Editorials · Reviewer Insight
I used the Galaxy Fold 8 for three weeks: Here are 5 things I would change
After three weeks with Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8, I think it’s the best foldable yet. I'm still not sure I need it though.
This article may contain personal views and opinion from the author.
The dust has settled around Samsung’s new and very different Galaxy Z Fold 8. After using it for three weeks, I still think it is the best foldable phone I have ever tried. At the same time, it has left me wondering whether I need a foldable at all.
I switched to the Fold 8 from a compact iPhone 17 Pro, and the appeal was obvious from day one. In theory, a book-style foldable is the best of both worlds: a regular phone when closed and a mini tablet when opened.
In reality, my feelings are much more complicated.
Most of what I do doesn’t require a bigger screen
I don't edit spreadsheets on a daily basis. What I do on my phone is usually simple, quick interactions. I reply to a message, I search for something, I check notifications or take pictures. All of these tasks are about speed and convenience, and they are not better with a bigger screen. In fact, having to open your phone for those simple tasks is a nuisance, not an advantage.
And social media is not a big win for the foldable form factor either. Apps like Instagram and TikTok still have plenty of issues with the Fold 8's shorter proportions. I ran into black bars, cropping or interface elements awkwardly positioned over a post often on Instagram.
The advantage of the big display experience can even be detrimental. Our modern phones are masters of distraction, and with an immersive screen, you are just much more tempted to fall into those distractions. I found that the Fold 8 was almost too good at keeping me engaged.
Reading and gaming show the Fold 8 at its best
At the same time, there were moments when the larger display felt absolutely transformative.
I love unfolding it to read a newsletter or a longer article. Photos look fantastic on the main screen. This is basically the equivalent of using a small tablet, without the need to carry an extra device.
Gaming is even more convincing. The larger display makes a big difference even for me, a person who actively fights his game addictions, yet this phone repeatedly tempted me into longer sessions.
I think, however, that Samsung trying to presents the Fold as a productivity device is misguided. Sure, in theory, I can connect a keyboard and mouse and turn it into a tiny workstation. In practice... I'd just much rather bring a laptop.
The Fold 8 fits in that in-between space between a phone and a computer. Yep, the tablet space. Those few times when I needed to enter our internal system to make a change to an article, I appreciated the larger screen for this old desktop-style interface. It can occasionally save you from opening your laptop, but the key word is occasionally.
So what would I change?
Honestly, I realize that the Fold 8 is a product of careful deliberation and most of my wishes are just that - wishful thinking, but I'll voice them anyway.
1. Price has to come down
This is clearly the biggest problem. I would be fine with last year's flagship processor if the price can go down by at least $100. Honestly, I would also be fine without an ultra-wide camera.
But then you run into questions about a still-expensive phone missing features that even mid rangers have and that is not a good look either.
We really need a breakthrough in pricing in order for foldables to become more popular, but that breakthrough... I just don't see it coming.
What's worse, rivals like the iPhone Ultra (Apple's take on foldables that is expected to arrive in about a month) will probably cost even more, probably north of $2,300.
2. No telephoto camera
I know I started with a plea for lower prices, but cost-cutting just seems strange on a $2,000 foldable.
So if we embrace the price, then let's also embrace the features.
Why not have a telephoto camera? Would it add that much weight or cost? I know I would much prefer to have a telephoto camera that I can use for portraits and faraway shots, instead of an ultrawide one.
To illustrate how bad the Fold 8 is in zooming, here is a comparison to the Galaxy S26 Ultra.
10X Zoom Photo Samples
Images by PhoneArena
Images by PhoneArena
Yep, it's not a good look for the Fold 8.
3. Gesture navigation in One UI
For some reason, in 2027, the company still thinks that the default interface for Android should involve the three-buttons instead of swipe gestures.
That is just absurd. Of course, switching to gesture navigation is just a few taps, but then I run into some problems. The most commonly used gesture to switch between apps, a swipe left and right from the bottom handle, is just frustratingly inconsistent. It works fine sometimes, then just refuses to register.
Animations are still jittery in some places. Strange when even mid-range phones from other brands have figured this out.
4. Magnets
I use all my phones without a case, and Samsung still doesn't include magnets with the Fold 8.
If you are used to placing your phone on a car mount or charging it regularly with MagSafe/Qi2 chargers, that is definitely frustrating omission.
5. Physical buttons
If you are coming from an iPhone, you would miss the convenience of the camera control button and the action button. I have my Camera Button set up for my favorite third-party camera app, NoFusion, while the Action Button I have set to open ChatGPT in an instant.
Adding two physical buttons is plain convenient and hardly a huge expense, yet for some reason Samsung does not want to do it.
And what are your wishes and thoughts about the Galaxy Fold 8?
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