Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 vs Z Fold5. What’s the difference?

You’ve heard the news. The new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 AI is a step up from the 2023 Galaxy Z Fold5, but what are the main differences between the two phones? Let’s compare them both, to help you decide which model is right for you – or whether it’s time for an upgrade.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6:

• It’s the slimmest Samsung Fold phone yet
• It has a wider 6.3in cover screen
• It has powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor
• It has a 50MP camera with Galaxy AI ProVisual Engine

That’s a good start. But let’s now go into more detail...

The Fold6 runs on the latest Android 14 operating system which comes with Samsung's One UI software in the very latest One UI 6.1.1 version. On the Fold5 you get the previous Android 13 OS with Samsung’s One UI 5.1. 1 software. What does this mean in terms of usability?

Android 14 on Fold6 gives you more customisable features, such as AI-generated wallpapers on both the cover screen and main display.

Staying with the personalisation theme, when you unlock the Fold5 with a PIN, you need to tap ‘OK’ to get in. Conveniently, you don’t need to do this with Android 14 on Fold6.

You also get a wider range of accessibility options on Fold6, like ‘flash feature’ which sets your phone to flash when a notification comes in. The latest version of Android also includes deeper scaling tools for users with impaired vision.

Along with usability, the latest OS handles smaller tasks that run in the background in a much smarter way. This means that the battery life on the Fold6 is more efficient than on the Fold5. 

On the Galaxy Fold6, Health Connect is in the Settings menu, rather than being a separate app like it is on Fold5 – so it’s more central to your phone. Health Connect will now pull in data from other fitness apps you’ve installed, so everything is all in one place.

Both the Fold6 and Fold5 come with a large 4,000mAh battery which gives you plenty of power for all-day entertainment. Both phones also have an intelligent dual battery that efficiently adapts to the way you multitask and use your phone.

However, the same battery size doesn’t necessarily mean that battery life is equal. Thanks to Samsung’s battery optimisation improvements, the Fold6 keeps going slightly longer.

According to Phone Arena, you get:

23 hours of video on Fold 6 and 21 hours on Fold5
77 hours of music on Fold 6 vs 73 hours on Fold5

And when you’ve run out of juice, it’s good to know that both phones have the same charging capabilities: 25W wired charging, 15W wireless charging and 4.5W reverse wireless charging.

The new Galaxy Z Fold 6 has a squarer design than the Fold5 and is slightly shorter, wider and thinner. It’s also lighter at 239g, compared to the Fold5 at 253g.

When it comes to durability, both phones come with strong Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the front and back. The Fold5 is IPX8 rated, so it can be submerged in water, but the Fold6 comes with an upgraded IP48 rating. This means it’s also protected against particles that are larger than 1mm, which could provide protection for the hinge.

Bear in mind that IP48 doesn’t protect against dust.

The main display sizes on both the Fold5 and Fold6 are the same. You get a 7.6in Dynamic AMOLED 2X fold-out screen, which also has a super-smooth 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. Perfect for gaming and streaming.

The cover screen on the Fold6 is 6.3in – slightly larger than the 6.2in display on the Fold5. Both have Dynamic AMOLED 2X tech and a 120Hz refresh rate.

Samsung has reduced the crease in the middle of the main screen on the Fold6 by using a thicker, more scratch-resistant glass. It’s less annoying or noticeable when you swipe through it.

The new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 AI has the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, upgraded from the Z Fold5’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. It’s faster and makes multitasking smoother. And because the new processor is much more power-efficient, it allows for the more advanced AI features in Fold6.

Both the Z Fold6 and Z Fold5 come with 12GB of RAM, but the Fold6 also comes with special optimisation for games running the Vulcan API. This gives gamers a better, more immersive experience. Plus, the vapor cooling chamber is 1.6x larger than on the Fold5 which helps the Fold6 keep its cool and sustain performance.

The improved processor on the Fold6 supports the enhanced Galaxy AI tech. In fact, many of the new usability features on the Galaxy Z Fold6 are based on improved AI functionality. Here’s a summary:

• Google Gemini comes fully integrated into the Galaxy Z Fold6. The overlay is available by swiping the corner of the screen or through the "Hey Google" voice prompt.

• When browsing images, the Circle to Search function uses AI to provide search results from the web.

• The AI-powered ProVisual engine on the Fold6 offers image enhancement and editing improvements.

• Note Assist in the Samsung Notes app uses AI to provide translation and summaries from meeting notes, text documents, and PDFs.

• The Sketch to Image function helps you create professional-looking images out of rough sketches. 

This might be the game-changer. On paper, the cameras on the Galaxy Z Fold6 and Galaxy Z Fold5 are the same. But with the added software of Galaxy AI and an upgraded processor, you’ll experience big photo processing improvements with the Fold6.

The 50MP main camera allows you to capture images in vivid detail. And the new ProVisual Engine automatically enhances colour and reduces noise for the highest quality photo or video, even in low light.

The Galaxy Z Fold6 also has an upgraded 12MP ultra-wide lens which means you can take your landscape photography to the next level. 

With a thinner design, larger cover screen, and AI-friendly processor, the Galaxy Z Fold6 is an impressive update to the Fold5. We’ve got a variety of Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 AI contract deals for you to check out.

With Three Your Way you can build your own contract to suit your budget. Choose how much you pay upfront and then spread the remaining cost over 12, 24 or even 36 months if you prefer. So, you can get a cutting-edge phone like the Galaxy Z Fold6 with a payment plan that suits your budget.

Don’t forget to trade in your old phone with Three Recycle for cash towards your new Samsung phone. We’ll pay for postage and packing, and you could get paid the very next day.

Of course, you get the added advantage a 5G phone on the UK’s Fastest 5G Network.*  And don’t forget to check out our guide to the new Galaxy Z Flip6 in case you prefer a clamshell design.

*Based on analysis by Ookla® of Speedtest Intelligence® data for Q1-Q2 2024. Ookla trademarks used under license and reprinted with permission.