What the reviewers said
Phonandroid FR
No scoreSep 12, 2026A strong foldable for multimedia and retro gaming thanks to its wider 4:3 inner screen, though less practical for productivity and photography than pricier rivals.
- Wider 4:3 inner screen suits video, retro gaming and reading
- Easy one-handed use despite the wide cover screen
- Good stereo speakers when closed horizontally
- Cheaper than the Galaxy Z Fold7 at launch
- Seven years of Android and security updates promised
- Cover screen is short, cramped by the Samsung keyboard
- Very wide, does not fit all pockets
- Camera setup weaker than Z Fold8 Ultra and S26 Ultra
- Only IP48 rating, no full dust protection
- Less practical than Z Fold8 Ultra for office work
The wider, shorter Fold8 feels more natural than the Ultra despite weaker zoom and battery. Expensive, but the best book-style foldable for most buyers.
- Wider, shorter shape is easier to use
- Lighter design than the Ultra
- Top-tier Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 performance
- Strong main and ultrawide cameras
- Less visible crease
- No zoom camera on the Fold8
- Camera bump makes phone rock on flat surfaces
- Very expensive
- Built-in keyboard and voice typing are weak
Tweakers NL
No scoreAug 13, 2026A fun, well-shaped passport-style foldable with a strong screen and good software support, but the camera and high price disappoint.
- Compact, light passport-style design that is easy to handle
- Bright anti-reflective inner screen that stays readable outdoors
- Less visible fold crease than earlier Samsung foldables
- Good performance and battery life
- Long software support
- Camera system does not impress
- Mediocre audio experience from speakers
- Very expensive at launch price
- IP48 rating leaves dust resistance vulnerable
- Camera bump protrudes, making phone wobble when lying flat
Pocket-lint UK
4/5Aug 12, 2026A fun, practical foldable with a wider passport-style design and strong screens and battery, though the high price and missing telephoto lens hold it back. Recommended for foldable first-timers.
- Wider passport-style design is fun and pocketable
- Excellent cover and main displays for media and reading
- Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 performance is strong
- Solid battery life for a full day plus
- No built-in magnets for Qi2 charging
- No telephoto lens
- Steep $1,900 starting price
- Inner selfie camera is distracting
Digital Trends US
8/10Aug 11, 2026A wider passport-style foldable that feels far more pocketable and usable than past Fold models, with excellent screens and software, though it has a missing telephoto, weak dust protection and…
- Passport-style folded body is slim and pocketable
- Bright, high-refresh inner and cover displays
- Hinge holds angles reliably for Flex Mode
- Strong software with long update support
- Sustained performance is solid for everyday and gaming use
- Expensive starting price
- No dedicated telephoto zoom lens
- Thermal throttling under prolonged heavy load
- IP48 rating offers limited dust protection
- Hinge gears vulnerable to fine dust and grit
The Guardian UK
No scoreAug 10, 2026A curious passport-shaped folding phone with strong software, power and battery, but a cramped closed form and no telephoto camera at a high price.
- Tablet-like 4:3 inner screen is bright and crisp
- Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 offers top performance and multitasking
- Solid battery life for a folding phone
- Excellent One UI software for split-screen multitasking
- Long promised software updates until 2033
- Squat closed shape is hard to use one-handed
- Keyboard takes up over half the cover screen
- No telephoto camera on the rear
- Extremely expensive with high repair costs
- No dust resistance, only IP48 water resistance
Android Central US
4.5/5Aug 8, 2026A compact book-style foldable that blends foldable utility with flip-phone pocketability. Thin, light, fun on both screens, with strong performance, though it runs warm and needs some app scaling fiddling.
- Small, thin and light; very pocketable
- Crease is nearly invisible on the inner display
- Spectacular performance with Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
- All-day battery life
- Bright, great-looking displays
- No Qi2 magnets
- No telephoto camera
- Apps don't always scale well on external display
- Gets warm when gaming
- Battery capacity modest at 4,800mAh
Android Police US
9/10Editor's ChoiceAug 7, 2026A wider, more compact foldable that feels equally good open or closed. Camera is average, but the hinge, screens, and software make it a standout.
- Genuinely usable open and closed
- Well-balanced, silent hinge with satisfying snap
- Minimal crease on inner screen
- Lightweight at 201 grams
- Bright, sharp inner and cover screens
- Average camera with no telephoto
- Galaxy AI features feel niche and unhelpful
- No built-in Qi2 wireless charging
- IP48 rating is modest
- Cover screen picked up scratch without protector
CNET US
8.6/10CNET Editors' ChoiceAug 7, 2026A compact, versatile book-style foldable with a 4:3 inner screen, minimal crease and solid cameras, though its high price and modest battery gains temper the appeal.
- Versatile 4:3 design works well in landscape and portrait
- Minimized crease on the main display
- Longer battery life than Z Fold 7
- Solid camera quality
- Lightweight at 201 grams
- High $1,900 starting price
- No telephoto lens
- No built-in magnets for Qi2 charging
- AI capabilities can be spotty
- IP48 rating lacks dust protection
PC-Welt DE
4.5/5Aug 4, 2026A genuinely exciting, distinctive foldable with a wide 4:3 inner screen and top-tier software and support, though the cover screen and missing telephoto are drawbacks.
- Compact, pocketable folded size with a 4:3 inner display
- 4:3 main screen excels for video and gaming
- Solid battery life with fast wired charging
- Excellent multitasking and software support
- Surprisingly advanced video capabilities
- No telephoto camera
- Cover screen is cramped and hard to use one-handed
- Software needs some optimization
- Gaming performance limited by thermal constraints
- Only one physical SIM slot
TechRadar UK
4.5/5Aug 3, 2026A strong, more affordable book-style foldable with a pocketable, tablet-like feel and good screens, though pricey and missing a telephoto camera.
- Pocketable design that opens into a tablet-sized device
- Attractive, bright inner and outer displays
- Useful software and AI features
- Lighter and thinner than other book-style foldables
- Strong chipset, memory and battery specs
- Expensive for the category
- No telephoto camera
- Screen hard to read in direct sunlight
- IP48 rating lower than some foldable rivals
- Small price gap to the Z Fold 8 Ultra
Tech Advisor UK
4.5/5Aug 3, 2026A novel passport-shaped foldable that feels fresh and exciting, with strong software and support, but a cramped cover screen, no telephoto, and thermal limits hold it back.
- Compact, pocket-friendly passport-style folded shape
- 4:3 inner screen is great for movies and gaming
- Solid battery life and fast charging
- Strong multitasking tools and video features
- Excellent build quality and long support promise
- No telephoto camera
- Cover display cramped and hard for one-handed use
- Gaming performance limited by thermal throttling
- Software needs some tweaks
- Single physical SIM slot only
PCMag US
4/5Editors' ChoiceJul 29, 2026A foldable that fixes the crease, letterboxing and battery complaints of earlier models, earning PCMag's Editors' Choice despite a steep price and no telephoto lens.
- Short-and-wide 4:3 main display reduces video letterboxing
- Crease noticeably less visible than earlier Fold models
- About 17 hours of battery life in testing
- Lightest book-style foldable per Samsung, at 7.09 ounces
- Seven years of software and security updates
- Crease still visible after a week of use
- No dedicated telephoto zoom lens
- Steep $1,899.99 price tag
- Razr Fold has much brighter display peak (6,200 nits)
- Cover screen less useful for scrolling than main screen
Trusted Reviews UK
4.5/5Jul 29, 2026A shorter, wider book-style foldable that is light, practical and enjoyable day to day, though cameras, sustained performance and battery life are compromises.
- Passport-style cover screen is genuinely useful one-handed
- Large inner display with tablet-like 4:3 shape
- Very light at 201g
- Less visible crease with Flex Titanium
- Smooth everyday performance
- Dual camera setup underwhelming at this price
- Sustained performance trails the Fold 8 Ultra
- Battery life only just gets heavier users through the day
- Only IP48 with no dust improvements
The Verge US
8/10Jul 29, 2026A wide, short foldable that feels natural when closed and excels for video and reading. Better as a foldable than past Fold models, though it needs to get cheaper.
- Comfortable to use when closed despite unusual shape
- 4:3 inner display is great for reading and video
- Impressive battery life for its thickness
- Lightest Z Fold yet at 201g
- Improved ultrawide camera and smaller crease
- No telephoto camera; only two rear lenses
- Main camera downgraded from previous generation
- No IP68 rating; IP48 only
- Occasional app errors with the outer screen
- Expensive at $1,899 and needs to get cheaper
Engadget US
8.9/10Jul 28, 2026A wider, shorter base foldable that suits media consumption well; lacks a zoom camera but offers near-Ultra performance for $200 less.
- Wider 4:3 inner display suits videos and gaming
- Brilliant anti-glare displays with 3,000 nit peak brightness
- Same flagship performance as the Ultra
- Strong battery life, nearly 28 hours video rundown
- Faster wired (45W) and wireless (20W) charging
- No dedicated telephoto zoom camera
- Pricey despite being $200 cheaper than Ultra
- Magnetic accessories need a case or add-on
- Home screen layout jumbles when switched to portrait
SmartWorld IT
8.5/10Jul 27, 2026A compact passport-style foldable that delivers a large inner screen and premium hardware, with a less visible crease, though it is not for everyone.
- Passport-style format is compact yet offers a large screen
- Premium hardware with top-clock Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
- Crease much less visible than previous generations
- Seven years of OS and security updates
- Lighter than the S26 Ultra at 201 grams
- No dedicated telephoto zoom lens
- Cannot be comfortably used at an angle
- High price for many buyers
- Wireless charging is not magnetic
- Only a USB-C cable in the box
Verdicts, pros and cons are short summaries in our words of each publisher's review; scores are as the publisher gave them. Specs are taken from the reviews' spec boxes — where they differ, we show the value most of them give; price is the US launch price of the base model. Read the originals for the full picture.
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