Galaxy Z Fold 6 vs. Z Fold 5: Testing Samsung's New Ultrawide Camera Sensor

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

I put that to the test in the darkest place I've visited in Paris so far: the Catacombs. After following a winding spiral staircase leading 20 meters below ground, I snapped a few photos in the maze of tunnels surrounding the Catacombs' entrance and exit. All of the photos were taken in the same place at the same time with the same resolution and aspect ratio in night mode using the ultrawide camera. I examined the photos on a 16-inch laptop screen at their full size and resolution, so my observations may not be as noticeable in the smaller versions embedded in this story.

Overall, the Z Fold 6's ultrawide photos generally looked brighter and more detailed than the Z Fold 5's, with a couple of exceptions. As I wrote in my initial impressions of the Z Fold 6, it's clear that Samsung is trying to make its foldable phones feel more like regular bar-shaped phones when it comes to core areas in which foldables have traditionally fallen short, like design and the camera. The new ultrawide sensor, which is also present on the Z Flip 6, is one example of how Samsung is hoping to do just that.

The most striking difference between the two can be seen in this photo taken in a hallway before the entrance to the Catacombs. The Galaxy Z Fold 5's photo looks yellowish and dim by comparison.

Read more: Samsung Breaks Down How Bixby Will Evolve Alongside Galaxy AI

Get a 512GB Samsung Galaxy Fold 6 for $120 off $2,019 at Samsung

Galaxy Z Fold 6

Galaxy Z Fold 5

This may not be the most exciting photo, but it does illustrate the discrepancy between the two cameras. This photo I snapped 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 looking at the details in the ceiling. 

Galaxy Z Fold 6

Galaxy Z Fold 5

I also tested the new 12-megapixel ultrawide sensor in other areas of Paris, such as a dimly lit cocktail bar in the evening. Once again, the Z Fold 6's shot is brighter than the Z Fold 5's.

Galaxy Z Fold 6

Galaxy Z Fold 5

That wasn't the case for every photo. Another picture taken in the depths of the tunnels leading to the Catacombs surprisingly looked better on the Z Fold 5.

Watch this: Galaxy Z Fold 6: My Day in Paris With Samsung's New Phone

06:22

Galaxy Z Fold 6

Galaxy Z Fold 5

This image of a street corner captured at night looks brighter in the Z Fold 5's image, although the Z Fold 6's photo has more contrast and did a better job at capturing detail in the buildings.

Galaxy Z Fold 6

Galaxy Z Fold 5

Even though not every photo from the Galaxy Z Fold 6 looked better than the Z Fold 5's, the differences are consistent enough to convince me that Samsung did make some improvements to the Z Fold's ultrawide camera. 

Taken together, the Galaxy Z Fold 6's new ultrawide camera, along with its lighter build and more angular corners, make it feel like a more polished and refined version of the Galaxy Z Fold 5. But those improvements come at an even higher price of $1,900, which I imagine is going to be hard to swallow for most people. I'll have a lot more to say about the Galaxy Z Fold 6's cameras, performance and other features in my full review after more testing. 

Samsung Made a Special Galaxy Z Flip 6 Just for Olympic Athletes

+4 More

See all photos