Updated May 19: article originally posted May 18.
Samsung is showcasing the Galaxy Z Fold 5 (Photo by Joan Cros/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Update: Sunday May 19: While Samsung’s community will be happy to see that the Galaxy Z Fold 6 will match the core specs of the Galaxy S 24 Ultra, details on the camera upgrade will be even more welcome.
Early indications on the Z Fold 6’s camera system pointed to a similar setup to the Galaxy Z Fold 5, with the rear camera sporting a 50-megapixel primary lens, a 12-megapixel ultrawide, and a 10-megapixel 3x telephoto camera. New details confirm the same configuration, which matches the new Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24+ launched in January.
DXOMark rated the Galaxy S24 camera as above average, for imaging, although its video capabilities need work: “Overall, our testers observed some nice improvements over the previous S-series generation in photo mode, but video mode showed some room for improvement.”
Bringing the S24 system to the Z Fold 6 would leave the Galaxy S24 Ultra as Samsung’s top-of-the-line camera for those who need the best pictures possible, but that doesn’t leave the Z Fold 6 out in the cold. Indeed, Samsung’s updated AI enhancements when taking and editing pictures should lift the images to a point where the average consumer may not be able to spot the difference.
Visitors look at the Samsung Galaxy S24 (Photo by JUNG YEON-JE/AFP via Getty Images)
Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 6 has seen numerous leaks over the last few months as the expected July launch of the next-generation foldable approaches. Now, one of the few remaining questions appears to have been answered, and it comes with a twist.
Details on the foldable’s core specifications have appeared on the ever-reliable Geekbench. Any device that visits the site and runs the benchmark process will be automatically published. Having pre-release devices show up on Geekbench is a time-honoured tradition.
The Galaxy Z Fold 6’s listing includes its model number SM-F956U, as well as the note that it is a carrier-locked version of the handset. The listing confirms the use of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, backed up by 12 GB of RAM.
The single-core benchmark of 1,964 is almost identical to the 1,943 scored by the Galaxy Z Fold 5. The real benefit is in the multi-core score of 6,619 compared to 5,123 on the older model. Expect CPU-intensive tasks.
While this is a single data point, many of Samsung’s supporters will be happy to see the use of the Snapdragon chipset. Widely regarded as having the edge over Samsung’s own Exynos chipset, both the Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24+ featured a mix of Snapdragon and Exynos chipsets, depending on the territory. The premium Galaxy S24 Ultra shipped globally with the Snapdragon chipset.
Given the Z Fold range’s premium nature, knowing at least one Snapdragon model will calm many.
The twist is the 12 GB of memory. This matches all three variants of the Galaxy S24 Ultra, and while this is sufficient at the moment, the demand on memory for generative AI procedures will only rise over the next few years, let alone the even years of support Samsung could offer. It will help keep the bill of materials low, but it may cause trouble as software places more demand on hardware in the future.
Samsung is expected to hold a Galaxy Unpacked event in Paris ahead of the Summer Olympic Games, where the Galaxy Z Fold 6 will launch alongside the Z Flip 6 and Galaxy Ring fitness tracker.
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Brendan Martin is a tech enthusiast with a deep understanding of the latest technological innovations. He explores the intersection of science and technology, providing readers with insights into the digital revolution. When not immersed in the world of gadgets and code, Brendan enjoys experimenting with DIY tech projects.
