For a number of years there, Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold collection was feeling just a little boring. Most releases have been very minor tweaks of the earlier yr’s design, and Samsung wasn’t pushing specs prefer it used to. However final yr’s Galaxy Z Fold 7 modified that when it debuted because the thinnest foldable of all time, and Samsung apparently is not completed making main design adjustments for 2026’s rumored launch.
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 is rumored to debut in two sizes for the primary time, and it seems to comply with an trade development of constructing book-style foldables wider somewhat than taller. For those who don’t love that development, that is OK, as a result of Samsung is allegedly going to supply each a tall and large variant of the Z Fold 8, with a number of different adjustments in retailer.
Is it price ready for the Galaxy Z Fold 8? Contemplating we’re anticipating to see the revealing in just some weeks on July 22 (per rumors), I would say there is no purpose to hurry right into a shopping for determination till then.
What adjustments will we anticipate for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8?
Whereas the Galaxy Z Fold 8 household is bound to obtain the most recent spherical of Qualcomm processors, the rumored dimension adjustments are apparently making Samsung contemplate a little bit of a reputation change to the Z Fold 8. Here is what we anticipate to see:
- The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Extremely: This one’s the “true” successor to the Z Fold 7 and is claimed to look almost equivalent to that cellphone. Identical tall dimensions, three cameras on the again, and top-tier specs with a barely bigger battery than final yr. This one’s rumored to be 2mm thicker than the Z Fold 7.
- The Galaxy Z Fold 8: The usual Z Fold 8 is claimed to be the broader mannequin, which basically appears to be like like somebody took a Z Fold 7 and squashed it down. That is purported to be extra of a passport form, allegedly solely has room for 2 rear cameras, and certain has a smaller battery than the Extremely.
- S Pen help is rumored to be added to at the least one in every of these fashions. If I needed to guess cash on which one, it might be the Extremely because it’s rumored to be thicker than the Z Fold 7.
S Pen help appears to be up within the air, relying on which rumor you comply with. The most recent rumors recommend the Extremely is 2mm thicker than the Galaxy Z Fold 7, making it 0.18 mm thicker than the just lately launched Motorola Razr Fold.
Motorola’s wonderful foldable helps stylus enter on each the internal and outer shows, one thing Samsung by no means provided on the Z Fold collection, so this rumored thickness improve for the Z Fold 8 Extremely is nearly definitely S Pen-related, if it is true.
2 massive causes to attend
For those who’re proud of the present dimension and form of the Galaxy Z Fold 7, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Extremely ought to provide the same feel and appear, albeit in a barely thicker kind issue (assuming that rumor is true). Samsung seemingly selected the title Extremely for this mannequin as a result of it is packing in all of the tips as an alternative of specializing in a single ultra-thin mannequin, because it did in 2025.
Meaning potential Z Fold 8 Extremely consumers can anticipate higher battery life than the Z Fold 7, in addition to potential digicam upgrades and certain S Pen help. The Galaxy Z Fold 3 by way of 6 supported S Pen enter on their foldable internal screens, however Samsung eliminated this help on the Z Fold 7 to maintain it as skinny as doable.
Stylus help comes with a thicker construct, and for the reason that Z Fold 8 Extremely is rumored to be 2mm thicker than the Z Fold 7, we’re feeling fairly good about potential S Pen help returning. Because the battery is rumored to solely be rising by 600mAh, there’s little chance that the thickness improve is just for battery area.
Moreover, if you happen to discover present book-style foldables to be too unwieldy and tall, Samsung’s rumored Galaxy Z Fold 8 could be the machine you have been on the lookout for. Oppo first launched a large foldable in 2021, however deserted the large design a number of years later. Google additionally debuted its first Pixel Fold with a large design, and I hate to say I advised you so, however Google bought it proper the primary time.
Now, the large design development is again and appears to be higher than ever. Huawei simply launched its second-generation large foldable, and now it is rumored that Vivo, Honor, and even Apple are launching large foldable telephones this yr.
Meaning Samsung has lots of upcoming competitors on this area, so when you ought to look forward to the Z Fold 8 in order for you a wider foldable, I do not assume you must truly purchase one thing till you hear from the remainder of these firms someday this autumn.
Loads of causes to contemplate one thing else
Samsung will get a number of issues proper, however the firm has been responsible of “coasting” in a couple of space prior to now few years. Samsung’s foldable telephones almost at all times sport the most recent processors and have actually wonderful software program that is backed up for years to come back, however the remainder of the spec sheet falls behind the competitors in some main areas.
Each different Android vendor with a book-style foldable cellphone — except for Google Pixel Fold fashions — places considerably higher-capacity, faster-charging silicon-carbon batteries inside their gadgets. Meaning longer battery life and fewer time hooked as much as a charger than Samsung’s telephones.
Different firms, like Honor and Motorola, additionally provide even higher construct high quality and life-proofing than Samsung does. The Razr Fold, as an example, has an IP49 score, which makes it extra proof against water jets and different water-related actions than Samsung’s IP48 score. People exterior of North America may also select from the Oppo Discover N6, which gives an IP59 score, or the Honor Magic V6, which is IP69 rated.
Samsung additionally usually falls behind in cameras and shows, even when the corporate usually experiments with issues like anti-reflective shows and its trademark Privateness Show. The rumor is that the Z Fold 8 and eight Extremely will not see both of these show enhancements, and there is no phrase on whether or not Samsung will lastly make its shows protected for PWM-sensitive folks.
We have additionally seen an enormous leap in foldable cellphone digicam high quality over the previous two years, with manufacturers like Honor, Oppo, and (surprisingly) Motorola main the way in which. A lot of this has come from {hardware} and design innovation, as producers work out new methods to place massive digicam sensors into skinny telephones.
The Z Fold has by no means had cutting-edge cameras, and the Z Fold 8 household seemingly will not both. That is much more the case if you happen to’re contemplating the broader Z Fold 8 mannequin, which is rumored to solely have two cameras on the again.
Yet another factor
For those who’ve been trying to purchase any new piece of electronics this yr, you are virtually definitely conscious of the large value will increase sweeping the world as AI information middle development has jacked up the costs of storage and RAM. On condition that Samsung has already raised costs on lots of its present telephones, there’s little doubt the Z Fold 8 household will probably be subjected to the identical value will increase.
Samsung is not alone in that, clearly, however almost any new cellphone will price you greater than it might have final yr, and that is a tough actuality to cope with in a yr of excessive inflation. Even if you happen to have been going to purchase an present cellphone, although, you are going to pay these increased costs, so that you may as nicely look forward to a brand new mannequin and see what the ultimate phrase is.
A souped-up Galaxy Z Fold 8 Extremely and a wider Galaxy Z Fold 8 definitely sound attractive, particularly if you happen to stay in North America and have fewer choices than the remainder of the world, so why not wait till mid-July to decide you will not remorse? I do know I definitely would.
