The first look at the Galaxy Z Fold8 might seem unfamiliar because it is a phone with an unusual shape: it is shorter than most existing models and wider than it should be, reminiscent of BlackBerry smartphones from the era before the dominance of thin, elongated screens. However, once the user holds the device, the feeling of strangeness disappears; thanks to the combination of width, weight, and ease of holding, the Galaxy Z Fold8 seems perfectly suited.
The new, wider Fold form factor has proven popular, as the lineup, which includes three foldable devices for the first time, broke Samsung's pre-order records in many markets. Foldable phones are no longer a niche product, and users are willing to purchase the device even at a price exceeding Dh7,000, which in some regions pushes delivery dates to September. Nevertheless, the Fold8 raises a natural question: can it maintain its position after the highly anticipated iPhone Fold is released?
Advantages
Among the strengths of the Fold8 is the inner screen, which is now better suited for watching videos and reading, as well as the best outer screen among all foldable devices. Furthermore, it is the lightest Fold to date, and it is barely thicker than a regular bar-like phone.
However, the device also has drawbacks: the starting price is very high—Dh7,199; the main camera has been downgraded and lacks a telephoto lens; and black borders remain inevitable on both displays.
Unusual Shape is an Advantage
The outer screen has a 10:16 aspect ratio and a 5.5-inch diagonal, making it smaller than most modern smartphones but more functional. The user can easily type on it with two thumbs and handle morning tasks such as navigation, messages, and email without opening the gadget. Thanks to this screen ratio, it is ideal for one-handed use, and unlike older Fold models, it allows relatively easy access to any corner of the screen. Weighing only 201g, it is also the lightest Fold, and its folded thickness of 9.7mm is barely noticeable in a pocket compared to a regular phone.
When unfolded, the device presents a 7.6-inch display with an approximate 4:3 aspect ratio, eliminating the series' longest-standing problem. Older models folded almost into a square, which seemed harmless until the user viewed 16:9 content and saw that it was displayed much like on a bar phone. Although the Fold8 does not solve this problem completely, it handles content significantly better. Social media, YouTube, movies, and TV shows benefit from the extra width.
Another advantage of the new Fold is how well it suits reading. When unfolded and rotated 90 degrees, it takes on the proportions of a book page. It will not replace a Kindle, as it uses an OLED panel instead of E-Ink, and the eyes will notice the difference during prolonged use. Nevertheless, for leisurely reading, it is the most comfortable phone created by Samsung.
Under the hood, the Fold8 remains impressive: it runs on the same Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor as the Galaxy S26 Ultra and is equipped with a base model featuring 12GB of RAM. Battery life was a weak point of early Folds, but the 4,800mAh battery here is more than sufficient for a day of work. It is also worth noting that this is a silicon-carbon battery, and Samsung was one of the last companies to abandon this technology.
Not Everything Folds Perfectly
Nevertheless, the new proportions come with certain compromises. Obvious is the issue of vertical video. Clips from Reels and TikTok do not fully fill the 10:16 outer screen, resulting in black bars appearing on the sides of the clip. When the phone is open, the problem changes: 16:9 films and shows are still displayed between black bars on the 4:3 inner display, although they are thinner than before. No form factor is absolutely perfect, and the Fold8 simply decided which battles were worth winning.
The camera causes even more complaints. The Fold8 reduces the main camera resolution to 50MP compared to 200MP in last year's Fold7, with the 200MP now reserved for the Ultra. Giving up the telephoto lens is justified for a phone of this size, but buying the device for Dh7,199 with a reduced main camera is a difficult decision. The vertical camera island also doesn't help: it causes the phone to vibrate when used on a flat table surface, and the lack of built-in magnets on the back means that a compatible case is required for MagSafe or wallet attachments. None of this is a critical flaw, but addressing these issues could turn the Fold8 from a very good device into a flawless one.
Eight Generations and the iPhone Fold
None of this happened overnight. The first Galaxy Fold failed in 2019: test samples malfunctioned within a few days, and Samsung suspended the launch for five months to fix the issues. Seven generations of stable improvements followed: a more durable hinge, waterproofing, a tight-closing screen, and a continuous reduction in thickness until the Fold7 was indistinguishable from a regular phone. Eight attempts led to the Fold8 being the result of this patience.
This brings us to Apple. The company's next event is expected in mid-September, and the main device, according to rumors, will be the company's first foldable product, which may be sold as an iPhone Ultra rather than an iPhone Fold. Speculation leaks suggest that Apple might create an analogue to the Fold8: a 7.8-inch inner screen, a 5.5-inch outer screen, and roughly the same proportions that Samsung recently adopted. Apple loyalists will likely prefer to wait and watch. However, at the projected price of over Dh9,000, and if the first batch is limited to the US, the Fold8 remains a better value purchase for long-time Android users, especially for those already using a Fold.
Verdict
Foldable phones have come a long way, but they still require some caution. The Fold8 has an IP48 rating, which protects against water immersion but not against fine particles, so going to the beach is still undesirable, and the inner screen requires more careful handling than regular glass. Given these conditions, it is the easiest foldable phone from Samsung to recommend.
If you use Android and your current phone is older than two years, the Fold8 is the most convincing foldable device on the market and the closest this category has come to becoming a phone you don't need to apologize for. You should only wait if you are committed to Apple, and even then, the iPhone Ultra is the first attempt that, according to rumors, will cost about Dh2,000 more, without a guarantee of arrival in the UAE this year. Despite its strange shape, the Fold8 is one worth choosing.
The Galaxy Z Fold8 is currently available in the UAE starting from Dh7,199 for the 256GB version, Dh7,999 for 512GB, and Dh9,599 for 1TB. The Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra starts from Dh7,999, and the Galaxy Z Flip8 is available for Dh4,699.