The Galaxy Z Fold6 is two weeks away from its launch on July 10, 2024, and we know pretty much everything about the device including the camera specs. The Galaxy Z Fold6 will use the same camera system as the Galaxy Z Fold5, which uses the same camera system as the Galaxy Z Fold4.
While other foldable OEMs like Vivo, OPPO, OnePlus, Huawei, HONOR, and Xiaomi try to bring the best camera hardware to their foldable devices, Samsung has a different approach. It seems to be preferring to go in with a camera system that it has used in previous the Galaxy Z Fold5.
Regrettably, it seems this trend may continue this year as well, with the Galaxy Z Fold6 featuring a camera setup that is noticeably less advanced compared to Samsung’s top-tier candybar smartphone, the Galaxy S24 Ultra. This means that the Galaxy Z Fold6 will, once again, be shipped with the 1/1.56” 50 MP main sensor, which is notably inferior to the 1/1.3” sensor found in the Galaxy S24 Ultra
ALSO SEE: Automatic Cars Under ₹15 Lakh
And if you think that comparison against a candy bar smartphone isn’t fair, the Vivo X Fold3 Pro has a 1/1.3” main sensor while being significantly thinner than the rumored thickness of the Galaxy Z Fold6.
Not only is the main sensor a concern, but the telephoto sensor also presents shortcomings, if not more so. The Galaxy Z Fold6 is rumored to use the same 1/3.06” 3x telephoto lens as the Galaxy Z Fold5. This means that the Galaxy Z Fold6 will miss out on the 5x periscope telephoto found on the Galaxy S24 Ultra.
ALSO SEE: 6.6 inch Mobile Phones Price List in India 2024
The 5x shots from the Galaxy S24 Ultra will offer significantly better low-light performance and zoom clarity compared to the 3x lens on the Galaxy Z Fold6. This limitation places the Fold6 at a distinct disadvantage in both versatility and image quality, particularly in scenarios where zoom capabilities are crucial.
Samsung could potentially benefit from the new triple-bit ISP integrated with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset and its potential optimizations for these sensors, although this still has to be seen.
Additionally, the ultra-wide camera on the Galaxy Z Fold6 appears to be yet another area where it lags behind its competitors, not just the Galaxy S24 Ultra. While other manufacturers are equipping their foldable devices with 50 MP ultra-wide sensors that offer superior dynamic range and detail, the Fold6 sticks to the same 12 MP ultra-wide sensor seen in previous models.
ALSO SEE: Intel Core i7 Laptops Under 50000
This sensor, although adequate for basic shots, might fail to deliver the kind of high-quality images that users expect from a premium device that costs more than INR 1,60,000.
Samsung seems to be focusing more on optimization over hardware upgrades
Samsung seems to be prioritizing optimization over bumping up hardware year after year, which does have its merits. Brands like Google, Samsung, and Apple spend a lot of resources selecting a camera sensor and stick to it for several years. Over time, they invest a ton of resources in developing the algorithms, perfecting the color science and skin tones, enhancing its performance in different lighting conditions, and more to extract the best possible results.
Rather than relying solely on hardware upgrades, brands can achieve significant improvements in camera performance by developing better image processing algorithms and fine-tuning their color dynamics and AI capabilities. This approach allows for a more consistent user experience across different models and generations.
Take Google’ Pixel lineup, for example. They used the same 12.2 MP sensor in their Pixel lineup from Pixel 2 to Pixel 6a, focusing instead on refining their computational photography. Samsung also seems to be on the same path with the Galaxy Z Fold series.
So, while the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 may not offer any camera hardware upgrades, I am still hoping they have done some backroom mastering and will not let us down with the final result.
At the end of the day, all of this is merely speculation, and only the final results will determine the fate of the Galaxy Z Fold6’s cameras. Stay tuned as Samsung unveils the Z Fold6 on July 10, 2024, at 6:30 PM IST.
You can follow Smartprix on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Google News. Visit smartprix.com for the latest tech and auto news, reviews, and guides.
