We're in the endgame now: Samsung has made it official that its next Galaxy Unpacked event is on July 10. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 will be the most high-end and expensive of all the devices that will be announced at the event.
But when it comes to flagship phones, it will not be the best of what Samsung has to offer this year. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 is not going to bring many changes and upgrades over the Galaxy Z Fold 5.
So, like previous models, Samsung's latest Galaxy Z Fold flagship will not match the prowess of the latest Galaxy S Ultra smartphone, the Galaxy S24 Ultra, as far as camera specs and capabilities are concerned.
Galaxy Z Fold 6 won't offer the option to capture 5x portraits
The Z Fold 6 is expected to feature the exact same camera setup as the Fold 5. That means it will miss out on what is one of the best camera features on the Galaxy S24 Ultra.
With the Galaxy S24 Ultra, Samsung swapped out the 10-megapixel 10x telephoto camera found on older models for a 50-megapixel 5x telephoto camera. This switch brought many advantages. One of those is the option to capture portrait/bokeh photos at 5x zoom, in addition to the existing 1x, 2x, and 3x options.
5x portraits can look amazing when the conditions are right. The background blur is closer to DSLR quality at 5x zoom, and you can also take portraits at longer distances. The latter is especially useful when shooting pictures of animals that are easily scared or get conscious if you get too close.
Dogs are an obvious example, but that's not all. Every morning, a litter of pigeons parks itself outside my house. These pigeons are quick to make a getaway if you get too close. But thanks to the 5x portrait option on the Galaxy S24 Ultra, I can capture shots such as the one you see below.
Unfortunately, 5x portraits will remain a Galaxy S24 Ultra exclusive even after the Galaxy Z Fold 6 goes official, as the latter will only feature a 3x telephoto camera. Samsung could use digital zoom to emulate 5x portraits, but with the 3x camera having a resolution of only 10 megapixels, digital zoom just won't cut it.
Galaxy S24 Ultra is amazing for more than just 5x portraits
The Galaxy S24 Ultra will essentially be the superior choice for shutterbugs who want the best cameras on their phone even after the Galaxy Z Fold 6 makes landfall. Even the Galaxy Z Fold 6 Ultra may not match the S24 Ultra's camera capabilities, as we haven't seen any evidence to suggest otherwise.
So, if you are looking for a phone with the most versatile camera setup, you don't need to wait for the Galaxy Z Fold 6 or Fold 6 Ultra. Just grab a Galaxy S24 Ultra now. Yeah, it doesn't fold. But other than that, it gives you everything you need from a flagship phone, and does so at a more digestible price than Samsung's foldables.
