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Before Apple hits the market with new iPhones in September, Samsung has introduced new foldable phones. Read here why one model particularly impressed us when we tried it out, and what it all has to do with the passport. Samsung presented three models in London: the tiny folding phone Galaxy Z Flip 8, the Fold 8 Ultra in its usual giant format, and the Fold 8 in a completely new format. When folded, previous foldable mobile phones were more similar to regular cell phones with their elongated shape. But this smartphone is different!
The Fold 8 has an external screen (5.5 inches) that is much wider than usual, and is very similar in size and format to a passport or small notepad. It’s great for reading, surfing, Instagram. If that’s not enough, you can simply open the Galaxy Z Fold 8 to reveal a stunning 7.6-inch foldable display.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 opens up: the 7.6-inch display offers plenty of space for work, photos and videos.
Why the Fold 8 is the perfect phone for YouTube
Apart from the Fold 8, Samsung also introduced another large foldable phone: the Fold 8 Ultra. With a 6.5-inch display on the outside and an 8-inch foldable display on the inside, it’s aimed at power users who need even more space—it also comes with a larger battery and a more powerful camera. But it has two drawbacks: when closed, the Ultra remains in an elongated page format, so in this form it does not provide any advantages over regular mobile phones.
When open, the screen is actually larger than the Fold. This is useful if you use Office applications or want to run multiple applications at the same time. But for YouTube videos or video streaming, the Fold 8 is better in two ways: When closed, the outer display shows YouTube videos virtually bezel-less thanks to its 16:10 aspect ratio when you tilt it 90 degrees.
The internal display renders widescreen videos at almost the same size as the larger Fold 8 Ultra, which wastes space with thick black bars above and below videos. The Fold 8 is also more convenient and, unlike the Fold 8 Ultra, you can even store it in your back jeans pocket. A real winner after the first try!
When unfolded, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra features an even larger foldable display. The 8-inch diagonal eliminates the need for a tablet.
A foldable display without visible creases? Unfortunately no
Technically, the new Fold models improve over its predecessor, the Fold 7, with more powerful processors, larger batteries and brighter displays. The two layers of titanium are also designed to make the foldable display more durable. The flex, which has always plagued foldable cell phones, has also become weaker and can barely be felt by the finger. It didn’t disappear completely. It’s a shame: Samsung’s new foldable phones are waterproof, but not dustproof. Therefore, it is not recommended to spend the day on the beach or at a construction site!
Small, (almost) square, good: The Galaxy Z Flip 8 fits into any pocket. Inside there is a large 6.9-inch foldable display.
Flip 8: an alternative for your pocket
Less impressive from a technical standpoint is Samsung’s third new foldable phone, the Flip 8, a reincarnation of the classic foldable phone with a foldable display inside. When folded, it’s almost square and, like its predecessor the Flip 7, fits easily into a jeans pocket. It has a 4.1-inch external display where you can see appointments, weather, etc. even when it is closed, and it’s easy to take great selfies with a good main camera without opening it. Opening it reveals a 6.9-inch display that rivals even the largest iPhone in size and brightness. Apart from the new processor and narrower display bezel, there are only a few differences from its predecessor. However, opening the phone with one hand is a little easier.
Prices are cool
Foldable mobile phones have never been cheap. But with memory prices rising as a result of the AI boom, larger memory options in particular have become significantly more expensive. The Fold 8 is available from €1,999, the Fold 8 Ultra from €2,199 and the Flip 8 from €1,299 – each with 256 gigabytes of storage. If you need more storage, pay extra – the Fold 8 Ultra with 1024GB (1TB) storage costs €2,799.
What is Apple doing?
When we first tried it, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 impressed with its new wide format. Even when closed, it offers much more functionality than regular cell phones. It will be interesting to see how the new format is received by customers – and how it works. Test a folding mobile phone with a BILD shopping consultant cuts off. Because things will only get really serious in September, when there are rumors that Apple will announce its first foldable phone, the iPhone Ultra – also in passport format!