The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 is surely to launch today at the next Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event. So to bring you all the last-minute news and leaks in the run up to the showcase, as well as a beat-by-beat breakdown of the announcements, we've spun up a Samsung Galaxy Unpacked July live blog. If you're keen to tune into the event itself, check out our guide on how to watch Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2024.
We also have TechRadar people (Editor-at-Large Lance Ulanoff and Social Media Editor Viktoria Shilets) on the ground at the Paris launch event, so we're here to bring you everything you need to know about Samsung's next flippable foldable phone.
The Galaxy Z Flip 6 should bring several upgrades over its predecessor, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5. Specifically, we're anticipating new cameras, a new chipset, a slightly tweaked design and improved battery life, as well as a whole host of AI features (both new and upgraded).
Of course, while we think we know what to expect from this upcoming best foldable phone contender, we don't know exactly which rumors and tips will come to fruition, and which will wither on the vine. Nevertheless, read on for everything you need to know about the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6.
Cut to the chase
- What is it? The next clamshell foldable from Samsung
- When is it out? Almost certainly Wednesday, July 10, 2024
- How much will it cost? Likely at least $999.99 / £1,049 / AU$1,649
- What upgrades will it have? A new Snapdragon chip is tipped, as well as better battery life and improved cameras
- Will it look different? Yes and no; expect some design tweaks and new colors
Release date and price
The Galaxy Z Flip 6 looks set to launch at the nest Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event, which is officially taking place on July 10. But ahead of that reservations for the Flip 6 are tipped to go live.
We're also hearing that if you buy a Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 right at the start, you might get a pair of Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro thrown in for free as well.
There's also a good chance the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 price will be at least as much as the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5, which would mean a starting price of at least $999.99 / £1,049 / AU$1,649.
In fact, the Z Flip 6 might actually be slightly cheaper, as Samsung is reportedly considering a new method of crafting the bezels on its foldable screen, which would be cheaper to do. On the other hand, another price leak points to a $100 price rise, which is likely to also mean a price rise in other regions.
Can you trust these rumors?
There are conflicting reports as to the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6's price, but nice as a lower cost would be, we doubt we'll see this. More likely it will either cost the same as the Z Flip 5 or slightly more.
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A new 50MP camera
Leaker @Tech_Reve (who has accurately leaked things in the past), claims that the Galaxy Z Flip 6 will have a 50MP camera. They don’t specify which camera will get this upgrade, but since then GalaxyClub has echoed the claim of a 50MP camera on the Z Flip 6, saying that it will be the main camera, and that a 50MP sensor is currently being tested for it.
We've also heard from another source that the Galaxy Z Flip 5 will have a 50MP main camera and a 12MP secondary (probably ultra-wide) one, while a third Flip 6 camera specs leak says the same (and adds that the front-facing camera will be 10MP, like last year).
The most detailed Galaxy Z Flip 6 camera leak of all points specifically to a 50MP f/1.8 main camera, a 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide one, and a 10MP f/2.2 front-facing camera.
For reference, the Flip 5 has a 12MP main camera, a 12MP ultra-wide, and a 10MP selfie snapper, while launch partner the Z Fold 5 leads with a 50MP sensor of its own, so switching out any of those on the Flip for a 50MP sensor could make for a sizable upgrade.
Can you trust this rumor?
Not all sources point to a 50MP camera, as another leak says the Galaxy Z Flip 6 will have a pair of 12MP cameras, just like its predecessor. But we're inclined to believe the 50MP leak, since numerous sources have made that claim.
We certainly hope it's true, as the cameras are one of the weakest elements of the Galaxy Z Flip 5 and are overdue an upgrade.
A bigger battery
We've heard that the Galaxy Z Flip 6 could be equipped with a 4,000mAh battery, which would make for a 300mAh increase on the Z Flip 5's.
That might be the only battery upgrade though, as on the charging side, a spotted certification mentions 25W charging, which would be the same as the Z Flip 5.
That said, leaker Ishan Agarwal has mentioned 35W charging for the Z Flip 6, along again with a 4,000mAh battery.
Can you trust this rumor?
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 could certainly stand to have a bigger battery, as a small battery capacity is one of the weak points of the Galaxy Z Flip 5.
That, along with the fact that multiple sources have mentioned this upgrade, suggests it's likely to happen. Don't count on faster charging though, with sources divided on that, and with the 35W upgrade mentioned above being a charging power Samsung doesn't typically offer – if it was going to go above 25W it would probably jump to 45W based on past form.
A slimmer design and a smaller crease
The most recent leaks we've seen of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 design have been via seasoned tipster @evleaks and an Australian retailer. However, they don't show off any real surprises – the Z Flip 6 is expected to look much like the Z Flip 5 that came before it, with similar dimensions.
One little tweak to the aesthetic we have noticed are little colored rings around the rear camera lenses, which is a nice touch. However, this doesn't move the needle much when it comes to the look of this flip foldable.
Before that we saw a host of official Galaxy Z Flip 6 cases leak out, again showing the design of the foldable and a new ring-pull case that looks rather funky. That all of these leaks are matching suggest that this will indeed be the design of the Z Flip 6.
Before that, the biggest design leak came in the form of leaked Galaxy Z Flip 6 renders that also showed off the phone in full. They revealed a handset that looks much like the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5, and it's shown in two shades (more on these below).
You can see below that it has a dual-lens rear camera, a punch-hole selfie camera, and the same arrangement of ports and buttons as the Z Flip 5.
However, according to this source, the crease will be smaller on the Z Flip 6's foldable display, and the hinge may be more durable. They also claim the dimensions differ slightly, with the Flip 6 apparently being 165.0 x 71.7 x 7.4mm when unfolded. We've now heard those Galaxy Z Flip 6 dimensions from another source too.
That's compared to 165.1 x 71.9 x 6.9mm for the Z Flip 5, so this would make the Z Flip 6 slightly thicker, though that's apparently so there's space for a bigger battery (more on which further down).
That said, another Galaxy Z Flip 6 specs leak points to dimensions of 85.1 x 71.9 x 14.9mm when folded, 165.1 x 71.9 x 6.9mm when unfolded, and a weight of 187g. That would make it slightly slimmer when folded and the same thickness when unfolded, as well as being the same weight.
We've also elsewhere heard that the Z Flip 6 might have a smaller crease. This would apparently be achieved through using thicker glass on the screen, which should also make it tougher.
That said, leaked photos of a Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 dummy unit, one of which you can see below, still show a noticeable crease. Although that doesn't necessarily mean the finished phone will have a crease this big.
Other rumors point towards the phone using Gorilla Glass Armor, which should make it tougher than the current model.
Can you trust this rumor?
It's very likely that Samsung will have reduced the size of the crease on the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6's foldable screen, since this would immediately make the phone look more premium and modern.
Whether the Galaxy Z Flip 6 will also be slimmer is less clear, with conflicting reports on that front, but the most recent leaks suggest it won't be, so we're inclined to believe those.
The design should otherwise be as we've seen in various leaked renders, which is to say very similar to that of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5, albeit possibly with colored rings around the rear camera lenses.
Dust resistance
A detailed Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 leak from reputable leaker Evan Blass points to the phone having an IP48 rating, which would make it the first foldable with both water and dust resistance.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 has an IPX8 rating, meaning water resistance to depths of up to 1.5 meters for up to 30 minutes, but no official dust resistance.
If this leak is accurate then the Galaxy Z Flip 6 will have the same level of water resistance but will also offer "protection against solid objects larger than 1mm (fine tools and wires, nails, screws, larger insects and other potentially invasive small objects)."
So that would mean the finest dust particles could still penetrate it, but larger particles wouldn't be able to.
Beyond that, Samsung itself has said it’s working on making a dust-proof foldable phone, so there’s a chance the Z Flip 6 will be that phone.
Can you trust this rumor?
Evan Blass has a superb track record, so there's a good chance his claim of an IP48 rating is accurate, especially as this was stated close to release, when most details of the phone are likely to be in leakers' hands.
Having said that, with little in the way of other leaks surrounding dust resistance we'd still take this with a pinch of salt.
The possibility of dust resistance is worth getting excited about though, as it's a feature offered by most premium non-foldable phones, and one that can help protect the phone.
A bigger cover screen
One early leak mentioned that the Galaxy Z Flip 6 might have a cover screen of around 3.9 inches, and another tipster has also mentioned a larger 3.9-inch cover display. That's up from 3.4 inches on the Galaxy Z Flip 5, which should make it much easier to interact with.
However, another source claims the Galaxy Z Flip 6 has the same screen sizes as the Z Flip 5, meaning 6.7 inches for the foldable display and 3.4 inches for the cover screen, and the same screen brightness.
Yet another source also points to 3.4-inch and 6.7-inch screens on the Z Flip 6, with a third saying the same, and that oddly the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 will use IPS LCD rather than the more vibrant AMOLED of its predecessor. So there's some disagreement here.
In other screen news, we've also heard that the cover screen on the Galaxy Z Flip 6 might have a 120Hz refresh rate, up from 60Hz on the Z Flip 5.
Can you trust this rumor?
While there's some disagreement about the cover screen size of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6, renders and more recent leaks tend to suggest we won't see a change, so in all likelihood it will stick at 3.4 inches.
Talk of move to a 120Hz refresh rate and IPS LCD is interesting, but both claims only come from single sources, so we'd take those with a pinch of salt too. Don't expect any change to the size of the main foldable display either, with all signs pointing to a 6.7-inch screen once again.
More power
We've now heard a lot of possible Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 specs, with one source claiming the Z Flip 6 will have a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, which is a top-end chipset also found in the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.
We've heard a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset mentioned by another source now too, which adds that RAM might top out at 12GB (rather than the 8GB of its predecessor), and that the Flip 6 will have a bigger cooling system.
Similarly, another source has also now mentioned 12GB of RAM for the Galaxy Z Flip 6.
A Geekbench listing has also mentioned a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset and 12GB of RAM, so that's looking very likely, especially as a second Galaxy Z Flip 6 Geekbench listing also includes those specs, along with impressive scores.
Can you trust this rumor?
Samsung typically exclusively uses Snapdragon chipsets in the Galaxy Z Flip line, so a Snapdragon chipset was always very likely here, and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is the obvious choice, since the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 uses the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2.
One source did originally claim that some versions might have an Exynos 2400 chipset rather than a Snapdragon one, but they've since said that Samsung has decided only to use the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in the Z Flip 6, which is a claim that has been echoed by The Elec.
That said, another source (@negativeonehero) also points to a chipset split, so there's still a chance we'll see Exynos in some models, but we doubt it, since as noted this would be unusual for Samsung.
There's less certainty that we'll see a RAM increase to 12GB, but it's about time the Z Flip line got that much RAM, so we'd think this is likely too.
More power and RAM is always appreciated, but we wouldn't rank this among the most exciting rumors, since a new chipset is almost guaranteed in a new model, and since the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is already a speedy phone.
New colors
Like its predecessor, it's rumored that the Galaxy Z Flip 6 will launch in four widely available colors, with additional ones made exclusive to Samsung's store.
Specifically, we've heard (from serial supply chain leaker Ross Young) that the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 colors will be Light Blue, Mint, Silver Shadow, Yellow, Crafted Black, Peach, and White shades. Of those seven rumored shades, the Crafted Black, Peach, and White shades will probably be exclusive to Samsung's online store.
We've heard exactly this same set of Galaxy Z Flip 6 shades leaked by Evan Blass too, with the four standard Galaxy Z Flip 6 shades also leaked by SmartPrix.
For reference, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 launched in Mint, Graphite, Cream and Lavender last year, with Gray, Blue, Green, and Yellow shades additionally being offered on Samsung's site.
Can you trust this rumor?
Given that multiple reputable sources have mentioned the same shades and that there are no conflicting reports, it seems very likely that the seven colors listed above will all be options for the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6.
Galaxy AI and lots of updates
On the software front, a source says the Galaxy Z Flip 6 will unsurprisingly run Android 14 with Samsung's One UI 6.0 overlay. It's also said to come with the promise of seven years of software updates (matching the Samsung Galaxy S24 line), and some Galaxy AI features – possibly including some that are designed specifically for the foldable form factor.
This source also mentions seven years of software updates, plus Galaxy AI features. And speaking of software updates, the Z Flip 6 is likely to get seamless updates, as Samsung has finally embraced this feature.
Can you trust this rumor?
Given that Samsung offers both Galaxy AI and seven years of updates on the Samsung Galaxy S24 line, we'd think it's almost certain that it will do the same on the Galaxy Z Flip 6, since this is a similarly premium phone.
No change to storage
One source says the Galaxy Z Flip 6 will start at 256GB of storage, which is a match for the current model. We've elsewhere heard that the Galaxy Z Flip 6 will be available in both 256GB and 512GB capacities, and as there's also a 512GB Z Flip 5, we'd expect at least that much. Another couple of Flip 6 leaks have now echoed these capacities too.
Can you trust this rumor?
With no conflicting reports it's likely that the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 will top out at 512GB of storage, just like its predecessor. That's a bit of a shame given that some Samsung phones come with up to 1TB, but 512GB should be plenty for most people, especially with cloud storage also being an option.
Should you wait for the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6?
All the rumors considered, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 looks set to be a decent if iterative upgrade over its predecessor. Samsung seems content with the Flip formula and isn't looking to change too much with a foldable phone that works rather well.
But all these tipped tweaks could add up to a notable upgrade, particularly for people looking to move from a Flip phone that's a few years old. We'll reserve judgment until we get an official and proper look at the Galaxy Z Flip 6, but we remain hopeful that it'll garner our attention.
Rumored specs
The chart above provides a list of the key specs we're expecting from the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 based on leaks and rumors. You can also see how these compare to the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5's specs.
