"I've wanted this since the start!" - Z Fold 5 user reacts to Galaxy Z Fold 6 leaks

Thinner design to compete with the piling on rival foldables from Oppo and OnePlus? Although, to be fair…

According to some leaks, and on our own expectations knowing Samsung, the Z Fold 6 will be getting thinner. About 11 millimeters in thickness when folded, to be precise, which would bring it close to feeling like a regular phone in your pocket, and not so much a candy bar.

Shedding over 2 millimeters off an already surprisingly thin foldable is impressive, but Samsung has to keep figuring out clever engineering tricks to go thinner, as the rising competition already offers thinner options.

I'll be real, though – at least when unfolded, the current Z Fold 5 is impressively thin already. Obviously it's a different story when you close it, but this rumored thinner design, plus wider aspect ratio both paint a nice picture of a significant generational update. I can't wait for it!

No S Pen? No problem! Let me explain…

There was a period during the earlier Z Folds' lifespans when us folding phone fans were hoping Samsung would figure out a way to include a slot-in S Pen stylus with the phone, but those don't seem like realistic expectations anymore.

Samsung understandably keeps trying to make this foldable thinner, and it's already a marvel of engineering; it's already impressively thin. Space for a stylus? There's none, and I'm guessing there won't be any, ever.

Here's why that's no problem – Samsung still gave us the option to use a stylus, you just have to buy the Z Fold's stylus case, which comes with both a special, soft-tipped S Pen stylus, and a slot for it. If you're in the minority of S Pen users – you have the option.

I personally don't see myself having a great experience using a stylus on a folding phone with a crease, but then again, I don't even use my Apple Pencil. I guess I'm just not a stylus guy.

Nonetheless, for those who are – you can use one. It's just… you know, optional. Because thinness trumps all right now, and Samsung understandably wants to focus on that.

It already solved the "how to make a folding phone work with a stylus, without scratching" conundrum, that's impressive enough.

Better speakers, please! Come on, Samsung…

I bought Samsung's kickstand case for my Galaxy Z Fold 5. You know why? Because I love the idea of pulling this thing out of my pocket, unfolding it, and using it as a portable TV (or a tablet, to be more current with the times).

I like watching YouTube, say, while having dinner, and obviously my hands are busy enough; I can't hold the phone at the same time, so a kickstand for this big phone is a must, I believe.

And you'd think this is the perfect phone for watching content, because it's foldable, and offers a big screen, but Samsung found a way to disappoint me – by giving it mediocre speakers.

The sound isn't sub par, let me be clear, it's just mediocre, and nowhere near as punchy as an iPhone. And the iPhone only has a single bottom-firing speaker; the Z Fold 5 has stereo speakers, and it still offers lesser sound.

Where's the punch, where's the power, Samsung? It's such a missed opportunity to not give the Z Fold 5 the kind of speakers that can at least rival an iPhone. Slacking on the sound quality on a phone that many would use for watching content shouldn't be acceptable.

There are no leaks to suggest Samsung will improve in that area with the Z Fold 6, but here's hoping if more people complain about it, we'll see a positive change in that area sooner or later.

I'm hyped for the Z Fold 6, this is no small upgrade

So – a wider, more traditional outer screen, a thinner, more "normal slab"-like build, a slightly bigger battery, and hopefully other improvements we don't know about yet…

The Galaxy Z Fold 6 is shaping up to be a significant update, finally making Samsung's foldable feel like a "normal" phone when used folded.

Like I said earlier – this matters a lot. You can not get a traditional app experience on a current Z Fold – apps are either tall and narrow, hard to read and write on, or blown up somewhere between a phone and a tablet. Same with the phone's feel in your hand or pocket, when folded – it's unusually thick and narrow.

But the Z Fold 6 is shaping up to address all that, which makes it a significant, long-awaited upgrade in my eyes. And as a folding phone enthusiast, I can't be more hyped for it!

If you're curious – we're expecting its unveiling in July, so there are still many more months left to wait. Stay tuned for more inevitable leaks in the meantime!

Also – share your thoughts – are you excited for the Galaxy Z Fold 6? Are you eyeing a different folding phone right now?

Interested in foldables? Read more:

• Galaxy Z Fold 5 review
• OnePlus Open review
• Google Pixel Fold review
• Oppo Find N2 review