Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8 Review: The Littlest Smartphone That Could

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8 costs $100 more than last year's model for marginal upgrades.

Samsung has launched its latest foldable smartphone, the Galaxy Z Flip8, with minor upgrades over its predecessor. The new model is slightly lighter and slimmer, featuring a newer processor and an improved hinge for a less noticeable screen crease. It maintains a 4.1-inch external AMOLED display and a 6.9-inch internal AMOLED display, both with high refresh rates and brightness. Performance is boosted by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy chip, coupled with 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage, though it can run warm during intensive use. The battery capacity is 4,300 mAh, offering average endurance, with 25W wired and 15W wireless charging. Camera capabilities include a 50-megapixel main shooter and a 12-megapixel ultrawide, with a 10-megapixel selfie camera, alongside new AI features like Now Brief and Now Nudge. The external FlexWindow display offers increased app usability, though third-party app integration remains complex. The Z Flip8 is priced at $1,200, a $100 increase from the previous generation.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8 iterates on the compact foldable form factor, offering a more refined, slimmer, and lighter design with an improved hinge mechanism that slightly reduces the screen crease and promises greater durability. While its performance is top-tier with the latest Snapdragon chip, the device maintains last year's screen sizes and resolution, with only minor enhancements to the external display's app functionality. The dual-camera system is solid for everyday use, but lacks a telephoto lens, and battery life remains a compromise due to the compact design, with charging speeds also lagging behind competitors. The device offers seven years of software updates, a significant commitment for longevity.

This release highlights Samsung's continued refinement of the flip-style foldable, catering to users who prioritize portability and a unique form factor. However, the significant price increase for incremental upgrades raises questions about the value proposition compared to its predecessor and competitors like Motorola's Razr line, especially if rumors of Samsung phasing out this form factor prove true. The limited third-party app support on the cover screen, despite improvements, also indicates that fully leveraging the foldable's external display is still not seamless, requiring workarounds for a premium price.