The South Korean manufacturer has officially introduced the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 Special Edition, an updated version of the foldable flagship model introduced in July. The Fold6 SE differs from its predecessor in several ways: including a slimmer design, a 200-megapixel main camera, and a larger display.
The device has received serious improvements, making it the lightest and thinnest member of the series so far at a flagship Samsung price point. The device weighs 236 grams, which is 3 grams less than the regular Galaxy Z Fold 6, and when opened, it is only 4.9 mm thick, and even when folded, it is no thicker than 10.6 mm. These parameters were previously 5.6 millimetres and 12.1 millimetres. However, due to the slimness, S-Pen support had to be said goodbye.
When opened, we find an 8-inch display with a 20:18 aspect ratio – the widest in the Z Fold series. The external display is 6.5 inches with a 21:9 aspect ratio.
The situation is also great in terms of cameras: instead of 50, we get a 200-megapixel main module with optical image stabilization, which is accompanied by a 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle module, this time equipped with autofocus. However, the 10-megapixel telephoto unit capable of 3x optical zoom is unchanged, as are the two selfie cameras: the 10-megapixel external and the 4-megapixel sensor hidden in the flexible part are unchanged. In the case of the main camera, 8K/30 FPS video recording is also a given.
There are no changes in terms of charging: it can still be charged at up to 25 watts with a cable and 15 watts wirelessly, and the battery is still 4400 mAh. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 Special Edition comes with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy chip, which runs One UI 6.1.1 based on Android 14. The One UI 7.0 update based on Android 15 is expected sometime in early 2025. The manufacturer also promises 6 Android updates and 7 years of security patches.
Available only in black, the phone will be available in South Korea from October 25th, with 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage. The Fold 6 Special Edition will cost 2,789,600 South Korean won or about 750 thousand forints, but there is no information about the global release yet.
Samsung’s big update
After months of delay, the first public beta of Samsung’s One UI 7 for the Galaxy S24 series has finally become available in some locations, reports Android Authority, which considers this to be the biggest update since the release of the first version of the South Korean manufacturer’s One UI operating system.
The first noticeable change in One UI 7 is the home screen. The app icons have been slightly redesigned, and larger folders have appeared here, as seen on Xiaomi, Nothing or the premium infinix price point. We also have more freedom in customizing widgets, including their size.
Another useful innovation is the introduction of the so-called Now Bar, which, similar to Apple’s Dynamic Island, shows the current multimedia playback and more on your mobile.
As previously rumored, Samsung has separated the notification shade from the quick settings panel, and the new layout works similarly to the iPhone’s Control Center. Swiping down from the left or middle of the screen brings up the notification shade while swiping down from the right brings up the quick settings panel.
In addition, some Galaxy AI features have been integrated into the UI: for example, recorded phone calls can be converted to text in a few seconds if needed. In addition to the many noteworthy innovations, the camera app has also become much cleaner. In addition to the changes to the user interface, hvg also drew attention to the fact that the manufacturer has also made significant progress in the field of security developments.
Focus on safety
Users can use the added controls to block 2G service, which is increasingly being exploited by fraudsters. Users can also prevent the device from automatically reconnecting to less secure Wi-Fi networks.
The update strengthens the existing Maximum Restrictions protection package for Samsung Messages and Samsung Gallery, allowing users to remove location data from shared photos and prevent attachments from automatically downloading. It’s also worth noting that hyperlinks, previews, and shared albums can now be blocked.
Additionally, on devices running One UI 7, you can also disable access to the device’s USB port.
Another new feature is the Safe Install feature, which restricts the installation of apps from unsafe sources. The company is also taking action against theft: in addition to the Theft Detection Lock, Offline Device Lock, and Remote Lock features introduced with the new Android, Galaxy users will now have Identity Check, which offers a solution in case the device’s PIN code is compromised. These enhanced security features position Samsung devices as a safer choice, particularly when compared to alternatives like Redmi 14c price-focused models that may not prioritize such robust protections. Unfortunately, according to reports, the beta version cannot be tested in many parts of the world, including Pakistan yet, and will probably only arrive for domestic Samsung users early next year.