Editorials · Reviewer Insight

I used the Galaxy Z Flip 8: its tiny design changes matter more than the specs

I used Samsung's new Galaxy Z Flip 8 for a few days and while there are no big camera changes, the design tweaks make a difference.

This article may contain personal views and opinion from the author.
I used the Galaxy Z Flip 8: its tiny design changes matter more than the specs
The Flip 8 comes in a new signature pink color. | Image by PhoneArena
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The new Galaxy Z Flip 8 is here, and before I dive into the full review, I want to show you the small design changes that make a bigger difference than you might expect.

The Flip 8 is not only thinner and lighter than its predecessor, but it is also easier to open. A subtle taper on the sides makes it just a bit easier to place your finger to unfold it.

It's got a newer processor, a handful of new camera tricks, and... well, that's mostly it.

It's gotten more expensive this year, as most gadgets have. So, let's see what exactly has changed in detail.


The signature color of the Galaxy Flip 8 this year is pink, which has never been the color of choice for any other Samsung flagship, so it's clear that the company is aiming this first at women. Of course, this does not mean that other people can't have a pink phone, but the color does reveal a lot about the positioning of this phone.


Instead of getting major changes to the hardware, the Flip 8 goes thinner and lighter than before: 180 grams compared to the 188 gram weight on the Flip 7.


When you unfold it, the Flip 8 is just 6.1mm thick, while when folded it measures 13.1mm. This compares to 6.5mm and 13.7mm on the previous model.

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The most significant difference to me, however, comes from a little change to the sides: they are still flat but slightly tapered. This small tweak makes it so much easier to unfold the phone! I think that matters a lot for a device you fold and unfold dozens of times every day.


The Flip 8 retains the 6.9-inch main screen, which is taller than your typical non-folding smartphone with an aspect ratio of 21:9.


The crease has also improved, and it's now even less of a nuisance.


You have the familiar dual camera setup with a 50MP main camera and a 12MP ultra-wide one.


The camera quality has not changed much, and it appears that Flip phones have hit a bit of a plateau.



There are a few new camera features on board.

The Flip 8 now features Horizontal Lock for superb video stabilization, and it will keep the horizon on a video you record steady even if you rotate the camera 360 degrees.

One feature for the Gen Z crowd is My FanCam which allows you to film something like a group dance and then select a single performer, and the video will crop and follow that performer.


The Flip 8 runs on One UI 9 on top of Android 17. I love Samsung's interface, it is one of the most feature-rich ones out there.


It's also great that you now have more control over the cover screen, so you don't have to tinker with Good Lock modules to customize it. You can now simply select the apps you want to appear on the cover screen and create your own custom cards and looks.


Of course, Gemini is your main assistant here, and you can access it by long pressing the power button.


Sadly, battery life and charging have not improved at all from the Flip 7. The new Flip 8 still has a 4,300mAh battery and 25W wired charging.


Side to side, if it weren't for the color difference, I would be hard pressed to tell the new Flip 8 from the older Flip 7.


And here we have the Motorola Razr Ultra (2026) on the right-hand side.


The Flip 8 is not a huge change, but it does feel more refined than before. At a $1,200 starting price for the base 12/256GB model, it's not cheap, but it is more affordable than the $1,500 Motorola Razr Ultra (2026).

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