The most significant practical change may be the cover screen. The Fold8 features a nearly edge-to-edge 5.5-inch AMOLED external display with a 16:10 aspect ratio. Previous Samsung foldables used smaller external screens intended mainly for checking the time or taking quick selfies, but the reviewer reported that the larger cover screen felt fully functional for everyday tasks. Typing short messages and long email replies with two hands was comfortable and fast enough to match a conventional phone, and the reviewer noted that the compact folded size reminded them of using an iPhone Mini.
Inner Display Shifts to a 4:3 Tablet Ratio
Unfolded, the device reveals a 7.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED inner screen with a 4:3 aspect ratio. The reviewer found this shape more natural than the awkward ratios on earlier Fold models, which often forced apps and streaming services to insert large black bars to correct the aspect ratio. Most apps and video on the Fold8 ran without such adjustments, and when bars did appear they were smaller. The display is protected by a titanium alloy film and backed by a titanium plate, a construction change that the reviewer said made the device feel more durable both open and closed despite its thin profile.
Hinge, Crease, and Durability Ratings
The hinge opens with a firm, stable click, according to the review. A crease remains visible on the inner display, but the reviewer found it non-distracting during use, though they noted that first-time foldable users may need a short adjustment period. The device carries an IP48 rating for dust and water resistance, unchanged from the previous generation. The reviewer cautioned that the phone still contains many small moving parts and is not ideal for users prone to dropping their devices.
Performance and Battery Life
The Fold8 uses a bespoke, higher-performing version of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip paired with 12 gigabytes of RAM, with additional RAM in the 1-terabyte storage variant. During testing, the device handled toggling between 10 and 15 open apps and ran console-grade titles including Grid: Legends and Red Dead Redemption without lag. AI tasks such as querying Google Gemini, summarizing articles, and breaking emails into bullet points also ran quickly. The 4,800 mAh battery lasted through each day of testing without requiring a mid-day charge. Wired and wireless charging speeds were described as stellar, though not fully matching the Galaxy S26 Ultra.
Camera System Lacks a Telephoto Lens
The rear camera array consists of dual 50-megapixel sensors. The reviewer captured photos indoors and outdoors in both bright and low-light conditions and described the results as beautiful. The cover screen enables selfies using the primary cameras rather than the 10-megapixel interior screen camera, which the reviewer said is adequate for video calls but may not produce sharp images suitable for sharing. The absence of a third telephoto lens means zoom performance and macro photography lag behind conventional flagships. Users who prioritize camera versatility were directed toward the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, which retains the triple-camera setup.
Software, Security, and Included Services
The device ships with Android 17 and Samsung’s One UI 9 interface. Samsung includes six months of Google’s AI Pro subscription with the purchase. A side-mounted fingerprint sensor is positioned for natural unlocking with a pointer finger. Samsung has committed to seven years of planned security updates for the device.
Pricing and Positioning
The Galaxy Z Fold8 is priced at $1,900. The reviewer noted that this remains a significant premium over conventional smartphones and that after several years of foldable development, the cutting-edge surcharge is harder to justify. Still, the review concluded that the redesigned shape makes this the first Samsung foldable that genuinely delivers on the original promise of a fully functional smartphone that conceals a mini-tablet inside.
Source: Popular Mechanics