Galaxy Z Fold 6 vs Z Fold 5: Testing Samsung’s new ultra-wide camera sensor

The Galaxy Z Fold 6’s camera is largely the same as the Galaxy Z Fold 5’s, with one exception: the ultrawide camera. Samsung’s upcoming foldable features a new 12-megapixel sensor for its ultrawide camera that the company says is better in low-light scenarios, joining last year’s 50-megapixel main camera and 10-megapixel telephoto camera.

I put this to the test in the darkest place I’ve visited in Paris so far: the CatacombsAfter following a spiral staircase 20 meters underground, I took a few photos in the labyrinth of tunnels surrounding the entrance and exit of the Catacombs. All photos were taken at the same location at the same time with the same resolution and aspect ratio in night mode using the ultra-wide camera. I reviewed the photos on a 16-inch laptop screen at their maximum size and resolution, so my observations may not be as visible in the smaller versions embedded in this article.

Overall, the Z Fold 6’s ultrawide photos generally look brighter and more detailed than those of the Z Fold 5, with a few exceptions. As I wrote in my Z Fold 6 first impressions , it’s clear that Samsung is trying to make its foldables feel more like traditional bar-shaped phones when it comes to key areas where foldables have traditionally fallen short, like design and camera. The new ultrawide sensor, which is also on the Z Flip 6, is one example of how Samsung hopes to achieve this.

The most striking difference between the two is seen in this photo taken in a hallway before the entrance to the Catacombs. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 photo looks yellowish and dark in comparison.

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Galaxy Z Fold 6

Galaxy Z Fold 5

It may not be the most exciting photo, but it does illustrate the difference between the two cameras. This photo I took of an exit sign in the underground tunnels is brighter and more detailed on the Galaxy Z Fold 6 compared to the Z Fold 5. You can really see the difference when you look at the details on the ceiling.

Galaxy Z Fold 6

Galaxy Z Fold 5

I also tested the new 12-megapixel ultra-wide sensor in other locations around Paris, such as a dimly lit cocktail bar at night. Once again, the Z Fold 6’s shot is brighter than the Z Fold 5’s.

Galaxy Z Fold 6

Galaxy Z Fold 5

This wasn’t the case for all photos. Another shot taken deep in the tunnels leading to the Catacombs looked surprisingly better on the Z Fold 5.

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Galaxy Z Fold 6

Galaxy Z Fold 5

This image of a street corner captured at night appears brighter in the Z Fold 5’s image, though the Z Fold 6’s photo has more contrast and did a better job of capturing building details.

Galaxy Z Fold 6

Galaxy Z Fold 5

While not all of the Galaxy Z Fold 6’s photos look better than those of the Z Fold 5, the differences are consistent enough to convince me that Samsung made some improvements to the Z Fold’s ultra-wide camera.

Overall, the Galaxy Z Fold 6’s new ultra-wide camera, along with its lighter design and sharper corners, make it feel like a more polished, refined version of the Galaxy Z Fold 5. But those improvements come at an even higher price tag of $1,900, which I imagine will be hard for most people to swallow. I’ll have much more to say about the Galaxy Z Fold 6’s cameras, performance, and other features in my full review after more testing.