Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 rumors: Everything we know and what we want to see

Will there be a Galaxy Z Fold 6?

Hadlee Simons / Android Authority

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold continues to be one of the most successful foldable phones in the world, so it’s virtually certain that a Galaxy Z Fold 6 is in the works. Rumors indicate that Samsung is busy planning its next foldable device and is aiming for a wider display and a slimmer design in the upcoming Fold. So, we can be very optimistic that we’ll get to see a Fold 6 launch in 2024.

WinFuture says the cheaper model is internally codenamed Q6a. Tipster Max Jambor also corroborated this codename, as well as the Q6 alias for the standard model. For reference, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 was codenamed Q5, which is why Q6a is believed to be the cheaper version.

SisaJournal-e claims that a cheaper Galaxy foldable could be priced at less than $800. Note that the report does not mention whether the price leak is for a cheaper Fold model or a cheaper Flip model. To achieve this lower price tag, Samsung will reportedly make a few compromises. The specifications of the processor, display, and battery are expected to be downgraded. Meanwhile, the cameras are said to be almost similar “to the existing model.” The report does mention a dual-camera setup.

The Elec reported on May 13 that Samsung was reviewing plans to launch a cheaper Galaxy Z Fold 6 model. The outlet cited a “lack of product differentiation” and “uncertainty in the business situation.” Leaker Revegnus was more forthright, claiming that it actually had been canceled.

Meanwhile, Roland Quandt of WinFuture says he heard murmurings around MWC 2024 that suggest Q6a could be an “Ultra” model instead of a budget model. Corroborating this possibility, a report from Galaxy Club claims Samsung is working on a higher-end Galaxy Z Fold 6 with an “Ultra” moniker. This device is said to have the model number SM-F958, which is close to the expected model number for the regular Z Fold 6 (SM-F956). The report also mentions that this Ultra variant may be exclusive to South Korea. Ice Universe also mentions the Galaxy Z Fold 6 Ultra exists, but “there are no detailed parameters.”

Display analyst Ross Young mentions that Samsung is working on a “Samsung Fold 6 Slim,” eyeing a launch for Q4 2024. This foldable is expected to have a bigger display than the Fold 6 at the same price point but with no pen input. In a follow-up post, he mentions that “this may be called Fold 6 Ultra.” The final product name is still to be decided.

We’ll have to keep our ears to the ground to see what Q6a/Fold 6 Slim/Fold 6 Ultra turns out to be — if it actually launches.

What is the most likely Galaxy Z Fold 6 release date?

Ryan Whitwam / Android Authority

The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is an unparalleled mobile multitasking machine.

The Bell corroborates an early release rumor, suggesting that Samsung wants to take advantage of marketing around the 2024 Summer Olympics that are scheduled to be held in Paris, France from July 26, 2024. Consequently, the launch could be held in Paris, France.

ETNews suggests that the foldable will be launched alongside the Galaxy Ring in the second half of July 2024.

Samsung consistently unveils its next generation of foldables in early August every year, with the new phones typically becoming available for shipping in mid to late August. However, these rumors indicate that Samsung may have a change in plans for 2024.

What will the Galaxy Z Fold 6 look like?

Ryan Whitwam / Android Authority

Yep, there's still a crease.

According to multiple leaks, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 could depart from the conventional look of the Galaxy Z Fold 5, Fold 4, and Fold 3. Samsung could be experimenting with a different aspect ratio for the device.

The most notable leak comes from SmartPrix and dependable tipster Steve ‘OnLeaks’ Hemmerstoffer on February 28. The renders and attached dimensions show a wider device than the Z Fold 5, suggesting a wider cover display more in line with typical phones. We’ve also got squared-off edges here. Check out the images below.

Twitter leaker Revegnus claimed that Samsung will change the aspect ratio of the Galaxy Z Fold 6’s external display. Analyst Ross Young also claimed that the foldable and cover display on the Galaxy Z Fold 6 will be larger than that on the Galaxy Z Fold 5, though no dimensions or other details were provided on a public platform.

Leaker Yogesh Brar mentions that the cover display on the Fold 6 could be 6.4-inches diagonally, up from the 6.2-inch cover display on the Fold 5. The Fold 6 could be wider, with a 20:9 aspect ratio for the cover screen, compared to the 23.1:9 cover screen aspect ratio on the Fold 5. Consequently, the change in shape will also change the internal screen’s aspect ratio, marking it up to be a bit more squarish at 1.08:1, compared to the previous 5:6 aspect ratio.

Ryan Whitwam / Android Authority

Top: Pixel Fold, Bottom: Galaxy Z Fold 5

Some of these claims were also echoed by Korean blogger yeux1122 on Naver. The blogger indeed mentioned a thinner and lighter design, a thinner and more durable hinge, a titanium design, and some S24 series stylings. However, the source also claimed that the foldable will offer more durable ultra-thin glass (UTG) with an improved feel. Furthermore, the leaker mentioned a few other apparent tidbits that still have to be confirmed, such as the lack of an S Pen slot.

Another interesting rumor suggests that the display crease has been further reduced. It’s unknown how Samsung accomplished this, but it is possible the thicker UTG could have something to do with it.

Ice Universe is a bit more confident about numbers. According to them, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 will have an unfolded thickness of 5.6mm and a folded thickness of 12.1mm. The phone could weigh 239g. The internal display will have a 7.6-inch display with a 7:6 aspect ratio, while the external display will have a 6.3-inch display with a 22:9 aspect ratio.

Ice Universe has also posted a hands-on image of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 (right), next to a comparative image of the Galaxy Z Fold 5 (left).

In the image, we can see that the Fold 6 is wider for its cover screen, which should give us a flatter aspect ratio on the inner display too. The body corner radius is sharper, and the display radius is also sharper on the Fold 6.

Display insider Ross Young also revealed apparent Galaxy Z Fold 6 colors on March 7. Young claimed the device will be available in Dark Blue, Light Pink, and Silver. Young later confirmed the blue and silver color names have been slightly adjusted to Navy and Silver Shadow, respectively. There’s also a Crafted Black and White in the works for low volume. Tipster Evan Blass corroborated the list of colorways on June 11, indicating that there will be five to choose from at launch, with the Crafted Black and White offered up as online exclusives.

An official-looking marketing render containing both the Fold 6 and Flip 6 emerged online. The render is said to have been leaked from Samsung Kazakhstan. This render appears to support earlier leaks that the Fold 6 will have a boxier body with flat edges. We also see the new camera deco with a concentric ring-like pattern but a familiar triple camera setup.

What rumored specs and features could the Galaxy Z Fold 6 have?

Ryan Whitwam / Android Authority

Twitter leaker Revegnus claimed that Samsung will continue to use the same image sensor as the Galaxy Z Fold 5, but the leaker also mentioned that “there’s talk of equipping the Fold 6 with the same camera sensor as the S24 Ultra,” meaning it could see a bump up to a 200MP primary camera.

A report from GalaxyClub said Samsung was planning to use a 50MP primary camera on the Galaxy Z Fold 6, adding that it is the same camera as the Galaxy S24. The outlet couldn’t comment on the 200MP primary camera claims. Leaker Yogesh Brar mentions that the camera setup could be the same 50MP primary rear camera, 10MP telephoto for 3x optical zoom, and 12MP ultrawide camera, similar to the Fold 5.

Leaker Chun VN says that the Galaxy Z could use a newer SoC, namely the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. This isn’t very surprising, as Samsung practically always does an annual SoC refresh. For other specifications, it is mentioned that the phone could come with a slightly larger 4,600mAh battery compared to the 4,400mAh battery on the Fold 5. Its under-display camera on the inner display could also be improved.

A supposed Geekbench benchmark listing, as well as a report from The Elec also claim that the foldable is destined to have a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC. The Elec’s sources claimed that Samsung is taking this route for “cost control” reasons and to preserve ties with Qualcomm.

yeux1122 on Naver also asserted that the Fold 6’s battery will be 5% bigger and that the under-display selfie camera will offer an “improved aperture” and better appearance. The source added that the device could offer up to 16GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage but cautioned that these claims have to be checked.

On April 22, Ross Young posted on X that the Fold 6 lineup will include 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB variants.

What specs could the other rumored Galaxy Z Fold 6 have? How will it be different?

Ryan Whitwam / Android Authority

A report from ET News suggests that Samsung could make a bunch of changes to the Galaxy Z Fold philosophy to launch a variant of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 alongside the regular version of the Fold 6. For instance, Samsung is said to have skipped out on S Pen-related functionality. This means that a cheaper Fold 6 could skip out on the digitizer needed for stylus input, so you wouldn’t be able to use an S Pen on the phone at all. The report mentions that other parts could also see changes to bring the price down.

For S Pen fans, the report mentions that the premium version of the Galaxy Z Fold is likely to continue with S Pen functionality. So you can still buy a phone with S Pen support, but be prepared to pay a premium.

It’s important to note that Samsung’s plans for the variant, whether it is a cheaper model or a premium model, are still unclear.

What might the Galaxy Z Fold 6 price be?

Ryan Whitwam / Android Authority

Notably, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 started at $1,800 in the US, but Samsung continues to offer a $200 discount on the listed price, so you could get the device for $1,600. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 could benefit from similar pricing strategies at launch through trade-ins and pre-order offers.

Should you wait for the Galaxy Z Fold 6?

Ryan Whitwam / Android Authority

If a device akin to the Fold 5 is preferred and brand loyalty is not a strict requirement, the OnePlus Open $1699.99 at Amazon and the Google Pixel Fold ($1799 at Amazon) are the most obvious choice for those in the States. International buyers can explore additional options by referring to our guide on the best foldable phones.

Better battery life and faster charging

Ryan Whitwam / Android Authority

Samsung has kept the same 4,400mAh battery since the Z Fold 4, and it’s just not enough. As we noted in our Z Fold 5 review, it can get you through a day but not much more than that. For power users, you’ll struggle even harder. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 needs to push closer to the 5,000mAh mark. How likely is this? It’s hard to say, but we’d imagine a small boost of a few hundred mAh is more likely than a big jump.

As we mentioned earlier, there’s already a rumor claiming Samsung has reverse-engineered HUAWEI’s foldable looking for inspiration to make thinner designs while maintaining great battery life. If Samsung wants to make its devices thinner, it is more likely to come at the detriment of battery life, not the other way around. Still, we can hope, right?

The battery size wouldn’t be so bad if Samsung could include faster charging. In 2023, an expensive device like the Fold 5 shouldn’t be stuck with 25W charging, especially when the Galaxy S23 Ultra already offers 45W charging. Just like with the camera, we really want better feature parity between the S Ultra and Fold.

Include the S Pen, and a holder too

Ryan Whitwam / Android Authority

One of the standout features of the Fold is its compatibility with the S Pen, offering users the versatility for note-taking, drawing, and various other tasks. However, it’s worth noting that the S Pen doesn’t come bundled with the device, requiring users to purchase the official accessory separately, typically priced at around $50. While cheaper alternatives are available, this additional cost may deter some users. It’s a shame because there are many cool S Pen features that some users may not even be aware of, and they might be more willing to explore the S Pen’s capabilities if it were provided for free.

It’s not enough just to include the stylus, though. If Samsung wants to stand out further from other foldables, it should include an actual S Pen storage slot built into the device. How plausible is this? Given the rumors of a larger display, it’s certainly possible there could be room to include an S Pen slot. What’s unclear is if Samsung cares enough about S Pen to spend the money adding what many consider a niche feature. we certainly hope so, at least.