Samsung has unveiled the eighth generation of its foldable spectacle. While the world eagerly awaits Apple's response from Cupertino, Seoul has created something unpredictable, outrageously expensive, and technically extraordinary. Welcome to a world where a phone costs more than your first premium sedan.
Humanity is strange. We once built the pyramids, invented the steam engine, and sent a man to the moon. Today, with clenched fists and teary eyes, we watch to see if the glass rectangle in our pocket bends without a noticeable crease in the middle. And you know what? That's right. Foldable phones are no longer just a toy for nerds, they're becoming the only thing in the world of mobile that still makes your skin crawl. Samsung has just unveiled its eighth generation of foldable devices. And to be completely honest - even though your bank account will suffer greatly - it's hard to remain indifferent to this engineering triumph.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8: The perfect incognito device for those who want peace
Let's start with the smallest family member. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8 At first glance, it looks almost the same as last year's model, but this is the kind of evolution that Porsche is making with the 911. It is half a millimeter thinner and with its weight 180g (0.40lbs) exactly 8 grams lighter. It may sound insignificant, but when you hold the device in your hand, it feels like a perfectly machined piece of aluminum and glass.
Under the hood lies a brutally fast Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, which, combined with an improved Neural Processing Unit (NPU), ensures lightning-fast photo processing. Engineers have trimmed the inner edges of the case, so opening it with one hand finally feels less like opening a hard shell. The outer screen has a more natural user interface: a swipe from the left opens notifications, a swipe from the right opens quick settings, and a swipe from the bottom up opens your apps. With a starting price $1,200 (approximately €1,100) It's still an expensive toy, but for those who want a compact phone that doesn't act like a brick in their pocket, it remains unbeatable.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8: The passport format that overtook Cupertino
But here's where things get really interesting. Everyone in the industry has been whispering for months that Apple will soon unveil its first foldable iPhone in a slightly shorter, wider, passport-like form factor. What did Samsung do? Instead of waiting on the defensive, it went on the offensive. It unveiled a brand new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8, created in this very short and broad format.
This is a device that, with its lightness – it barely weighs me 201g (0.44lbs), which is the same as the classic Galaxy S26 Plus – and the thickness 4.5 mm (0.18 in) when unfolded, it immediately reminds us of the best hardware times of Microsoft's Surface Duo. The external screen measures 5.5 inches (13.9 cm) with an aspect ratio of 10:16. When you open it, you get 7.6-inch (19.3 cm) Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with 4:3 aspect ratio and maximum brightness of 3,000 threads.
The 4:3 format is fantastic for viewing photos and reading books, as images fill almost the entire screen without unnecessary black borders.
The heart of the device is powered by 4,500 mAh battery with silicon carbon technology, and charging is supported 45 W wired and 20W wireless power. The photographic part is occupied by 50MP primary camera and an ultra-wide-angle sensor. For the price $1,899 (approx. €1,750) you get a phone that proves that the passport format is perhaps the most ergonomic form of foldable device ever.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra: A Titanic Monster for Demanding Users
If the regular Fold8 is a stylish travel companion, it is Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra The ultimate tech supercar. This is a classic candybar design for users who actually do things on their phone and need a screen that works like two phones side by side.
The biggest engineering feat of this model lies in the hinge and inner display. By using a titanium alloy plate behind the display and a titanium back, Samsung has managed to reduce the visibility of the crease in the middle by light years. If last year's model was a 5 out of 10 for the imperceptibility of the crease, this year's is a solid 8.5 out of 10Combined with a new anti-reflective coating and luminosity 3,000 threads the crease is almost completely invisible during use.
The camera is downright brutal:
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Main camera: 200MP sensor with exceptional sharpness and dynamic range.
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Ultra-wide camera: New 50MP sensor that allows video recording in resolution 8K.
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Telephoto camera: Proven optical zoom module.
The new Ultra also brings the largest battery in the history of Samsung foldable phones with a capacity 5,000 mAh, for the first time with embedded silicon, and support for 45 W wired and 20W wireless charging. They set the price above $2,099 (approx. €1,930), which is outrageously expensive. But when you have it in your hand, you understand where every cent went.
Conclusion: Is the future foldable?
Let's face it: the prices of new smartphones are becoming absurd. Paying more than two thousand for a device that you can accidentally drop on the asphalt seems like pure madness. But on the other hand, Samsung has created something with the Z Fold8 and Z Flip8 family that once again evokes genuine childlike excitement in the world of boring black rectangles. The Z Fold8 Ultra is an unprecedented technical masterpiece, while the smaller Z Fold8 in passport format is probably the most pleasant foldable phone I've ever held in my hand. The Koreans haven't just improved their devices - they've set a checkmate position that Apple will have to respond to very thoughtfully in the fall. If you can afford them, don't hesitate: this is currently the very pinnacle of mobile engineering.
