Samsung Flip vs Fold Phones: Which One Is Best?

Smartphones may be the way of the future, but the majority of them pretty much look the same: a rectangular block with a screen on the front and some arrangement of camera lenses on the back. 

Samsung Galaxy Flip and Fold devices buck this trend by giving you more ways to open and interact with your smartphone. They are known as foldable phones, for the way their screens bend, flip, and, well, fold. 

Samsung has released several generations of these devices, with the latest being the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6. In this article, we’ll explain the difference between the two, breaking down their respective designs, camera setups, batteries, displays, and prices. 

If you’re looking for a great deal on a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 or Galaxy Z Flip 6 check out our free, unbiased Phone Deal Finder.

What’s the Difference Between Samsung Fold Phones and Flip Phones? 

In short, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip lineup puts everything we know and love about a traditional smartphone into an innovative flip phone-style design. The device offers a compact form factor, and a lower price point to match. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold lineup, meanwhile, offers a more premium experience, with generally better specs—and higher price tags. 

Both Samsung Flip and Fold devices have an innovative hinge and a foldable, flexible glass display that can bend without being damaged. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 has a horizontal hinge that makes the phone function much like a traditional flip phone. 

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, on the other hand, has a vertical hinge that makes it open and close like a book. When unfolded, the Galaxy Z Fold 6’s main screen measures 7.6 inches. This size makes the Fold ideal for multimedia, graphic-intensive gaming, and productivity tasks that require a lot of screen real estate. 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6: Specs

Here’s how the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Galaxy Z Fold 6 compare across a variety of specifications:

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Price

The Galaxy Z Flip 6 starts at $1,099 for the 256GB model. While that can’t exactly be classified as “cheap,” it’s certainly reasonable for a powerful, innovative phone like the Galaxy Z Flip 6. 

The Galaxy Z Fold 6, on the other hand, starts at a very high $1,899, putting it in line with other expensive flagship phones like the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and iPhone 15 Pro Max. 

Samsung has increased the price of both the Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Galaxy Z Fold 6 by $100 since the last generation. 

Processor

Both the Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Galaxy Z Fold 6 are driven by the same super-fast Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor. This is the most powerful chipset you can find in an Android, and it’s the same one that drives Samsung’s flagship S24 series. It’s particularly well suited to AI demands (more on that in a bit). 

Cameras

The Galaxy Z Flip 6 and the Galaxy Z Fold 6 feature 50MP wide and 12MP ultrawide cameras in the back, but the Galaxy Z Fold 6 adds a third 10MP telephone lens. This makes the Fold 6 more ideally suited to serious photographers, as it adds more versatility to the setup—and ultimately yields better pictures. 

However, both phones are driven by Samsung’s best-in-class camera software and AI features that help with photo taking and editing. This includes the new Photo Assist, which allows you to move, enhance, enlarge, or remove any part of your photos with a swipe of the finger. 

Battery

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 and the Galaxy Z Fold 6 come packed with big, powerful batteries that offer all-day usage. Specifically, the Flip 6 features a 4,000 mAh battery—up 300 mAh since the Galaxy Z Flip 5—while the Galaxy Z Fold 6 sports a 4,400 mAh battery. Both should be enough to handle consistent, heavy usage. 

Displays

Because both phones fold (or flip), they each feature multiple screens. As mentioned, the Galaxy Z Flip 6 has a 6.7-inch display when flipped open, and a 3.4-inch display when closed. The Galaxy Z Fold 6, meanwhile, boasts a 6.2-inch front display and a huge 7.6-inch screen when folded open—that’s the size of a small tablet!

All of the screens in the devices feature refresh rates up to 120Hz, providing a smooth and vibrant viewing experience.

Storage and RAM

Both the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Galaxy Z Fold 6 phones now come with 12GB of RAM, allowing them to take full advantage of the processing power of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset that drives them. 

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Galaxy Z Fold 6 can be had in 256GB and 512GB varieties. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 is available in a 1TB version as well. 

Colors 

Both the Samsung Fold and Flip offer a variety of color options. The Galaxy Z Flip 6 comes in Yellow, Silver Shadow, Mint, Blue, Black, White, Peach, while the Galaxy Z Fold 6 has some additional options, including Navy and Pink.

Design

Although they both fold, the type of fold and overall size of these two Android phones make them better suited for different tasks. While the Galaxy Z Flip 6 prioritizes portability and one-handed use with its compact design, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 unfolds to a larger screen – perfect for multitasking, productivity, gaming, and enjoying multimedia.

AI Features

As with Google and its Pixel 8 series, Samsung has put a lot of effort into supercharging its flagship galaxy devices with a range of AI features. Branded as Galaxy AI, Samsung has introduced some amazing new AI hacks with the Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Galaxy Z Fold 6 phones. These include:

• Circle to Search: Circle anything on-screen with your finger, and your Galaxy Z device will use Google to instantly identify it for you. 
• Interpreter: Chat in any language into your Galaxy Z, and the phone will translate and transcribe it instantly. 
• Note Assist: Galaxy AI automatically summarizes anything you record into the Voice Recorder app, even creating things like shopping lists from the audio. 
• Photo Assist: This allows you to instantly move, enhance, enlarge, or remove any part of your photos, with a swipe or tap of the finger. 

Gaming

Although both phones have the specs to support gaming, die-hard mobile gamers will find a lot to love in the Galaxy Z Fold 6. Its screen size alone is enough to make it preferable for immersive gameplay.

The Galaxy Z Flip 6 also supports multitasking, allowing users to split the screen and have two apps open at once, but on a smaller scale. Nevertheless, the Fold 6 is the more preferable of the two phones for gamers. 

Productivity

The Galaxy Z Flip can handle typical mobile productivity tasks and has the added convenience of a small cover screen that displays reminders and notifications when the phone is folded. However, the Galaxy Z Fold is a true productivity powerhouse. 

The Galaxy Z Fold5 has been optimized for productivity apps, including Microsoft Office and Samsung Notes. The large screen enables split-screen multitasking, and unlike the Flip, the Fold is compatible with the Samsung S Pen, a stylus that lets you draw and take notes. It’s the best of both worlds — part phone, part tablet — a perfect productivity device. 

What Do Samsung Flip and Fold Phones Have In Common?

At the end of the day, the Samsung Flip and Fold phones also have a lot of commonalities, including:

• Innovative, bendable display
• Flagship performance
• Advanced, versatile camera systems
• Powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor
• Equipped with eSIM capabilities
• Long battery life

Both the Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Galaxy Z Fold 6 offer a premium experience and are among the most popular Android smartphones available today. 

What Other Flip and Fold Phones Are There?

Samsung’s foldable phones are arguably the most popular folding phones available today, but other smartphone brands are starting to hop on the flip phone trend. If you're a fan of the Pixel or the iPhone, we have good news for you.

Google released the Pixel Fold in 2023, and Apple is rumored to be developing its own version of a folding phone, the as-yet-unnamed Apple flip iPhone. Motorola offers the Razr+, an updated version of the classic Motorola Razr flip phone. If you're after an ultra-affordable, no-frills traditional flip phone, you could go with something like the Alcatel Go Flip 4.

The Bottom Line

Choosing between the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 ultimately comes down to what you want from a phone. The question of which is better, the Samsung Fold or the Flip is context-dependent, and they’re both excellent phones.

The Galaxy Z Fold 6 is a more compact, everyday phone with a fun flip feature and tons of customization opportunities, while the Galaxy Z Flip 6 is a larger, more premium (and more expensive) phone-come-phablet for gaming, productivity, and multimedia consumption. 

To find the latest deals on the Samsung Galaxy Z series and other Android and Apple smartphones, check out Navi’s free, unbiased Phone Deal Finder below. We collect and compare devices and prices to find the best deals for new and existing customers across top carriers.