Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Review

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 is Samsung's most interesting foldable shake-up in years. Instead of the familiar tall, narrow candy-bar shape, it adopts a short-and-wide, passport-like form. The traditional tall design now lives on in the separate Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, which launched alongside it. Splitting the line this way gives buyers a real choice of shape rather than just a choice of spec tier.

The new shape pays off most when the phone is open. The inner display has a more media-friendly aspect ratio that cuts down on letterboxing, so video fills more of the screen. Reports also point to a significantly less visible crease than on earlier models. If your main reason for wanting a foldable is a small tablet in your pocket for films, streaming and reading, this is clearly the version Samsung designed for you.

It is not for everyone, though. The extra width makes one-handed use awkward, and at 9.7mm thick when closed it is still a chunky pocket companion. Photography fans should also note that this model gives up camera hardware compared with the Ultra. It starts at £1,699 / $1,899.99 / A$2,699 for 256GB, so it is aimed squarely at people who already know they want a foldable and value screen experience over camera versatility.

Judged on the information available, the Z Fold 8 earns a solid recommendation with some clear caveats. These are the reasons behind our rating:

• Media and display experience: The wider inner screen and reduced letterboxing are the headline benefits, and they match how many people actually use a foldable. A less obvious crease, which one review reported, would remove a long-standing annoyance.
• Endurance: A 16 hour 30 minute result in PCMag's battery test is a strong figure for a foldable. It suggests the bigger-screen experience doesn't come at the cost of all-day use. That comes from a single test, so we would treat it as encouraging rather than definitive.
• Longevity: It ships with Android 17 and One UI 9, with up to seven major Android upgrades reportedly promised. That is a reassuring commitment for a device this expensive.
• Cameras: This is the biggest compromise. There is no telephoto lens, and the camera setup is cut back compared with the Ultra. At this price, many buyers will see that as a real omission.
• Ergonomics: The passport shape is great when open but makes the closed phone harder to use with one hand. You trade some pocketability for the better unfolded experience.
• Value: The Z Fold 8 is £200 / $200 cheaper than the Ultra. That is a meaningful saving, but it is small enough that buyers who care about cameras may find the Ultra the more sensible stretch.

One caveat on our assessment: the supplied information doesn't cover real-world performance, thermal behaviour, charging, or detailed camera image quality. We can't judge those areas with confidence. Overall, the Z Fold 8 looks like a thoughtful rethink of the foldable for media lovers, held back by its price and camera cutbacks. That earns it a 4 out of 5.