The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Makes Folding Phones More Appealing Than Ever

7 min readDon’t let the number in the title fool you: The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 is the most innovative folding phone since the original created the category back in 2019. Rather than the tall “book-style” form factor of previous Galaxy Folds, it features an entirely new design that’s slimmer, shorter, and a bit wider—the shape looks like a passport, but thinner. Don’t worry folding phone fans: The old Galaxy Z Fold form factor is still around, if that’s your jam: It’s now called the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, and comes with big processor and camera upgrades. (Don’t worry, we’re testing now, and my review is coming soon.)But the new, passport-style Fold8 is the new standard in more ways than one. After nearly a week of testing, it is a huge step forward for the utility of folding phones, which have a history of awkward shapes and delicate constructions that require sensitive handling. This lighter, slightly smaller foldable feels much more functional in your hands and in your pocket. It may just be the first foldable that really delivers the original promise of the foldable displays—a fully functional smartphone on the go, with a mini-tablet hidden inside for when you’re hanging out, killing time.Of course, some of the folding phone’s historic issues remain: Its camera and processor do not quite keep pace with Samsung’s traditional Galaxy phones, and it costs more than the Galaxy S26 Ultra... Like a lot more. Still, this is a tremendous phone and incredibly exciting if, like me, you’ve been following the evolution of folding phones. The Z Fold8 is easily Samsung’s best foldable phone to date, and is hopefully going to act as the starting gun for a new folding phone design race.ProsSleek, pocketable, and super easy to handleSuperb everyday performanceStellar camera for a foldable phoneSeven years of guaranteed Android updatesKey SpecsChipQualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5DIsplay5.5-in. Dynamic AMOLED display with 120-Hz maximum refresh rate, 7.6-in. Dynamic AMOLED display (2,076 x 2,152 pixels)Camera50MP main, 50MP ultra-wide; 10 MP exterior selfie camera, 10 MP interior selfie cameraMemoryUp to 16 GB of RAM, up to 1 TB of storageConnectivity5G, Bluetooth 6.0, Wi-Fi 7OtherIP48 rating for water and dust resistanceFinding the Foldable Sweet SpotNormally, when we talk about what makes or breaks a smartphone, the difference comes down to something inside: A more powerful processor, an efficient battery, or some evolution in camera technology. In this case, the best, most innovative thing about the Fold8 is simply its size and shape. Measuring 81.9 by 123.9 by 9.7mm when folded, the passport shape is much easier to hold than any book- or flip-style rival, and more pleasing to look at. And at a feather above seven ounces, it’s incredibly lightweight for a 2-in-1 device.Stefan VazharovThe Fold8 is a brand new design with a brand shape.It helps a lot that Samsung has dramatically improved the closed-screen experience. The Fold8 features a nearly end-to-end 5.5-inch AMOLED cover screen, with a 16:10 aspect ratio. Unlike Samsung’s other foldable phones, which have small external displays designed to just show the time or take selfies, the much bigger cover screen feels fully functional.I could comfortably type anything on the Galaxy Z Fold8, from short messages to long email replies, with two hands, at the same speed as on a conventional phone. Likewise, I felt comfortable interfacing with just about any app, doing any task I’d handle day to day. And that’s wildly important, because while you buy a folding phone for the inner display, the reality is that you always want to use it. And this is the first folding phone where I really never felt like I had to, particularly when typing longer emails and creating this review. In fact, having a smaller phone that I could handle one-handed on the go was immensely satisfying—it reminded me of using an iPhone Mini.Stefan VazharovUsing the larger inner screen feels like using a tablet, which makes it perfect for reading, working, and watching.That said, unfolding the phone is also a great time. The 7.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED inner screen has a 4:3 aspect ratio, which seems somewhat square at a glance, but ultimately looks and feels just like a standard tablet. The display feels more natural than the book-style inner screen of previous Folds, which had awkward ratios that led most apps and streaming services to add large corrective black bars to force a usable aspect ratio for their content. With the Fold8, most apps and video run without any adjustments. (It happened a couple of times, but even then, the bars were much smaller.) You’d be surprised how much having a natural shape that both feels good in-hand and plays nice with your apps enhances the immersion of just about anything you do on your phone.And It’s Made to Be Used, Not OgledSimilarly, the Fold8 finally feels like a phone I could carry all the time without worrying that any part of it might break. By introducing a titanium alloy film into its display, as well as a titanium plate underneath it, the phone is a bit more durable, both while open and closed, despite being impossibly thin.Stefan VazharovThe Fold8 is very slim, but still feels solid and durable.The hinge, which opens with a very satisfying click, also feels firm and stable, which is reassuring when you’re regularly flexing it day in and day out. The hinge mechanism still creates a crease in the inner display, but I found that it wasn’t distracting. (That said, I’ve also used a lot of these phones; it may take a little getting used to if you’re a first-timer.)It’s also somewhat dust- and water-resistant (IP48), but that’s no different than the Fold7. It’s fine by folding phone standards, but still lags behind a standard smartphone. And, overall, I’d still say this phone is not for folks with slippery fingers: There are still a lot of very small moving parts that can break if you aren’t careful.Outstanding All-Around PerformanceWhile the Fold8 doesn’t have Galaxy Ultra-level internals, it does feel like a strong step up for the foldable line, which traditionally lags behind Samsung’s conventional phones in the performance department. Equipped with a bespoke, more capable version of Qualcomm’s range-topping Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip and 12 gigabytes of RAM (or more in the premium 1-terabyte hard drive model), the Fold8 is genuinely fast, and on par with this year’s industry-leading Galaxy S26 lineup in terms of graphics and processing power.It conquered every task I threw at it—from toggling between 10 and 15 open apps to running console-grade games like Grid: Legends and Red Dead Redemption—without even a hint of lag. It also excelled when I tested its facility with AI tasks. When I asked Google Gemini random questions, I got fast answers. And it could summarize articles or break down an email into bullet points without slowing me down during my day.And its battery life is very solid. While it's smaller than what you get from the S26 Ultra, I found the 4,800 mAh battery got me through each day without needing a top-off. When I did charge up, its wired and wireless charging speeds were stellar, if not fully on par with the Galaxy S26 Ultra.The Camera Is Better, But Still a Weak LinkThe dual 50-megapixel camera of the Z Fold8 is highly capable and super versatile. I was able to capture some beautiful photos throughout testing week, indoors and out, and in both bright and low-light scenes. Likewise, the cover screen also made it easy to take excellent selfies with the primary camera rather than the interior screen’s 10-megapixel camera, which is fine for video calls, but may not deliver sharp, post-worthy images.Camera SamplesThat said, it is not a top-tier phone camera. The camera stack lacks a third telephoto lens, which enables better zoom performance and macro photography. This is not uncommon among folding phones—see my review on the 2026 Razr Fold, for example—but it is reason enough for content creators and photo nerds to think twice about switching. Camera heads who want a folding phone should consider spending a little more on the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, which has that third camera and ticks all the same boxes as a conventional flagship.Other Things I LikedI tip my hat to Samsung for launching the Galaxy Z Fold8 running Android 17—the latest version of the platform—out of the box. The tech giant’s One UI 9 custom interface makes it easy for anyone to tap into the phone’s vast AI capabilities, including those who are just getting started with agentic assistants. You’ll also get six months’ worth of Google’s AI Pro subscription with the phone.And I really liked having a side-mounted fingerprint sensor. Using my pointer finger to unlock the cover screen or make a payment felt really natural. Yet again, having a phone that fits into your life is ultimately just as important as having a big screen to watch movies.Should You Upgrade to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8?Stefan VazharovThe new Samsung Galaxy Fold8 lineup features three phones: The Galaxy Fold8 Ultra (left) takes the original Fold design and amps up the tech inside. The Flip8 (right) gives you that retro-futuristic flip phone feel. The new Galaxy Fold8 (center) is a balanced, practical choice.Honestly, if you’ve been thinking about buying a folding phone, now’s the time. The Z Fold8’s refined design really lets you see and feel what this kind of device has to offer. It’s comfortable to use, delivers great performance, and is ready for the long haul with seven years of planned security updates. Even its weak links are relative: You don’t have a telephoto lens, sure, but most photos taken up close or from a few steps away look excellent, regardless of lighting.The only hang-up here, as with every Samsung and Google folding phone, is price. At $1,900, this is a serious splurge. And it’s hard to keep arguing that foldable displays command a “cutting-edge” price after so many years. And yet, I really think this is the first time I’d push someone who was on the fence about using one of these phones to try one.Shop Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8Stefan is an award-winning consumer technology editor with over a decade of experience in reviewing gadgets, particularly smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, desktop and laptop computers across multiple form factors and platforms, as well as accessories for them. He also covers televisions and audio equipment, including headphones, earbuds, wireless speakers, and soundbars. Since joining Hearst in 2015, Stefan has contributed to BestProducts, Popular Mechanics, and numerous other publications. Prior to his current role, he served as the US Editor for GSMArena.com.Mike Epstein is a Senior Commerce Editor at Hearst Enthusiast Group, producing reviews for buying guides Popular Mechanics, Runner’s World, Bicycling, and Best Products. Prior to joining Hearst, he was a video game and technology critic for over 10 years, with bylines at IGN, Gamespot, Variety, Lifehacker, Kotaku, GamesRadar, Flavorwire and Digital Trends, among others. Now, he’s a jack of all trades, helping reviewers share everything they know about all kinds of technical gear, from snowblowers, to running shoes and bicycles, and every kind of gadget imaginable.