Shorter, wider and lighter, the first Fold that is genuinely easy to carry and genuinely good to read on.
Our score: 8.5 / 10
At a glance
| Spec | Detail |
|---|
| Folded | Normal-phone proportions, 5.5-inch cover screen |
| Unfolded | 7.6-inch 4:3 AMOLED, 120Hz |
| Weight | Around 201 g |
| Cameras | Dual 50MP (no telephoto) |
| Battery | 4800 mAh |
| Rating | IP48 |
The shape is the story
Samsung rethought the proportions. The Z Fold8 is shorter and wider than every Fold before it, which sounds trivial and is not. Closed, it behaves like a normal phone, the 5.5-inch cover screen is finally a display you can actually type on. Open, the 4:3 inner panel is a much better tablet than the tall, narrow screens of older Folds: better for reading, better for documents, better for video.
At around 201 grams it is lighter than some slab flagships. The crease is fainter than before, and the hinge folds flat.
The camera is the compromise
To hit that weight and hold the price at $1,799, Samsung dropped the telephoto. The dual 50MP setup takes good photos but cannot reach. If the camera is non-negotiable, the Fold8 Ultra adds a 200MP main and a 3x telephoto for $300 more and 14 extra grams.
The good and the bad
What works
- The 4:3 inner screen is far better for reading and video
- A cover screen you can genuinely use closed
- 201 g, lighter than some regular phones
- IP48 rating
What doesn’t
- No telephoto lens
- 4800 mAh battery is merely okay
- Still $1,799
- Inner-screen crease is still visible
Who it’s for
Buy it if you have wanted a book-style foldable but found previous models too tall, heavy or awkward.
Skip it if you need the best possible camera in your foldable, or you want two-day battery life.
Alternatives worth a look
- Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, the full camera system, a bigger screen and battery, for $300 more.
- Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold, cleaner software and better point-and-shoot photos.
- Galaxy Z Flip8, if you want a compact clamshell instead of a mini-tablet.
The verdict: The Fold to buy if previous Folds felt like too much phone. The camera cut is the price of finally getting the ergonomics right.
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