Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 vs Galaxy Z Fold 7: Main differences to expect
Samsung's foldables are getting better and better. | Image by PhoneArena
This summer, we will be treated to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, a foldable phone that will have to compete against the anticipated foldable iPhone in the autumn. That makes it a crucial device launch for Samsung, which has to get everything just right to even the playing field against its potential big-name rival.
How will it compare against the older Galaxy Z Fold 7?
To be fair, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 was a massive step forward. It finally scored an updated super-thin design language, and its inner screen scored a minimal display crease. This mostly brought the Galaxy Z Fold 8 up to par with most other high-end foldables out there hailing from China, like the Oppo Find N5, Honor Magic V5, and Huawei's Mate X6.
But it gets better, as the Galaxy Z Fold is rumored to be scoring a ton of upgrades, most of which are very exciting ones.
Galaxy Z Fold 8 vs Galaxy Z Fold 7 expected differences:
| Galaxy Z Fold 8 | Galaxy Z Fold 7 |
|---|---|
| Display | |
| Even flatter crease on the inner display | Inner display with a minimal crease |
| Larger inner screen (>8.0-inch) with wider aspect ratio | 8-inch inner display |
| 2,600 nits or higher brightness | 2,600 nits of brightness |
| Performance | |
| Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3nm) | Snapdragon 8 Elite (3nm) |
| Battery | |
| 5,000 mAh rumored | Featured a 4,400 mAh battery |
| Camera | |
| Likely getting higher-res ultrawide and telephoto cameras | 200 MP + 12 MP + 10 MP cameras in the rear |
Table of Contents:
Design and Size
Improvements around the corner
Generally, we expect the Galaxy Z Fold to closely follow the Galaxy Z Fold 7 style, but with a slew of notable changes and uprgades.
For one, the foldable will likely substitute the titanium hinge of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 for a carbon fiber-reinforced plastic one on the Galaxy Z Fold 8. This could potentially help the Galaxy Z Fold 8 achieve an even lighter build, though it could lose some of that rigidity that definitely gives peace of mind.
Rumors say the Galaxy Z Fold 8 will indeed be lighter than its predecessor, though it remains to be seen by how much exactly. The phone is expected to retain its very slim 8.9 mm folded profile and around 4.2 mm when unfolded.
The most significant change, however, could be the supposedly very reduced display creasage. Rumors say Samsung might use a new dual-stacked display technology to further reduce the crease of the inner display, similarly to the recently announced Oppo Find N6 foldable, which has a mostly non-existant crease.
| Galaxy Z Fold 8 | Galaxy Z Fold 7 |
|---|---|
| Thickness ~8.9 mm folded ~4.2 mm unfolded | Thickness 8.9 mm folded 4.2 mm unfolded |
| Dimensions ~158.4 x 72.8 | Dimensions 158.4 x 72.8 |
| Weight <215 grams | Weight 215 grams |
Display Differences
Some rumors exist that the Galaxy Z Fold 8 might feature a slightly larger inner display and feature a different aspect ratio than the one on the Galaxy Z Fold 7. Of course, we usually take these with a pinch of salt, as we doubt the Galaxy Z Fold 8 will grow in size, and bezel slimming can only get you so much display increase. Samsung has another wide version of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 reportedly coming, which will likely feature a larger display with a more rectangular aspect ratio.
Of course, the most exciting rumor is that the screen will have a smaller crease thanks to a new dual-glass display technology. The foldable iPhone is also rumored to feature such a screen, and the recent Oppo Find N6 already has one.
Aside from that, the screens will probably remain the same: a roughly 8.0-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X inner screen with a 120 Hz refresh rate and probably above 2,600 nits of brightness, as well as a 6.5-inch outer screen with the same specs. It's doubtful that the inner screen would score the new Privacy Display feature, but when it comes to the outer screen, I'd say there is a chance.
| Galaxy Z Fold 8 | Galaxy Z Fold 7 |
|---|---|
| Inner screen ~8.0' | Inner screen 8.0" |
| Size 6.5" | Size 6.5" |
| Brightness >2,600 nits (peak) | Brightness 2600 nits (peak) |
In terms of biometrics, we are likely getting the same side-positioned capacitive fingerprint scanner. No issue with that, but it's worth mentioning that competing foldables (Vivo's and Oppo's latest ones) have featured in-display fingerprint scanners, which is definitely a more intriguing proposition.
Performance and Software
The regular upgrades
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 will likely arrive with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy chipset, the fastest one around right now. It's doubtful that Samsung would resolve to putting its Exynos 2600 2nm chip inside its high-profile foldable phone. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 came with the previous generation Snapdragon 8 Elite, which is plenty fast either, so you are unlikely to feel any lack of performance.
| Galaxy Z Fold 8 | Galaxy Z Fold 7 |
|---|---|
| Chip Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 | Chip Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite |
| Process 3nm | Process 3nm |
| RAM, Storage 16/256GB 16/512GB 16/1TB UFS 4.0 storage | RAM, Storage 12/256GB 12/512GB 12/1TB UFS 4.0 storage |
Rumors say we might see 16 GB of RAM on the Galaxy Z Fold 8, though let's be real: it will probably feature 12 GB of memory. That's what the Galaxy Z Fold 7 had, and it did mostly fine.
Storage-wise, expect 256 GB, 512 GB, and 1 TB versions to be available.
Galaxy Z Fold 8 users will enjoy seven years of software support, similarly to the Z Fold 7.
Camera
Major improvements
Foldables aren't about impressive cameras, but still, they have to have a decent one in the back.
Rumors say the Galaxy Z Fold 8 will score improved ultrawide and telephoto cameras. The main one will remain a 200 MP unit, but the ultrawide will possibly grow from 12 to 50 MP, and the telephoto will score a small upgrade from 10 to 12 MP. These upgrades will boost the versatility of the camera.
| Galaxy Z Fold 8 | Galaxy Z Fold 7 |
|---|---|
| Main 200 MP F1.7 | Main 200 MP F1.7 |
| Ultrawide 50 MP F2.2 | Ultrawide 12 MP F/2.2 |
| Telephoto 12 MP 3X optical zoom | Telephoto 10 MP F2.4 3X zoom (67mm) |
Battery Life and Charging
The battery might be larger, but by how much exactly?
Rumors claim we might see Samsung's favorite 5,000 mAh battery on the Galaxy Z Fold 8, which would be a welcome improvement over the 4,400 mAh one on the Galaxy Z Fold 7. This rumor has been corroborated by a couple of different sources, so the chances of it happening are apparently very real.
Hopefully, the battery increase will lead to improved battery life. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is a hungry powerhouse, so maybe don't expect exceptional battery life increase.
| Galaxy Z Fold 8 | Galaxy Z Fold 7 |
|---|---|
| Battery size 5,000 mAh | Battery size 4,000 mAh |
Charging speeds 45W wired 15W wireless charging | Charging speeds 45W wired 15W wireless charging |
Specs Comparison
|
|
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 |
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| 158.4 x 143.2 x 4.2 mm (~8.6 mm with camera bump) | |
| Weight | |
| 215.0 g | |
| Size | |
|---|---|
| 8.0-inch | 8.0-inch |
| Type | |
| Dynamic AMOLED, 120Hz | Dynamic AMOLED, 120Hz |
| System chip | |
|---|---|
| Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy SM8750-AB (3 nm) | |
| Memory | |
| 12GB (LPDDR5X)/256GB (UFS 4.0) 12GB/512GB 16GB/512GB | 12GB (LPDDR5X)/256GB (UFS 4.0) 12GB/512GB 16GB/512GB |
| Type | |
|---|---|
| 4400 mAh | 4400 mAh |
| Charge speed | |
| Wired: 25.0W Wireless: 15.0W | Wired: 25.0W Wireless: 15.0W |
| Main camera | |
|---|---|
| 200 MP (OIS, PDAF) Aperture size: F1.7 Focal length: 24 mm Sensor size: 1/1.3" Pixel size: 0.6 μm | 200 MP (OIS, PDAF) Aperture size: F1.7 Focal length: 24 mm Sensor size: 1/1.3" Pixel size: 0.6 μm |
| Second camera | |
| 12 MP (Ultra-wide) Aperture size: F2.2 Pixel size: 1.4 μm | 12 MP (Ultra-wide) Aperture size: F2.2 Pixel size: 1.4 μm |
| Third camera | |
| 10 MP (Telephoto, OIS, PDAF) Optical zoom: 3.0x Aperture size: F2.4 Focal Length: 67 mm Pixel size: 1.0 μm | 10 MP (Telephoto, OIS, PDAF) Optical zoom: 3.0x Aperture size: F2.4 Focal Length: 67 mm Pixel size: 1.0 μm |
| Front | |
| 10 MP (HDR) | 10 MP (HDR) |
See the full
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 specs comparison
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Summary
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 will have the arduous task of being the most high-profile rival to the foldable iPhone.
From the looks of it, we will be getting major improvements in important key areas like camera, display, performance, and battery, the holy quadfecta of upgrades that could make the Galaxy Z Fold 8 the best Samsung foldable so far. Surely, some of these could be wishful rumors, but where there's smoke, there's fire.
Meanwhile, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is still one of the more competent foldables you can buy in the US, with the best software and hardware around. It's the all-around recommended option for anyone who wants to own a foldable phone, and the Galaxy Z Fold 8 will certainly improve on that.
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