Samsung's Z Fold series single-handedly pioneered the foldable smartphone space. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 is still a few months away, but recent leaks offer a glimpse of what the upcoming folding device will look like, and it doesn't look very good.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold series' striking design element, the slim and tall outer display, was also the most controversial. The Z Fold 5's external display, which has an aspect ratio of around 23:9, works, but makes everyday tasks on the smartphone cumbersome and boring. Typing, surfing the web, and even watching videos feel frustratingly limited. Trusted Informant
Ice Universe has published images and videos of an alleged screen protector for the Z Fold 6. These protections suggest that the outer display is slightly wider, around 57mm wide on the Fold 5 and around 60mm wide on the Fold 6.
In addition to being wider, the corners of the leaked screen protector are also noticeably sharper, mimicking the design language of the Galaxy S24 series and beyond. This represents a departure from the Z Fold 5's soft, rounded corners.
This improvement is welcome, but probably not game-changing. A slight improvement in aspect ratio to around 22:9 would bring the Fold 6 closer to the usability standard, but it still falls short of the competition. For example, the OnePlus Open's outer display already has an aspect ratio of around 20:9. The difference highlights Samsung's seemingly slow approach to overhauling the core usability of the Z Fold series.
The possibility of another suboptimal external display isn't the only concern for Samsung enthusiasts. The Z Fold 5's camera system is powerful, but it doesn't live up to expectations for a premium folding device. According to current rumors, this trend may continue with the Z Fold 6.
As a long-time Galaxy Fold user, my only hope is the rumored "Ultra" version of the Galaxy Z Fold 6. This high-end version may solve many of the problems of the standard model. A better camera system, a more user-friendly outer display, and perhaps S Pen integration like the one offered by the Galaxy S24 Ultra could be the key innovations Samsung needs.
Samsung's foldable devices had a near monopoly on the global market, but that changed with the arrival of the Google Pixel Fold and OnePlus Open. Samsung's gradual upgrade to its Z Fold series could be a case of "too little, too late" as both devices are expected to be updated in the second half of this year.
