Gimme: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8

Pocket power with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, originally published in the Financial Mail.

Samsung’s foldable phones have been around for seven years, since the original Fold was released in 2019. That launch wasn’t a resounding success, thanks to hardware failures and negative reviews.

Samsung’s foldable phones have been around for seven years, since the original Fold was released in 2019. That launch was not a resounding success, thanks to hardware failures and negative reviews.

Fast-forward to 2026 and we have a polished product in its eighth generation, in the form of the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Fold8 and Flip8. The most eye-catching one is the passport-sized Fold8, which I’ve been testing since its global debut in London on July 22.

According to Counterpoint Research, in 2025 Samsung led the global foldable smartphone market with a 40% share, followed by Huawei at 30% and Motorola at 12%. It predicts Samsung will hold its lead in 2026.

The Fold8 is powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chipset with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. It has dual 50MP cameras, a 4800mAh battery and dual SIM support through one eSIM.

Connectivity covers 5G, NFC for tap to pay, Bluetooth 6.0 and ultra-wideband support for item tracking or digital car keys.

Last year’s Fold7 became my laptop replacement. I took it to conferences and overnight events, and conducted interviews using split-screen apps. When I wasn’t working, I used it for in-flight entertainment or watching TV on the treadmill.

I’ve done all of that on the Fold8 after signing into my Samsung account. While the Fold7 has an elongated body, this new passport shape is shorter and wider.

When closed, the Fold8 has a 10:16 ratio; when opened, its 3:4 ratio makes it natural to hold as an e-reader. It’s now easier to type on the keyboard from the 5.5-inch cover display because it’s not narrow.

There’s also an anti-reflective coating on the 7.6-inch inner display, which makes outdoor reading comfortable. Since loading my Kindle app onto it, I’ve been reading more and consuming vodcasts frequently.

It feels effortless to hold at 201g, slightly lighter than my iPhone 17 Pro (206g), yet it’s a 7.6-inch device that fits in a pocket.

The dual 50MP rear cameras are adequate, though it lacks the 200MP lens or telephoto lens of Samsung’s other flagships. The dual video capture is useful, plus it shoots images in RAW for precise editing.

Samsung finally switched to a silicon-carbon battery, which has a higher energy density, faster charging and optimised performance in a smaller footprint, a feature Honor adopted years ago.

Battery life is great: it lasts two days on normal use, but if I’m out and about all day, it drops to around 20% by bedtime.

Aside from the lack of a telephoto lens and S-Pen support, the Fold8 is an irresistible, pocket-sized upgrade for any professional ready to trade their brick phone for a two-in-one.

Its R41,000 price tag may stop you in your tracks, but the AI boom has pushed the price of premium consumer electronics higher.

The Fold8 will be available in South Africa on August 13.

Cool factor 5/5
Usability 4.5/5
Value for money 3.5/5

Originally published in the Financial Mail.