Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 vs. Z Flip 5: Do you need to upgrade?

The dust has settled and the wraps have been taken off at Galaxy Unpacked. Among many other devices, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 is finally official, and we’re still reeling. Samsung’s newest flip phone has finally closed the power gap between it and Samsung’s other flagship phones and added a new camera system. While past Z Flip phones have been capable devices by most metrics, the Z Flip 6 adds true flagship power.

But the most important question you should be asking is this: What’s new and what’s changed? How different is the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 from the Galaxy Z Flip 5? Should you upgrade if you have the Z Flip 5, and is the Z Flip 6 worth buying over the older model? These are important questions, and we’ve got all of the answers. Here’s how the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 compares against the Z Flip 5 and what the major differences are.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 vs. Z Flip 5: specs

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 vs. Z Flip 5: design and display

All of this year’s upgrades are centered around the Z Flip 6’s internals, so there haven’t been many tweaks to the looks and style. However, that’s not a bad thing, as the Z Flip 5 is a gorgeous smartphone that doesn’t need to be changed. It’s sleek and stylish, and every time you snap it closed or flip it open, you’ll note how beautiful it is.

Samsung has added some additional durability, though. The Z Flip 6 now has an IP48 rating for dust and water resistance. That means it has the same water resistance as the Z Flip 5, but with additional protection against dust (represented by the “4” in the new rating). Upgrades to Armor Aluminum and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 also mean it’s tougher against bumps and drops. And it’s also slightly thinner and lighter than before.

At first glance, it seems as if Samsung hasn’t made too many changes to the Z Flip 6. While that’s true of the style and overall design, there have been some bigger changes to the device’s durability, and that gives the newer phone a big edge.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 vs. Z Flip 5: performance and battery

It should come as no surprise that the Galaxy Z Flip 6 uses the latest hardware. The Z Flip 6 has the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip we saw in the Galaxy S24 range, and while we haven’t had a chance to really put it to the test on the Z Flip 6, we can be sure it’s going to be incredibly fast. It’ll demolish anything you put in its path, from demanding apps to the latest games. Add an increase to 12GB of RAM and a new vapor cooling chamber (the first for a Z Flip phone), and the Z Flip 6 is set to be very powerful indeed.

Funnily enough, the same can be said about the Z Flip 5. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 may be last year’s processor, but it’s no slouch in its own right. While the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is definitely going to be a faster piece of kit, the difference between the two won’t be massive, and in real-life use, you may not notice any at all.

But what about the battery life? The Galaxy Z Flip 5 is a one-day smartphone only, which is a little disappointing by today’s standards. Charging speed is also a little slow, clocking in at just 25W for wired charging. The Z Flip 6 has a 4,000mAh battery, a decent 300mAh upgrade over last year’s model, and combined with a more efficient processor, you may see a much better battery life in the newer device. We won’t know for sure until we’ve tested it, but the early signs are favorable.

The unfortunate news is the lack of an increase in the charging rate. The Z Flip 6’s 25W charging rate is the same as its predecessor, and it’s a bit of a disappointment when the Galaxy S24 Plus, a similarly priced but non-folding phone, has a 45W charging rate. The OnePlus 12, a much cheaper flagship phone, blazes past it with a rate of 80W. It’s disappointing that the Z Flip 6 hasn’t had an upgrade here, but in the case of this comparison, it’s at least equal.

We still have to see how the Z Flip 6 holds up in our review, but the upgraded processor and the larger battery are big improvements that should give the Flip 6 a decent edge.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 vs. Z Flip 5: cameras

The Galaxy Z Flip 5 caught a bit of flak for sticking with the same camera lenses as the Z Flip 4, but it wasn’t really a bad decision by Samsung. Sure, the Z Flip 5 wasn’t the match of the best smartphone cameras, but the paired 12-megapixel lenses are solid shooters. It’s reliable and takes great-looking pictures. Are they a little oversaturated? Yes, but that’s basically Samsung’s style now, so it comes with the territory of buying a Samsung phone.

Has Samsung decided to tune up the cameras on the Z Flip 6? You can be sure it has. The Galaxy Z Flip 6 still has a dual-lens system on the back, but Samsung has brought over the excellent main lens from the Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus. This 50-megapixel primary lens is excellent and takes great shots in a variety of circumstances. It can struggle with fast movements, but it’s otherwise a very strong performer. The 12MP ultrawide camera is also a new sensor, though it remains to be seen just how different/improved it actually is.

While we’ve yet to take the Z Flip 6’s camera for a spin, we love the new main lens on other phones, and we’re very excited to see it here.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 vs. Z Flip 5: software and updates

Both of these phones run Samsung’s One UI skin over the top of Android 14, so you’ll get a similar experience from both. Where the phones may diverge is when running Galaxy AI. While the Z Flip 5 has access to Galaxy AI, it wasn’t built with it in mind, while the Z Flip 6 absolutely has been.

The newer device will also get a lot more software support. The Z Flip 5 gets four years of operating system updates and five years of security patches, which is an excellent promise of support. But the Z Flip 6 gets Samsung’s newer policy, meaning it gets an enormous seven years of support. That’s industry-leading and very impressive indeed.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 vs. Z Flip 5: price and availability

Unfortunately, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 will be priced higher, starting at $1,100. For context, that’s $100 more expensive than the Galaxy Z Flip 5. It is currently available for preorder and will be released on July 24.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 is currently available, though now that the new version has been announced, we have to imagine it’ll slowly become less and less available. But for the moment, there’s plenty of time to grab one, and you can also expect to see discounts from the original $1,000 price.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 vs. Z Flip 5: verdict

It’s a clean sweep for the newer Galaxy Z Flip 6. That’s as it should be, of course. It would be a real blow if a new device failed to exceed its predecessor in every way. But it’s worth keeping in mind that while the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 is the stronger of the two devices, with more powerful hardware, a larger battery, and a better camera, there’s not a big enough gap to make it a must-have upgrade over the Galaxy Z Flip 5.

Don’t get us wrong, if you don’t have a Z Flip 5, then you should absolutely have the Z Flip 6 on your shopping list. But if you already have the Galaxy Z Flip 5, and the battery is coping fine, you like the camera, and haven’t really noticed any slowdown, then the Z Flip 6 should not be on your watchlist. Sure, it’s better, but the gap between the two is … not that large. It’s certainly not enough for you to be dropping additional money on it.

So, while the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 is the winner here, it’s not upgrade material if you’re coming from the Z Flip 5.