Samsung finally got foldables right
Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra Review
After spending time with Samsung’s new Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, I now think something I haven’t said about previous foldables: these finally feel ready for everyday use.
Samsung brought me to London for their launch, where I spent a day sightseeing with both phones in my pocket. While the company is offering two versions this year, it’s the standard Fold 8 that really surprised me.
It’s lighter, easier to hold, and the wider front display makes everyday tasks much more comfortable than previous Samsung foldables. I could quickly check email, send messages, and browse the web without immediately feeling like I needed to unfold the phone. The only downside is that some apps, especially social media, don’t always scale perfectly to the unusual aspect ratio. I also found when they keyboard is on screen it can get a little cramped.
Open it up, though, and that’s where the experience really shines. The large inside display is fantastic for reading, watching videos, and multitasking. I found myself running multiple apps side by side far more often than I expected because it was so convenient.
Performance was excellent throughout my testing. Everything felt fast and polished, and battery life got me through the day. Samsung also made the phones easier to open, and the side mounted fingerprint reader is exactly where your thumb expects it to be.
The cameras are solid, even if they aren’t Samsung’s absolute best. The dual 50 megapixel system on the Fold 8 is more than capable for everyday photos. One feature I especially enjoyed is My FanCam, which can automatically create a video that follows a single person in a group. I immediately thought about parents using it to make highlight clips of their kids playing sports.
Samsung also improved the durability of the inside display with a new Flex Titanium layer and better anti reflective coatings. The crease is still there, but it’s not a big deal during daily use.
The Ultra model offers more advanced cameras and a hinge that stays open at virtually any angle, but it’s also taller, heavier, and its narrow outside screen still isn’t my favorite.
Neither phone has built in magnets for magnetic accessories, so you’ll need a case if that’s important to you. This, in turn, adds extra bulk, which is a disappointing on devices this thin.
These phones are expensive, starting around $1,900 for the Fold 8 and $2,100 for the Ultra. But if you’ve been waiting for foldables to feel less like an experiment and more like a phone you could actually live with every day, Samsung has made its strongest case yet.
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Deals and trade-in offers
Starting today, Samsung.com customers can save up to $1,000 with an eligible trade-in on the latest foldables.
Galaxy Watch buyers can get up to $250 in instant trade-in credit, or a $50 Samsung credit without a trade-in.
Samsung says high demand is causing delivery delays for some popular Galaxy Z Fold8 configurations, including Lavender and Cream.
Additional offers include:
AT&T
Up to $1,900 off Galaxy Z Fold8 and Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra with activation on an AT&T Premium 2.0 plan or higher.
Up to $1,000 off Galaxy Z Flip8, Z Fold8 and Z Fold8 Ultra with activation on an AT&T Extra 2.0 plan or higher and eligible trade-in.
Get $100 off Galaxy Watch Ultra2 or Galaxy Watch9 with the purchase of a Samsung Galaxy Z Series phone.
Save up to 50% on Samsung accessories with an eligible Samsung device purchase.
Amazon
Save up to $1,000 with a qualifying trade-in, plus receive a $350 gift card with purchase.
Save up to $900 on Galaxy Z Fold8 with a qualifying trade-in, plus receive a $350 gift card with purchase.
Save up to $800 with a qualifying trade-in, plus receive a $200 gift card with purchase.
Best Buy
Save up to $1,200 on the new Samsung Galaxy Z Series, bringing eligible models as low as $699.99 with qualifying trade-in.
Save up to $250 with an eligible smartwatch trade-in.
T-Mobile
Get $1,000 off Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra when activating a line on an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan. Available to new and existing customers.
Save up to $1,900 with an eligible trade-in on an Experience Beyond plan. Available to new and existing customers.
Get up to $430 off with a new watch line.
Verizon
New customers who switch can get a Galaxy Z Fold8 with a 48-month device payment purchase.
Save up to $430 with an eligible smartwatch trade-in. Select Plus plan required.
Offers and eligibility requirements vary by carrier and retailer.