Why only now? I like the new form factor of the Galaxy Z Fold 8
22.7.2026
Translation: machine translated
Pictures: Jan Johannsen
Samsung is adding a new form factor to its foldable smartphones. On the outside, the new Galaxy Z Fold 8 is less narrow, and when unfolded, it is less square. This is being well received.
At an «Unpacked» event in London, Samsung introduced three new foldable smartphones. The most exciting new arrival is the Galaxy Z Fold 8 in a new format, which, when folded, has roughly the dimensions of a passport. The old format – square when unfolded, very elongated when folded – lives on as the Fold 8 Ultra. Samsung has given both new display and battery technology. The compact Flip 8 receives minor changes in comparison and, among other things, is easier to open with one hand.
Galaxy Z Fold 8: new form factor and new battery technology
When I pick up the Z Fold 8, I am immediately impressed. Its 5.5-inch 16:10 display is unusually wide, but I like it. My first thought: This is enough for me, I don't even want to unfold it. It just feels good in the hand and I have a large area at my disposal. However, I wonder: Is it just because the form factor is new? Will I still find this exciting in two or three years, or will the aspect ratio bore me by then?
Unfolded, the Fold 8 offers me a 7.6-inch 4:3 or 3:4 display, depending on whether I hold it in landscape or portrait mode. Both seem much more sensible to me than the almost square inner displays of most other foldable smartphones. In portrait mode, texts are easy to read, and in landscape mode, two apps can be used side by side. Huawei is already heading in a similar direction with the Pura X and Pura X Max, but only sells the devices in China. According to rumors, a possible iPhone Fold is also expected to have a similar form factor.
Samsung has noticeably improved the equipment in two areas. The manufacturer uses a new «Flex Titanium Technology» for the foldable OLED display. A titanium alloy protects the OLED panel from external damage, and a thin, flexible titanium plate provides stability under the panel. Incidentally, this makes the crease almost completely disappear.
For the battery, Samsung is using a silicon-carbon battery for the first time, achieving a capacity of 4800 mAh in the 4.5-millimeter-thin unfolded housing. This should be enough for 26 hours of video playback. Charging is done via cable with up to 45 watts and wirelessly with up to 20 watts. With the Fold 7, only 25 and 15 watts were possible.
With the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, the 201-gram device is the lightest Galaxy Z Fold and has plenty of computing power. Samsung uses this for, among other things, additional AI tools. These are intended, for example, to automatically prepare recordings from the two 50-megapixel cameras as content for social media portals or to focus on a person in a video without any further intervention.
For me, the biggest disadvantages of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 at first glance are the lack of a telephoto camera and the recommended retail price, which starts at 1999 euros and 1749 Swiss francs.
Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra: familiar device with a new name
Samsung continues to offer the previous form factor of the Galaxy Z Fold, which features a telephoto camera. It receives a suffix and is now the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra. Its 6.5-inch outer display is elongated, and the 8-inch inner display is almost square, also becoming more robust thanks to «Flex Titanium Technology». With a silicon-carbon battery, Samsung increases the battery capacity to 5000 mAh, which should be enough for 27 hours of video playback. Charging is also faster than its predecessor at 45 watts (via cable) and 20 watts (wirelessly).
Samsung has made the housing another 0.1 millimeters thinner when unfolded. It now measures 4.1 millimeters, and remains 8.9 millimeters when folded. However, that is only if you ignore the camera bump, which is quite high and makes the smartphone wobble a lot when lying on a table. Samsung has increased the resolution of the ultra-wide-angle camera from twelve to 50 megapixels and uses the same 200-megapixel main camera as in the Galaxy S26 Ultra. The triple telephoto camera has to make do with a resolution of ten megapixels. With the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, the processor receives the usual annual update.
In the software area, Samsung also offers primarily new AI tools here. Galaxy AI is intended to become more agentic and be able to interact with even more apps at your instruction. The Now Nudge is designed to keep you up to date, and Samsung is also integrating Gemini Notebooks as a planning tool for various occasions. Multitasking is expected to improve through SplitView with two or three apps as well as floating app windows.
Galaxy Z Flip 8: thinner and easier to open with one hand
Relatively little changes with the Flip 8. Samsung has made it another 0.4 millimeters (unfolded) and 0.6 millimeters (folded) thinner. In return, it has gained a fraction of a millimeter in width and height. Nevertheless, Samsung can claim the title of "thinnest Galaxy Z Flip". At 180 grams, it is also the lightest.
I find the edges of the frame more striking. They are more beveled. This makes the smartphone appear narrower and, above all, easier to open with one hand – just as it should be for a flip phone.
For the processor, Samsung relies on its own Exynos 2600, which has already proven itself in the Galaxy S26. The rest of the equipment – displays, cameras, and battery – remains unchanged compared to the Flip 7. Only the software has new AI tools and small adjustments for the outer display. All this is available from 1299 euros.
Price and availability
In recent years, Samsung doubled the storage of its devices for pre-orderers. The manufacturer can no longer afford this in view of current memory prices. It also had to increase prices. The Fold 8 Ultra, for example, has become 100 euros more expensive in Germany than its predecessor and starts with a recommended retail price of 2199 euros, or 1899 Swiss francs. As compensation, there is effectively the price driver for memory costs: six months of Google AI Pro can be unlocked with every Fold or Flip 8.
Header image: Jan Johannsen
Jan Johannsen
Senior Editor
Jan.Johannsen@galaxus.deAs a primary school pupil, I used to sit in a friend's living room with many of my classmates to play the Super NES. Now I get my hands on the latest technology and test it for you. In recent years at Curved, Computer Bild and Netzwelt, now at Digitec and Galaxus.
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