Photos From the Galaxy Z Flip 6’s Cameras [CNET]

July 23, 2024July 23, 2024 Patrick Holland technology

I took over 500 photos with Samsung’s new flip phone. Here’s what I learned.

Patrick Holland has been a phone reviewer for CNET since 2016. He is a former theater director who occasionally makes short films. Patrick has an eye for photography and a passion for everything mobile. He is a colorful raconteur who will guide you through the ever-changing, fast-paced world of phones, especially the iPhone and iOS. He used to co-host CNET’s I’m So Obsessed podcast and interviewed guests like Jeff Goldblum, Alfre Woodard, Stephen Merchant, Sam Jay, Edgar Wright and Roy Wood Jr.

July 22, 2024 6:51 p.m. PT

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Galaxy Z Flip 6

The new Galaxy Z Flip 6 has the same 10-megapixel selfie camera as last year’s Z Flip 5. The external 12-megapixel ultrawide has an upgraded sensor, and there’s a new 50-megapixel main camera that’s similar to the one on the Galaxy S24 – which is similar to the one on the S23 and S22 before it. This is the best flip phone camera I’ve used, but nonflip phones like the Pixel 8 Pro and Galaxy S24 Ultra are still much better in terms of dynamic range and overall quality.

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Here is a night mode snap from the main camera.

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I took this image using the main camera just as the motorcycle rider and cyclist were about to take off.

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And here’s another night mode image from the main camera.

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This cat doesn’t want his photo taken, even with the Z Flip 6’s main shooter.

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This is not a dependable “freeze the action” kind of camera, especially when it’s dark. Instead, this is a “good enough to post to IG and TikTok” camera. This dog was having a good scratch, and the main camera had a tough time keeping up under mixed lighting.

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So photos show the literal marks of processing. Notice the strange mark in the sky to the right of the lights on his camera. And just above that, take a close look at the “cloud cutout” around the edge of the trees.

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I am a big fan of Samsung’s ultrawide cameras. The lens offers this sweet spot that makes subjects look dramatic without skewing too much into fisheye territory. Paris cries to be photographed with an ultrawide lens.

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Here’s another ultrawide snap from the Z Flip 6.

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I dig the Z Flip 6’s ultrawide angle, even if it doesn’t match the quality of the main camera.

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The ability to draw on a photo and turn your sketch into a realistic-looking object or animal is wild. I wish I could use it to draw mustaches or eye patches on friend’s faces because otherwise, I’m just not sure when I’d use this feature. But maybe I’ll have a second career adding a random AI-generated cat with three legs and no tail to photos?

Three AI-generated images from the Galaxy Z Flip 6

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Then there’s portrait studio, which turns a picture of a person into artwork. It’s silly and fun, and the results are far from accurate. Again, I’m not sure when I’d use this. Here’s how Galaxy AI sees me as a cartoon character, a watercolor and a sketch.