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Journalism of Courage
I have always been fascinated by flip phones. This comes from someone fortunate enough to flaunt Motorola Razr phones from the late 2000s, when I was in college. Walking up to a group and answering calls on a phone that you swing and swish to open gave a unique “main character energy” in those days. In fact, it would work even today.
Fast forward to 2024, it has been over 10 years since I laid my hands on a flip phone. By now, I am an iPhone disciple. It was at the recent launch of Samsung’s latest generation of foldable devices, that I, for the first time in years, held a foldable device, a foldable ‘smartphone’ at that. I have been using the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 for a few weeks now, and here I would like to explain why a flip phone in 2024 can be a stylish addition to your communication needs.
Before we go any further, I must admit that I too had certain preconceived ideas and misconceptions about the foldable form factor, creaky hinges and glaring creases being the most overbearing of it all. However, my apprehensions vanished the moment I held the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6.
Easy on the hands
Along with its compelling good looks, the Galaxy Z Flip 6 is easy to handle. At first, I was nervous, fearing my butter fingers would let it slip away, but as days passed, I became more comfortable holding the device.
Built using aluminium and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus, Samsung claims the phone to be one of the most durable Z Flip phones yet, and I cannot agree more. The texture on the back, sides, and flex screen seems like they have been made thoughtfully and lavishly. The curved edges of the Z Flip 6 feel in perfect harmony with the overall design.
The 6.7-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED screen that boasts of 120Hz adaptive refresh is slick and bright. Manoeuvring through applications, and scrolling up and down is buttery smooth. Besides, the large screen doubles as a great means to watch your favourite shows. The display has ample space for media consumption, especially reels and shorts. Scrolling through X and Facebook is effortless.
Being able to single-handedly manage the device was a big bonus for me. The hinge mechanism allows the phone to stay open at various angles, perfect for hands-free use during calls and vlogging. The crease is negligible in daily use. Another upgrade is the increased brightness, now reaching 1,500 nits in auto mode, greatly enhancing outdoor visibility.
The side-mounted fingerprint scanner, integrated into the power button, offers fast and reliable biometric authentication.
At first glance, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 is nearly identical to the Z Flip 5 from 2023. Samsung retained the sleek, square-shaped form factor when folded for the Z Flip 6, but on opening, it transforms into a full-sized smartphone. Regardless, a closer look would reveal some noteworthy upgrades in design.
For instance, the more prominent camera rings on the Z Flip 6 makes it stand out. Even with a larger 4,000 mAh battery, Samsung has managed to retain the same dimensions and weight as its predecessor.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 comes with an IP48 rating for water resistance. According to Samsung, the device works fine in up to 1.5 metres of freshwater for up to 30 minutes. For me, this translates to carefree use through Delhi rains. Water and dust have been a common issue with foldable form factors, however, Z Flip 6 addresses these issues making for an enjoyable user experience. Besides, the audio performance from the stereo speakers is satisfactory, offering sufficient loudness.
The Galaxy Z Flip also features an array of AI-powered features that are strewn across camera applications, note-taking, live transcribing, etc. The device also offers smart replies on the cover display offering quick an innovative way for quick responses.
Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of this Z Flip6 is its outer cover display. Although not much different from the Z Flip 5, the cover display offers easy access to essentials like notifications, music player, camera, weather, etc. Playing music, and how the music apps appear on the cover display made me nostalgic as it brought back the pleasant memories of MP3 players from the mid-2000s.
Interestingly, Samsung has added support for select apps like Google Maps, Messages, Netflix, WhatsApp and YouTube. You could watch a YouTube Video, a Netflix show, or even chat with a friend on WhatsApp all without having to open the device. This to me was an extremely convenient feature.
When it comes to performance, the Z Flip 6 comes with a special Galaxy version of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip. The flip phone scores slightly under 1.5 million in the AnTuTu score, which is slightly below compared to some other flagships in 2024. Regardless, I found it to be snappy and responsive and it multitasks between apps and gaming with ease. However, I noticed that extended use led to noticeable thermal throttling despite the “vapour chamber cooling”. This seems to be a persistent issue with almost all recent flagship releases. However, the throttling with Flip6 is negligible.
The latest iteration of the Flip gets some significant improvments in the camera department as the main shooter now comes with a 50MP sensor much similar to the S24 series. During my use, photos in daylight showcased excellent details with eye-pleaseing colours and great dynamic range. The new sensor offers natural details with less sharpening. Besides, low-light performance is good.
The device retains the 13MP ultra-wide camera from the Z Flip 5 and it delivers some great results. Moreover, the unique form factor allows on to click some creative selfies using the main camera with the cover screen as viewfinder for some stunning portraits. While 4K recording video capabilities are on all cameras, the footage is decent with wide dynamic range and stablisation. The cameras also feature Auto Zoom which detects subjects and automatically adjusts the zoom.
The Z Flip 6 is based on Samsung’s One UI 6.1.1 and is backed by Android 14 which seems optimised for the foldable interface. Besides, I enjoyed the unique features like the split-screen functionality and AI-powered tools like Live Interpreter for real-time translation. The promised seven years of OS upgrades and security patches show Samsung’s commitment to long-term software support. This alone could be a strong reason for many to opt for this device.
When it comes to power, the Z Flip6 comes with an increased 4,000 mAh capacity. One can expect a life of around 10 hours of active use, and I feel it is impressive for a foldable smartphone. While the charging speed at 25W remains unchanged, the new device supports wireless charging. It needs to be noted that the larger battery here also spells slightly longer charging duration compared to Z Flip 5.
The Samsung Z Flip6 comes with 12GB RAM in 256GB and 512GB variants. Although there is no option for expandable usage, that would not be a deal breaker.
Verdict
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 showcases refinement in design and engineering. Although not a big leap in foldable form factor, the cumulative increments here in areas like battery life, camera performance, water resistance, and ease of use make it a great option in the foldable segment.
I feel the device has successfully addressed some persistent issues with the foldable form factor. It is smart, unique, and has a pocketable design with powerful performance that makes for a compelling buy.
