I’ve always liked Samsung’s flip phones, but the Galaxy Z Flip 8 is a big letdown — here’s why

For years now, we’ve had two kinds of foldable phones. While notebook-style models like the Galaxy Z Fold 7 tend to get superior specs and features, I’ve often preferred flip phones instead, largely for their pocketable design and how they’re better suited for vlogging.

Now that I’ve gotten some hands-on time with the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8, I feel a bit let down. That’s because it feels like a simple, iterative upgrade that doesn’t quite leave as deep an impression on me as, say, the Galaxy Z Fold 8.

I know, it’s surprising because I’ve clamored for flip phones in the past. What makes it even harder to like is the $100 price hike — bringing it to $1,199 — which makes me question if it has what it takes to justify the higher cost.

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Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 hands-on review: Specifications

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 hands-on review: Release date and price

You can score a pre-order for the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 starting today, July 22, with general retail availability starting August 7 at major carriers and select retailers.

However, the Z Flip 8 commands a higher $1,199 price tag for the base model with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. It’s a tough pill to swallow because it’s approaching flagship territory alongside devices like the Galaxy S26 Ultra — a phone that inherently offers a more robust camera system, a larger battery, and more productivity features. In the past, there was a huge price gap between the flagship Galaxy S model and Samsung's flip phones, but not anymore.

While I find the new Pink colorway particularly charming, it also comes in standard Graphite and Cream, along with a Mint option exclusive to Samsung.com.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 hands-on review: Design and displays

On paper, the Galaxy Z Flip 8 is technically thinner than its predecessor, measuring 0.24-inches when unfolded and 0.52-inches folded — and it’s also lighter at 6.35 ounces. Samsung likes to tout that it's the thinnest and lightest Flip model to date, which it is, but that trim comes at the expense of being a smidge taller and wider. Now, if it were as thin as the Galaxy S25 Edge, then maybe I’d be more impressed, but it isn’t.

Despite these dimensional tweaks, the design language remains unchanged, which is part of the reason it feels a bit boring. It’s still sturdy and solidly constructed, featuring an Armor Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2, and an IP48 water resistance rating.

Just as before, it’s rocking a 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X main display and a 4.1-inch FlexWindow cover screen that look crisp and bright thanks to Vision Booster, but visually, there isn't much to write home about.

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If you're looking to give the familiar design some fresh personality, Samsung introduced a couple of new Flipsuit covers that I checked out that are genuinely worth a look, thanks to their charming FlexWindow animations and embedded LEDs. They’re exactly the kind of thing that makes flip phones feel more personable.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 hands-on review: Cameras

I’ll give it this much: the Galaxy Z Flip 8 is still a better phone for vlogging than either the Z Fold 8 or Z Fold 8 Ultra. That’s primarily due to its form factor, which is far better suited for capturing video using the rear cameras alongside the FlexWindow display. But that’s where the praise ends.

If you were hoping for a major hardware upgrade, prepare for a bit of disappointment because it features the exact same camera specs as before: a 50MP main sensor with 2x optical-quality zoom, 12MP ultrawide lens, and a 10MP selfie camera. All of their apertures are also identical, which leads me to suspect that we won’t see any drastic leap in overall photo or video quality.

Instead, all of Samsung's effort went into software refinements and new recording functions. For example, it borrows the new Super Steady Horizontal Lock feature first introduced with the Galaxy S26, along with a hands-free Camcorder Grip with Zoom Rocker and an improved Mirror view for more expressive selfies.

While these software features are nice additions for content creators, I still would have much preferred actual hardware upgrades — like a larger main sensor or a faster aperture — to truly justify a generational jump.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 hands-on review: Performance

Under the hood, the Galaxy Z Flip 8 runs on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, paired with a generous 12GB of RAM. I’m pretty confident benchmark scores will show it’s a powerhouse on par with the rest of the Galaxy S26 series, and from what I could see during my hands-on time, it delivers roughly the same level of responsiveness as those other phones.

For standard tasks like messaging, watching YouTube clips, and multitasking, it feels fast and fluid. While I don’t think there's a massive leap in responsiveness during typical use, those benchmark scores might ultimately show that the processor is the biggest upgrade on the Z Flip 8.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 hands-on review: Battery & Charging

Looking at the specs, you might notice that it packs a 4,300 mAh battery — but there’s a surprising difference under the hood. Even though it’s technically the same capacity as last year, Samsung’s switch to a silicon-carbon battery this time around plays a pivotal role in making the phone thinner and lighter without sacrificing capacity.

However, while the physical tech is impressive, it remains to be seen whether this setup translates to noticeably longer real-world endurance. I suspect it will improve, largely thanks to the power efficiency of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5.

Unfortunately, Samsung still caps the Galaxy Z Flip 8 at 25W wired and 15W fast wireless charging. Given the price bump this year, I was hoping to see wired charging bumped up to 45W. And did I mention there's no magnetic charging? It would've been a great addition, but it's another missed opportunity.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 hands-on review: Software and AI

AI has been a pivotal focus for Samsung with each new device generation, but there’s a bit of a pause this time around with the One UI 9 experience running on top of Android 17. There aren’t many new Galaxy AI features that weren’t already introduced with the Galaxy S26 earlier this year.

Instead, there are subtle tweaks to Now Brief and Now Nudge. What I’m really eager to test out more is how Gemini task automation has expanded to support 40+ apps and services. I’ve already been impressed by how I was able to ask Gemini to order me Dunkin’ via DoorDash, so I’m genuinely excited to see what more complex tasks it can handle.

Multitasking remains virtually identical to previous generations as well, offering the same familiar split-screen view and pop-up window when you unfold the main display. It also inherits the same Samsung DeX experience as the Galaxy S26 series, giving users access to four workspaces with up to five apps running in each.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 hands-on review: Outlook

The Galaxy Z Flip 8 lands in a tricky position. While it’s undeniably Samsung's sleekest and most refined flip phone to date, the lack of meaningful hardware upgrades is hard to ignore. Sticking with the same cameras, screen dimensions, and charging speeds makes this feel far more like an incremental update.

Pair that lack of hardware innovation with a $100 price hike—bringing the starting price to $1,199—and the Z Flip 8 becomes a much tougher sell. At this price point, it creeps dangerously close to traditional flagships like the iPhone 17 Pro Max and Galaxy S26 Ultra, which offer superior camera systems, larger batteries, and far more robust productivity features.

I could be proven wrong once full testing is complete—especially considering it’s packing the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and adopting a silicon-carbon battery—but it’s still shaping up to be a tough sell.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 pre-orders begin today ahead of an August 8 release date. Prices starts at $1,199 / £1,149 / AU$1,949.

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