The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 looks quite different from a normal smartphone. When closed, the phone is wider than what most people are used to, and at first, the design may look a little, unusual.
But after using it as my primary phone for several days, I found the passport-shaped design quite interesting and practical.
If you are coming from a regular smartphone with a tall display, you will immediately notice the difference. The cover screen has a 10:16 aspect ratio, which basically means the screen is wider compared to the tall and narrow displays found on most smartphones.
Samsung has changed the usual Fold design here. The outer display now feels more like a small notebook rather than a long candy-bar-style smartphone.
Table of contents
- A Foldable That Breaks Its Own Formula
- Cover Screen And Inner Display: The Numbers That Matter
- Design, Weight And Everyday Handling
- Reading, Watching And Gaming On The Wide Format
- Performance And Network Reliability
- Camera And Video: What You Can Actually Ship
- Battery Life And Charging In Real Use
- Software, Samsung Wallet And Long Term Support
- Protecting A Premium Investment: Cases And Accessories
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Price In India And EMI Options
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Specifications At A Glance
- Where To Buy The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8
A Foldable That Breaks Its Own Formula
Previous Samsung Fold phones followed almost the same design. You got a tall and narrow screen on the outside, while opening the phone gave you a larger, almost square tablet-like display.
The Galaxy Z Fold8 changes that formula with its wider design.
Moving from a regular smartphone to this wider format was surprisingly easy. I did not need much time to adjust.
Typing messages, scrolling through social media and using apps on the cover screen felt natural from the first day. I did not really miss the narrow screen design of previous Fold models.
The wider body also changes how you hold the phone. Your hand gets a better grip around the device, and I found that there was less chance of accidentally dropping it while using or carrying it around.
Cover Screen And Inner Display: The Numbers That Matter
The outer display is 5.5 inches and uses a Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel with a 120Hz refresh rate.
Open the phone and you get a much larger 7.6-inch foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, again with a 120Hz refresh rate. Samsung is also using what it calls Flex Titanium technology to improve durability.
| Display | Size | Panel Type | Refresh Rate | Aspect Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cover Screen | 5.5 inches | Dynamic AMOLED 2X | 120Hz | 10:16 |
| Inner Screen | 7.6 inches | Foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X | 120Hz | 4:3 |
The crease on the inner display is hardly noticeable when looking at the screen.
You can still feel a slight line when moving your finger across the display, but while watching videos, reading or using apps, the crease almost disappears from view.
Samsung has clearly improved its foldable display and hinge technology over the years.
Design, Weight And Everyday Handling
At 201 grams, this is Samsung’s lightest Fold so far.
When folded, the phone measures 123.9 x 81.9 x 9.7mm. Open it and the dimensions become 123.9 x 161.4 x 4.5mm.
For a foldable phone, it feels surprisingly thin and light. It does not feel like you are carrying two smartphones stacked together.
Samsung has also kept the branding very simple.
When the phone is completely open, you will not see a Samsung logo around the display or inner frame.
Close the phone and the Samsung branding becomes visible on the back. It is a small design detail, but it gives the phone a clean look in both folded and unfolded modes.
The hinge also works smoothly. When closed, both sides sit very close together.
Opening the phone into tablet mode is easy and does not require much force. Switching between the two modes quickly becomes natural.
Reading, Watching And Gaming On The Wide Format
The large inner display is especially good for comic book and manga readers.
Reading comics on this screen feels closer to reading a real book. Even the page-turning animation adds to the experience.
Watching videos on the outer display is also enjoyable because of the wider screen.
Videos can use more of the available display area, giving you a wider viewing experience even when the notification bar is visible at the top.
Gaming works smoothly on both the cover screen and the large inner display, thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy processor.
Games that properly support wider displays can look quite different compared to playing on a normal smartphone.
The 120Hz refresh rate also makes supported games and animations feel smooth.
Performance And Network Reliability
Performance is exactly what you would expect from a premium flagship smartphone.
During my usage, I did not notice any major lag or stuttering while multitasking, gaming or using the cameras.
Network performance was also good.
I used the phone with an Airtel connection, and call and mobile data connectivity remained stable. I noticed fewer call and data drops compared to some other phones I used alongside it.
You also get dual stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos.
The speakers are loud and clear enough for watching movies, listening to music, gaming and taking video calls without always needing headphones.
Camera And Video: What You Can Actually Ship
The rear camera setup includes two 50-megapixel cameras, with one being the main camera and the other an ultra-wide camera.
The inner display also has a 10-megapixel front camera.
One useful feature of a foldable phone is that you can use the cover display as a viewfinder. This makes it easier to take selfies and group photos using different angles.
The camera supports up to 10x zoom for photos, while video recording goes up to 8K at 30fps.
Photos and videos directly from the camera looked sharp enough for social media in most daylight and properly lit indoor conditions. In many cases, you can shoot and post without spending much time editing.
If you regularly shoot 8K video, storage can fill up very quickly.
One useful option is connecting an external USB-C drive directly to the phone and saving your 8K footage to it.
After shooting, you can simply connect the same drive to your editing PC. This makes the workflow much easier and also reduces the chances of running out of internal storage during a shoot.
Battery Life And Charging In Real Use
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 comes with a 4,800mAh battery.
It supports 45W wired charging and 20W wireless charging. Samsung rates video playback at up to 26 hours.
During regular daily use involving calls, social media, gaming and some video recording, the phone comfortably lasted through the day.
I did not feel the need to carry a power bank for normal daily usage.
| Battery Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 4,800 mAh |
| Wired Charging | 45W |
| Wireless Charging | 20W |
| Video Playback Rating | Up to 26 hours |
Software, Samsung Wallet And Long Term Support
The phone runs Android with Samsung’s One UI interface.
Samsung is also offering seven years of OS updates and security updates, which is important considering the price of the device.
If you plan to use the Fold8 for several years, this long software support becomes a major advantage.
Samsung Wallet is another feature I regularly use.
It can store documents and also allows credit card payments directly through the phone, making everyday payments more convenient.
Protecting A Premium Investment: Cases And Accessories
Considering how expensive the Galaxy Z Fold8 is, using a protective case makes sense.
Cases designed for this wider foldable format can protect the hinge, camera area and other important parts of the phone.
Some cases also use a spring-loaded hinge mechanism to protect the folding section without adding too much extra weight.
| Accessory | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Hinge-protection case | Spring mechanism shields the fold point and covers the camera module |
| Tempered glass screen protector | Crease-friendly protection for the inner foldable display |
| 45W USB-C fast charger | Matches the phone’s rated wired charging speed |
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Price In India And EMI Options
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 price in India puts it firmly in the premium smartphone category.
Prices have increased compared to older Fold models, though higher smartphone prices are something we are seeing across several brands this year.
| Variant | RAM | Storage | Price In India |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base | 12GB | 256GB | Rs 1,79,999 |
| Mid | 12GB | 512GB | Rs 1,99,999 |
| Top | 16GB | 1TB | Rs 2,39,999 |
Samsung also offers a 2-year no-cost EMI option.
This allows buyers to divide the phone’s price into monthly instalments without paying additional interest under the eligible no-cost EMI offer.
For a smartphone this expensive, paying over two years can make the purchase easier, especially if you are planning to keep the phone for several years.
Extended warranty options are also available, which can be useful for an expensive foldable device with a moving hinge and foldable display.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Specifications At A Glance
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, Octa-core |
| Cover Display | 5.5-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz |
| Inner Display | 7.6-inch Foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz |
| Rear Camera | 50MP + 50MP |
| Front Camera (Inner) | 10MP |
| Cover Camera | 10MP |
| RAM / Storage | 12GB/256GB, 12GB/512GB, 16GB/1TB |
| Battery | 4,800mAh with 45W wired, 20W wireless charging |
| Weight | 201 grams |
| Colours | Lavender, Graphite, Cream, Pistachio (online exclusive) |
Where To Buy The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8
The Lavender 256GB variant is listed here.
If you need more storage for apps, games and especially 8K video recording, you can check the 512GB Lavender option.
Those who prefer a darker colour can check the Graphite 256GB listing.
You can also browse the full Galaxy Z Fold8 range to compare different colours and storage options.