen options a little better and I wish Good lock would give you the option to set it up whichever way you like it. Hopefully Samsung with the ZF7 will just give us the S25u or S25+ design fold 7 like we want. Top tier cameras, faster charging, built-in Spen. Drop the UDC camera and selfie camera and give us the best cameras they have ever put in a phone. We can use the back cameras.
Just got zfold6 and moved from the iPhone 15 p/m. I wasn't sure when ordering, but love it, and glad i moved from apple.
I had the same problem you describe with the Samsung Calendar app duplicating notifications/reminders. You don't have to uninstall the Samsung Calendar app, however, to get around that. I just de-selected the Google Calendar from the settings. Apparently, it only plays reminders for calendars that are displayed. I use the Samsung Calendar to be a "clean" calendar and the Google Calendar to be my appointments, etc.
@Shane. I’m struggling between this and OP Open. I know money is also a big part of it but if money factor taken out, which do you choose? Love the fold dex and Samsung fold software but OP came out swinging and I don’t want to wait for OP 2
Wait for onwplus open 2, it's release is imminent.
Now that they release a folding phone every year it feels less important to keep up especially with the minimum upgrades they're giving. I did upgrade to the fold6 as my first folding phone because i got a sweet deal (paid 987$ after tax for the 512gb/with trade in from 22 ultra),but now that im in the folding world i won't be upgrading unless the battery gets a big upgrade and the closed screen gets bigger.
I still can't get over the screen colors which are not as vibrant as the 3. I think it started with the 5 and carried over to the 6. And with that, even though I know the differences are massive, they still *feel* minimal. Maybe with the Ultra.
So I have the OnePlus Open, should I stay put or buy this? What would you do if you weren’t a tech reviewer?
Open all day
@@scaryifliteral I only issue with this is....A few I know that owns the Open inside screen split down the middle for no reason. Then you have to try to get it fixed and that takes months at this point at least. Thats one problem I see with Chinese phones.
Thanks for the great review. I appreciate your unbiased opinions. I would like to see a review for an Honor V3 (which I think is the way Samsung should be now, after six years) from you, but I think you may not be able to get one. Regardless, I will make a decision about my new phone after seeing your review.
Great review as always....solid bro!
Appreciate it!
Personnaly, i like the speakers placement...you do realize that by turning the phone you have the biggest area for 16/9 video playing where the speakers are positioned left and right...
I also love the UDC camera .
Finally with good lock you can also change a lot of multiwindow features.. with a bit of tinkering....so i cannot see where one plus open does better in multi tasking (but i dont have a one plus so maybe i am missing something?)
.
Having the speakers be offset wouldn't change any of that. You could rotate it and have stereo or leave it alone and have stereo. There's no downside. I'll talk about Open Canvas more in a later video.
@@scaryifliteral thanks i will Google open canevas as well, thanks for the heads up
Need to mention s pen support. Big differentiator to a lot of people.
10:52
Excellent review objectively thorough
I agree on the battery time. As you pointed out OnePlus does it better. I bought the fold 6 for not only form factor, but also software. In the back of my head, I can't let go of the fact that OnePlus does it better.
Another great review bro! Keep them coming
Shane you have been the most honest reviewer 💯 I'm stuck paying off my fold 4 because samsung Has no shame releasing the 5 and 6 with tiny baby incremental changes 🙄 I'm not gonna start paying off another fold..
Thanks for the detailed review. I'm torn between the Fold6 and Vivo X Fold 3 Pro I recently got as well. I wish it was viable for you to review the Vivo but I understand.
I don't know... I'm still waiting for my z fold 6 from spectrum... They are on back order... I've got the one plus open and the Google fold, so I'm not sure I'm gonna like the Samsung since I traded the z fold 5 for the one plus open... And all the TH-cam reviewers aren't too Keen on it... Maybe I cancel my order... What do you think if you've got this one?
thanks for this video. I will ask again, though...what exactly is so amazing about 'Open Canvas'? how does 'One UI' multitasking not compete with 'Open Canvas'?
I didn't say it didn't compete, just that I think it's really well done. Open Canvas allows split screen apps to be expanded off the screen. Hard to explain with text. Basically, it let's you quickly swap between two or three apps on a grid that can all either be normal split screen or expanded for a full view. I'll talk about this more in a later video.
The speakers are not an issue that needs to be solved. Unless you are watching TikTok all day. Videos are watched in landscape not portrait
Come on dude.. You never have a video on in split screen or floating window? This "I don't do this, so no one does" attitude is silly.
@scaryifliteral I've used the Fold 3,4,5, and now 6. I'm saying it's not an issue. The Fold speakers have always been great. It's just a picky complain
Great review, the hardware and build is no doubt fantastic on the Galaxy Fold 6, as is the software pretty fantastic also, I would think, however it's the little software additions, that a Google Pixel has that I miss when I was using a Galaxy Fold 5 for a while, I was always trying to change everything to look and feel like a Pixel device, only so far you can go with installation of all Google applications, and making them default, plus the little exclusive features like now playing, and others cannot be installed on a Samsung device, I also hate that some of Samsung's applications you can't delete, you can hide them, but having applications that I would never use, and having double applications, Samsung's and Google's is something I hate.
I do have one question after your review. One thing you didn't mention is that the Fold 6 now has an IPX48 rating, meaning it is now both dust resistant and (very) water resistant. This is an important hardware factor to consider since it's phone that humans will be tempted to take into the rain and dusty environments. How does that rating fair with other foldable phones?
It's important to note that IP48 means it's safe from object 1mm and larger, so real dust is still an issue. I see this as a step in the right direction, but still very minimal protection from dust.
great video. i think you need more time with the software. dex is better to use for multitasking. the camera needs to be the next upgrade. my opinion.
Been using Z Fold since 2. How much time do I need? lol
Do you find yourself compelled to unfold the phone to use it properly? I know you said you did on the Z Fold 4 compared to the Pixel Fold. I felt the same way coming from the Z series to the Pixel fold.
Slightly less, but yeah. I still felt like I needed to open it more than with the Pixel or OnePlus.
@@scaryifliteral Thank you. That is what I really needed to know. As tempting as a new shiny new phone is, I am waiting a month for the Pixel 9 Fold. Fingers Crossed that is the right decision for me.
Great video, beautiful device
Shame they didn't move the UDC to not be in the "16:9" area
I want to see more competition around foldables with desktop modes
Anybody complaining about this phone needs to check out the NOKIA 3310.
😂😂😂😂they still have those ancient videos on youtube
865 🤜🤛. I was hoping for a wider cover display than this. I’ll hold out to see how the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is in hand before making a decision. I prefer the Pixel Experience over One UI
Cool seeing another Knoxville resident here!
I've mostly had Samsung phones (still love my Pixel 3a. 5.6 inches... Wow!) What is the "Pixel Experience" if you don't mind me asking .]
Yep I noticed straight away that sound is coming from left direction.
I have a honor magic V2 global for sale. I think it's perfect for your channel to actually compare against what the rest of the world has to offer.
Hi. How much and what condition is your Honor Magic v2?
Looking forward to trips and tricks!!
The front screen shouldn’t get bigger than it is now. I like the thin aspect ratio. So I can open the fold more
I wonder why no one else caught on to speakers in the charging port? My Huawei Mate 20 Pro has the sound coming out of there. If they did that on these folds they could have 4 speakers.
I think Samsung is protecting the ultra, at least by not manking a fold ultra, with top of the line camera etc. Maybe they hope people buy both, on the have the best camera and one to have the foldable. Personally I am not buying either for now and stying with a S23. But a fold with a great camera and zoom may change things
I have the s24 ultra , and the 25w charging speed is driving me crazy.... With the s24 ultra I don't even worry about the battery, with this one, it is in the back of my mind that I won't be able to charge it back up fast.
Why can't Samsung make the Z fold 6 as thin as the (honor magic v3 fold ) ??? which might be a Z fold 6 Killer ?????
In Honor V2 Back gestures with splitscreen also works as in Pixel n Oneplus.
Samsung is still far behind in the hardware dept. They are killing it on the software side but there are several other folds that have much better hardware. Thinner, lighter, better cameras, bigger battery, faster charing speeds etc.
Registar is for a flashlight man. Your assistant you can holler for. 😅
I think we still need more people to switch to folds. Those of us using folds are the minority of sales. (Even though we pay more) Maybe they'll push more into their software and hardware in the coming years.
Side note: The glossy interiors, maybe they should switch the interior screen protectors for a matte or the paper? Might look a little muted on the graphics, but fingerprints and gloss would be almost non-existent, which would be nice.
Good video, as always, Shane.
It seems weird to me you'd be getting 6 hours on light performance. I get 8-9 on standard. And that's spending a lot of time outside, on cellular, screen brightness really high.
I'm trying switching to light now, just out of curiosity.
One of the reasons why screen on time is just not a great metric. It'll vary so much depending on what you're doing. All I can do is give context by saying what other phones get for me.
I still think the cover screen is still about 4mm from perfection
Fold 2, 3 and 4 user here. I basically bought the same phone 3 times. Decided to skip the Fold 5 and never looked back. This is the worst foldable on the market right now.
Just a comment: everyone RAVES about the Chinese Foldable hardware, but no one ever seems to address the fact that they all use less-than-premium materials for the rear back plate. I think this is a cop-out on their end to make manufacturing easier, make the device lighter... Etc. Samsung used to get so much crap for using textured plastics and "leather" material on their backplates until the S7. Funny how that is completely being overlooked as it is an engineering and design challenge to incorporate premium materials everywhere on the device.
Didn't bother me then, doesn't bother me now lol
@@scaryifliteral I know but it's kind of a contradictory thing. "premium hardware" when they are taking cheap shortcuts. Clearly the Chinese phone manufacturers are trying to hit marketing bullet points so influencers can rave about them, when the phone still uses less premium cheapo materials and they skirt the whole "very thin" foldable thing when they have a massive camera bump that negates it completely.
It seems like you have very strong opinions about materials and camera bump sizes that should guide your purchasing decisions well. That's really all we can do. For me, the trade offs for the Open are well worth it.
Hello Shane, you can have a floating window with 2 or 3 apps open on the oneplus open as well. The trick is you have to open the floating app first, then the other apps in split screen. So basically you have to do it backwards if your comparing it to Samsung folds
So your saying it's the Pittsburgh Steelers of foldable phones.
I was thinking it was the Tennessee Titans.. lol
Samsung is doing the apple thing, not the best at everything but focuses on the overall experience. The iPhone is not the best at everything but the experience is consistent + software features such as imessage, etc.
I returned my z fold 6 and went back to the s24 ultra. The slow charging speed is what i missed from the ultra
Have you removed your inner screen cover?
Never lol
@@scaryifliteral he, he i have
@@scaryifliteral Yeah I have no idea why people do this!
If it gets crappy you can get a free replacement installed.
It does not look any better.
I still have the preinstalled screen protector on my Oneplus 12, it has scratches and stuff but I never see it when using the phone. And the screen beneath is virgin baby!
Once you peel that sucker away you're vulnerable and all it takes is some unexpected thing to ruin it forever. If you have dogs you know what I mean. (Especially crazy ass blue heelers! 😛)
Inner screen protector? And how do you replace it?
I cringe everytime is see how narrow the cover screen is
I think I will wait for fold6 ultra
ZF6 lover here. Screens are a 10, rest of hardware is a 4 lol. You buy the zf6 for displays and software. Camera performance is usable but below average.
I'm not categorizing hardware as everything combined. I'm talking materials, build quality, how it feels, etc.
this zfold 6 phone has statement....a tab turn into phone. rest are phone that turn into more wider screen. thats why samsung name fold....and felt only oneplus has the right term....open.
some people say more wider cover screen....then where is uniqueness... some say more camera spec....but this is productivity phone not take picture phone. need s pen use on cover screen....well cover screen is for phone purpose and main screen is tab purpose
for me.....fast wired and wireless charging was great option but im ok with it. nil crease would have been best but im still ok with it. maybe more ram like 16 and wifi 7 would have been latest with more fancy impression
most question is why pay more....thats huge problem. what is there??? i remember when iphone came...what a costly phone...all had same issue....now every single member has a iphone....so is it actually price ?? hehe
awaiting honor magic v3
Whenever I see Samsung reviews and the reviewers are using goodlock, then praising Samsung for it...kinda weird. Like you're praising features, a third party app is doing to make the Samsung experience better...to me that means the vanilla Samsung experience is mediocre. Btw I'm not calling out Shane he didnt do it...but other TH-camrs I watch always mention goodlock and end up praising the product for great features even tho those features are coming from a third party app, and shouldnt be praised part of the product review imo...regardless if it's in the Samsung store or not.
Goodlock isn't a third party app though. Goodlock was literally made by Samsung for the user, making it a first party app. The point of it is to provide Galaxy users an extra set of settings to redesign how all the software elements/features of the UI on their phone look and function. I'm not talking about broad/basic software elements/features that can be changed on almost any phone, rather the more intricate elements/features of the UI that most other OEMs have preset that most casual users wouldn't even think about or care to change. With all that in mind, Goodlock isn't necesary or required to make the Samsung experience better. Vanilla One UI without Goodlock, still has more features and customization options than pretty much any other Android phone and CERTAINLY MORE than ANY iPhone. Goodlock is just extra/extended settings that allow the user to change a lot of the finer, more intricate software elements/features of the UI that can't really be changed on the UI of any other Android brand phone. It allows the user to change nearly every single aspect of the UI to look and function exactly how they want it to. It's not at all necessary in order to make the Samsung experience better. It's just a way for the user to enhance their own Samsung experience and more extensively customize and personalize the UI on their device.
@@MADJOEFC something that should already be in the settings, or minimum be a default app...people like us know about this...most users will not experience most of these benefits.
@megamegaO I should've added in my paragraph that due to the nature of Goodlock being a subset of extra settings, allowing the user to change/finetune more intricate elements/features that most casual users WOULDN'T CARE or FEEL BOTHERED to change, the app isn't needed for them, the casual user. All the enhanced benefits available to users through Goodlock are extremely extensive features and customization options for the most miniscule aspects of the UI that again, casual users wouldn't care or feel bothered to change. We know about and use Goodlock because we DO CARE about extensively customizing the crap out of our phone, changing every miniscule aspect of how the UI looks and functions. Casual users don't care about extensively customizing their phone. They care about being able to change mainly the very noticeable and surface level aspects of the UI to look and function however they want it to. Which is able to be done in the regular settings. Then for us power users who want to more deeply and extensively customize the more miniscule/less noticeable aspects of the UI, Goodlock is there for us to do that. All the enhanced benefits that Goodlock provides are ones that casual users just don't really care about experiencing and don't feel bothered to change. So there's regular settings for the casual users and then there's Goodlock for the power users.
Now I will say imo Goodlock should already be pre-installed on all Galaxy phones and placed on the homescreen upon first boot up of the phone. That way every casual user with a Galaxy phone at least sees it. Hopefully leading to more casual users going in the app and seeing there's so much more they can do with almost every aspect of their phone's UI in terms of features and customization, in comparison to mostly any other phone's UI.
Very poor, Shane! Not on the review... but playing that freaking Crab Rave video!!! My kids play it all the time and it drives me nuts... and now you? Come on, man!!! 😂
There are very few songs that won't hit you with a copyright strike these days... lol
are those glasses gentle monster? 😏
I have no idea what this means
A jack of all traits but master of none.
Said this on threads but i feel it requires repeating here. Samsung went from being the book style foldable zeitgeist to merely chasing it. It's a solid device but it's a safe device. Charging speeds are the same as is the battery pack and the camera (except the ultrawide...slight improvement there.) I'll put it like this...its good enough for me to not send back as i enjoy it for the same reasons you do...but it's not good enough for me to daily drive it consistently when their competition's foldables from LAST YEAR run circles around it. Great review as always.
No real weaknesses?
Crap battery
No embedded stylus
No stylus support on the outside screen
6.3 inches when it should be 6.9
Still narrow AF
There you go all your weaknesses right there. Not to mention as well the Z Flip 6 also sucks compared to the new Motorola flip phones. If one plus had put an embedded stylus I would have bought that right out the bat. I want to see what the one plus open 2 is like
Just gotta a moment ago. I have been using a iPhone this phone is weird and bad assignment at the same time