Foldable phones have been on the market for some time, and Samsung has just presented the eighth generation of its flexible smartphone line. However, until now, these devices were seen merely as technological novelties because, although they performed similar functions to others, they offered few innovations, such as an increase in screen space when needed.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, available in Brazilian stores since August, seeks to differentiate itself even further from competitors. Its design resembles a passport when closed, making it compact, and when opened, it resembles a small, easy-to-handle book.
Detailed Review
The Olhar Digital team had the opportunity to test a unit of the device in recent weeks and shares their impressions. The device is considered one of the most exciting phones released recently, despite its high cost, which restricts it to an audience with significant purchasing power and a willingness to experiment with new technologies.
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 stands out not only because it is foldable but also because it adopts a completely new design, even compared to other phones with flexible screens. When held, the format resembles a passport. Open, it looks like a thin book. Closed, it maintains proportions close to a common, compact phone, providing a firmer and more natural grip in daily life.
The feature of being compact when closed is due to the size of its external screen: at 5.5 inches, it is significantly smaller than the average of current phones (which exceed 6 inches in smaller models) and has a different aspect ratio, using 16:10 instead of the standard 16:9.
This reduced size allows the Galaxy Z Fold 8 to be small enough to fit in any pocket and to be operated with one hand without difficulty, eliminating the effort of reaching the top of the screen common in larger models.
For those who need more viewing area, the device opens to reveal a 7.6-inch screen. Although slightly smaller than a small tablet, it adopts a 4:3 aspect ratio, similar to old televisions.
In practice, this means that the Galaxy Z Fold 8, when open, is light, comfortable to hold, and offers plenty of space to display two applications simultaneously without the content being compressed. It is smaller than compact tablets but larger than a Kindle, making it ideal for reading.
As is usual with foldables, the flexible screen displays a crease in the hinge area. This small unevenness is visible but does not cause discomfort during use. When sliding your finger across the screen, you feel the point where the finger sinks due to this crease.
Both displays present sharp images, vibrant colors, and extremely smooth screen scrolling, ensuring pleasant visual quality in any environment.
Equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor and 12 GB of RAM, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 demonstrates exceptional performance. It manages multitasking easily, supports heavy games without failure, and can execute demanding tasks, such as video editing.
However, the device's differential lies in its distinct format, not just its top-tier performance. It is possible to start an application with the phone closed and, upon opening it, observe that the application remains active but adapted to a layout closer to a tablet, if the application itself supports this mode.
Although other foldables do the same, the difference in size and format gives the Galaxy Z Fold 8 a notably more pleasant user experience compared to other models.
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 is excellent for reading articles, books, PDFs, or comics due to its 4:3 (or 3:4, depending on the posture) aspect ratio screen. It is light, pleasant to carry, and does not strain the hands even after long periods of use.
One negative point may be the internal screen camera, located in an upper hole, which can occasionally coincide with a button in certain applications, or cut off part of the image in 4:3 video format. This does not prevent use, but it can be annoying.
Regarding cameras, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 has two front cameras, one on each screen, both with 10 MP. They are adequate for video calls and quick selfies, although there are smartphones with superior capabilities in this regard.
On the back, the system features two 50 MP sensors, one of which is ultra-wide. As expected from Samsung products, the cameras are high quality, producing sharp images, beautiful colors, and good balance between light and shadow, ideal for travel and social media.
Using the rear camera is simple when the phone is closed, similar to other phones. However, when open, the weight of the device may cause the user's hand to be close to the lenses, requiring repositioning so as not to obstruct the view.
The 4,800 mAh battery, although it may not seem impressive on paper, offers good autonomy, supporting moderate use for more than a day. It is not a device that requires constant charging, but it also doesn't last several days without a charger, meeting expectations for a phone in 2026.
The device supports wireless charging and includes a 45W charger in the box, which is advantageous for those who want to minimize time connected to power.
With an innovative format, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 demonstrates that there is still room for evolution in smartphones. After more than ten years of devices with almost identical designs and functionalities, the new Samsung foldable provides a new and functional experience. It is versatile: compact when necessary and with a wide screen for complex tasks.
If the Galaxy Z Fold 8 points to the future of smartphones, it suggests a promising path. The current challenge is the high price (over R$ 12 thousand at launch), and there are no indications that foldables will become more affordable soon, limiting access to people with high purchasing power and a desire to experiment.
There are areas that need improvement, such as the potential of the cameras and the position of the internal sensor in some applications. However, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is one of the most exciting phones seen recently, and transitioning to a conventional device after using it will be difficult.