The Samsung Z Fold8, which was launched two days ago, is going viral on social media. Many videos praise its unique screen and compact size. But are the videos you see really sincere? Is the Z Fold8 really the best Fold device on the market? What are its shortcomings? In this article, I reveal the real reality of using the Z Fold8 after using it for 48 hours. The good things we praise are the ones we don't reveal.
1. The Most Comfortable Size in the Hand
The body design of the Galaxy Z Fold8 is strange and unconventional. It is very similar to my experience using the Oppo Find N, Blackberry Passport and LG Optimus Vu a few years ago. It will take you a few days to get comfortable using a wider but also shorter phone.
It is very comfortable in your pocket because even though it is a folding device, it is still light. It also doesn't take up much space in your pocket. The Oppo Find N that I reviewed five years ago is the same size but MUCH thicker (15.9 vs 9.7 mm). The Z Fold8 is in our opinion the most comfortable phone to use with one hand since the iPhone 4S. Small but can be expanded into a tablet when needed.
2. Best for Reading Books and Comics
I love reading my e-books and e-comics on the same Z Fold7 that I've been using since last year. The large screen allows me to read without having to wear my nearsighted glasses. Comics can also be fully enjoyed because of the large screen. But on the Z Fold7, there are large black bars on the left and right when reading comics. This is not an issue on the Z Fold8 because the 4:3 and 16:10 screen ratios used are almost the same as the size of the comics/manga being read.
The same goes for reading e-books because the Z Fold8's screen size is like the size of a small book. With a brightness of up to 3000 nits, finally my e-books can be read clearly even in bright sunlight. On the previous folding panel, I liked reading my e-books outdoors.
3. A Great Video Watching Device
The Odyssey is going viral on social media because “real cinema fans” say it can only be watched properly on an IMAX screen. The 70mm IMAX screen ratio (which is not available in Malaysia) is the ultimate viewing experience. We don’t have an IMAX device but the Z Fold8’s 4:3 (1.33:1) screen is the closest to the 1.43:1 IMAX 70mm ratio. So theoretically if The Odyssey is offered on a streaming platform in the future, only the Z Fold8 can display it in a ratio as close to IMAX as possible.
Watching YouTube, Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max and more on the Z Fold8’s 7.6″ main screen is also more immersive than other Fold devices due to the small black bars. Watching videos for a long time also doesn’t tire your hands because the Z Fold8 is the lightest Fold type foldable phone in the world today. Bonus there is HD resolution support and HDR10+ display on both screens via Widevine L1.
4. A Powerful Gaming Device
Small and compact because the Z Fold8 is equipped with the same Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip as the Z Fold8 Ultra. There is no compromise in gaming capabilities on small or large screens. I am very compatible. to play Sudoku, Wordle or NES/SNES/Megadrive/PlayStation emulators. In emulator mode, the Z Fold8 can be played like a Gameboy or various emulator devices such as those released by Ayaneo.
With the flagship chip, modern games COD Mobile, Wuthering Waves, PUBG Mobile, Genshin and many more can be played without any issues at the highest settings. Even at high settings and long gaming sessions, the device is only lukewarm. The same performance as the Galaxy S26 Ultra but with a larger screen. The Z Fold8 can be a portable console without compromise.
5. Faster and Comfortable Typing
Because of the wider external screen, it makes the typing process very easy. As comfortable as using a Blackberry Passport but without a physical keyboard. More comfortable than typing on the external screen of the Z Fold7, Z Fold8 Ultra, Magic V6 and Find N6.
In fact, it is actually more comfortable to use than the S26 Ultra. The wider space allows two hands to type quickly. This is just the external screen. When opened, the split keyboard makes the typing process more comfortable. If you are a fan of leaving comments on X, Facebook and Reddit, the Z Fold8 is a typing machine that does not torture your hands.
6. Fastest Multitasking
Real and fast multitasking capabilities are among the main reasons why Fold-type devices have been popular since their introduction in 2019. With the eighth version, multitasking capabilities have been improved. The Z Fold8 can display three applications simultaneously vertically side by side like Honor and Oppo devices can do. It can then arrange these three applications in a configuration of 1 large box and 2 small boxes like previous versions if necessary.
The taskbar at the bottom of the screen is similar to the macOS and Windows 11 taskbar. Switching applications is as easy as pressing the icon displayed on the taskbar without having to press the application switch button. In short, the already solid multitasking system has been improved and existing shortcomings have been improved.
7. No Flex Mode
Yes, it is strange that Flex Mode supported on the Z Fold8 Ultra (and all previous Z Fold models) is not included on the Z Fold8. When placing the Z Fold8 in the “L” position, the video control interface that should appear on the bottom screen is not on this compact device. On the Z Fold8 Ultra and other Z Fold models, video speed, pause, skip forward/backward and quality control buttons will appear.
When the Z Fold8 tries to be placed in the “L” position, the hinge is not stiff enough to hold the position. This is in stark contrast to the Z Fold8 Ultra and Z Flip8 which are solid in their position as the Flex Mode feature has been supported since the first model. Why the Z Fold8’s hinge is different from the others is a mystery.
8. Limited Telephoto Capabilities
Finally, we need to touch on the camera because the Z Fold8 is a device priced at over RM7000 that only comes with dual cameras. One wide-angle lens and one ultra-wide-angle without telephoto support. A triple camera with optical telephoto is a must-have feature on a flagship device.
Although the photos taken by the Z Fold8 are beautiful, the optical zoom is limited to 2X and the digital zoom is only up to 10x. The digital zoom quality is not that amazing. The photography capabilities of this device are mediocre when compared to the Z Fold8 Ultra, Magic V6 and Find N6 which all come with triple main cameras.
