{"id":17615,"date":"2023-10-21T15:45:10","date_gmt":"2023-10-21T10:45:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brandligo.com\/?p=17615"},"modified":"2026-09-03T17:18:42","modified_gmt":"2026-09-03T12:18:42","slug":"samsung-galaxy-z-fold-6","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.brandligo.com\/blog\/samsung-galaxy-z-fold-6\/","title":{"rendered":"Galaxy Z Fold 5 or 6 in 2026: The Cheap Way Into a Foldable"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Updated 21 July 2026.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em>Brandligo is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases &#8212; at no extra cost to you. We only recommend gear we would tell a friend to buy.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Folding phones are brilliant &#8212; a phone that opens into a tablet &#8212; but new ones cost a fortune. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 launches near $2,000. Ouch.<\/p>\n<p>Here&#8217;s the workaround: buy an older Fold refurbished. A Galaxy Z Fold 5 or 6 now sells for a fraction of that, and you still get the full tablet-in-your-pocket experience. So which one, and is it a smart move in 2026? Let&#8217;s break it down.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_87 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">In This Article<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.brandligo.com\/blog\/samsung-galaxy-z-fold-6\/#Short_answer\" >Short answer<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.brandligo.com\/blog\/samsung-galaxy-z-fold-6\/#Why_buy_an_older_Fold_at_all\" >Why buy an older Fold at all?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.brandligo.com\/blog\/samsung-galaxy-z-fold-6\/#Galaxy_Z_Fold_5_%E2%80%94_the_budget_entry\" >Galaxy Z Fold 5 &#8212; the budget entry<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.brandligo.com\/blog\/samsung-galaxy-z-fold-6\/#Galaxy_Z_Fold_6_%E2%80%94_the_polished_pick\" >Galaxy Z Fold 6 &#8212; the polished pick<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.brandligo.com\/blog\/samsung-galaxy-z-fold-6\/#Quick_comparison\" >Quick comparison<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.brandligo.com\/blog\/samsung-galaxy-z-fold-6\/#What_to_check_before_buying_a_used_Fold\" >What to check before buying a used Fold<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.brandligo.com\/blog\/samsung-galaxy-z-fold-6\/#Older_Fold_or_something_newer\" >Older Fold, or something newer?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.brandligo.com\/blog\/samsung-galaxy-z-fold-6\/#One_thing_before_you_buy\" >One thing before you buy<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.brandligo.com\/blog\/samsung-galaxy-z-fold-6\/#FAQ\" >FAQ<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Short_answer\"><\/span>Short answer<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Both are great value refurbished, and the choice is simple. Get the <strong>Z Fold 5<\/strong> if you want the cheapest possible way into foldables &#8212; it can drop to around $600. Get the <strong>Z Fold 6<\/strong> if you want a more polished experience with a much better cover screen, and don&#8217;t mind paying a bit more. Either way, refurbished is the way to buy these.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_buy_an_older_Fold_at_all\"><\/span>Why buy an older Fold at all?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Because the value is genuinely excellent, and foldables age better than you&#8217;d think.<\/p>\n<p>Both the Fold 5 and Fold 6 give you the headline feature that matters: a big 7.6-inch inner display that unfolds from a normal-sized phone. For multitasking &#8212; two or three apps side by side, a proper canvas for email, documents, or video &#8212; nothing a regular phone does compares. That experience hasn&#8217;t changed on the newer Folds; they&#8217;ve just refined it.<\/p>\n<p>And the performance holds up. The Fold 5&#8217;s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and the Fold 6&#8217;s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 are both still fast in 2026. You&#8217;re not giving up smoothness by going a generation or two back &#8212; you&#8217;re giving up the newest cameras and the thinnest design.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Galaxy_Z_Fold_5_%E2%80%94_the_budget_entry\"><\/span>Galaxy Z Fold 5 &#8212; the budget entry<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Refurbished around $600&#8211;700<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>This is the cheapest legitimate way into a Samsung foldable. It launched at $1,799 in 2023 and has depreciated faster than a normal flagship, which is bad news for original buyers but great news for you. Around $600, you&#8217;re getting a tablet-sized device for the price of a mid-range slab phone.<\/p>\n<p>Reviewers reckon it captures roughly 90% of the much newer Fold 7 experience for about a third of the price. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 remains a strong performer, the hinge holds up well, and the 7.6-inch inner screen is still lovely.<\/p>\n<p>The compromises: the 6.2-inch cover screen is narrow, so typing on the front while folded feels cramped. It&#8217;s thicker and heavier than a normal phone. And the crease is visible in bright light.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Get it if:<\/strong> you want the absolute cheapest entry into foldables and don&#8217;t mind a narrow cover screen.<\/p>\n<p>&#8594; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/s?k=Galaxy+Z+Fold+5+renewed&amp;tag=metacubic-20\" rel=\"nofollow sponsored noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Check renewed Z Fold 5 prices on Amazon<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Galaxy_Z_Fold_6_%E2%80%94_the_polished_pick\"><\/span>Galaxy Z Fold 6 &#8212; the polished pick<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Refurbished, cheaper than new by hundreds<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Fold 6 is the more refined choice, and the upgrades are the kind you actually feel day to day. The big one: a wider 6.3-inch cover screen with a 22:9 aspect ratio, so using the phone closed finally feels like a normal phone rather than a cramped compromise. That alone is worth a lot.<\/p>\n<p>You also get a tighter, more reassuring hinge, a less visible crease than the Fold 5, and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. It was Samsung&#8217;s flagship Galaxy AI launch device, so the software features are all there. With the Fold 7 now out, refurbished Fold 6 supply is good and prices are the most attractive they&#8217;ve been.<\/p>\n<p>The camera isn&#8217;t quite at Galaxy S24 Ultra or iPhone level, but it&#8217;s a clear step up from the Fold 5 and perfectly good for everyday use.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Get it if:<\/strong> you want a more polished foldable with a genuinely usable cover screen, and you&#8217;ll pay a little more for it.<\/p>\n<p>&#8594; <strong>Check renewed Z Fold 6 prices on Amazon<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Quick_comparison\"><\/span>Quick comparison<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th scope=\"col\"><\/th>\n<th scope=\"col\">Z Fold 5<\/th>\n<th scope=\"col\">Z Fold 6<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Chip<\/td>\n<td>Snapdragon 8 Gen 2<\/td>\n<td>Snapdragon 8 Gen 3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Cover screen<\/td>\n<td>6.2&#8243; (narrow)<\/td>\n<td>6.3&#8243; (wider 22:9)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Inner screen<\/td>\n<td>7.6&#8243;<\/td>\n<td>7.6&#8243;<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Crease<\/td>\n<td>Visible<\/td>\n<td>Less visible<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Refurb price<\/td>\n<td>~$600&#8211;700<\/td>\n<td>Higher, still discounted<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Best for<\/td>\n<td>Cheapest entry<\/td>\n<td>Polished experience<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_to_check_before_buying_a_used_Fold\"><\/span>What to check before buying a used Fold<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Foldables have moving parts, so used-buying needs a little more care than a normal phone. Four things to confirm:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Hinge condition.<\/strong> Open and close it &#8212; it should feel firm across the whole range, with no grinding or excessive looseness. Ask the seller directly about hinge wear.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Crease tolerance.<\/strong> There&#8217;s a visible crease down the middle of the inner screen on both. Most people stop noticing after a few days, but if you can&#8217;t live with it, foldables aren&#8217;t for you yet.<\/li>\n<li><strong>S Pen.<\/strong> It&#8217;s not built in on either Fold &#8212; it&#8217;s a separate accessory, and not every refurbished unit includes one. Check the listing if you want it.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Battery health.<\/strong> Both have a 4,400mAh battery that gets through a day, but heavy multitasking drains it faster. On a used unit, confirm battery health where you can.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Certified refurbished sellers usually verify hinge and battery condition and include a warranty &#8212; worth the small premium over a private sale for a device with moving parts.<\/p>\n<p>&#8594; <strong>Z Fold S Pen and cases on Amazon<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Older_Fold_or_something_newer\"><\/span>Older Fold, or something newer?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The honest call comes down to what you want from the phone.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Buy a refurbished Fold 5 or 6 if<\/strong> the foldable form factor is the appeal and you want it affordably. At these prices, they&#8217;re the value way into a category that&#8217;s otherwise very expensive.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Look at the current lineup if<\/strong> you want the thinnest design, the best cameras, and the brightest screen &#8212; that&#8217;s the Fold 7, covered in our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.brandligo.com\/blog\/which-samsung-galaxy-to-buy\/\">Samsung Galaxy buying guide<\/a>. And if you&#8217;re not sure a foldable is right at all, a refurbished <a href=\"https:\/\/www.brandligo.com\/blog\/samsung-galaxy-s24\/\">Galaxy S24 Ultra<\/a> costs similar money and gives you a more conventional flagship with a built-in S Pen &#8212; a genuinely fair question worth weighing. Our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.brandligo.com\/blog\/best-android-phones\/\">best Android phones guide<\/a> covers the wider picture.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"One_thing_before_you_buy\"><\/span>One thing before you buy<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Whichever Fold you choose, set it up safely &#8212; take Samsung&#8217;s security updates through Settings, never through a link in a text. Scammers target new phone owners, so our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.brandligo.com\/blog\/phone-security-scams-guide\/\">phone scam and security guide<\/a> is worth a quick read.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQ\"><\/span>FAQ<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Is the Galaxy Z Fold 5 or 6 still worth buying in 2026?<\/strong> Yes, refurbished. Both give you the full tablet-sized foldable experience for a fraction of a new Fold 7&#8217;s near-$2,000 price. The Fold 5 is the cheapest entry at around $600, while the Fold 6 offers a more polished experience with a better cover screen.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Which older Galaxy Fold should I buy?<\/strong> The Z Fold 5 if you want the lowest price into foldables, or the Z Fold 6 for a wider, more usable cover screen, tighter hinge, and less visible crease. The Fold 6 is the better everyday phone; the Fold 5 is the better bargain.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How much does a refurbished Galaxy Z Fold 5 cost?<\/strong> Around $600 to $700 in 2026, down sharply from its $1,799 launch price. Foldable prices swing more than regular phones, so check current listings, and prioritise certified refurbished units with verified hinge and battery condition.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Is the crease on the Galaxy Fold a problem?<\/strong> There&#8217;s a visible crease down the middle of the inner screen on both the Fold 5 and 6, slightly less pronounced on the 6. Most users stop noticing it within a few days, but if you&#8217;re sensitive to it, try one in person first.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Galaxy Z Fold 5 or a Galaxy S24 Ultra for the same money?<\/strong> A fair question, since refurbished prices overlap. The Fold gives you a tablet-sized inner screen for multitasking; the S24 Ultra gives you a more conventional flagship with a better camera and a built-in Bluetooth S Pen. Choose the Fold for the big screen, the S24 Ultra for camera and convenience.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Does the Galaxy Z Fold 5 or 6 come with an S Pen?<\/strong> No. Neither has a built-in S Pen &#8212; it&#8217;s a separate accessory, and refurbished units don&#8217;t always include one. If you want the stylus, confirm it&#8217;s in the listing or budget for one separately.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Will these older Folds still get updates?<\/strong> Yes. Samsung provides several years of updates for its foldables, so a Fold 5 or 6 bought now still has support ahead. Confirm the current software version on any used unit and update through Settings.<\/p>\n<p><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[\n{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Is the Galaxy Z Fold 5 or 6 still worth buying in 2026?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Yes, refurbished. Both give the full tablet-sized foldable experience for a fraction of a new Fold 7's near-$2,000 price. The Fold 5 is the cheapest entry at around $600, while the Fold 6 offers a more polished experience with a better cover screen.\"}},\n{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Which older Galaxy Fold should I buy?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The Z Fold 5 for the lowest price into foldables, or the Z Fold 6 for a wider cover screen, tighter hinge and less visible crease. The Fold 6 is the better everyday phone; the Fold 5 is the better bargain.\"}},\n{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How much does a refurbished Galaxy Z Fold 5 cost?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Around $600 to $700 in 2026, down sharply from its $1,799 launch price. Foldable prices swing more than regular phones, so check current listings and prioritise certified refurbished units with verified hinge and battery condition.\"}},\n{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Is the crease on the Galaxy Fold a problem?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"There's a visible crease down the middle of the inner screen on both, slightly less pronounced on the Fold 6. 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If you want the stylus, confirm it's in the listing or budget for one separately.\"}},\n{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Will these older Folds still get updates?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Yes. Samsung provides several years of updates for its foldables, so a Fold 5 or 6 bought now still has support ahead. Confirm the current software version on any used unit and update through Settings.\"}}\n]}\n<\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Refurbished, a Galaxy Z Fold 5 or 6 gets you a tablet-sized foldable for the price of a mid-range slab. Here&#8217;s which older Fold to buy in 2026, and what to check.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":17616,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[102],"tags":[532,529,504,528,531,462,197,527,530,209,251],"class_list":["post-17615","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mobiles","tag-addressing","tag-captivate","tag-enthusiasts","tag-innovate","tag-predecessors","tag-remarkable","tag-samsung","tag-samsung-galaxy-z-fold-6","tag-shortcomings","tag-smartphone","tag-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.brandligo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17615","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.brandligo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.brandligo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brandligo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brandligo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17615"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.brandligo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17615\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":39013,"href":"https:\/\/www.brandligo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17615\/revisions\/39013"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brandligo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17616"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.brandligo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17615"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brandligo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17615"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brandligo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17615"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}