Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Review: Bigger Changes, Bigger Compromises

Samsung has once again placed greater emphasis on its book-style foldable during its July Unpacked event, specifically with the Galaxy Z Fold8. This should come as a surprise to no one, especially since the phone has received a new, passport-sized redesign. I was also given the opportunity to put it through its paces for this review.

While it might not be the best foldable for everyone due to its form factor, I found that it still has its fair share of pros and cons after using it as my daily driver for the better part of a month. Some aspects arguably feel like direct upgrades when compared to its Ultra counterpart. While others feel like they were intentionally left out to better justify buying the Ultra. And then there are times when you can feel the consequences of Samsung opting for a 4:3 aspect ratio.

What Am I Looking At?

Right off the bat, the device is obviously a lot shorter and wider than its Z Fold8 Ultra sibling. However, if you look past that, then you might notice that the device shares a lot more similarities than you realise. 

The Galaxy Z Fold8 carries on its predecessor’s legacy of being an incredibly thin and light device. It weighs no more than 201g, which allows it to easily slip in and disappear in your pocket even if you’re wearing tight pants.

Though it may not feel like the most premium device in the lineup, the Samsung foldable is still packing a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen5 5 SoC, 12GB of RAM, and a 4,800mAh battery. The biggest difference on the device’s rear is that it only has two cameras: a 50MP wide sensor and a 50MP ultrawide lens. Meanwhile, the selfie cameras found in the internal and external displays are 10MP snappers.

Speaking of displays, the device comes with a 5.5-inch external display and a 7.6-inch internal display, both of which use an LTPO AMOLED 2X panel. Only the exterior screen has Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic 3 protection.

What’s Good About it?

Despite its width, the phone doesn’t feel cumbersome in the hand. The buttons are easy to reach, while the fingerprint sensor is especially responsive. As mentioned earlier, the device is incredibly lightweight. It is so lightweight, in fact, that I could hardly feel it in my pocket, which may be a good or bad thing depending on who you ask.

Unfolded, the phone transforms into a mini tablet and performs surprisingly well in most situations. Starting with its physical aspects, the Galaxy Z Fold8 distributes its weight evenly across both halves of the device, and it’s light enough that it never feels uncomfortable in the hand. While the phone doesn’t have any obvious grooves to help open it up, I never struggled when folding or unfolding it.

Of course, one of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8’s core strengths is its ability to function as a handy multitasking device. Like before, you can easily add and operate up to three apps at a time. Using the device while it’s unfolded is also quite nice, as you can hardly see or feel the crease in the middle of the screen, thanks to the improved hinge.

Let’s talk about the aspect ratio. One of the biggest drawbacks of watching videos on a standard book-style foldable is the presence of large black bars. This isn’t as much of a problem on the Galaxy Z Fold8, thanks to its 4:3 aspect ratio when unfolded. This gives videos more room while also reducing the amount of black space on the screen.

I’d also like to point out that gaming on this device is surprisingly pleasant. Thanks to the wide aspect ratio, my hands don’t cramp up even after I’ve played Warframe on it for an extended period of time. If anything, it feels like I’m playing on a very thin 3DS.

On that note, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 performs admirably without any issues, thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. There was never a moment when it felt like the phone was slowing down, even when I was gaming, browsing, streaming, or doing all three simultaneously.

Camera And Sample Images

As noted earlier, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 only comes with two rear cameras: a 50MP wide-angle and a 50MP ultrawide. Meanwhile, both the internal and external displays are equipped with the same 10MP selfie camera. Personally, I have mixed feelings about the phone’s imaging capabilities, as it feels like the tech giant intentionally held back in this department.

Starting with the positives, the phone takes great photos. Images come out vivid and detailed, especially in well-lit conditions. Portrait mode is particularly nice on this phone as well, as subjects are highlighted nicely while the bokeh never comes across as too harsh. This is one of the better camera systems when it comes to capturing people, and the same can be said for the 10MP selfie camera.

However, as I said, it feels like Samsung held back on this device. One of the foldable’s glaring shortcomings is the lack of a telephoto lens, which immediately weakens its ability to capture long-distance photos. Given the phone’s size, it makes sense why the tech giant opted not to include one, but you can definitely feel the impact of not having that extra lens.

The phone is still able to retain plenty of detail at up to 2x zoom. However, push anything beyond that, and you’ll start to see a drastic dip in quality. The phone leverages AI to preserve as much detail as possible, but it can only do so much.

The same argument applies to night photography. Without zooming in, the camera system is passable. Again, AI does a lot of the heavy lifting to make images appear brighter. However, the flaws become almost impossible to hide once you start zooming in. More often than not, photos become incredibly grainy at higher zoom levels.

Sample Photos

What’s The Catch?

While the device’s width is its main selling point and how some may find it endearing, I’d like to argue that this unique form factor introduces its own kind of setbacks. One thing I immediately noticed is that, despite having fairly large hands, one-handed operation tends to be a wee bit problematic due to its size. More often than not, I end up pressing something else or accidentally closing the app I’m using. I frequently find myself using both hands with the device, even when it’s unfolded.

I’d also like to point out that the phone has a smooth glass back, which gives it a nice premium feel in the hand. However, it is also incredibly slick, and not in a good way. This is another reason why I wouldn’t recommend using the phone one-handed, as there have been several instances where the device nearly slipped out of my hand. If you do insist on using it with one hand, however, I’d advise getting a durable case that can provide a good grip.

Another detail worth pointing out is that, because the phone is shorter than usual, most MagSafe accessories don’t work particularly well with it. Further, the lack of built-in magnets only adds insult to injury.

One of my personal gripes with the device is the hinge and how it doesn’t come with Flex mode. Personally, I feel like this was an unnecessary omission on Samsung’s part. As such, I have no choice but to settle for a 35-degree angle or have it fully unfolded — there’s no in-between. Tent mode still works, but you need to strike a delicate balance to achieve your preferred viewing angle.

On that note, while I praised how much I like watching videos on the internal screen, I actively avoid scrolling through social media or using any other app. This is because many apps aren’t designed to support a phone with a 4:3 aspect ratio. As a result, many of these apps simply break or struggle to work optimally.

To put things in perspective, there have been a few instances where Instagram Reels wouldn’t play unless I tapped on them again, while apps like Facebook leave a lot of blank space on the screen. The workaround for the latter is to simply shrink the app so that it looks like it’s running on a standard smartphone, but that defeats the purpose of unfolding the device in the first place. Also, much like the Ultra, the speakers are only one side of the foldable. This creates a very unbalanced listening experience when you are not using any earphones.

Moving on. While I praised the Z Fold8’s performance earlier, it’s not entirely perfect One flaw I did notice with the device was how it handled heat. Whether I was gaming, streaming, or benchmarking, the foldable quickly warmed up in my hand, doubly so when unfolded. While the phone never reached worrying temperatures, I wish Samsung had done more to prevent the phone from heating up as quickly as it did.

Moving on, we have the battery. For your reference, the device comes with a 4,800mAh battery. While this is a significant bump over last year’s Galaxy Z Fold7 and its 4,400mAh battery, the Fold8 doesn’t last as long as you might expect. During our continuous video playback test, the device lasted around nine hours and 30 minutes on the internal display, while the external screen just barely made it past 10 hours.

As my daily driver, I was able to squeeze out roughly a day and a half of use before needing a charge. All in all, I’d say this is quite disappointing, especially considering the supposed improvements in battery capacity. If it’s any consolation, the battery does support 45W wired charging, which should top up the device in under an hour. That said, that might be cold comfort for some.

Competition

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7

In the event you want a Samsung foldable but don’t go for the Ultra variant, you have the Galaxy Z Fold7. All things considered, the predecessor still offers a respectable level of performance but with a bigger screen and a telephoto camera. Plus, it is a viable option for those who aren’t comfortable with or interested in adopting the wide smartphone. Price-wise, the Galaxy Z Fold7 had a launch price of RM7,799.

Conclusion

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 is a great phone that carries on the Fold7’s slim design with a new form factor. Despite its appearance, the device is surprisingly rugged in the hand, thanks to its metal-and-glass chassis. Needless to say, its unique aspect ratio provides a different viewing experience for video streaming and gaming without compromising on productivity. As such, it’s a handset worth considering, especially for those who want something new or are looking to get their first foldable.

Thinking about it, this proves that the company isn’t afraid to introduce major changes to its established lineup. However, needless to say, these big changes come with bigger compromises. For some, the device may feel too wide, making it difficult to operate with just one hand. Furthermore, some apps appear critically broken because they aren’t optimised for such a unique shape. It also doesn’t help that it has a starting price of RM7,299 — almost similar to last year’s Galaxy Z Fold7.

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Take a closer look at both the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 and Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra. Do look forward to our reviews, coming soon to our website at Lowyat.NET. Which Galaxy Z Fold8 model is your favourite? #SamsungGalaxyZFold8 #GalaxyZFold8Ultra #SamsungMalaysia #GalaxyFoldables #Tech

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I can’t help but feel that Samsung intentionally held back in some aspects of this device. While its unique shape might limit internal space, the lack of a telephoto camera hurts the foldable in more ways than one. Meanwhile, omitting Flex mode feels entirely unnecessary.