Which Galaxy Z 8 phone should you buy? Here’s what I think after using all three
Samsung recently unveiled three new foldable phones, and for the first time, that includes two book-style foldable models. This year, we have the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, and Galaxy Z Flip 8, all of which Samsung says target different types of consumers. However, what does that mean, and which Galaxy Z 8 model is right for you?
It’s never an easy answer, but I’ve used all three Galaxy Z 8 phones, and I feel like I have a pretty good idea of who these devices are for. And with the Galaxy Z 8 phones going on sale on August 7, this should hopefully help you get a better idea of which device you should buy.
In the meantime, check out the latest Galaxy Z Fold 8 promotions and Flip 8 deals to see how you can spend less on these incredible phones.
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Samsung GAlaxy Z 8 series: Spec comparison
|
Category |
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 |
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 |
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Operating System |
One UI 9 (Android 17), seven years of OS upgrades |
One UI 9 (Android 17), seven years of OS upgrades |
One UI 9 (Android 17), seven years of OS upgrades |
|
Display |
Inner: 6.9-inch LTPO AMOLED, 1-120Hz, 1080×2520 Outer: 4.1-inch AMOLED, 60-120Hz, 948×1048, pixels, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
Inner: 7.6-inch LTPO AMOLED, Titanium Flex, 1-120Hz, 1,848×2448 Outer: 5.5-inch LTPO AMOLED, 120Hz, 1248×1972, Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic 3 |
Inner: 8-inch LTPO AMOLED, Titanium Flex, 1-120Hz, 2,504×2,256 pixels Outer: 6.5-inch LTPO AMOLED, 120Hz, 1080×2520 pixels, Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic 3 |
|
Processor |
Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, Exynos 2600 |
Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy |
Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy |
|
RAM |
12GB |
12GB/16GB |
12GB/16GB |
|
Storage |
256GB, 512GB |
256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
|
Rear Cameras |
50MP Wide, ƒ1.8, OIS, 85˚ 12MP Ultrawide, ƒ2.2, 123˚ |
50MP Wide, ƒ1.8, OIS, 85˚ 50MP Ultrawide, ƒ1.9, 120˚ |
200MP Wide, ƒ1.7, OIS, 85˚ 50MP Ultrawide, ƒ1.9, 120˚ 10MP Telephoto, 3x zoom, ƒ2.4, 36˚ |
|
Front Camera |
10MP Wide, 85˚ |
Internal: 10MP Wide, 100˚ External: 10MP Wide, 85˚ |
Internal: 10MP Wide, 100˚ External: 10MP Wide, 85˚ |
|
Battery |
4,300mAh |
4,800mAh |
5,000mAh |
|
Charging |
25W wired, 15W wireless |
45W wired, 20W wireless |
45W wired, 20W wireless |
|
IP Rating |
IP48 |
IP48 |
IP48 |
|
Weight |
180g |
201g |
215g |
|
Dimensions |
Folded: 85.7 x 75.4 x 13.1mm Unfolded: 166.9 x 75.4 x 6.1mm |
Folded: 123.9 x 81.9 x 9.7mm Unfolded: 123.9 x 161.4 x 4.5mm |
Folded: 158.4 x 72.8 x 8.9mm Unfolded: 158.4 x 143.2 x 4.1mm |
|
Colors |
Pink, Graphite, Cream, Mint |
Lavender, Graphite, Cream, Pistachio |
Violet Shadow, Graphite, Cream |
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8: Short and sweet
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 is Samsung’s newest fold factor, taking what we love about the Galaxy Z Fold series and shrinking it. The result is something in between the Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip: a more pocketable, book-style foldable. When folded, it’s roughly the size of a passport, and when open, it provides a wider, more tablet-like view than its larger Ultra sibling.
This makes the Galaxy Z Fold 8 a great tablet for things like reading articles and other content, as you can easily flip it vertically for less scrolling. And in addition to e-books and other similar content, this makes the inner display better suited for vertical games like Pokémon Go.
It also makes content like videos look less awkward, as you have fewer black bars on the top and bottom of the screen when the phone is unfolded, at least compared to the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra. And videos seem to fit perfectly on the external display.
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 is easily one of the most accessible foldables. It’s for anyone who wants the utility of a book-style foldable in a lighter, more comfortable form factor that feels more natural to use. It also helps that at $1,900, the phone is cheaper than the Z Fold 8 Ultra, while still sporting the same Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip, a crease-less folding display, and a great pair of cameras.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra: Productivity powerhouse
Even though I’ve been using the Z Fold 8 for most things, I realized that I subconsciously defaulted to the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra when it came time to get work done. That’s indicative of how Samsung is positioning the Ultra; it’s for anyone who wants to get work done using the absolute best that Samsung has to offer in a foldable in a larger form factor.
The 8-inch display makes it an ideal canvas for multitasking, and while there is no S Pen support, the Ultra makes up for it with its stronger battery life and thinner profile. Then there’s the 200MP camera, which gets you much more detail in every shot, while the 3x telephoto sensor can get you closer to your subject without sacrificing quality.
And of course, you can do everything the Z Fold 8 can do, just on a larger screen. That means reading, watching videos, scrolling through apps, drafting papers, and more. And who doesn’t like showing off their photos and videos on a large tablet-like display that you can fold in half when you just need a phone?
Of course, the Ultra comes with an ultra price tag, starting at an eye-watering $2,100. But if you need a phone that can keep up with your busy lifestyle, this is likely the one for you.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8: Fashionable and nostalgic
For years, flip phones have leaned on nostalgia to attract sales, but it’s a bit more than that. The Galaxy Z Flip 8 continues to build on Samsung’s expertise by introducing an even thinner model than last year’s, making it not only extremely pocketable, but also a very good-looking phone.
The Galaxy Z Flip 8 is for anyone who doesn’t need the extra screen real estate of a larger book-style foldable, but still wants the utility of a foldable. With the Galaxy Z Flip 8, you can use apps on the cover screen instead of the main screen, which can potentially save battery and makes using apps less conspicuous than on a larger display.
There are also other benefits, such as Camcorder mode, which makes recording videos really easy and smooth. Taking selfies is also a better experience on the Flip 8, as you can just use the main 50MP camera and larger 4.1-inch cover screen to take high-quality selfies.
Perhaps one of the biggest selling points, aside from its stylish and pocketable design, is the price tag. The Galaxy Z Flip 8 is the cheapest of Samsung’s Galaxy Z 8 phones, costing “just” $1,200, while still offering a powerful chipset, the latest AI features, and seven years of software updates.
