Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 review: Bending ‘passport phone’ is 2026’s most interesting mobile & it’s LIGHTER than my iPhone

BEHOLD, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 – possibly the most interesting phone 2026 so far. And I say that in the same year that Honor released a mad phone with a built-in robotic arm. Yes, really. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 is a beautiful and impressive device Credit: Sean Keach It folds open to reveal a tablet-sized display inside Credit: Sean Keach What is the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8? This is one of three new foldable phones added to Samsung’s line-up. It’s interesting for a couple of reasons. Sign up for the Tech newsletter Thank you! The first is that Samsung clearly hasn’t settled on one shape. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, £1,699 All three of the new foldables have different shapes, from old school flip phone (Z Flip 8), to more traditional vertical smartphone (Z Fold 8 Ultra), to this passport-style shape on the Z Fold 8. Samsung’s first foldable phone came out all the way back in 2019, so there’s a decent bit of experience here. And yet Samsung clearly hasn’t settled on a single design, which is very different from regular smartphones, which generally all look the same. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 design – a stunning remake Secondly, this design is arguably the most different we’ve seen from phones of the past. Most read in Tech And actually, I think it’s the most compelling. When you’re using it as a regular phone, you can easily reach all corners of the screen. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 folds down neatly into a passport shape Credit: Sean Keach The cover display is a great size that’s easy to use Credit: Sean Keach It fits so easily in your pocket, better even than the Z Fold 8 Ultra. And when you open it up, it’s a large and perfectly manageable miniature tablet. Google’s own foldable device uses a similar design, and I’d be very surprised if Apple’s long-rumoured iPhone Ultra doesn’t follow suit this September. I think Samsung has cracked the design here, and I’m a massive fan.Anyway, enough about the vision. What does it do, and is it any good? The whole point of foldable phones is that you get a mobile and a tablet in one. This particular model has an enormous 7.6-inch inner display and a 5.5-inch cover screen. They’re both high-quality, bright, and colourful – and the inner screen is, notably, lacking a crease when viewed from most normal angles. Bravo. It’s lightweight at 201 grams. That’s lighter than my iPhone 17 Pro Max, which doesn’t fold and weighs 233 grams. It’s also strikingly thin at just 4.5mm. That’s beefier than the 4.1mm Ultra model, but still far thinner than almost all phones on the market. I’m trying it out in a lovely lavender colour option, but all the paint jobs look pretty good. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 specs – true powerhouse There’s a dual 50-megapixel camera set-up that is very capable, and feels suitably high-end given that this is a £1,699 device. And you have the benefit of having a cover display, so you can use the phone’s main camera for selfies (as you can still see your face even when the rear snapper is pointing at you). Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 – the key specs Here's what you need to know... Inner Display: 7.6 inches Cover Display: 5.5 inches Thickness: 4.5 mm Weight: 201 grams (7.09 oz) Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite (Gen 5) Cameras: Dual 50-megapixel camera setup Battery: 4,800 mAh Battery Life: Up to 26 hours of video playback Charging: 45W fast charging (over 60% in ~30 minutes) Price: £1,699 It’s powered by Qualcomm’s speedy Snapdragon 8 Elite (Gen 5) chipset, which is the same processor inside the pricier Ultra model. You’ll have no problem gaming on this, and the device feels snappy even with multiple apps on the go. Battery life is officially listed at 26 hours for video playback (courtesy of a 4,800mAh cell). I didn’t spend 26 hours straight watching video, but I did find that the device gets through a full day of regular use without issue. And the good news is that it supports very speedy 45W charging, which gets you north of 60% battery in about 30 minutes. There are some AI features, which you can use or totally ignore – it’s up to you. Possibly the most useful once is something called My FanCam, which looks at your videos and automatically crops and tracks a subject for social posting. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 has a hinge that allows it to bend – but the crease isn’t visible during normal use Credit: Sean Keach You can easily fit multiple apps on the screen Credit: Sean Keach It’s quite handy if you like chucking fun clips up on TikTok or Instagram. And there’s a camera feature that lets you record both you and what’s in front of you at the same time. It’s great for reaction clips. But AI likely isn’t why you’re buying this phone. It’s the bending bit you’re after. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 – should you buy it? So what are the main benefits of a foldable phone? Because that’s the real question here. You need to ask yourself if you’re willing to pay many hundreds of pounds more for your phone to bend. And there are some real perks. I’ve already mentioned the fact that you can use the main camera for selfies while still viewing a screen, which normally isn’t possible. On top of that, you have the option of using a much bigger display than normal, which is great for movies or gaming, or just reading. But the other big benefit is that the larger display offers true multitasking. You really can run multiple apps at once, like your chat app and a web browser. If you have the cash to spare, this is a great device that will amaze you and everyone that sees you using it. That’s worth something. The Sun says: A brilliant and mature foldable phone that shows we can still make massive changes to smartphone design successfully. This is a glimpse at what’s next, except it’s not next, it’s now. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 – contract deals There’s a dual 50-megapixel camera setup Credit: Sean Keach The device manages to stay relatively thin even when closed over Credit: Sean Keach All prices in this article were correct at the time of writing, but may have since changed. Always do your own research before making any purchase. Comment now