Reasons to buy the Galaxy Z Fold 8

• The new 4:3 design makes the foldable genuinely practical
• At 201g, it feels surprisingly compact for a large foldable
• The 7.6-inch 120Hz display is excellent for work and entertainment
• Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 delivers flagship-level performance
• Galaxy AI and One UI make good use of the larger screen
• The 4,800mAh battery comfortably handles a demanding day

I have reviewed several foldable phones over the past year. Every brand has shown how far this category has come. Yet, there was always a feeling that foldables were still trying to prove themselves. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 is different, as it does not seem to be an experiment anymore. This phone knows exactly what it wants to be.

Starting at Rs 1,79,999, it remains an expensive smartphone. However, Samsung has changed the shape, improved the proportions, and made the device easier to carry. And this, I believe, is a game-changer in this category. The new 4:3 aspect ratio is central to that change. It makes the cover screen wider and the inner display more practical.

After spending a significant amount of time with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, I kept coming back to one question. Has Samsung finally made a foldable that I would recommend without hesitation?

Let’s find out!

A design that finally feels natural

The first thing you notice about the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is how comfortable it feels in your hand. This is because it measures 123.9 x 81.9 x 9.7mm when folded, weighs just 201g.

So if you ask me whether there should be more folds with this design ratio? Absolutely, yes! Its compact size took me back to the time of the BlackBerry Passport phone. At some point, it even brought back the feeling of holding a Samsung Corby (yes, despite a slight difference in dimensions).

More importantly, the phone does not constantly remind you that it is a foldable. When folded, it almost feels like carrying a compact passport. The change sounds simple, but it has a real impact on everyday use. WhatsApp messages, emails and websites are not cramped onto the cover screen.

Open the phone, and the 7.6-inch display gives you considerably more room for viewing documents, presentations and videos. The hinge also feels solid and smooth. It opens flat without feeling loose. The crease remains visible in certain lighting, but I rarely noticed it during regular use.

Talking about the looks, my Lavender review unit looks elegant without being overly flashy. Rather, the colour is soothing to the eyes. Samsung also gives the phone IPX8 water resistance and IP48 protection. Gorilla Glass Ceramic 3 adds another layer of protection.

The display makes the foldable experience worthwhile

Samsung has always been strong with displays, and the Fold 8 continues that trend. The inner screen is a 7.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel. It gets a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate and can reach 3,000 nits of peak brightness.

Colours look vibrant without becoming distracting. Blacks are deep, while outdoor visibility remains excellent. The 4:3 ratio also makes a difference here. Reading articles and documents feels more natural. Videos look immersive, while multitasking gets more breathing room.

The 5.5-inch cover display also supports 120Hz. This keeps the experience consistent between both screens. For someone considering a foldable, this is important. The larger display should offer more than just extra screen space.

Here, it definitely does.

Performance is powerful and dependable

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy. My review unit came with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage. Performance was never a concern during my testing. I could switch between multiple apps without seeing noticeable slowdowns.

Split-screen multitasking also worked smoothly and is quite helpful. The phone handled streaming, browsing, documents, and social media without breaking a sweat.

Gaming is equally impressive. Titles such as Asphalt 8, Shadow Fight, Mortal Kombat, etc., ran smoothly at high settings. Heat remained under control during longer sessions.

The benchmark numbers show a performance improvement over the previous generation. However, I would not call it a transformative upgrade. That is not necessarily a bad thing. The Fold 7 was already fast. The Fold 8 simply gives that performance more headroom.

The bigger improvement comes from how Samsung combines hardware with its software experience.

One UI and Galaxy AI add real value

A foldable needs software that understands its form factor. Samsung continues to do that better than most. One UI makes multitasking feel natural on the larger display. Apps can run side by side, while floating windows give you even more flexibility.

Galaxy AI also fits well into this experience. It can help with writing, summarising information and other productivity tasks. These features do not feel like extras added simply for marketing. They become more useful because the Fold 8 gives you enough screen space to actually use them.

Samsung is also promising seven years of Android and security updates. That adds considerable value to such an expensive purchase.

The cameras are finally worthy of the price

The camera system is another area where the Galaxy Z Fold 8 delivers a strong flagship experience.

The 50MP primary camera captures detailed images with good dynamic range. Colours look pleasing, while HDR handling keeps bright and dark areas balanced. Portrait photography is equally impressive. Edge detection is accurate, and the background separation looks natural.

The zoom performance also holds up well. Distant subjects retain good clarity, while the processing does not make images look overly artificial. Selfies are sharp and balanced. Skin tones look natural, and Samsung’s processing adds enough punch without going overboard.

Video recording is another strong point. The phone can record 4K video at up to 60fps, while optical image stabilisation helps keep footage steady.

Overall, the camera setup feels complete. Whether you are taking portraits, landscapes, selfies or videos, the Fold 8 does not make you compromise because you chose a foldable.

Battery life keeps up with the bigger experience

Samsung has equipped the Fold 8 with a 4,800mAh battery. It supports 45W wired charging, 20W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging.

During my testing, the battery comfortably lasted through a full day. That included gaming, photography, social media and regular multitasking. Samsung’s claimed endurance also felt realistic in my usage.

The charging speed is not the fastest in this segment. Still, the overall battery experience remains dependable. That matters because the Fold 8’s larger screen can tempt you to use it much more. Thankfully, the battery keeps pace with that usage.

So, is this the best foldable yet?

I think Samsung has finally found the right balance with Galaxy Z Fold 8. It is not simply about having a bigger screen anymore. The phone feels comfortable when folded and useful when opened. It’s very hard for me not to want to own this phone once I have used it, even for a few days.

Yes, there are still areas Samsung could improve, but that’s with every innovation. However, those points do not change my overall experience with the phone. In my view, this is the best foldable yet for how complete it feels. That, for me, is the biggest achievement here.

At Rs 1,79,999, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is still a serious investment. But if a foldable has been in your plans, this might be the first Fold you would actually want to own. And if you have been waiting for foldables to stop feeling experimental, I think that wait is finally over.