Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 reviewed and it is lastly the one you will need

Folding smartphones have all the time impressed me, however till now I’ve by no means discovered a compelling purpose to truly purchase one. I’ve examined nearly each foldable launched over the previous few years. Each time I have been wowed by the engineering, spent just a few weeks having fun with the novelty, then packed the cellphone again in its field and returned to a daily smartphone. The explanations have all the time been the identical: they’re cumbersome, sturdiness has been a priority and the principle shows have usually felt like awkward squares slightly than sensible screens.

Nevertheless, Samsung’s new Galaxy Z Fold8 has modified my thoughts. For the primary time, I can genuinely see why foldables may very well be the long run.

The most important purpose is the redesigned form. Samsung has adopted a passport-style design, with a compact 5.5-inch cowl show that unfolds right into a wider 7.6-inch most important display.

Open it up, and it lastly appears like a correct mini pill. It is good for watching movies, gaming, studying books, searching the online and, inevitably, spending far too lengthy scrolling via TikTok.

The quilt show continues to be a compromise. It feels just a little squashed in comparison with a standard smartphone, and a few apps – TikTok included – do not but make excellent use of the weird facet ratio, leaving black bars on the sides.

However it’s a compromise I am lastly prepared to make.

Samsung has additionally refined the hinge, making the Fold8 a lot simpler to open, and I’ve discovered myself utilizing the massive inside show for nearly every thing – checking emails, searching web sites, enhancing paperwork and binge-watching boxsets.

As you’d count on from Samsung, the screens are glorious. Colors are vibrant, brightness is excellent because of Imaginative and prescient Booster know-how and the anti-reflective coating makes the show simple to see even in shiny sunshine.

The improved design would not cease there.

Closed, the Fold8 is just barely thicker than a standard smartphone and, at simply 180g, it is Samsung’s lightest foldable but. It slips right into a pocket with out feeling such as you’re carrying a brick.

Samsung has additionally launched its new Flex Titanium development. The titanium-based show construction is designed to make the Fold8 thinner whereas bettering sturdiness, serving to take in impacts and lowering crease visibility over time.

It actually feels reassuringly stable within the hand, though solely months or years of real-world use will reveal simply how sturdy it truly is.

Energy comes courtesy of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Samsung processor and efficiency is excellent.

Whether or not juggling a number of apps, enhancing pictures, reducing collectively movies or just switching between duties, the Fold8 by no means missed a beat. Gaming can get it just a little sizzling below the collar, however that is extra to do with the slim design than the chip inside.

Battery life has additionally been glorious. The 4,800mAh cell comfortably lasted me via a full day, usually with cost remaining at bedtime, whereas quick charging will get it from empty to 63% in round half-hour.

Wi-fi charging is included, though Samsung nonetheless hasn’t embraced magnetic charging programs similar to MagSafe or Google’s PixelSnap, which appears like a stunning omission at this value.

Elsewhere, there is a quick side-mounted fingerprint scanner, a premium matte end that resists fingerprints and loads of Galaxy AI options.

Whether or not it is translating languages, bettering pictures, summarising your day or serving to you discover data sooner, Samsung’s AI instruments could be helpful for some or switched off in the event you aren’t a fan.

In fact, like most issues in life there are compromises.

One of many most important downsides is the digital camera.

In contrast to the brand new Z Fold8 Extremely, the Fold8 misses out on a telephoto lens. As a substitute you get a dual-camera setup that includes 50-megapixel large and ultra-wide sensors.

Images are vibrant, detailed and constantly spectacular, however the lack of devoted optical zoom means it could actually’t compete with the Galaxy Z Fold8 Extremely and even Samsung’s Galaxy S26 with regards to images.

SEE SOME SAMPLE IMAGES BELOW

Video recording is superb, with assist for each 4K and 8K seize, alongside intelligent options together with Twin Recording, which information utilizing the entrance and rear cameras concurrently. There’s additionally a formidable AI instrument that may routinely hold a selected topic in focus after you’ve got completed filming.

So whereas the cameras are good, they don’t seem to be class-leading and you will get a greater expertise on less expensive units.

And that leads me properly onto the following sticking level…the value! Beginning at £1,699, the Galaxy Z Fold8 is eye-wateringly costly.

For comparability, the Galaxy S26 at the moment begins at simply £659 because of an Amazon sale, whereas some glorious mid-range Galaxy telephones price nicely below £600.

You may argue you are getting each a cellphone and a pill in a single system when shopping for the Fold8, however you possibly can additionally purchase a premium cellphone and a good pill individually for much less cash.

Even so, the Galaxy Z Fold8 is comfortably the very best foldable I’ve ever used.

The redesigned form lastly makes the massive inside show really feel genuinely sensible slightly than simply spectacular. It is lighter, thinner and feels much more refined than earlier generations, whereas the improved hinge and stronger development encourage confidence.

Sure, the quilt display continues to be just a little cramped. Sure, the cameras may very well be higher. And sure, the value is tough to justify.

However none of these issues stops this from being the primary foldable cellphone I’ve genuinely needed to maintain utilizing. For years, each foldable I’ve reviewed ended up again in its field.

The Galaxy Z Fold8 will not.