Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8 Review: The Littlest Smartphone That Could

Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip8 is a compact smartphone that excels in being lightweight and easy to carry. This iteration is the lightest and slimmest in its class, boasting a newer Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, 12 GB of RAM, and 256 GB of storage. The improved hinge makes the crease less noticeable and easier to open, while the IP48 rating offers some protection against dust and water damage.

The flip phone comes in several color options, including pink, graphite, cream, and mint. Despite having a small 4.1-inch AMOLED display on the outside and a larger 6.9-inch main display on the inside, the screens offer good brightness and excellent readability outdoors. Both screens support variable refresh rates from 1 to 120 Hz, contributing to better battery life.

Performance is generally excellent, with no noticeable lag or stuttering, even when jumping between apps, using the camera, or gaming. However, the phone may heat up during extended gaming sessions, which could throttle the processor. Connectivity features include 5G, Wi-Fi 7, and Bluetooth 5.4, but no ultra-wideband (UWB) support. Battery life is average, with a 4,300-mAh silicon-carbon battery, which may require a power bank for heavy usage.

The Z Flip8's camera system, featuring a 50-megapixel main shooter, provides decent photo quality in most situations, although it falls short of some competitors. The ultrawide and selfie cameras offer passable results, and the Horizon Lock feature helps stabilize videos. Samsung's AI features, such as My FanCam and Now Brief, enhance the user experience when capturing and sharing videos.

Despite the phone's strengths, the cover screen, or FlexWindow, is a weak point in the Z Flip8. Although more apps are available, including popular choices like YouTube, Netflix, and Google Maps, the setup process for using third-party apps is convoluted and not entirely user-friendly. The inclusion of bloatware on the device is another drawback, especially considering the phone's relatively high price.