Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 review: A taste of what's to come
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 makes a compelling case for the passport-style foldable, with a brilliantly versatile screen and compact design, but its middling cameras, thermal issues and flagship price keep it from feeling like the finished article
Samsung has recently unveiled its latest addition to the foldable smartphone family, the Galaxy Z Fold 8. Alongside the traditional Flip and Fold models, this new, shorter and wider variant resembles a passport in shape. Interestingly, it shares the same name with the traditional book-style foldable, now called the Fold 8 Ultra. Positioned in the middle of the lineup, the Z Fold 8 offers a more premium experience than the Flip 8 but falls short in camera performance compared to the Ultra model.
According to Samsung, the Z Fold 8 is an ideal choice for those who prioritize content consumption. Although it lacks a telephoto camera, the foldable boasts several advanced photography and video features. These include RAW shooting, a Log profile, and the cutting-edge APV codec. Moreover, many believe that the Z Fold 8 might serve as a glimpse into Apple's upcoming foldable phone design.
Having spent a week testing the device, I can attest to its unique user experience. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 measures 81.9 x 123.9 x 9.7 mm when folded, weighing in at 210g. It features a 5.5-inch 16:10 OLED 120Hz screen on the cover and a 7.6-inch 4:3 OLED 120Hz screen inside. The device is equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, 12GB of RAM, and storage options ranging from 256GB to 1TB. The phone comes in Graphite, Cream, Lavender, and Pistachio color options.
One of the most striking aspects of the Z Fold 8 is its compact and unique design. With a thickness of 4.3mm when unfolded and 9.7mm when closed, the phone is both lightweight and portable. The new bevelled edge and tweaked magnets make the folding process more seamless. Additionally, Samsung's innovative display manufacturing technique has significantly reduced the crease, making it nearly imperceptible.
The new screen technology also offers excellent brightness levels, reaching up to 3000 nits, which ensures clear visibility even in bright outdoor conditions. The cover display boasts a 16:10 aspect ratio, reminiscent of a laptop screen, while the inner screen maintains a 4:3 aspect ratio, resembling a retro TV or an iPad Mini. This unique aspect ratio allows the phone to excel in various scenarios, from watching TikToks and browsing websites to reading ebooks or comics in portrait mode and enjoying YouTube, movies, and gaming in landscape mode.
For those who appreciate classic TV shows and skate videos, the foldable's 4:3 aspect ratio is a dream come true, as it fills the entire screen without any black bars. Additionally, the phone's 4:3 screen is perfect for emulating old game consoles, providing an authentic gaming experience. Watching 16:9 content is also enjoyable, as the black bars are significantly smaller than on traditional foldable phones.
Written by urgent.news from Digital Camera World's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
