The versatile form factor of foldable devices is one of the biggest draws for users, but it still may not be compact enough to fit in smaller pockets. For some, the candybar design can be a little thick or hefty, while the folding line that runs down the inner display turns others away, even though seven generations of refinement have resulted in a near-seamless crease. In comes the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, designed with the ideal portrait and landscape viewing experience in mind.
It all starts with fitting a 4:3 aspect ratio into a 7.6-inch QXGA+ OLED inner display (1,848 x 2,448 resolution), which folds into a 5.5-inch WUXGA+ cover screen (1,248 x 1,972 resolution) with a 10:16 aspect ratio, making it smaller than the average passport. Don’t be fooled by its lean build, however — despite weighing 201 grams and measuring 4.5mm thin, it packs the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chipset under the hood, which means gaming on the go won’t be an issue.
In practice, Genshin Impact and Delta Force ran without a hitch, with performance taking a hit in Zenless Zone Zero. Thermal management proved to be a pleasant surprise, keeping the wide foldable below 40 degrees for the most part, but its 4:3 aspect ratio is easily the standout element, delivering full-screen immersion without the black borders present on previous Fold models. Topped off with a fun-sized build, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 has become the new preferred way to enjoy mobile gaming.
Check it out in action above, where it undergoes short bursts of high-intensity gaming and temperature checks. The all-new range starts at S$2,498 for the base configuration of 12GB of RAM and 256GB of ROM, and will be available in Lavender, Cream, Graphite, and Pistachio (online exclusive) starting 14 August.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
Kevin Low
