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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Samsung launched three foldable telephones at its Unpacked occasion in London.
- Its first ‘Extremely’ foldable, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Extremely, is a powerful gadget.
- Nonetheless, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 has a novel type issue that is very compelling.
Now that Samsung Unpacked is over and all of the telephones have been introduced, it’s possible you’ll be clamoring to get your preorder in for the all-new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra. It’s, in spite of everything, the primary Samsung foldable to bear the “Extremely” moniker.
Additionally: Everything announced at Samsung Unpacked 2026: New foldables, smartwatches, more
However you would possibly wish to maintain on for a second and take a look at the Samsung Galaxy Fold 8too. Sure, the Fold 8 Extremely has so much going for it, however the Fold 8 makes a powerful argument for itself, as properly. A part of that’s as a result of Samsung is aware of what’s coming down the pipeline: a foldable iPhone — a product that would disrupt the market its traditionally dominated.
Due to that, Samsung gave the Z Fold 8 some significantly compelling design options. Listed here are a number of the factors you would possibly wish to contemplate earlier than dropping a critical chunk of change on the Extremely mannequin.
The value is true
At the beginning, the Samsung Galaxy Fold 8 begins at $1,899which is a full $200 lower than its extremely sibling. The variations between the 2 embrace a lacking 10MP telephoto digicam, a smaller 50MP primary digicam, 200 mAh of battery capability, and a smaller internal and canopy display. Of these compromises, I believed the decreased display dimension can be the deal breaker, however after spending a while with the cellphone, I not assume that is the case.
We’re residing in a time the place smartphone costs are both going up, they’re staying the identical with fewer significant upgrades, or each. Saving a few benjamins nowadays can go a great distance towards preserving your already strained finances.
Kind meets operate
One in every of my criticisms of book-style foldables is the truth that the sq. type issue is not nice for issues like content material consumption. They may also be unwieldy to carry. The Fold 8 just about eliminates that argument by turning itself right into a 4:3 pill whenever you open it. It is a smaller pill, for certain, however it’s an precise pill type issue, not an oblong peg shoved right into a sq. gap.
Additionally: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra vs. Z Fold 7: After a year of usage, I’m ready to upgrade
On paper, this does not sound like a giant deal. However, as soon as I obtained the cellphone in my hand, it clicked. The duvet display is sweet as a result of you’ll be able to entry a lot of it with only one hand. I’ve gotten used to the finger gymnastics essential to navigate a taller cellphone with one hand, however the squat display of the Galaxy 8 Fold adjustments all that.
Watching the Avengers: Doomsday trailer on the Samsung Z Fold 8
Adam Doud/ZDNET
Whereas the cellphone is shorter, it is also wider which may also be higher for studying; that’s, in spite of everything a lot of what we do on our telephones. It stays to be seen which apps reply to that 10:16 facet ratio, nonetheless. The apps put in on the telephones on the hands-on session all appeared high quality, however there are hundreds of thousands of others that will not; your mileage might fluctuate.
Solely two cameras?
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 doesn’t have a telephoto digicam, which is a disgrace. Between an ultrawide digicam and a telephoto, I would like a telephoto each time. As a guardian, I like taking photographs of my youngsters doing child issues, and generally these issues are on a sports activities discipline or a stage, so I would like to have the ability to zoom in additional.
Some fast testing of the 50-megapixel primary digicam means that even as much as 10x, zoom is okay. I wasn’t in a position to vet these outcomes on a bigger laptop display, however on the very least, the photographs are what I wish to name “social media good” since that is in all probability the place they will find yourself anyway.
Ultimiately, the lacking telephoto lens shouldn’t be actually that a lot of a difficulty. I’ve examined the 10MP digicam on the Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely and it undoubtedly falls into the “okay, however not nice” class. Whereas it is normally higher to have it and never want it, the proof means that not having it will likely be okay.
Additionally: I tried Samsung’s new wide Galaxy Z Fold 8, and it’s my favorite product of Unpacked 2026
It will have been good if Samsung packed within the 200-megapixel shooter from the Extremely into this cellphone, however then once more, this cellphone shouldn’t be an Extremely. Maybe Samsung sees the 200-megapixel sensor as an extremely characteristic. However when all is claimed and completed, I believe it’s going to be okay to dwell with out the digicam fully.
The underside line: it is the higher purchase
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Extremely and Z Fold 8.
Adam Doud/ZDNET
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 sparks a real curiosity in me that, I will be trustworthy, loads of telephones don’t summon. The shape issue feels very retro in a approach that is exhausting to place my finger on.
What I can say is that if this cellphone didn’t unfold, it will be a totally completely different story; the quilt display is simply too squat for me to make use of full time. It is not misplaced on me that one of many standards I exploit to evaluate a foldable is how a lot I can or wish to use it when it is closed. That is a bit of regarding to me and solely a correct overview interval will show whether or not that opinion holds up.
What I can say for now could be that the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 is a beautiful cellphone, and it is the one I am most keen to check out. However within the meantime, I feel that this cellphone is the sleeper hit that Samsung produced and I actually hope that it succeeds, regardless of not being “Extremely.”