Review: The new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 is a light, sleek foldable for those who are always online

If there’s one thing about me, it’s that my screentime is embarrassing and most certainly concerning. Whether it’s binging the next K-drama or reality TV show, doomscrolling and dissecting new internet beef with friends or endlessly browsing online shopping sites, my phone is practically glued to my hand. It also doesn’t help that a huge part of my job involves staying on top of trends, creating content and consuming it. 

So when Samsung launched a foldable phone that seemed tailor-made for chronically online people like me, I was intrigued. I’ve always wondered, however, if a foldable smartphone was more novelty than necessity. Sure, the larger screen looked appealing, but would I really use it enough to justify carrying around a device that folds in half?

But after spending time with the new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8, I’ve found myself reaching for it far more often than expected. Whether it’s squeezing in an episode of my latest Netflix hyperfixation before bed or catching up on emails, texts and articles during my commute, the Galaxy Z Fold8 has slowly become my new daily best friend.

A sophisticated design and versatile display

The Galaxy Z Fold8 strikes a nice balance between portability and entertainment. Its compact 10:16, 5.5-inch cover display is more than sufficient for everyday tasks like replying messages, answering calls and scrolling through social media while on the move.

Unfolding it, however, is a whole new experience. The expansive 4:3, 7.6-inch inner display makes everything feel noticeably more immersive. Videos fill the screen comfortably, reading feels closer to browsing on a tablet, and even endless social media feeds somehow feel less cramped.

But If I had to pick one standout feature, though, it would be the weight—or rather, the lack of it. At just 201g, the Galaxy Z Fold8 weighs about the same as a medium-sized tomato, making it Samsung’s lightest Fold yet. 

It’s impressively thin and incredibly comfortable to carry, whether tucked into a pocket or held in one hand. Watching videos in bed or holding the phone one-handed while eating no longer resulted in the familiar wrist or pinky fatigue I’ve experienced with supporting heavier devices. 

I found myself using the cover display throughout the day before unfolding it in the evening when I wanted to properly settle in with a drama, a good article or—if I’m being honest—a lengthy doomscrolling session for hours.

One concern many people still have with foldables is the crease running down the middle of the display. Thankfully, Samsung has refined it to the point where it’s barely noticeable during everyday use. Unless the phone is angled directly under bright lighting, the crease fades into the background, and after a day or two, I stopped noticing it altogether.

The Galaxy Z Fold8 is also available in three sleek colourways—Lavender, Cream and Graphite—along with an online-exclusive Pistachio. Beneath the display is a dual layer of titanium that reinforces the screen for added durability without compromising its slim profile. 

A top notch camera

The Galaxy Z Fold8 is also equipped with a dual 50MP camera system that captures detailed, high-resolution photos and videos, maintaining impressive clarity even when zooming in – perfect for those who love filming content, vlogging their days, or capturing special moments with friends and family. 

What stood out more, however, were Samsung’s thoughtful camera features that complement the foldable design.

The cover screen preview allows both the photographer and subject to view the shot simultaneously using the cover display, making it much easier to frame photos and ensure everyone’s happy with the result before pressing the shutter. 

Smart features

What also surprised me about the phone was how seamless the user experience felt. Fuelled by Snapdragon® 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, which brings together a next-gen CPU, GPU and NPU, scrolling and streaming content felt almost effortless, complemented by vibrant display colours and excellent visual quality. 

Battery life was another pleasant surprise. Having thoroughly used and abused my current phone to the point where it desperately needs a battery replacement, I appreciated that the Fold8’s 4,800mAh battery offers up to 26 hours of continuous video playback. In my experience, it comfortably lasted close to two full days on a single charge with my usual mix of scrolling, streaming, messaging and work. 

Another standout is Samsung’s One UI 9 multitasking experience. You can drag and open multiple apps simultaneously, customise your layout and effectively turn the Fold8 into two—or even three—screens in one. During the workday, I often reply to emails while keeping messaging apps open—or yes, checking in on social media while in between tasks. After hours, it was just as useful for texting friends while watching videos. 

Samsung has also packed the Fold8 with Galaxy AI features that make content creation far less time-consuming. 

One of the standout additions is My Fancam, which lets you highlight a single person from a recorded video after you’ve already captured it. Whether you’re filming a concert, your friend at a sporting event or someone stealing the spotlight during a night out, you can automatically create a clip centred around that person—saving you from having to painstakingly crop or edit footage yourself.

Photo editing is also made simple and instantaneous with the Photo Assist feature. Instead of relying on separate editing apps, Galaxy AI handles the edits with just a few prompts – whether it’s removing an unwanted passer-by, cleaning up distracting objects in the background or refining parts of an image.

The verdict

Overall, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 is an excellent choice for anyone who lives and breathes online content. It’s lighter than previous models, sleek and comfortable to carry, while its inner display enhances everything from streaming and reading to multitasking throughout the day. 

Combined with Galaxy AI, which takes much of the effort out of editing photos and videos, the Fold8 feels cleverly designed around the way many of us already use our phones. So if you’ve been curious about foldables but weren’t convinced they fit into everyday life, the Galaxy Z Fold8 might just be the phone that changes your mind. 

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 is available starting from $2,498 (12GB+256GB), $2,798 (12GB+512GB) or $3,398 (16GB+1TB) at the Samsung store.