I’m currently using my first Samsung in nearly a decade. My last full-time Samsung was the fantastic Galaxy S8, launched in early 2017, with a 5.8-inch curved Super AMOLED Infinity Display, a 12MP rear camera, 4GB of RAM, and a 3,000mAh battery.
I loved that phone. But for some reason, since then, I’ve eschewed Samsung’s smartphones, bar using them on showfloors, for a bit of light testing here and there, and some camera work.
That is, until now. I’m currently using and loving the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8. The wide-foldable form factor is wonderful; it has excellent battery life, a top-tier Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip, and plenty of other great features.
And, after a long, long hiatus, I finally see why so many folks love their Samsungs.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 is a wonderful device
Samsung keeps pushing foldables in new directions
Now, it’s important to note that I’m not only just upgrading to the Z Fold 8 from the Galaxy S8. I’m actually jumping ship from the Motorola Razr Fold, another foldable launched in 2026 that I’ve also been incredibly impressed with.
In fact, at this time, the Razr Fold is still my favorite “book-style” foldable this year; I haven’t used the Pixel 11 Pro Fold yet, mind, and only had a brief moment with the Vivo X Fold 6 (but it looked to be excellent!).
I digress. But Samsung’s switch to a wider foldable form-factor is what’s setting it apart from the rest of the 2026 crop.
One UI’s founding principle back then was built around one-handed use, pushing interactive elements toward the bottom of the screen for reachability, a direct response to phones already getting too big for thumbs — that same principle holds on the Z Fold 8
The regular Z Fold 8 folds down to a 5.5-inch cover screen and opens into a 7.6-inch inner display running a 4:3 aspect ratio — it’s landscape-first and closer to a small iPad than a phone that’s simply unfurled. It’s a different experience from the tall, narrow shape almost everyone else in 2026 is still building around, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra included.
I should be upfront about the compromises, mind. The Razr Fold has a 6,000mAh battery sitting under the hood. The Z Fold 8 has a 4,800mAh cell that’s a fair bit smaller, and there is no S-Pen, either.
I have to admit something, too: I don’t have huge hands. It makes the smaller form-factor feel more comfortable to use, especially for one-handed operation, and that’s often how I end up. I haven’t noticed a single issue switching from a taller screen to a shorter, wider option in terms of my day-to-day use, and it’s still excellent for watching shows, photography, and more.
Everything just works
It’s not ecosystem lock-in
I heard for years that Samsung’s, like iPhones, just worked. The South Korean tech giant thinks of almost everything when it comes to its version of Android, One UI. I actually used One UI 1.0 on my Samsung Galaxy S8 in early 2019, and while it’s far more polished now, there are still some design concepts threading through the years.
For example, One UI’s founding principle back then was built around one-handed use, pushing interactive elements toward the bottom of the screen for reachability, a direct response to phones already getting too big for thumbs. That same principle holds on the Z Fold 8, just applied to a screen that makes the S8 look tiny by comparison. It’s part of why the shorter, wider shape worked for me immediately rather than needing an adjustment period.
One UI 9’s specific foldable features are also a key part of why it’s been so fun switching back to Samsung. Seamless Screen adjusts what’s on the inner display automatically as you rotate between portrait and landscape, so nothing needs re-laying out every time you open or close it.
Multi-tasking with three different apps open simultaneously is also quite the experience. I must admit that I don’t know quite how often I’ll use this, but it did make the Z Fold 8 feel like the Samsung Trifold, which is interesting. It’s also something the more expensive Z Fold 8 Ultra can’t do!
The flipside is that while I appreciate that apps like Good Lock exist to help customize Samsung devices, it does make me wonder why this isn’t just built into the device already. The support is technically there… so why make folks go the extra mile? Otherwise, One UI is a great experience that’s made jumping from my Razr Fold simple.
Build quality is beyond most other manufacturers
Titanium, aluminum, and more
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 is another step up in terms of quality for Samsung’s foldables. This time around, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 features two layers of what Samsung calls “Flex Titanium” under its display, which is what helps to make the crease almost imperceptible.
There is still a slight dip when you run your finger across, but you stop noticing it almost immediately. It’s also fantastically responsive across the entire screen, including the dip.
The frame is Advanced Armor Aluminum, the cover glass is Gorilla Glass Ceramic 3, and the back is Gorilla Glass Victus 2. None of that is new for a Samsung flagship, but assembled together on a foldable, it feels like the premium materials caught up to the premium price, which I have to admit is something that has kept me away from Samsung devices in the past.
What I mean is that, most of the time, I figured the other phones I was using were plenty good, and realistically, they were. And the lightweight-yet-sturdy feeling Z Fold 8 realistically confirms what I’ve been missing over the years. Really, the 201g weight of the Z Fold 8 makes it feel sublime.
The cameras always do the job
Across the board, Samsung typically excels
The Z Fold 8 has two rear cameras, not three, and neither of them zooms optically. I’m actually really happy with how the Z Fold 8 snaps, and the form factor makes it feel more like a pocket-sized handy-cam. You get a 50MP main sensor at f/1.8 with OIS, and a 50MP ultra-wide at f/1.9 with a 120-degree field of view; functional but not exceptional.
What’s actually there is more capable than the spec sheet suggests. too. The 2x crop off the main sensor is close enough to optical quality that most people won’t notice the difference, and video is also exceptional, with 8K at 30fps, a Log profile, and LUTs for anyone editing seriously,
But across the board, Samsung’s cameras come very highly rated.
Samsung has finally won me back — but for how long?
I’m fully enamored with my Galaxy Z Fold 8, and it’s fantastic to return to Samsung after all these years.
It’s hard to ignore one thing when it comes to Samsung, though, and it’s the high price of entry. The Z Fold 8 starts at $1.9K, which is a high price for a 256GB model; the Razr Fold starts at the same price but with double the storage and a 6,000mAh battery, for comparison.
Still, Samsung’s foldable ecosystem is far more developed, and the build quality alone helps to ensure that while the price is high, you get what you pay for with the Z Fold 8, and really across the board when it comes to Samsung.
