Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 Review: Minor Upgrades Amid Higher Price
Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip 8 offers a thinner chassis, refined hinge and faster processor, but retains the same cameras, battery and charging speeds as its predecessor, prompting a $100 price increase.
Samsung introduced the Galaxy Z Flip 8 as the latest iteration of its clamshell foldable line, keeping the overall design philosophy of earlier models while adding incremental improvements. The device is 0.4 mm thinner and 8 g lighter than the Z Flip 7, and features a reworked hinge that provides a deeper gap between the halves and smoother one-handed opening.
The phone retains an IP48 water-resistance rating, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the front, and an aluminum-alloy frame, though it does not achieve the higher dust-proof standards of some competing foldables. The inner 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display and 4.1-inch cover screen use the same specifications as the previous model, with peak brightness around 2,600 nits for the main panel and roughly 1,500 nits for the cover.
Performance varies by market: U.S. and North American units ship with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy paired with 12 GB of RAM, while some regions receive Samsung’s Exynos 2600. Benchmarks show noticeable gains, especially in single-core scores, though thermal throttling limits sustained performance during extended stress tests.
Battery capacity remains at 4,300 mAh, now built with silicon-carbon technology. Real-world usage shows similar endurance to the Z Flip 7, with a modest improvement in efficiency during gaming. Charging speeds stay at 25 W wired and 15 W wireless, though the reviewer observed slightly faster charge times in practice.
The camera suite—50 MP main sensor, 12 MP ultrawide and 10 MP selfie lens—has not changed from the prior generation, delivering comparable image quality in good lighting but offering limited zoom capability and no dedicated telephoto lens.
Software runs Android 17 with One UI 9, promising up to seven years of OS and security updates. The cover-screen interface has been redesigned to function more like a compact phone, and Samsung’s AI features are integrated throughout the system.
Overall, the Galaxy Z Flip 8 is a refined version of its predecessor with a thinner body, smoother hinge and faster processor, but the lack of substantial upgrades to cameras, battery and charging, combined with a $100 price increase, makes it less compelling for owners of the Z Flip 7. It may appeal to users of older flip phones or those seeking a foldable form factor for the first time.