Samsung has been refining the Galaxy Z Fold for years, but the Galaxy Z Fold8 feels like the company finally decided to shake things up. Instead of sticking with the familiar tall and narrow book-style design, Samsung went with a shorter and wider form factor that looks more like a passport when folded.
At first glance, it is an odd move. After years of foldables that tried to feel more like regular smartphones when closed, the Galaxy Z Fold8 goes in the opposite direction. It is wider, squatter and noticeably different in the hand. But after spending time with it, I started to understand what Samsung was trying to do.
The Galaxy Z Fold8 could be another spec bump, but it's more than that. It changes how the phone feels and how you use that big folding screen. On paper, the foldable comes with a 7.6-inch 120Hz AMOLED inner display, a 5.5-inch 120Hz cover screen, Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, up to 16GB of RAM and as much as 1TB of storage. It also runs on the latest One UI 9 that's based on Android 17.
And yes, this is still a Galaxy Z Fold. You still get the flagship hardware, the multitasking chops and the premium build. But this time around, Samsung is betting that a different shape can make the Fold more practical. The question is, who is the Galaxy Z Fold8 really for, and does the new design justify its premium price?
Pros
- Wider and more practical foldable design
- Excellent 7.6-inch 120Hz inner display
- Great multitasking with One UI 9
- 50MP main and ultra-wide cameras deliver good image quality
- Flexible camera features using the cover screen as a viewfinder
- Excellent gaming experience on the large inner display
- Now Brief is genuinely useful for quick daily information
- Lighter and thinner than previous Fold models
Cons
- No dedicated telephoto camera
- 45W charging feels modest for a premium foldable
- Speakers are positioned on the same half when unfolded
Design and Build
The biggest story starts with the design. Folded, the Galaxy Z Fold8 measures 9.7mm thin when folded (4.5mm unfolded) and weighs 201 grams. It is not exactly a featherweight, but it is lighter than the Galaxy Z Fold7. More importantly, the shorter and wider body changes the way the phone sits in your hand.
It feels less like you're holding a tall candy bar and more like you're carrying a small notebook. The better comparison is a passport, but you don't usually hold a passport with open palm. This size, though, comes with pros and cons.
The wider cover screen is much more comfortable for browsing, reading and checking apps. Samsung also gets away from the super-narrow cover-screen experience that some Fold users have learned to live with. The catch? One-handed use is not exactly its strong suit.
When it's closed, the speakers are positioned at the top and bottom, which makes sense in portrait mode. However, when you unfold the Fold8, both speakers are placed on the same half of the device. As a result, the sound feels like it's coming from one side of the screen instead of surrounding you. I wish Samsung had placed one speaker on the other half for a more balanced stereo effect and a wider, more immersive soundstage.
Talking about controls, when the Fold8 is unfolded, the power button and volume rocker sit on the right side, while they move to the top when you hold the phone in portrait mode. It's a small detail, but it takes some getting used to when switching between the two orientations.
Because the phone is wider, reaching across the display with your thumb can be a bit of a stretch. Typing on the cover screen also takes some adjustment. The keyboard can eat up a good chunk of the already short display, especially in apps that have additional interface elements at the top.
So while Samsung made the phone wider for a reason, it also moved one step away from the conventional smartphone experience. Personally, I think this is one of those things you either get used to or you don't. To me this size offers more versatility, I could consider this as a small phone when folded and is easily slipped in my pocket.
Open the Galaxy Z Fold8, however, and the story changes completely.
Display: That 7.6-inch inner screen is the Star
The inner 7.6-inch QXGA+ AMOLED display runs at 120Hz and has a 4:3 aspect ratio. That ratio is a big deal because it makes the Galaxy Z Fold8 feel much closer to a mini tablet than a stretched-out phone. I must admit, after using previous Z Fold versions, I noticed that I spend more time using the Fold8 unfolded than I used to.
This is where the new design starts to make sense. Websites look great. Reading long-form articles feels more natural. Multitasking feels less cramped. Reading a Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant menu feels more appropriate. Apps that support tablet-style layouts can take advantage of the additional real estate.
For work, this is where the Z Fold8 earns its keep. I can have a browser open beside another app, check messages without constantly jumping between screens, or keep reference material visible while working on something else. Samsung's One UI remains one of the strongest software implementations for foldables, with support for multiple apps in split-screen layouts and floating windows.
The crease is also less distracting than before. You can still feel it if you run your finger across the middle of the display, and it remains visible under certain lighting conditions, but it no longer feels like the elephant in the room.
The display is also bright enough to remain usable outdoors, which matters when you're dealing with a phone that costs this much.
For watching videos, the 4:3 aspect ratio results in smaller black bars around standard widescreen content, so more of the display is put to good use. More importantly, the new shape makes the Z Fold8 feel more intentional whether you're using it in portrait or landscape mode.
With previous Fold models, there was only a slight difference between the two orientations due to its squarish form when unfolded, but the Z Fold8's wider inner display makes both feel equally natural depending on what you're doing. It is a small but noticeable change that makes the large screen more versatile.
Performance x Gaming
If there's one thing the Galaxy Z Fold8 does not mess around with, it is performance. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy gives the Z Fold8 serious horsepower. With up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, this is more than capable of handling demanding apps, heavy multitasking and gaming.
Day-to-day performance is exactly what you'd expect from a flagship. Apps open quickly. Switching between applications is smooth. Multitasking feels effortless. The combination of the Snapdragon chip and Samsung's mature foldable software makes the Z Fold8 feel like a pocket-sized workstation when you need it.
I also put the Galaxy Z Fold8 through its paces with Genshin Impact, and this is where the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy and its large inner display really shine. The extra screen real estate gives you a wider view of Teyvat, while the 120Hz refresh rate keeps animations and camera movements smooth. The larger canvas also makes the controls feel less cramped compared to playing on a regular smartphone. But, same as with the previous Folds, I kept on having accidental touch especially the chat button on the lower left of the interface.
Additionally, the Galaxy Z Fold8 is also a great fit for MOBA games like Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and shooting games. The wider display gives you more room for virtual controls without covering too much of the action. The larger field of view also makes it easier to keep track of what's happening around you. Genshin Impact runs smoothly at high settings for the most part, although the phone does get warm during longer sessions, especially when pushing the graphics. But it's nothing that would make you stop the game.
If you're keen on Bencharks, the Galaxy Z Fold8 scored 2,317 single-core and 6,273 multi-core in Geekbench 7, while its GPU posted 14,818 in OpenCL and 21,679 in Vulkan. In AnTuTu, it reached 2,784,324 points, putting its Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy performance firmly in flagship territory.
What I like most is that the Z Fold8's inner display doesn't simply make games bigger; it makes them more immersive and easier to play. For mobile gaming, that extra real estate paired with flagship performance and a 120Hz refresh rate is a big plus.
Software
One UI 9 also brings Android 17 to the Fold8, along with Samsung's latest Galaxy AI features. Samsung has committed to seven years of Android and security updates, which gives the device plenty of runway.
But for me, the real killer feature remains multitasking. A foldable doesn't need to reinvent the wheel every year. It simply needs to make the big screen useful. Samsung understands that better than most. One thing I really love about the Z Fold8 is Now Brief. It gives me a quick look at the information I need throughout the day without having to jump between different apps.
One UI 9 makes good use of the Z Fold8's larger canvas, especially when it comes to multitasking. You can run two or three apps at once, resize windows and drag content between supported apps. I find this useful when working on the phone since I can keep a browser open beside Samsung Notes or Messages without constantly switching between apps.
Samsung also integrates its Galaxy AI tools into One UI 9, including Writing Assist, Note Assist and AI-powered image editing. Flex Mode remains another useful Fold feature, with supported apps adapting their layouts when the phone is partially folded. It is a feature that becomes more practical once you find it fitting your workflow.
I also like how One UI 9 keeps the experience seamless between the cover and inner displays. You can start something on the cover screen, unfold the phone and continue on the larger display. Add features like Edge Panel and App Pairs, and the Z Fold8 starts to feel less like a phone with a folding screen and more like a compact productivity device.
Cameras: Dependable Travel Camera
This is probably the part where Samsung kept me wanting more. The Galaxy Z Fold8 gets a 50MP main camera and a 50MP ultrawide camera on the back. There are also 10MP selfie cameras for the cover and inner displays.
The main camera is the star of the show. It produces detailed photos with good dynamic range and consistent colors.
I took the Galaxy Z Fold8 for a spin during my recent trip to Da Nang, Vietnam, and this is where the camera setup got plenty of real-world use. From city streets and architecture to food, travel snaps and quick shots while walking around, the main camera delivered the kind of results I expect from a flagship Galaxy phone.
Samsung's processing remains punchy without going completely overboard, and the camera app gives you plenty of shooting options. Even the 10MP front camera is very capable in bright environments.
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| Sample Photo: 13MP front Camera |
Low-light performance is also impressive, with the cameras retaining plenty of detail while keeping noise and highlights under control even in challenging night scenes.Night shots also have good exposure and natural-looking colors, so I rarely felt the need to switch to a dedicated Night mode.
The 50MP ultra-wide camera is another strong point, especially for travel. Image quality remains impressive for an ultra-wide, with plenty of detail, good dynamic range and consistent colors with the main camera. It also handles distortion well at the edges, which came in handy for landscapes, architecture and group shots during my trip to Da Nang. I use the ultra-wide camera often when I try to position myself with a landscape background to get dramatic shots.
The main sensor's 2x crop also works reasonably well, but once you push further into 4x or 10x digital zoom, image quality takes a noticeable hit. And when you're traveling, a proper telephoto lens can be a game changer. There are times when you simply cannot get closer to your subject, so a dedicated zoom camera would have made the Fold8 a much more complete camera phone.
Samsung also includes auto-tracking features that can help keep a subject in frame when the phone is positioned in Flex-style setups. But here's the elephant in the room: there is no dedicated telephoto camera. For a phone at this price point, that feels like a strange compromise. But I guess, that's where the Z Fold8 Ultra comes in.
For video, the Galaxy Z Fold8 is capable, but I wouldn't put it on the same level as Samsung's Ultra models. I personally prefer shooting in 4K at 30fps, where the footage has plenty of detail, good dynamic range and decent stabilization for everyday shooting. It's more than good enough for travel videos, social media and casual vlogging, especially with the flexibility of using the cover screen as a viewfinder with the rear cameras. Check out sample videos in 4K 30fps here or click the photo below:
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| Sample Video |
Battery Life
The Galaxy Z Fold8 packs a 4,800 mAh battery, which is not exactly massive for a device with two displays. Yet Samsung has managed to squeeze respectable battery life out of it.
The charging situation is somewhat acceptable. The phone supports 45W wired charging and 20W wireless charging. A compatible 45W or faster adapter can take it to around 70% in roughly 30 minutes, with a full charge taking about 65 minutes.
That's decent, but Samsung still has some catching up to do when it comes to charging speeds. For a flagship foldable, I would have liked to see more aggressive charging.
So, Is the Galaxy Z Fold8 Worth It?
The Galaxy Z Fold8 starts at Php 109,990. It is an interesting evolution of Samsung's foldable formula. It is thinner and lighter than previous generations, but the bigger change comes from its shorter and wider shape. That makes the inner display feel more like a proper tablet and improves the experience for reading, browsing and multitasking.
At the same time, that design creates compromises. The cover screen is wider, but one-handed use can be trickier. Typing can feel cramped depending on the apps used, and I seriously think that more developers are optimizing their apps for this new form factor. The camera system is capable, but the lack of a dedicated telephoto lens is hard to ignore at this price.
Still, when you open the phone and start using that 7.6-inch display, it is easy to see why foldables continue to have a place in the premium smartphone market. The Galaxy Z Fold8 is not for everyone. If all you want is the best traditional smartphone experience, there are cheaper and more straightforward options like the Galaxy S26 Ultra.
But if you want a phone that can turn into a tablet, a multitasking machine and a surprisingly capable travel companion, the Galaxy Z Fold8 is definitely a strong contender. Samsung took a gamble with the new shape. It doesn't hit a home run in every area, but the overall package works.
And perhaps that's the bigger story with the Galaxy Z Fold8. Samsung isn't trying to convince us that foldables are the future anymore. It is trying to make them part of the present.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Specs
Main Screen: 7.6-inch QXGA+ (1,848 x 2,448p) Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, 403ppiCover Screen: 5.5-inch WUXGA+ (1,248 x 1,972p) Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, 428ppi
Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Mobile Platform for Galaxy
Memory & Storage: 16GB Memory with 1 TB internal storage, 12GB Memory with 512 GB internal storage, 12GB Memory with 256 GB internal storage
Cover Camera: 10MP Selfie Camera, F2.2, Pixel size: 1.12μm, FOV: 85˚
Main Camera: 10MP Main Camera, F2.2, Pixel size: 1.12μm, FOV: 100˚
Rear Dual Camera: 50MP Wide-angle Camera, Dual Pixel AF, OIS, F1.8, Pixel size: 1.0μm, FOV: 85, 2X optical quality zoom + 50MP Ultra-Wide Camera, Quad Pixel AF, F1.9, Pixel size: 0.7μm, FOV: 120˚
5G, LTE, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth v6.0
One UI 9, based on Android 17
Folded: 81.9 x 123.9 x 9.7 mm
Unfolded: 161.4 x 123.9 x 4.5 mm
201 grams
IP48 rating water resistance
4800 mAh (typical) dual battery
Wired Charging: Up to 63% charge in around 30 min. with 45W Adapter and 3A USB-C cable
Fast Wireless Charging with 20W
Graphite, Cream, Lavender
