Samsung Electronics’ new foldable phone, the Galaxy Z Fold 8, achieves the lightest form factor in the Fold series’ history at 201g. Its folded thickness is 9.7mm — slightly thicker than the previous Fold 7 (8.9mm folded) in exchange for widening the aspect ratio to 4:3. But after a week of hands-on use, the verdict is clear: the 4:3 main display, peak brightness of 3,000 nits, and low-reflectance coating deliver such an immersive content experience that it has been called an “IMAX in your hand” the moment you unfold it.
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 officially launched in South Korea on the 7th alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and Galaxy Z Flip 8. The entire Galaxy Z8 series racked up 1.44 million pre-orders — the highest ever for a Galaxy foldable — with the Fold 8 accounting for 70% of that total. Purchases by consumers in their teens and 20s and by women also increased compared with the previous generation.
A form factor as thin and light as a passport
The Fold 8’s biggest change is portability. At 201g and 9.7mm thick, it slides into tight jeans pockets without issue. Holding it for extended periods didn’t cause much strain, and the smooth finish gave the impression of holding a digital notebook or a passport.
However, the wider horizontal footprint made one-handed operation in the folded state somewhat cumbersome. Users with smaller hands had to use both hands for typing, and the shortened vertical screen ratio also affected grip. Fingers often landed near the rear camera lens when holding the device, and if a finger covered the lens during shooting, it could appear in photos or interfere with focusing.
Immersion driven by the 4:3 aspect ratio
The most striking aspect of the Fold 8 is its display. The 4:3 internal and 10:16 cover aspect ratios reduce the letterboxing that appears above and below video content. While margins vary depending on the source video’s native ratio, the overall impression was that content filled the screen far more completely. The front camera is also positioned as a punch-hole when unfolded, so it doesn’t meaningfully disrupt content viewing.
The aspect ratio’s advantages were even more pronounced when reading comics or playing games. On the cover screen, a single panel filled the display for focused reading; unfolded on the main screen, content appeared at a ratio similar to an actual comic book page, making it feel like reading a physical book. Gaming on the large screen also benefited from the wider horizontal view, with complex control buttons comfortably spaced across both sides of the display.
Samsung Electronics applied its Titanium Flex technology to the Fold 8’s display to enhance flexibility and durability. When viewed head-on, the crease at the folding point was barely noticeable. Peak brightness is 3,000 nits, and the low-reflectance coating kept the screen relatively legible even in bright outdoor sunlight.
Screen transitions have also become simpler. On previous Fold models, moving a video from the cover screen to the inner display sometimes required unfolding the device and then re-expanding the content. The Fold 8 automatically expands content to fit the inner screen with just the motion of unfolding the device.
The large screen’s advantages stood out in multitasking. Even when splitting the screen into two or three app windows, text size and readability in each window didn’t degrade significantly. It proved especially useful for viewing articles alongside stock charts, or for keeping reference materials and a notes app open side by side while working in the field.
The shortened vertical length, however, remained a drawback. On the cover screen, vertically long images or articles displayed less information per screen, requiring frequent scrolling. In chat apps, pulling up the keyboard left only four or five lines of conversation visible.
Camera and battery
The camera is a 50-megapixel dual setup (wide + ultra-wide) with no telephoto lens. Zooming in on distant subjects resulted in reduced detail, and low-light results were not particularly satisfying. On the plus side, the ability to immediately view captured shots in a panel on one side of the screen was convenient.
The large screen also enhanced photo viewing. The gallery displays photos across the wide display, making it feel like peering into a small picture frame. The dual recording feature allows simultaneous front and rear camera capture in a split-screen view, which appears highly useful for travel or vlog shooting.
Battery capacity is 4,800mAh. Even with continuous all-day use of YouTube, e-books, and other content, there was ample battery headroom. It supports 45W wired fast charging; in real-world use, the battery charged to over 70% in 30 minutes.
Z Flip 8: portability maximized, but ‘newness’ lacking
The Galaxy Z Flip 8, launched in the same lineup, is the lightest in the Z Flip series’ history at 180g. It sheds 8g from its predecessor, the Flip 7 (188g), and is even lighter than the standard bar-type Galaxy S26 Plus (190g). Thickness is 6.1mm unfolded and 13.1mm folded — among the thinnest in its class.
The Flip 8’s application processor (AP) is Samsung Electronics’ in-house chipset, the Exynos 2600. It is the only device among the new Galaxy foldables to feature an Exynos chip. The Fold 8 and Fold 8 Ultra are powered by Qualcomm’s flagship Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. The Exynos delivered solid performance, handling everyday use as well as demanding games without issue. With 12GB of RAM, apps rarely terminated even with multiple applications open simultaneously.
The external display’s utility has also expanded. Samsung Electronics introduced the “Flex Display” — an external screen that fills the entire front of the device — with the Flip 7, and applied the same design to the Flip 8. Users can arrange apps and widgets on the external display just like the phone’s home screen, checking schedules or messages without unfolding the device. However, the external screen measures just 10.5cm (4.1 inches), and with two cameras and a flash positioned at the bottom of the display, the amount of content shown is limited.
The Flip 8’s price is set at ₩1.68 million (approximately $1,200) for the 256GB model — up ₩198,000 (approximately $140) from its predecessor. The surge in RAM prices amid the memory semiconductor supply crunch is the primary driver of the increase. The exterior retains the Flip 7’s design, with only weight and thickness reduced, and all three front and rear cameras carry identical specs to the previous model. Charging speed also supports 25W fast charging, which feels somewhat inadequate given that smartphones with 60W-class charging are now on the market.
Galaxy Z8 series specs at a glance
The Fold 8, Fold 8 Ultra, and Flip 8 launched in the same lineup are clearly differentiated by weight, thickness, chipset, and price. Key specifications for the three models are as follows:
ItemGalaxy Z Fold 8Galaxy Z Fold 8 UltraGalaxy Z Flip 8Weight201g215g180gThickness (unfolded/folded)4.5mm / 9.7mm4.1mm / 8.9mm6.1mm / 13.1mmAPSnapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5Exynos 2600Rear camera50MP wide + 50MP ultra-wide (no telephoto)200MP wide + 50MP ultra-wide + 10MP telephoto (3x)50MP wide + 12MP ultra-wideBattery4,800mAh, 45W wired charging5,000mAh, 45W wired charging4,300mAh, 25W wired chargingLaunch price (256GB)₩2.28 million (approximately $1,600)₩2.58 million (approximately $1,900)₩1.68 million (approximately $1,200)
▲ The Fold 8 Ultra leads in weight, thinness, and camera performance, but the Fold 8 captured 70% of the series’ pre-orders on the strength of its wider 4:3 aspect ratio, lighter weight, and relatively lower price. (Source: Samsung Electronics official spec page, South Korean launch pricing)
What it means for the market
The Galaxy Z8 series’ 1.44 million pre-orders signal that foldable phones have moved beyond niche status into the mainstream market. The fact that the Fold 8 accounted for 70% of that total suggests consumers are willing to pay a premium for a large-screen experience that differentiates from conventional bar-type smartphones.
Market research firm Counterpoint Research projects global foldable phone shipments will grow 21% year-over-year in 2026, but expects Samsung Electronics’ market share to fall from 40% in 2025 to 32% as Apple launches its first foldable iPhone. Apple is forecast to enter the market in second place with a 25% share in its first year, narrowly edging out Huawei (24%).
Even amid intensifying competition, the growing share of purchases by consumers in their teens and 20s and by women is a notable shift. It signals that foldables are shedding the “dad phone” image and beginning to appeal to younger and female consumers. The passport-style form factor and reduced weight are seen as the primary drivers of this perception change.
That said, the Fold 8’s lack of a telephoto lens and the Flip 8’s marginal changes from its predecessor may leave some consumers wanting. For Samsung Electronics to sustain growth in a foldable market where competition is set to intensify with Apple’s entry, the company will likely need to continuously strengthen both hardware innovation and software experience differentiation.