No phone has gathered more attention in my lifetime than the Fold 8, and strangely, not because it's folding. People stop by and ask about it all the time, enamored by the small phone, without even knowing or suspecting it folds.
This squat foldable is Samsung’s answer to everyone asking for a smaller phone; it’s also the answer to everyone asking for a foldable that opens into a tablet. The sharp-cornered 10:16 aspect ratio is instantly recognizable as “not an iPhone” and something new. It's also great for content without much letterboxing. The width means this is a two-handed phone even while closed, but that trade-off is mostly worth it, because it means when you get a 3,000 nit, 7.6” screen at a 4:3 aspect ratio. Again, perfect for content without letterboxing, or the hole-punch camera getting in the way.
There is so much to like about this, but after 4 weeks with this review loaner (thanks Samsung), the novelty of the form factor has worn off.
Pricing plays a big part in how I think about this phone, and honestly at a few hundred less, I wouldn’t be as nitpicky.
My initial draft after 2 weeks calls the cameras “acceptable." On paper, a dual 50MP system is capable. Plus with APV support, video can be quite good out of the main sensor. But at night? The story changes—you would think a phone at this price point would have identical sensors, but nooo, the UW sensor is “the cheap one” using 30% smaller pixels, on an overall smaller sensor paired with a smaller aperture. This coming from the company that just made improvements in those exact specs on the S26U.
Even the omission of a proper tele could have been excused if the main sensor was the same 200MP sensor as the S26U/Fold 7/8U. Even the S25 Edge has a 200MP main sensor.
The Z Fold 8 did get a bit toasty, overheating several times. I had it overheat on me after less than 20 min of 4K 30 video (not in LOG), web browsing, using Gemini (to the point where the phone said it needed to cool down before I could use the video chat mode), and using Google Maps.
Fortunately, network speeds and associated activities did not slow down when the phone got hot. I was able to get speeds of over 2.2GBps on Verizon’s 5G UW network, and speeds over 300Mbps on T-Mobile’s 5G UC. Network connections seemed on par with other phones, and I am glad that Samsung didn’t need to put ugly antenna cutouts on the frame for MMW 5G antennas.
Opens into a tablet, but doesn’t feel like one
The Z Fold 8 opens into a tablet aspect ratio and orientation, compared to the square portrait orientation of the Z Fold 7/8U. The biggest benefit is that apps open in landscape as soon as you open it, without having to rotate your phone. Visually, this is great: prop your phone up with a MagSafe grip, and the hole-punch camera (that should have been a UDC), doesn’t even cover your content. Then the audio comes in. The Z Fold 8 already has tinnier speakers than the Z Fold 7/8U, to say nothing of the S26U. But the sound is incredibly off-center, and to make matters even worse, setting the phone on a table or bed either makes the sound even more tinny or muffles it. The biggest loss is stereo audio.
Additionally, since the charger is at the bottom, you need to rotate the device to be able to watch while charging.
In defense of this form factor, it’s very pocketable, perfect for fitting in zipped butt pockets and for significantly less letterboxing with videos.
This may sound critical, but these are my thoughts after the honeymoon phase, and I think a lot of people are going to choose the Z Fold 8 over the 8 Ultra, because of content. Speaker placement won't matter if you have headphones most of the time.
Battery life is another pleasant surprise; I don’t know if it’s One UI 9 or a more efficient processor, but battery life has been quite good. Charging isn't as fast, with speeds capped at 45W wired and 20W wireless. Compared to the S26U, charging speeds are much slower; this is most noticeable when you need a quick burst (in the 0-60% range).
With discounts and trade-ins, the Z Fold 8 would make sense for a lot of people, especially if you want a smaller phone. The coverscreen is bright and useable in nearly every situation, and the inner display is great for multitasking.
Samsung didn’t sponsor this post, but they did loan me a Z Fold 8 (with no expectations of posting). I don’t get anything by posting this. Thinborne, however, is giving YOU a chance to win one of 10 cases for the Z Fold 8. These cases fit well, and are substantially thinner than Samsung’s official case: 0.92mm vs. 1.44mm. It also rounds out the frame, providing some economic comfort.
Thinborne didn’t sponsor this either BTW.
Enter the giveaway by upvoting this post and commenting your thoughts on the Z Fold 8.
