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Samsung’s wider Z Fold 8 feels just right
Samsung has launched the Galaxy Z Fold 8, taking its foldable range in a new direction with a shorter, wider shape rather than the tall, narrow design used previously. Unlike the true successor to last year's Z Fold 7 — the newly named Z Fold 8 Ultra, which keeps the familiar squarish inner screen and triple camera setup — the standard Z Fold 8 adopts a passport-like 4:3 form factor, positioning it as a lighter, more consumption-focused device rather than a multitasking powerhouse.
The Z Fold 8 costs $1,899.99, $100 less than last year's model, weighs 201g and drops the telephoto camera found on pricier siblings, while the Z Fold 8 Ultra starts at $2,099.99. Samsung frames the two phones as serving different needs, with the Ultra built for split-screen multitasking and the Z Fold 8 suited to watching video or reading, and its wider shape echoes earlier attempts at this form factor, including Huawei's China-only Pura X Max and Google's original Pixel Fold, with Apple expected to follow suit with a similarly shaped foldable iPhone in September.
In short
- Samsung's Z Fold 8 adopts a wider, shorter passport-like design
- Z Fold 8 Ultra is the true Z Fold 7 successor, priced at $2,099.99
- Standard Z Fold 8 costs $1,899.99 but lacks a telephoto camera
Explained simply
Foldable phones open like a book to give users a larger screen, but their proportions affect how they feel and what they are suited to. Many earlier models were tall and narrow when closed, with a more square-shaped screen inside; a wider, shorter design can make reading and watching video feel more like using a small tablet.
Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold range is part of its premium smartphone line. The standard model and the more expensive Ultra offer different screen shapes and camera equipment, reflecting a choice between a lighter device for everyday viewing and one aimed more at multitasking. Other companies, including Google and Huawei, have also explored wider foldables, while Apple is expected to enter the category.