Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: Which is the best smartphone?
Samsung's sixth generation foldable smartphone is finally here, and today we do a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 vs iPhone 15 Pro Max showdown. Both smartphones are flagship devices and have a premium asking price. In general, foldables have also come a long way since Samsung launched the first Galaxy Fold in 2019. But, many smartphone enthusiasts still want to know if these new dual-screen devices are worth investing in for long-term usage, or if the premium flagship from Apple is still the better buy.
There is no straightforward answer to this question, and hence we do a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 vs iPhone 15 Pro Max detailed comparison to see which is the better flagship smartphone in 2024.
Note: This article is subjective and solely reflects the writer's opinions.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: Which is the better flagship phone?
Overall specifications
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 has a starting price of $1899 for the base storage model with 256GB storage. It is a $100 price bump from last year's Z Fold5. On the other hand, the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max has a starting price of $1199 for the base 256GB storage variant.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: Display
The Z Fold6 has up to 2600 nits of peak brightness on its inner foldable display and renders perfect visibility in broad daylight. The iPhone 15 Pro Max's peak brightness is slightly lower, but you will have no issues under direct sunlight. The outer cover display of the Fold though has a considerably lower 1600 nits of peak brightness.
The Z Fold comes with LTPO Samsung AMOLED panels, capable of hitting up to 120Hz refresh rate based on the content you are watching. The iPhone 15 Pro Max is also equipped with a ProMotion 120Hz (LTPO) OLED screen. Both smartphones offer gorgeous displays, with punchy colors and smooth animations.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: Performance
The Z Fold6 is powered by Qualcomm's top-tier chipset, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. However, Samsung has overclocked this processor for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 to give it extra oomph. It's a powerful chip that supports ray tracing and has the best benchmark scores on any Android smartphone to date.
In contrast, the Apple A17 Pro does clock better scores, but the real-world performance difference is negligible. Hence, it doesn't have a lot of bragging rights over a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. However, Apple has exclusively confirmed support for some AAA games with the A17 Pro like Resident Evil series, Death Stranding, Assassin's Cree: Mirage, and more. We are yet to see any such high-end game being supported on the Z Fold6 though.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: Battery
The Z Fold6 comes with a dual battery design, with a 4,400 mAh battery pack in total. With the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 optimizations, the phone can last for a full day of usage with more than six hours of screen time. This is impressive because, despite a similar battery pack, last year’s Z Fold5 wasn’t able to provide such screen time.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max has a 4,422 mAh battery and is one of Apple's best smartphones in terms of endurance. iOS does exceptionally well at preserving battery when the phone is on standby, which means it can even last two days with moderate usage.
On the charging front, the Z Fold6 still juices up with 25W wired charging and 15W wirelessly. The iPhone 15 Pro Max also supports a similar charging rating, but its cell has a slower charging speed in comparison.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: Camera
Galaxy Z Fold phones are not camera-centric smartphones. However, Samsung has still provided decent cameras in the foldable, as it comes with a 50MP main camera, a 10MP 3x telephoto camera, and a 12MP ultra-wide one. In contrast, the iPhone 15 Pro Max has a 48MP main, and two 12MP lenses.
Both smartphones can click great images in the daytime with good HDR support and less over-sharpening. At 3x zoom, the Galaxy Z Fold6, with its telephoto lens, clicks sufficiently good portrait shots. However, when we move to 5x, with the help of the dedicated tetraprism lens, we get more detailed and sharper portraits from the iPhone 15 Pro Max. For ultra-wides, both phones have similar image and video quality.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: Verdict
If you have been contemplating going into the foldable space, the Galaxy Z Fold6 is worth trying. It has a narrower crease this time, offers great cameras, and comes with adequate power to run all your daily tasks. You will get to enjoy a lot of new multi-tasking options and multimedia experience with its bigger inner screen. The exclusive Galaxy AI features are the cherry on top.
But, the iPhone 15 Pro Max has better battery management. For portraits, it is miles clear of the Z Fold6, and it’s also confirmed to get those exclusive Apple Intelligence features soon. The smartphone is still the market leader for gaming as well, and at a $700 less asking price, all these perks are worth considering.
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