I tried Samsung’s new Flip 6 smartphone and there are three features I love – including a WhatsApp perk that the iPhone can’t beat

SAMSUNG isn’t giving up on the flip phone anytime soon.

The South Korean tech giant has launched its sixth version of the Galaxy Z Flip – although most people will have difficulty noticing the difference between the previous models on the surface.

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But there have been some updates to the interior – and some small design tweaks – not to mention a few extra features.

The camera has also received a big boost, both technically and software-wise.

However, above £1,000/$1,000, is it the premium experience we expect?

Read The Sun’s full review.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6: appearance and behavior

You’d be forgiven for having déjà-vu when looking at the Galaxy Z Flip 6 for the first time.

Samsung has stuck with the existing design – while that’s not a bad thing, the device is easy on the eyes, both open and closed.

One small change is the arrival of colored rings around the edges of the cameras to match the main body of the smartphone.

There is a choice of seven colors – see the full list below.

Samsung has also kept the matte finish, which is always my preferred material as it’s nicer to hold and prevents pesky smudges on my hands – of which I unfortunately produce a lot.

The company’s so-called “Armor Aluminum” is used in the hinge and frame and gives off a solid, premium feel.

However, I still have trouble opening the device comfortably with one hand, there’s simply no room to pull it out, and the Flip 6 stays closed tightly.

Of course, no gaps are also a good thing, there is a way for dust and dirt to get in. Samsung has also upgraded to IP48 water and dust resistance, so it’s much harder for bits to get into the surface and damage anything too.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6: Performance and features

Samsung has done some work to increase performance so that the smartphone is super fast, even when gaming.

This includes a newer chip – the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 – 12GB of RAM instead of the 8GB found in previous versions, and the first vapor chamber cooling system used in a foldable Samsung flip to prevent overheating.

The Flip 6 runs on Samsung’s own version of Android 14, One UI 6.1.1, which is a pretty clean version of the operating system.

Samsung still annoyingly insists on having its own apps alongside Google’s – the latter of which I’m quite happy with – but you can uninstall most of the pre-installed apps you don’t want.

It brings some genuinely useful new AI features – and some not so much, but they’re still fun

The tech company is still growing in AI – or as Samsung calls it, Galaxy AI – and there are some additions, including some that are genuinely useful.

By far its best addition is the auto zoom feature – which we’ll go into more detail below in the camera section.

The handy translation features introduced in January are also available, so you can translate a phone call in real time (and also translate your voice to the other person, no matter what phone they have).

Text message translation has also been implemented in third-party apps, such as popular platforms like WhatsApp – meaning you can translate messages directly in the app.

And if you’re experiencing language barriers on vacation, you can also translate conversations here. The translation will not only be read verbally, but will also appear on the back screen for the other person to read.

Samsung has continued its commitment to offering seven years of free software updates and security updates on the Flip 6.

Who offers free updates the longest?

The more updates you receive, the longer you can continue using your smartphone safely – with the latest features included for free.

Samsung
Since the Galaxy S24 series, Samsung has said it would provide at least seven generations of operating system updates and seven years of security updates.

OnePlus
At the launch of the OnePlus 12, OnePlus committed to at least four years of Android updates and five years of security updates.

Xiaomi
Xiaomi offers a four-year discount on Android updates and a five-year discount on security updates.

Google
For the Pixel 8, Google said the devices would receive at least seven years of support.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6: Battery

The battery has been increased to 4,000mAh.

Samsung says this will give you a good day’s worth of battery life – and in our testing we found this to be true after a lot of browsing, playing videos and some gaming.

Wired charging speeds are pegged at 25W, which is slower compared to some rivals.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6: Camera

One of the parts that has been significantly upgraded in the Flip 6 is the camera.

There’s now a huge 50-megapixel snapper, the same technology found in the Galaxy S24 Ultra.

This is paired with a 12-megapixel ultrawide, which can take some decent group photos.

There’s also a 10-megapixel selfie camera, but it’s much better to fold the device and let the main camera do the work.

A new autofocus feature uses AI to intelligently frame the image, zooming in on subjects appropriately. You can raise your palm and it will take the photo.

Less useful but still fun, you can also draw rough objects on photos with your finger and the AI ​​will magically figure out what you want there – for example, I took a photo of my friend’s beautiful dog Zena and drew a ball in front of her , which turned into a very real ball.

I even tried drawing a (full-bodied) cat and it worked, although a little scary with just the head, as you’ll see below.

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Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6: Verdict

The Flip 6 has some minor updates on the surface, but it’s still a glorious smartphone.

It brings some genuinely useful new AI features – and some not so much, but they’re still fun.

And it’s a delight to take photos.

The commitment to seven years of software updates is also welcome.

But at £1,049 / $1,099 it’s a big ask for so few major changes, especially when there are considerably cheaper phones with a foldable screen like this, like the Motorola Razr 40 Ultra.

• UK buyers: Buy the Galaxy Z Flip 6 from £1,049 Samsung.com
• US buyers get the Galaxy Z Flip 6 starting at $1,099 Samsung.com