Disappointing
I’ll freely admit my dislike for the Galaxy Z Fold 6: Samsung just hasn’t managed to differentiate the device from its predecessor or even the Z Fold 4. It has the same basic design, battery life hasn’t really been given much attention, it charges at 25W and the cameras are the same as last year. There’s IP48 protection, a lighter body and the phone will get seven Android OS updates, but given the price, I’m not convinced you should really buy the Z Fold 6 – if you’re interested in a foldable and aren’t considering another brand, you should just buy the Z Fold 5 instead.
For
- Lighter than Z Fold 5
- IP48 dust and water resistance
- Great hardware
- Good cameras
- Long-term software updates
Against
- Cover plate still too narrow
- Hardly any changes to the predecessor
- Significantly more expensive
- The base model has 256 GB of storage
Incredibly good
The Open launched almost a year ago, but unlike Samsung, OnePlus didn’t see the need to launch a new model just for the sake of it. The phone still has a lot going for it; the design is one of the best in the segment, the hinge is more articulated, and the fold isn’t as noticeable as the Z Fold 6. You also get a more usable cover display, a larger battery that lasts longer, better cameras on the back, 67W charging, and a bunch of custom software features that make multitasking a breeze. The foldable has its own issues; the foldable is only IPX4 water-resistant and will only receive three Android updates. But as an overall device, the Open definitely has the edge over the Z Fold 6.
For
- Better design with fewer visible wrinkles
- Great AMOLED panels inside and out
- Versatile cameras
- Larger battery and fast 67W charging technology
- Custom software extras
Against
- No long-term Android updates
- IPX4 water resistance
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 vs. OnePlus Open: Design and displays
Samsung has proven that it doesn’t like to change the design of its flagships, and the Galaxy Z Fold 6 looks almost identical to its predecessor. Samsung has increased the width of the cover panel to make it less distracting to use, but it still ends up being too narrow.
Other than this tweak, there are no notable design changes on the Z Fold 6. Samsung was able to reduce the weight by 14g, and at 239g, the foldable is easier to hold and use. However, the hinge isn’t as smooth as the best foldables, and the fold is still immediately visible. There are areas that Samsung should have addressed, but it chose not to bother.
With the Open, OnePlus has delivered one of the most beautiful designs in the segment, and the leather back looks elegant next to the oversized camera housing. The foldable device has ideal dimensions and the cover is much better to use – most of the time I don’t feel the need to unfold the device at all.
Although I like the design of the Open much better, the foldable device is not waterproof. With only an IPX4 rating, it can only withstand splashes of water. The Z Fold 6, on the other hand, is IP48 dust and water resistant and can be submerged in water up to one meter deep without any problems.
When it comes to displays, the Open has the edge; the 6.31-inch OLED screen has exquisite colors and gets bright enough outdoors, and the size is just right. The 7.82-inch AMOLED interior panel is significantly larger than Samsung’s and also has outstanding colors. Both panels have a dynamic refresh rate of 120 Hz and are a tiny bit brighter than the Z Fold 6 when it comes to HDR content.
Samsung has a 6.3-inch cover panel and a 7.6-inch inner screen, and both have a 120Hz dynamic refresh rate and good outdoor visibility. My main issue is that the cover panel still limits the usage too much and hinders the potential of the device.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 vs OnePlus Open: Hardware
The Galaxy Z Fold 6 is powered by Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, while the Open comes with last year’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. Having used dozens of devices with both chipsets, the only difference noticeable in daily use is efficiency; the 8 Gen 3 can deliver the same performance as the 8 Gen 2 while consuming less power.
However, that’s negated in this scenario because the Open has a larger battery. The foldable’s 4805mAh battery easily lasts a day, and even with heavy use, I had no fear of running out of battery. The Z Fold 6 also manages to consistently last a day, but if you push the device too hard, you’ll have to plug it in before the end of the day.
In that sense, Samsung is still sticking with 25W charging technology, and that’s just not enough in 2024. Similarly, there’s no charger included in the box. The Open doesn’t have these shortcomings; it charges at 67W and it takes 44 minutes to fully charge the battery. And unlike Samsung, OnePlus includes a 67W charger in the box.
Just like the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 has 256GB of storage in the base model, and you’ll have to shell out an extra $120 to get the 512GB model. The Open has 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage in the base version, and there’s a new 2024 edition of the device with 1TB of storage.
Both phones run smoothly in everyday use and can withstand demanding games. They tend to throttle sooner than regular flagships, but you won’t notice any visible stuttering and there won’t be any significant overheating either.
As for the cameras, Samsung hasn’t made any changes to the hardware, and so the Z Fold 6 features the same sensors as last year: a 50MP main camera, a 10MP 3x zoom lens, and a 12MP wide-angle lens. Samsung instead resorts to tweaks to its camera algorithms to deliver better photos, and the foldable manages to do a marginally better job than its predecessor in this regard.
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However, it still can’t compete with what the Open offers. The foldable device has a 48MP main camera, a 64MP 3x zoom lens and another 48MP wide-angle lens and takes the best photos and videos in this category alongside the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 vs OnePlus Open: Software
Samsung has a clear lead on the software front, if only because it offers seven Android OS updates for the Z Fold 6. In contrast, the Open only gets three OS updates, and that’s not nearly enough. I would say OnePlus needs to change its stance, but the Chinese manufacturer has made it clear that it has no interest in offering long-term updates.
And as for the software itself, the Z Fold 6 runs One UI 6.1.1 based on Android 14, and just like the Galaxy S24 devices, it comes with Galaxy AI, a set of AI-based utilities to streamline daily tasks. My issue with Galaxy AI is that it’s mostly limited to Samsung’s own apps; I don’t use Samsung Internet or Samsung Keyboard, and aside from the photo editing features, I don’t get much use out of Galaxy AI.
The Open also has AI-powered utilities, but they aren’t as extensive as Samsung’s offering – which is good. The photo editing feature is similar to what Google offers on the Pixels, and audio transcription gets a lot of use. What I really like are the software features geared towards multitasking. The Open lets you effortlessly display windows side by side to maximize space, and in that regard it does a lot right.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 vs. OnePlus Open: Which should you buy?
The biggest change with the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is the price. The foldable device costs $100 more than its predecessor, and I’m not really sure why that is. Samsung isn’t offering any really meaningful upgrades, and while the Z Fold 6 is lighter and has a marginally wider cover panel, there’s no good reason to choose it over last year’s Z Fold 5.
The Open, on the other hand, is an easier recommendation. It has a better design, two screens you’ll actually use, better software features, and will last longer in everyday use. You also get one of the best camera packages on a foldable, and there’s 67W charging.
The best part is that the Open doesn’t cost nearly as much as the Z Fold 6; the 16GB/512GB version costs $1,399 in the US, and the new 1TB model is available for $1,599. It also comes with the amazing Keyboard 81 Pro. The Z Fold 6, on the other hand, costs an absurd $2,019 and is simply not worth it.
Disappointing
Samsung hasn’t made many changes to the Z Fold 6, and as a result, it doesn’t stand out from last year’s model. If you need a foldable Samsung device, you should consider the Galaxy Z Fold 5.
Incredibly good
I’ve used the Open extensively throughout 2024 and it continues to be phenomenal. It doesn’t lack much in terms of hardware, and you get amazing cameras, long battery life, and unique software extras.
