After a month with the Galaxy Z Fold 8, each different Android telephone feels incorrect

I’ve had the Galaxy Z Fold 8 for practically a month now, and I’ve purposely prevented utilizing every other telephone throughout that point. I had excessive hopes — and expectations — for the telephone even earlier than its launch, primarily as a result of I’ve lengthy needed to make use of small telephones that don’t really feel sub-premium. What I didn’t count on was how laborious it will hit me to change again to a “common” telephone.

Each second I’ve spent with the Fold 8 has modified my notion of what a telephone ought to really feel like within the hand. Slightly than considering of the Fold 8 in phrases resembling “brief,” “stout,” or “large,” I’ve come to really feel that each different telephone is just too tall and unwieldy. For that motive, I don’t see myself (willingly) giving up the Fold 8 — or returning to telephones with shows larger than 6.7 inches, which, sadly, has turn out to be the norm for a flagship Android expertise.

Earlier than I dive into my causes intimately, I’d love so that you can inform me what you consider the Fold 8’s form.

I don’t think about myself a foldable novice; I’ve used most Samsung foldables through the years and have seen them progress from distinctive and groundbreaking to commonplace, even in non-tech-concentrated environment close to me. So, once I was mentally making ready to make use of the Galaxy Z Fold 8, I wasn’t guided by the truth that it was “simply one other folding telephone.”

As a substitute, the compass that sparked my curiosity and a robust need to make use of the Fold was its new form. As I wrote above, I had excessive expectations for the squatter design to fulfill my wants for leisure, studying, and web looking with out awkward banding or scaling points of standard book-style foldable — whereas nonetheless folding again right into a compact bundle that matches simply in my pocket.

And I’m extraordinarily happy that the Fold 8 has delivered precisely what I hoped for, and I really feel so due to just a few causes. For one, I’m not a fan of watching long-form movies, exhibits, or films on tiny screens (and I’ve been making an attempt to chop again on my urge for food for short-form content material anyway). So my go-to machine for watching content material beforehand, for instances once I’m not rotting in entrance of the TV, could be a pill or an 11-inch iPad Professional. At instances, that may really feel jarring due to the majority and dimensions, which completely require utilizing each fingers should you plan to maintain holding the iPad.

An iPad Mini, maybe, could be a greater match for this use case. But when I am going that route, it turns into “the opposite machine” I’ve to hold alongside my telephone, not one thing I can use to exchange it. One other viable candidate for this position could be a typical book-style foldable, however regardless of the a number of generations of Folds from Samsung, or different manufacturers resembling OnePlus, vivo, and even underdogs like TECNO that I’ve used, I’ve by no means grown keen on empty black bands on either side of a video being performed.

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 addresses these considerations about banding and optimum use of house throughout each screens, and I appreciated that from the get-go.

Another excuse the Galaxy Z Fold earns my utter respect is the interior display, which makes studying extra gratifying. When unfolded, the display mimics the form and dimension of a daily novel — or perhaps a Kindle — which immediately makes it really feel just like the pure solution to learn. And whereas a Kindle completely serves that goal, its cell apps provide one function that an precise e-reader doesn’t — vertical scrolling. The power considerably boosts studying with out interruptions, particularly for minds like mine which can be attuned to vertical scrolling

In the meantime, the Fold 8, when folded again, makes for an ideal small telephone. It suits properly within the fingers, permits for easy scrolling, and reaches the farthest keys on the keyboard. Reaching the highest edge to increase notifications or fast settings doesn’t mechanically induce nervousness in regards to the telephone probably falling out of the hand — even with a case put in. And that’s such a safe feeling that I hardly ever really feel with different gadgets.

Compared, the Xiaomi 17 Extremely or the OnePlus 15, my earlier day by day drivers, fulfill my wants for leisure and efficiency. What they don’t provide is the consolation of protecting only one hand engaged.

However past that, the sensation that retains coming again is how tall these telephones really feel — and that’s one thing I hadn’t imagined earlier or ready for. Earlier than I used the Fold 8, I anticipated it to be shorter than common telephones. As a substitute, it redefined what “common” telephone peak is for me. Each time I swap from the Fold 8 to a different machine, I can’t assist however discover that telephone is just too lengthy — or be reminded of the unusually tall Motorola telephones from the One collection.

That fleeting feeling lasts only some seconds, nevertheless it’s like a relentless reminder that telephones may be helpful with out being humongous. Fewer manufacturers actually perceive that, and I’m glad we’re lastly seeing a resurgence of Android telephones that aren’t huge but provide the identical specs. Samsung can also be anticipated to carry again a smaller Extremely-grade flagship within the type of the Galaxy S27 Professional for individuals who don’t need foldables.

However whereas I like the expertise now, all the love didn’t include some preliminary work on this relationship.

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 reworked my notion of what a telephone ought to feel and look like. After a month with the telephone, the broader side ratio feels extra gratifying than any regular-sized slab telephone. I’m glad I can securely grip the Fold 8 with one hand and preserve my different hand free for multitasking (whereas partaking with the bodily world).

However on the similar time, the Fold 8 has reshaped quite a lot of my muscle-memory habits. Getting used to the form, particularly the interior display, got here with some preliminary friction. Whereas utilizing the Fold 8 unfolded and held in portrait mode — which I do quite a bit — I initially struggled to achieve the ability or quantity buttons instinctively. It’s most likely as a result of I couldn’t instantly register that this wasn’t a typical telephone and subsequently anticipated these buttons to be on the fitting edge, not on the prime or backside.

It’s the identical feeling as continuously alternating between autos with a handbook and an automated gearbox — or perhaps a left-hand drive and a right-hand drive — and watching your mind glitch in actual time.

That friction, fortunately, has subsided as I spend extra time with the Fold 8, and I now not discover myself grappling with button placement. It’s one other micro-skill mastered, not a behavior actually modified.

I nonetheless really feel a bit downcast that sure much less standard apps nonetheless don’t adapt properly to the display, however there’s a promising shift from larger builders, together with Meta. And whereas I hate to credit score an iPhone for it, the iPhone Duo’s arrival means extra builders might be eagerly adapting their apps to this format

This one’s a bit private and should not attraction to everybody, however I dearly miss BlackBerry telephones. I purchased a used Curve briefly earlier than the corporate  — and earlier than that, a Nokia X2-01, just because I used to be so enthusiastic about the QWERTY keyboard

Newer telephones, irrespective of how thrilling or novel they really feel, don’t provide an identical expertise. However I’ve discovered the Galaxy Z Fold 8 to come back uncannily shut.

Typing on the Fold 8 — after some changes to Gboard’s peak — oddly evokes the feeling of typing on a keyboard. In fact, the touchscreen can by no means match the tactile supremacy of a bodily keyboard; the Fold 8 delivers a part of the expertise, because of the display’s dimension and form when the keyboard is expanded.

So, utilizing the Fold 8 isn’t just handy for single-hand typing, but in addition exceptionally gripping with each fingers.

I’m not overstating it once I say this, however I’m awestruck by the Fold 8. After reviewing a number of dozens of gadgets at launch, this one feels probably the most satisfying, regardless of its quirks and the preliminary studying curve. And I don’t see my fascination ending quickly.

What I’ve witnessed vanish, in the meantime, is my understanding that solely colossal telephones truly fulfill one’s want for premium expertise. The Fold 8 is well one of many telephones I place within the highest tier amongst all gadgets I’ve used over a number of years. Maybe the final telephone that actually made me really feel this excited was the Galaxy Z Flip 3 (for being the primary Flip with a really usable outer display). Whereas I can respect different telephones that provide wonderful cameras, superfast charging, or multi-day batteries, I don’t love them as a lot because the Fold 8 — and I’m not ashamed to confess it.

What I can admit is that the Fold 8 isn’t for everybody. Worth apart, I do imagine the cameras may have been significantly better, nevertheless it’s nice to see different manufacturers filling that void. I nonetheless really feel a bit reluctant to leap ship as a result of I’m pretty comfy with One UI (and strongly really feel it’s one of the best Android pores and skin in 2026).

However should you, like me, can accept a digital camera that doesn’t at all times goal to outpace a DSLR’s picture high quality, can settle for some quirks, and, extra importantly, need a compact telephone that feels extra liberating than a mighty slab however with out the heft, I’d actually encourage to you to contemplate the Fold 8. I believe you’ll adore it.