The Galaxy Z Fold 7 introduces significant enhancements, yet there are several aspects where the Z Fold 8 might excel further.
Samsung provided abundant upgrades with the Galaxy Z Fold 7; the foldable boasts a slimmer and lighter build compared to its forerunner, enabling it to compete effectively against its Chinese counterparts in this aspect. This is no easy task considering brands such as Vivo and Honor have advanced the limits in recent times.
However, Samsung still falls short in the battery and camera departments, and it lacks additional features that are commonplace in devices like the Vivo X Fold 5. I have just begun my experience with the Z Fold 7, and these are my expectations for next year’s Galaxy Z Fold 8.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8: Design
Measuring just 4.2mm when open, the Z Fold 7 ranks among the slimmest foldables available. The distinction is apparent when comparing it with the Galaxy Z Fold 6, and Samsung made the right choice in enlarging the cover display to 6.5 inches. This was a significant point of debate previously, but thankfully it is resolved with the Z Fold 7.
It is improbable that Samsung will modify the design next year — it has consistently aimed to maintain a similar look annually — but I hope to see a minor adjustment that enhances the ergonomics of the device. The flat edges are slightly uncomfortable, and incorporating bevels similar to those on the Magic V5 and Vivo X Fold 5 would make the Z Fold 8 more user-friendly.
While Samsung was a pioneer in waterproofing foldables, the Z Fold 8 is restricted to IP48 ingress protection, whereas the Magic V5 and X Fold 5 offer IP58 and IP59 dust and water resistance as standard. With Google expected to introduce IP68 on the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, Samsung must enhance its durability next year to retain its competitive edge in this domain.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8: Battery
As much as I appreciate that the Z Fold 7 is significantly slimmer, the foldable has the least powerful battery of any device I have used in 2025. The 4,400mAh battery is quite underwhelming when even smaller devices like the Vivo X200 FE come equipped with a 5,300mAh cell, and I’m uncertain what Samsung was considering by including such a diminutive battery in its latest foldable.
Clearly, this must be addressed in 2026. The Z Fold 8 ought to feature at least a 5,000mAh battery, given that this year’s Magic V5 is equipped with a 5,850mAh battery and the X Fold 5 includes an even larger 6,000mAh battery. Transitioning from the X Fold 5 to the Z Fold 7, the difference in battery life is evident, and this is an issue Samsung needs to remedy with the Z Fold 8.
Moreover, 25W charging is inadequate for a device priced around $2,000. All the other foldables I have used this year offer at least 66W charging, and Samsung is significantly behind in this regard. The primary advantage of a foldable is the increased screen space provided by the interior display, but that is pointless if the device cannot even last a full day.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8: Cameras
Samsung made a commendable decision in enhancing the main camera on the Galaxy Z Fold 7 to a 200MP sensor. This enables the foldable to compete against Honor and Vivo effectively, and while this is certainly a positive development, Samsung did not apply the same level of focus to the secondary cameras.
The 12MP wide-angle lens is sufficiently good, but the 10MP telephoto lens falls short and does not match the quality found on the X Fold 5 and Magic V5. Samsung clearly needs to tackle this deficiency with the Galaxy Z Fold 8, as it is not solely the main camera that sets a foldable apart, but the entire package.
With the Galaxy Z Fold 7 just starting to become available, we will have to wait until July 2026 to uncover what the Z Fold 8 has to offer. Fortunately, we should receive ample information regarding Samsung’s 2026 foldable before then, and I will refresh this post as new details emerge.
