Sketch to Image is probably my favorite new Galaxy AI feature from the recent One UI 6.1.1 update. I got the latest firmware earlier this week, and so far, I have spent hours doodling in Sketch to Image and experimenting with the AI's capabilities. It's so fun that it makes me want to use a better phone.
What do I mean by this? Aren't I a huge Galaxy S24+ fan, you ask? Well, yes, I am. I still think the Galaxy S24+ is one of the best slab-type phones ever made, but I was considering switching to the Galaxy Z Fold series next if my budget permits it, just because I've been feeling like it might be time to try something new.
Now that I'm having so much fun with Sketch to Image, I wish I had a Galaxy Z Fold 6 already. It just so happens that the Galaxy Z Fold form factor might be the best for Sketch to Image, and I wish I could take advantage of it. Here's why.
More details after the video
First, a quick description of Sketch to Image is in order, in case you're wondering what it is. Sketch to Image is an AI drawing tool that lets you turn simple doodles from scratch into beautiful renderings. It's also a tool that superimposes realistic objects over your photos. However, for the purpose of this story, I'm referring strictly to Sketch to Image as a drawing tool rather than a photo-editing component.
With or without S Pen, a near-perfect aspect ratio
Sketch to Image has a handful of limitations I'd like Samsung to address, but for now, let's take this AI drawing tool at face value. It works only in portrait mode on slab-type devices like the Galaxy S24+, and the drawing area is taller than it is wider.
Now, if you have tried Sketch to Image, you may have noticed that it generates square renders with a 1:1 aspect ratio regardless of your phone's aspect ratio. How come? Well, it does this not by cropping the top or bottom of your drawing but by widening the final render — and often adding extra AI-generated content to the sides if not leaving those areas blank.
This has some implications. First, the fact that slab-type phones don't support landscape mode for Sketch to Image is a huge limitation. Second, sometimes you have no control over what the AI will add to the left and right of your drawing to fill in the blanks and create a square image from a tall portrait canvas. And that can get frustrating if you want more control over the final render.
All in all, I can't help but feel like the Galaxy Z Fold must be the near-perfect format for Sketch to Image, regardless of whether or not you use the optional S Pen. The foldable panel is bigger and offers a near-square canvas with a slightly wider aspect ratio. It just is a better canvas than the S24+, and you can use Sketch to Image in both portrait and landscape modes on the Fold.
In short, Sketch to Image has some quirks, and they all seem to be working in favor of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and against slab-type phones. It makes sense, seeing how Sketch to Image debuted with the Galaxy Z Fold 6. However, the Galaxy Z Flip 6 also ships with this AI tool but suffers from the same limitations as my Galaxy S24+ and other non-foldable handsets.
Whether by accident or by design, it looks to me like the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is the best phone you can buy if you're a fan of Sketch to Image and plan on using this tool extensively.
Assuming I will continue to enjoy this AI drawing tool until next year and won't forget about it in a few weeks or months, Sketch to Image may be the final push that will make me switch gears and buy a Galaxy Z Fold instead of an S Plus in 2025. I guess this speaks volumes of how much I am enjoying Sketch to Image at the moment, but time will tell if it's powerful enough to make me replace the Galaxy S Plus.
