The Galaxy Z Fold 6 could be the perfect device for trips abroad

Samsung’s new foldables are here, but you could be forgiven for thinking not much has changed. 

That’s especially true of the Galaxy Z Fold 6, which looks like a carbon copy of last year’s Z Fold 5.  

And while it’s true that the hardware is very similar, with a new chipset and slightly larger cover display the only upgrades of note, Samsung has made some big strides forward on the software side. 

The Z Fold 5 now gets the same Galaxy AI features that debuted on the Galaxy S24 series, but plenty more are currently exclusive to the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Flip 6. 

Some of these can transform the way you communicate, making the Z Fold 6 an ideal choice for travel to foreign countries. Let’s explore the most exciting ones in more detail. 

Remove the language barrier while in person…

We’ve all been there: you’re visiting a country where you don’t know the local language and English isn’t widely spoken. You try to communicate with people, but without them understanding what you’re saying and vice versa, you don’t get very far. 

This is the exact situation that Samsung’s Interpreter app was designed for. Its dedicated Conversation mode allows you and the other person to both speak in your native language and still be easily understood. 

Here, anything you say is transcribed and instantly translated and read back in your target language. When the other person responds, you hear it in your language within seconds. 

However, the big advantage of Interpreter on the Galaxy Z Fold 6 as opposed to any other device is the way it makes full use of both screens. On the internal panel, you get the full transcription of your conversation in both languages. And on the cover display, the person you’re talking to can see a version tailored to them. 

Accuracy is always a concern, but a native Korean speaker told me that the Korean it translated was good. And if you download the relevant language pack, it’ll all work offline. 

A similar feature is available on the Galaxy Z Flip 6, but a much smaller cover display makes this difficult while out and about. 

…or while on the phone

Real-time translation extends to while you’re on a call, which may be necessary for booking transport or making a dinner reservation while on holiday. 

The Live Translate feature works similarly during calls, providing a transcript of the conversation in both languages, directly on your phone. 

The person receiving the call doesn’t need to have a Samsung device, though. If it’s anything like the Galaxy S24 Ultra, they’ll be notified at the start of the call that a live translation feature has been enabled, then only hear the responses in their language. 

However, a key improvement on the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is the compatibility with some third-party apps, making it even more useful. And a total of 16 languages are now supported. 

Unmatched versatility

When you’re travelling, you need a device that can do it all. And when it comes to versatility, the Z Fold 6 is an excellent choice. 

As a book-style foldable, it can confidently operate as both a smartphone and tablet. Whether you’re using the 6.3-inch cover screen or 7.6-inch internal display, you can expect a premium experience, with a minimal crease that quickly gets forgotten about. 

And the good news is that many more apps are optimised to make the most of the internal screen, making it a genuine tablet replacement for many people.  

While travelling, you can use it to watch a movie or play games on the plane, then navigate around an unfamiliar city and call friends and family back home. And with a new lighter 239g, it’s not much heavier than most flagship phones. 

A word of warning

However, it’s not all good news. One cause for concern from a travel perspective is the lack of upgrades to the cameras. 

You’ve still got a triple rear array, consisting of 50Mp main, 10Mp 3x telephoto and 12Mp ultrawide. Above the cover display, there’s a 10Mp selfie camera, with another 4Mp sensor at the top of the internal display. 

As our Galaxy Z Fold 5 review shows, the results on that device were very hit-and-miss, especially for such a premium device. 

Hopefully Samsung has worked its magic on the software processing side to improve the results. Without it, you’re looking at average holiday snaps rather than any that will rival the best camera phones you can buy. 

When you’re paying at least $1,899.99/£1,799 for the Z Fold 6, sub-par cameras may be hard to justify. But in all other areas, Samsung’s book-style foldable is ideal for travel.