Samsung's " Galaxy Z Fold8 " is a foldable smartphone with a brand-new form factor unlike anything we've seen before.
With a display size that makes it easy to view content whether the phone is closed or open, it seems well-suited for gaming as well.
Samsung Launches Three New Foldable Models!
The foldable smartphones Samsung released in August 2026 are the “ Galaxy Z Fold8,” “ Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra,” and “Galaxy Z Flip8.”
Of these, the "Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra" is a side-folding model.
The "Galaxy Z Flip8" is a vertical-folding flip phone.
Both models are thinner and lighter than last year’s versions, offering improved usability.
Meanwhile, the “Galaxy Z Fold8” features a design that is making its debut this year.
The Galaxy Z Fold8: An Entirely New Design
When closed, the Galaxy Z Fold8 is shorter vertically and wider horizontally than a typical smartphone.
While it may feel a bit unusual if you’re used to tall, narrow screens, the extra width provides plenty of space for arranging icons.
The display size is 5.5 inches.
It’s compact enough to extend just slightly beyond the palm of your hand.
Weighing just 201g, it’s also lightweight for a foldable smartphone.
At 9.7mm thick when closed—less than 10mm—it’s remarkably slim, and you’ll be surprised by just how thin it feels when you actually hold it in your hand.
It also features a built-in 4,800 mAh battery.
While you might think that’s a bit on the low side, considering how thin, light, and easy to hold it is, you’ll find that using a portable charger alongside it is a perfectly viable solution for extended use.
A New Experience with the 4:3 Display
When you open the device, a 7.6-inch display with a resolution of 2448 x 1848 pixels appears.
With its 4:3 aspect ratio, the screen feels natural and comfortable to use.
The screen brightness reaches a maximum of 3,000 nits, and the refresh rate goes up to 120 Hz.
There’s also a front-facing camera on the inside, and both cameras feature 10-megapixel sensors.
When unfolded, it’s just 4.5 mm thick —a level of thinness rarely found even among standard smartphones and tablets on the market.
While some might think foldable smartphones are difficult to hold when unfolded, the Galaxy Z Fold8 measures 161.4 x 123.9 mm.
Thanks to its slim profile, it’s easy to carry around even when unfolded.
Excellent content display and well-suited for gaming
Photos fill the entire screen, and while videos with a 16:9 aspect ratio have black bars at the top and bottom, they can still be displayed in a large format.
When you want to really immerse yourself in a movie or TV show, this screen size provides a more immersive experience than a typical smartphone.
And when you try out gaming apps, you’ll notice that the screen displays more information vertically compared to a typical smartphone.
Since the 4:3 aspect ratio is similar to that of a PC, it feels more like playing on an ultra-compact PC or tablet screen than on a smartphone.
The same applies when the device is closed; you can still play games on a generously sized screen.
Incidentally, the aspect ratio of the outer screen when closed is 16:10.
The width when held horizontally is also narrower than that of a typical smartphone, making it comfortable to hold in this orientation as well.
Split-screen mode is also highly flexible
It also supports split-screen mode.
Previously, foldable smartphones sold by Samsung and other manufacturers had a nearly square screen size when opened.
While it was possible to open multiple apps simultaneously, only two could be arranged vertically.
However, thanks to the Galaxy Z Fold8’s wide landscape format, you can arrange three apps vertically side by side.
This layout can also be configured as a “2+1” combination—with two apps stacked vertically on one side and one on the other.
This means you can watch a video or view photos while using the other two apps.
You can switch to the vertical three-pane view with a single tap.
The vertical view is also easy on the eyes
Not only can you use the display in landscape mode, but you can also enjoy a spacious view in portrait mode.
Looking at the screen ratio, you might feel as if you’re using an ultra-compact tablet.
I actually tried using a browser, and thanks to the wide horizontal display area, browsing was comfortable, and e-books were displayed clearly and easy to read.
Easy to use even when closed
Since 16:9 videos fill the screen more completely on the outer display, it seems like a great way to enjoy videos while keeping the device closed on a crowded train.
You can also use all your apps on this screen, so there are plenty of ways to make use of it even when it’s closed.
If you fold the device into an inverted L-shape and adjust the angle slightly, it takes on a stand-like style, allowing you to place the Galaxy Z Fold8 on a desk or similar surface to play content.
Note that the hinge can be locked at any position between fully open (90 degrees) and partially closed.
The only potential drawback is that it’s nearly impossible to lock the hinge in a position beyond 90 degrees when opening it.
When using the internal front camera in the L-shape configuration for video conferences and the like, you might want to fold the device a little further toward the back, but at any greater angle, the screen opens completely.
This is likely because the hinge was made smaller to achieve a slimmer design, making it impossible to lock it in intermediate positions.
When using the front-facing camera, it’s best to simply prop the Galaxy Z Fold8 upright on a stand or similar surface.
A Smartphone Suited for Mobile Gaming
It features the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy chipset, with three memory configurations: 12GB RAM + 256GB ROM, 12GB RAM + 512GB ROM, and 16GB RAM + 1TB ROM.
While it lacks features commonly found in smartphones designed for mobile gaming—such as a touchpad, efficient cooling mechanisms, and bypass charging—the Galaxy Z Fold8’s display is well-suited for gaming whether it’s open or closed. For those dissatisfied with the screen sizes of previous smartphones, this product may offer a higher level of satisfaction.
▼Photo & Written by Yasuhiro Yamane/Yasuhiro Yamane
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