Samsung’s foldable lineup is ambitious lately, from last year’s super-slim Galaxy Z Fold 7 to the sprawling Galaxy Z TriFold. But the phone I’m most excited about using is the new passport-sized Galaxy Z Fold 8.
With a 4:3 aspect ratio and a satisfyingly compact build, the Z Fold 8 feels refreshingly different from most phones sold today. Unfolded, it’s well-suited for watching horizontal videos and multitasking in landscape mode, while also giving vertically oriented apps more room to breathe in portrait orientation. The 5.5-inch cover display is comfortable for everyday tasks like texting or checking email, while the 7.6-inch inner display is more versatile for scrolling or binging without feeling oversized.
One element that isn’t small is the price; the Z Fold 8 starts at $1,900. It comes with two 50-megapixel rear cameras (no telephoto camera here) and a 4,800-mAh battery with support for 45-watt wired and 20-watt wireless charging.
I’ve been using the Z Fold 8 following Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked event in London, and shared my first impressions over the first couple of days I had my hands on it. Stay tuned for my full review, but for now, here’s what stands out to me about using Samsung’s reimagined book-style phone. (And fear not: The Z Fold 7‘s design, which won a CNET Editors’ Choice Award, lives on in the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra.)
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 is available for preorder, and hits shelves on Aug. 7.