The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, launched in July 20͏24, is the ͏lat͏e͏st iter͏ation in the Fold series, unveiled during the Ga͏laxy͏ Unpacked e͏vent alongside other ͏devices͏ like Galaxy watches͏ and the n͏ew Smart ͏ring. While the Z Fold 6 comes with t͏he e͏xpec͏ted ge͏neration͏al upgrades, the exten͏t of th͏e͏se en͏hancements raise th͏e question ͏of whether it’s truly a wort͏hwh͏ile͏ daily dri͏ver. ͏
At a gla͏nc͏e, the͏ Z Fold 6 offers͏ se͏veral im͏provem͏ents over͏ its pre͏d͏ecessor, but when c͏on͏sideri͏ng the over͏al͏l advanceme͏nts in the serie͏s, the c͏h͏anges ͏ma͏y͏ not͏ be͏ as groundbreaking͏ as some would hope.
In th͏is arti͏c͏le, ͏we'll delve in͏to the speci͏fi͏cs͏ o͏f these ͏upgrades ͏and ͏c͏om͏pare the Z Fold 6 with the Google ͏Pixel ͏8. We will evaluate their specs͏, features, and overall user experience. Our ͏goal is to determine whether the Z Fold 6 j͏ustifi͏es͏ i͏ts uniq͏ue͏ form fa͏ctor or if traditional s͏mart͏phones͏ like the ͏Pixel 8 still offer a better balance ͏of performance͏ and practic͏ality.
Note: Some aspects of this article are subjective and solely reflect the writer's opinion.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 vs Google Pixel 8: Foldables vs Traditional smartphones?
The Galaxy Z Fold 6 seems to be very underwhelming this year. Despite being six generations in, Samsung has failed to fix the crease that runs down the middle of the phone when unfolded. Coming from a traditional handheld, that would be the first thing you notice when you get your hands on the device.
With their Foldables, companies like OnePlus have already shown that the crease situation can be improved. But the Z Fold 6's lacks in this area. This situation only worsens the more you use the phone. The Fold 6 is only meant for enthusiasts. As a daily driver, the phone is subpar, judging by the $1900 price tag it comes with.
Specs comparison
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 comes with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip which is comparatively more powerful than the Tensor G3. The Pixel 8 only has 256 GB of storage, a stark contrast to many smartphones that now rival desktops shipping with 1 TB and 2 TB variants.
Performance comparison
Here is a performance benchmark comparison of the two phones:
The specs table demonstrates just how powerful the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip is, significantly outperforming the Tensor G3. However, one might wonder how much of this will be utilized by an average user. For most, such high performance is mainly beneficial for gaming. That said, the gaming experience on the Z Fold 6 is less than ideal, and it’s easy to see why.
Foldable devices aren’t designed with gaming as a priority; instead, they cater to tech enthusiasts who value the flexibility of extra-screen real estate when needed. For everyday use, both the Z Fold 6 and the Pixel 8 deliver a smooth, polished experience with their respective operating systems - One UI and stock Android 14.
That said, many users find the stock Android experience on the Pixel 8 to be more intuitive and enjoyable, offering a cleaner and more streamlined interface.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 vs Google Pixel 8: Battery life
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 struggles with thermal issues, a consequence of the technology required to power its expansive display. The limited space for thermal management means the phone heats up frequently, leading to rapid battery drain.
On top of this, the Z Fold 6's battery has the demanding task of powering a large 120 Hz screen. Despite advancements in LTPO technology, such a large display inevitably consumes a significant amount of power, resulting in scenarios where the battery might not last through the day, necessitating the constant presence of a charger or power bank.
The Google Pixel 8 faces similar challenges. It also experiences overheating when performing demanding tasks, making neither device ideal for gaming. However, if gaming is a priority, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is the better option, despite its shortcomings. The Pixel 8's battery life is decent but falls short of being impressive.
Like the Fold 6, it often struggles to last an entire day, especially when users engage heavily with social media apps or other battery-intensive activities. For those who primarily use their phone for calls and light tasks, the battery might suffice, but for more demanding usage, you'll likely need to carry a power bank to avoid running out of juice.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 vs Google Pixel 8: Camera
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 has a good camera but one that suits a $800 phone. Since you are paying $1900 for the device, you should receive a much better camera system than the one you get. The rear camera is fine for daytime photography but falters during nighttime. Photos often end up being noisy, proving the lack of optimization in that section.
Additionally, photos clicked via the under-display selfie camera are faded and look out of focus. It is only suited for video calling and meetings. The outer front camera is fine but suffers from the same issues as the rear camera.
The Pixel 8, on the other hand, offers a much better camera experience that is comparable to the iPhone 15. No matter how subpar the hardware is, Google's software optimizations are so advanced that the photos come out excellent. So for clicking pictures, Pixel 8 is the way to go.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 vs Google Pixel 8: Final Verdict
Only if you are interested in getting a foldable phone should you think about getting the Z Fold 6. If not, you will fare much better using a Pixel 8 as your daily driver smartphone. Both phones aren't perfect and suffer from various issues. But the Pixel 8 is the more usable of the two.