Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8 review
Design, build quality, handling
There is virtually no difference between the Galaxy Z Flip7 and the new Galaxy Z Flip8 design-wise. Not at first glance, at least. Sure, the new model comes in graphite, cream, pink, and mint colorways - a clear shift from the Z Flip7 hues. But other than this classic Apple trick, everything else looks the same.
The Galaxy Z Flip8 is a compact foldable with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 outer panels, a frame made from Armor Aluminum, and a foldable screen covered with ultra-thin glass and a protective plastic layer.
While the phone is IP48-rated for ingress resistance, the low rating for dust resistance still means you have to be mindful about protecting it from fine sand or coarse dust particles to avoid any damage.
Samsung advertises a refined Flex Hinge with an updated magnetic setup, offering higher curvature for easier opening and a slimmer profile while maintaining a zero-gap closure. Paired with subtle chamfered edges, the device is both easier to open and sleeker when shut.
Testing the Z Flip7 and Z Flip8 side by side, there seems to be a subtle refinement in the hinge mechanism. That said, it's hard to tell whether the experience is genuinely better. You certainly don't get the distinctly easier opening in the beginning like on the Folds. But the resistance is not any higher than the Folds anyway, so you don't get a worse user experience.
What we can confirm is that the phone leaves no gap when closed and lies completely flat when open. Better yet, the crease is practically invisible and you almost can't feel it by touch too - at least in these first days of use.
The engineering refinements (or potentially the move to a Si/C battery, which isn't confirmed) have led to a lighter and slimmer body vs. the Z Flip7 - 180g vs. 188g and 6.1mm vs.6.5mm.
Long story short, Samsung made a few tweaks, arguably for the better, but they are barely noticeable, if at all.
Now, let's take a closer look at the new Z Flip8.
The foldable screen is quite impressive, excluding the small punch-hole for the 10MP selfie camera. It has the usual plastic enclosure across all sides, which also hides the magnets.
The inner screen is covered by a pre-applied protective film that must not be removed. Because it stops about 1mm short of the frame, it creates a small border gap that will inevitably trap dust over time.
The good news is that there is no visible or feelable crease on the screen, and if the folio develops some defects where it folds, you can easily have it replaced at an authorized Samsung center.
The back is divided into two sections. The upper portion features a 4.1-inch AMOLED screen covered with flat Gorilla Glass Victus 2, with cutouts housing the dual rear cameras - a 50MP primary and a 12MP ultrawide imager - alongside the LED flash.
The cover screen features thin bezels and supports a variety of mini-apps. On the outside, the two cameras are encircled by slightly raised metal rings.
The lower rear panel uses the same Gorilla Glass Victus 2, but with a matte texture available in mint, pink, cream, or graphite. It feels rather slippery in hand, but it does a great job of repelling fingerprint smudges.
When closed, the phone reveals its Armor Aluminum hinge casing, complete with the Samsung logo on top.
The frame is also made of aluminum, color-matched to the back panel, and features a matte finish.
The SIM slot is on the left side of the Z Flip8. It can take only one SIM card. If you want to use the supported dual-SIM functionality, you need to use an eSIM.
On the right, you can spot the volume and power/lock keys. There is a microphone between those.
The surface of the lock key also contains the always-on fingerprint scanner, and it's as fast and reliable as ever.
The top and bottom sides contain 2x2 symmetrical microphones.
The bottom also packs the USB-C port and a loudspeaker. The Galaxy Z Flip8 does come with a stereo speaker pair - the other speaker is the amplified earpiece.
And that's about it. The Galaxy Z Flip8 is a comfortable daily driver: it offers a solid grip, stays lightweight, and opens with satisfying smoothness. But if you were expecting a massive leap forward, you might be disappointed. Then again, maybe Samsung felt there wasn't much left to improve.
