Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Offers A New Content Viewing Experience With Practicality and Finesse

Since 2019, Samsung has been a trailblazer foldable phones, primarily with its Galaxy Z Fold series. The eighth generation continues this trend, which launched just last month with three new models. At the forefront is the Galaxy Z Fold 8, with its distinct 4:3 aspect ratio screen taking centre stage. But what makes this display so special? After two weeks of use, here’s what we have to say.

First Impressions

The first thing that stands out isn’t necessarily its size, but the lightness of the phone. Weighing only 210g, the Z Fold 8 is the lightest Fold to date, and its 4.5mm thickness while unfolded makes it one of the slimmest ‘tablets’ you can get your hands on.

Despite its lightness, it still feels solid in the hand, especially when it’s folded, when it has a thickness of 9.7mm. The inclusion of Samsung‘s new Flex Titanium technology, which consists of a titanium alloy film and a flexible titanium plate under its AMOLED screen, enhances toughness. This means the device, while still whisper-thin, remains durable and able to withstand pressure and impact. There is a reassuring resistance when you unfold the device, and its magnetic closure has a satisfying snap. Flex Titanium also means that the dreaded middle crease has been significantly reduced. Certainly, in daily use, the crease is nearly invisible to my eye.

Experiencing Life In 4:3

The most notable feature of this release is its 4:3 aspect ratio screen. The Z Fold 8 forgoes the near-square 10:9 screen most foldables have, opting for a display more tailored to everyday consumption thanks to its wider horizontal layout. Videos feel easy to watch in this orientation, with the 7.6-inch screen providing plenty of real estate. Taking landscape pictures and video with its two 50MP cameras (one standard and one ultra-wide lens) also feels very organic.

Where it also shines is when you rotate it to a vertical 3:4 aspect ratio, which makes it feel very much like an e-reader, and more like a physical book in the hand. Its low-reflection display finish and Vision Booster technology—an algorithm that adjusts screen brightness and contrast depending on lighting conditions—also means that reading under the glaring sun is never a struggle, going up to 3,000 nits of brightness. I found I could immerse myself in my novels in a more natural way, without having to bring a separate e-reader, as well.

Due to its unconventional size, I was concerned about how the device would feel in my hands, but to my pleasant surprise, it felt quite natural, even during one-handed use. When closed, it measures 5.5 inches, and the phone sits comfortably in my pocket—especially since its dimensions are more like a passport than a standard smartphone.

State-of-the-art Performance & Power

The Z Fold 8 is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, utilising the same chipset as its Ultra counterpart, providing flagship performance, with apps largely having lag-free response. It fares exceptionally well in thermal management, with prolonged usage barely causing any noticeable overheating.

The 4,800 mAh dual battery is more than enough for regular use. A full charge could last me up to two days of emails, texts and the occasional doomscrolling session. It charges up to 63% in around 30 minutes, so power was hardly an issue.

Final Thoughts

What makes the Z Fold 8 truly stand out is its unique size and versatility. Whether you’re looking for content consumption, an e-reader, or a device for multitasking emails and work, the Z Fold 8 can do it all and more.

The Samsung Z Fold 8 is priced at RM9,699 for 1TB, RM8,099 for 512GB and RM7,299 for 256GB and comes in various colourways, including a stunning Pistachio shade (online exclusive). Pre-orders from the Malaysian Samsung website are available today.