Samsung has launched three foldable phones at Galaxy Unpacked in London today: the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Flip 8. Anyone looking at how the Galaxy Z Fold 8 compares with the existing Galaxy Z Fold 7 needs to know that they are not the same kind of phone. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 is an entirely different product this year featuring a wide 5.5-inch outer display and a 7.6-inch main display in a 4:3 aspect ratio form factor that folds much smaller than either the Fold 7 or Fold 8 Ultra. The Fold 8 Ultra, meanwhile, carries the same book-style proportions as the Fold 7 and is positioned as the direct continuation of Samsung’s flagship foldable line. Here’s a look at how the Fold 8 compares with the Fold 7 despite having a distinct form factor.
Also Read: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra vs Galaxy Z Fold 7 – Specs and features compared
Samsung has announced that the Galaxy Z Fold 8 will start at Rs 1,79,999 for the base model with 12 GB RAM and 256GB storage. In comparison, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 launched in India at Rs 1,68,999 for the base variant so, the Fold 8 does carry a small premium over its predecessor.
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Fold 7, both have distinct form factor. The Fold 7 folds into a tall, narrow phone at 8.9 mm and opens to a large 8-inch canvas. When unfolded, the main display’s aspect ratio is close to 1:1 which Samsung has historically used for multitasking across split-screen apps.
The Fold 8 is a compact phone measuring 9.7 mm and unfolds into a wide 4:3 aspect ratio screen. Samsung says they have modelled this form factor deliberately for people who consume videos, play games and read long-form content. The Fold 7’s 6.5-inch cover display is large enough for comfortable one-handed phone use.
The Fold 8’s cover screen is 5.5 inches, with a different aspect ratio suited to quick glances rather than extended use. The Fold 8 is also meaningfully lighter at 201 g versus the Fold 7’s 215 g.
Both phones have received an IP48 dust and water resistance rating, covering submersion to 1.5 m for 30 minutes in freshwater.
The Galaxy Z Fold 7’s main screen is 8.0 inches at 2184 x 1,968 pixels and 368 PPI while the Galaxy Z Fold 8’s main screen is 7.6 inches at 2448 x 1,848 pixels and 403 PPI. The Fold 8 is slightly smaller but sharper and the higher pixel count in its resolution reflects the 4:3 aspect ratio. Both panels are Dynamic AMOLED 2X with 120 Hz adaptive refresh rates and Vision Booster.
The Fold 7’s main screen peaked at 2,600 nits. Both use Flex Titanium, Samsung’s new titanium-based display structure introduced across the Fold 8 lineup, which is designed to reduce crease visibility over time and make the unfolding action feel lighter. The Fold 7 has a 6.5 inch cover display will a 2500 x 1080 pixels resolution while the Fold 8 goes for a 5.5 inch WUXGA+ (1972 x 1248 pixels) resolution. Both cover screens have a 120Hz refresh rate.
The camera is where the Fold 8 represents the clearest departure from the Fold 7. The Fold 7 carries a triple rear camera: a 200MP main sensor at f/1.7 with OIS, a 10MP 3x optical zoom telephoto at f/2.4 with OIS and a 12MP ultrawide at f/2.2.
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 drops the telephoto and moves to a dual system: a 50MP main camera at f/1.8 with OIS and 2x optical quality zoom and a 50MP ultrawide at f/1.9 with autofocus. The 200MP to 50MP shift on the main sensor is significant, as is the absence of a dedicated telephoto, of course due to the compact form factor. The ultrawide jumps from 12MP to 50MP, which is a welcome improvement for wide-angle and macro shots.
The Fold 8 supports 8K video through Samsung’s new APV codec and Dual Recording, but so does the Fold 7 in terms of 8K capture, though without the APV codec.
For anyone who regularly uses the zoom on their Fold 7, the Fold 8 does not replicate that capability. The 2x optical quality zoom from the 50MP main sensor covers modest zoom needs, but it is a categorically different camera system.
Both phones share the Snapdragon 8 Elite platform, with the Fold 7 running the current Snapdragon 8 Elite and the Fold 8 moving to the new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. Both offer up to 16GB RAM and 1TB storage. In benchmarks and real-world tests, the Gen 5 will hold an advantage, but the Fold 7’s Snapdragon 8 Elite remains a highly capable chip for any current workload.
Battery is a straightforward upgrade on the Fold 8: 4,800 mAh versus the Fold 7’s 4,400 mAh, paired with 45W wired charging that reaches 63% in 30 minutes, compared to the Fold 7’s 25W that hits 50% in 30 minutes. Wireless charging also gets an upgrade from 15W to 20W. Both phones support reverse wireless charging as well.
The Fold 8 launches with Android 17 and One UI 9, introducing the AI Assistant Activity dashboard, updated Galaxy AI features and enhanced privacy alerts. The Fold 7 shipped with Android 16 and One UI 8, with a seven-year major Android upgrade commitment. The Fold 8 carries the same long-term software support policy.
If you own a Galaxy Z Fold 7 and want to know whether to upgrade to the Galaxy Z Fold 8, the answer depends entirely on what you use your foldable for. If split-screen multitasking, a large cover display and a telephoto zoom are central to how you use your phone, the Fold 8 is a lateral move, not an upgrade. The camera is a different system this time, the cover screen is smaller and the form factor prioritises content consumption differently. The Fold 8 Ultra is the natural upgrade path for Fold 7 users.
If what drew you to foldables was the idea of a larger screen for gaming, reading and video, and the lighter weight and wider display of the Fold 8 appeals, then the comparison is relevant. The Fold 8 is lighter, faster on its chipset and significantly better at charging. It is simply a different phone built around a different use case, and the Fold name should not imply otherwise.