After seven years of evolution, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 is finally the foldable that I can get behind and happily use on the daily. Even though I was holding out and waiting to test every one of these new foldables that came out in 2026, I still keep going back to the Samsung for two good reasons — its thin and light build, and the “right” aspect ratio.
How the Galaxy Z Fold8 won in 2026
Thin, light, max screen | Image by Samsung
Samsung has been evolving in the foldable space for the past seven years. The first time I started paying attention to the Z Fold phones was with the Z Fold 4. I used it for the better part of a year once it launched. But I never got to jive with it.
To me, foldables have two hurdles to overcome — their thickness and weight, and the aspect ratio of the main screen being an actual useful format.
A square main screen just doesn’t make much sense to me. It doesn’t lend itself well for gaming, it’s not that great for spreadsheets when we are used to watch them on a wide screen, and it doesn’t do much for movies or videos that are shot in 16:9 or 21:9.
The Galaxy Z Fold8 instantly fixed that pain point for me, and I happened to enjoy a lot more of my content on the main screen. Even finished a game or two, which were on my wishlist for quite some time beforehand.
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Yes, I am well aware that the Galaxy Z Fold8 is not the first foldable with a wide aspect ratio. Nor is it the only one that launched in 2026. Here’s where its second win comes in — it’s incredibly thin and light.
Honestly, even after the honeymoon period, it’s still just plain fun to handle and use the Z Fold8 in its folded state. Because it’s so easy to wield! And easy to pocket once you are done.
No more heavy bricks or hefty frames to worry about. And its sharp edges make it easier to handle and grip on to. Though, far be it from me to recommend that you use a foldable phone with a case.
Dual camera only, and not as great as its siblings | Image by PhoneArena
In order to hit that thin and light build, plus the small-ish shape, Samsung had to make sacrifices. Well, surprisingly not a lot of them, but the camera quality did suffer.
Unlike the Galaxy S26 Ultra, which is an absolute champ in the camera department; or the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, which also gets a 200 MP main sensor and delivers higher-class photos, the passport-shaped Galaxy Z Fold8 will give you pictures that are above-average, OK, shareable for sure.
But not as pristine as dedicated camera phones. It gives you a 50 MP main camera and a 50 MP ultra-wide to work with.
Is the Galaxy Z Fold8 a good holiday gift?
Fresh look with fresh colors | Image by Samsung
That’s a generous thought to have. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 is an expensive handset for sure, so it would make a very special gift for a very special person. Or just a “from me to me” type thing; we definitely deserve to spoil ourselves during the holidays, right?
For what it’s worth, to me, the Galaxy Z Fold8 may very well be the foldable phone to shop for in 2026. And it also helps that it comes in a few fun and gently vibrant colors that really make them pop out as something special.
The only consideration you need to have is that the camera is a step below the current flagship level. Otherwise, the performance of the Z Fold8 is snappy, the software delivers a lot of split-screen multi-tasking capabilities, and the 4,800 mAh battery keeps it on for a good day of use.
Preslav, a member of the PhoneArena team since 2014, is a mobile technology enthusiast with a penchant for integrating tech into his hobbies and work. Whether it's writing articles on an iPad Pro, recording band rehearsals with multiple phones, or exploring the potential of mobile gaming through services like GeForce Now and Steam Link, Preslav's approach is hands-on and innovative. His balanced perspective allows him to appreciate both Android and iOS ecosystems, focusing on performance, camera quality, and user experience over brand loyalty.
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