I have Samsung’s cameras issue with the camera of the Galaxy Z Fold 6. Some people argue that it’s not anything extraordinary, and although I partly agree and partly disagree (as I will explain), it only took one photo from a comparison with another folding phone for me to truly understand where the problem lies.
The particular photo was taken with the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro at an evening car meet. When I compared it to the equivalent Z Fold 6 photo, it became clear to me why Samsung’s cameras are not meeting our expectations.
Life, above Samsung’s cameras
The Vivo X Fold3 Pro, portrait mode Andy Boxall / Digital TrendsI really like the Samsung’s cameras a lot. I don’t think the camera is awful by any means, as long as you think about its capacities in the right setting. It’s not intended to rival the System S24 Ultra, but instead with telephones like the Samsung’s cameras In addition to. I understand the criticisms surrounding it, and when I used it alongside the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro, I realised exactly what improvements it needs.
The camera on the X Fold 3 Pro takes amazing photos that are full of life, vibrant, and emotionally expressive. The Z Fold 6 simply can’t match up. The photo I’m referring to is the one that really made me see the difference.I invested a ton of energy checking out and taking photos of this astonishing wide-body RWB-changed Porsche 911 (964) fully intent on catching its exceptional characteristics.
When I first looked at this photo, I was blown away and continue to be impressed by how well it turned out. I took it using the Vivo Fold 3 Pro’s Portrait mode, focusing on the headlight. The depth of field, sharp focus, beautiful colours and contrast, HDR effect, and the way it captured the setting sun are all stunning.
Please remember the following text: “The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 in portrait mode. – Andy Boxall / Digital Trends”
The photo taken with the Z Fold 6 isn’t terrible, but when compared to the photo taken with the Samsung’s cameras, it looks flat and dull. The portrait effect lacks subtlety, and the reflections don’t emphasise the car’s shape. The sunset is barely visible in the background. In comparison, the photo taken with the X Fold 3 Pro is full of life and captures the subject beautifully. I would display the X Fold 3 Pro’s photo on my wall and keep the Z Fold 6’s photo in my Google Photos account.
Not just a one-time occurrence.
Throughout the evening, as I took more photos, I started noticing the shortcomings of the Z Fold 6’s camera. I appreciated the ability to unfold both phones and view the photos I had just captured on a larger screen. Despite the differences in display, I was able to assess and compare them on the go, which is a significant advantage of a folding phone and something that only the Samsung’s cameras truly maximised.
The Vivo X Fold 3 Pro performs exceptionally in portrait mode, producing a natural depth of field without the artificial look, while maintaining rich colour and definition. I enjoyed experimenting with it because I had confidence in the results, knowing that it would capture what I had envisioned. I didn’t have the same level of confidence in the Z Fold 6. While it often performed adequately, the photos lacked the vibrancy and liveliness that the X Fold 3 Pro delivered.
Take a look at the photo of the pink and black Porsche Boxster against the side of the transporter. The X Fold 3 Pro’s camera accurately captured the white balance and exposure, rendering the scene naturally while also adding life and excitement. In comparison, the Z Fold 6’s photo appeared dull. That night, none of the subjects were dull or ordinary, yet the Z Fold 6 seemed to only see cars in a car park.
Is everything due to the specifications?
I learned a lot about the Samsung’s cameras camera by the end of the evening, but I only just started exploring the camera capabilities of the X Fold 3 Pro. You might be wondering if the differences are solely due to specs, and to some extent, the Vivo does have the advantage. The two telephones have a 50-megapixel principal camera with optical picture adjustment (OIS), yet the Vivo telephone likewise includes a 64MP periscope fax camera for a 3x optical zoom, though the Z Overlap 6 has a 10MP fax for its 3x optical zoom. Furthermore, the X Overlay 3 Genius’ 50 MP ultra wide camera is a move forward from the Z Crease 6’s 12MP ultrawide sensor. However, I believe the X Fold 3 Pro’s success is not solely due to these numbers.
Unveiling the Vivo XFold 3 Pro: A First Look by Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Vivo has teamed up with lens experts Zeiss. The X Overlay 3 Ace’s cameras highlight Zeiss optics, alongside different Zeiss camera improvements in the product, especially in the picture modes. Zeiss has been engaged with creating cameras and camera focal points for more than 100 years, and their skill in photography is obvious in this joint effort. Zeiss’ organisation with Vivo appears to reflect that of Xiaomi and Leica as far as catching photos with a cell phone that typifies the brand’s legacy, style, and exceptional tones.
An engineering marvel, but not a camera.
When you look at the photos taken by the Samsung’s cameras in isolation and disregard its high price, they are good. You would likely be pleased with the quality of the photos, as I was during my review period. However, when you compare it to what other brands are doing to make their cameras their main selling points, Samsung’s shortcomings in this area become evident.
The Galaxy Z Fold 6 performs well on a technical level, but its almost routine performance lacks emotion, a quality that the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro delivers in almost every photo it takes. The last time I felt so strongly about photos taken with a phone was when I was using the Xiaomi 14 Ultra and its Photography Kit. The Vivo folding phone gives me the same vibes, and I feel excited to explore its potential every time I use it, while I’m content with just taking pictures with the Samsung’s cameras.
Please remember the details below.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 (left) and Vivo X Fold3 Pro captured in this image by Andy Boxall / Digital Trends.
Samsung’s cameras phone range is fairly simple, and each model has its own space within it, but Samsung’s top phone range is quite simple, with each model having its own space within the lineup. However, the cameras cannot compete with those found in devices like the X Fold 3 Pro or the Xiaomi 14 Ultra. The photos taken at the car meet revealed one of the main reasons for this, and it has nothing to do with the technology or specifications.The engineering of the Z Fold 6 by Samsung is fantastic and highly precise. However, this precision seems to have influenced the camera and the photos it takes in a somewhat cold manner. Contrastingly, the X Fold 3 Pro demonstrates that engineering alone doesn’t make a camera special. Unless Samsung decides to change this approach, it will continue to face tough competition.
