It’s Samsung foldables month! It’s Unpacked month!
On 22 July, the Korean big is anticipated to unveil a complicated trio of folding telephones: the Galaxy Z Fold 8 (a brand-new widescreen system), the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Extremely (a successor to the Z Fold 7) and a refreshed Galaxy Z Flip 8.
All indicators level to there being no cheaper ‘FE’ branded Flip, a minimum of for now. However may all the line’s future be in peril?
In keeping with leaker ‘fireuniverse’ on X, the Flip 8 “is likely to be the final Flip from Samsung”, with the corporate doubtlessly shifting its whole foldable focus to book-style units. Whereas removed from confirmed, the leaker’s robust monitor document for Samsung information means it can’t be ignored.
It places unimaginable stress on the Flip 8 to be a real hit. If Samsung doesn’t get this one proper, all the Z Flip line could possibly be on the chopping block.
As somebody who reviewed the final two generations, I’m keenly conscious of what the Z Flip line affords – and the place it’s going unsuitable. Listed here are 5 key areas that Samsung wants to handle so as to give the Z Flip 8 the absolute best likelihood of success.
No extra digital camera compromises!
Total, I used to be very impressed with the Galaxy Z Flip 7’s cameras. It has a really related setup to the Galaxy S26+, with a extremely efficient fundamental lens, respectable ultrawide and strong selfie digital camera, although you gained’t be utilizing the latter a lot on a flip telephone.
Nonetheless, it removes what I consider is a elementary sensor on trendy telephones: the telephoto. With out it, the Z Flip 7 has a far much less versatile digital camera system, falling quick in each zoom pictures and portrait-style photographs.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
I don’t assume a 3rd would make a cloth distinction
It’s totally reliant on digital zoom, which merely crops in on the primary sensor after which stretches the picture. The outcomes are predictably poor, with key particulars misplaced and grainy, blurry photos commonplace.
The 3x telephoto on the S26+ gained’t blow you away, however it does ship a a lot better expertise whereas at concert events or sporting occasions, to not point out grabbing a professional-looking picture of your good friend.
With a a lot larger cowl display screen nowadays, the shortage of obtainable house isn’t a sound defence. The content material right here already has to accommodate two lenses – I don’t assume a 3rd would make a cloth distinction.
In my opinion, including a half-decent telephoto lens would flip the Z Flip 7’s strong cameras right into a genuinely wonderful setup, making it a way more interesting buy.
Ditch the quilt display screen restrictions
For a number of years, I’ve lauded Samsung’s One UI Android pores and skin for its intensive vary of customisation choices. Nonetheless, for some purpose, that doesn’t prolong to the quilt show.
By default, the 4.1-inch exterior display screen is mainly locked down, supporting solely a handful of Samsung-approved apps and widgets. Inside minutes, you’ll in all probability come throughout an app that isn’t permitted, which is extremely irritating.
You may take away these restrictions, however the methodology is sort of laughably complicated, requiring about 5 minutes of annoying installations and setup.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Making it simple to take away cowl display screen restrictions could possibly be transformative for the Z Flip 8
Why Samsung can’t supply this as an easy-to-access toggle is a thriller. Positive, not all apps are optimised for the smaller show, however it’s a rattling sight higher than having to stare at Samsung’s calendar app and climate widget all day lengthy.
It opens nearly infinite prospects for the quilt show, permitting you to shortly get issues achieved with out getting sucked into the remainder of your telephone. Certainly that’s the entire level of a flip telephone?!
Nonetheless, you is likely to be unaware that this selection even exists. Many individuals could possibly be making do with a subpar cowl show expertise, that means they’re much less more likely to advocate it to others and fewer are offered because of this. Making it simple to take away these restrictions could possibly be transformative for the Z Flip 8.
Let me go to the seaside in peace!
The complicated hinge design of all foldables makes safety towards the weather far more troublesome. Most flip telephones have water resistance (albeit solely in freshwater) mastered, but stay extremely susceptible to mud or any particles underneath 1mm in diameter.
It makes the seaside a no-go zone for Z Flip house owners, which is an issue in the course of the top of summer time. I lately took the Z Fold 7 (which has the identical IP48 ranking) there, and the sand it gathered was a complete nightmare.
if Google can obtain full mud resistance, why can’t Samsung observe swimsuit?
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Till lately, I’d have put this down as an inevitable compromise while you purchase a folding telephone. However final 12 months’s Pixel 10 Professional Fold bucked the pattern, changing into the primary foldable to introduce an IP68 ranking and now the Honor Magic V6 affords it too.
I don’t doubt that this was a troublesome enterprise, but when Google can obtain full mud resistance, why can’t Samsung observe swimsuit? You may’t count on individuals to keep away from frequent environments just like the seaside out of concern of their telephone being broken. Upgrading to IP68 would take away a significant barrier for a lot of potential patrons.
Battery nervousness is not going to be tolerated
In 2026, it’s merely unacceptable for a smartphone to not final a full day, even with heavy utilization. With the Galaxy Z Flip 7’s 4300mAh cell, you may make it to bedtime, however not with out a heavy diploma of administration and battery nervousness.
A repeat of this might imply it’s curtains for the Z Flip line. We all know that battery life is without doubt one of the main elements that influences which telephones individuals purchase. If it’s already underwhelming while you first purchase it, how dangerous may it get just a few years down the road? Poor battery life defeats the purpose of Samsung’s beneficiant seven-year replace promise.
Declining to introduce important battery upgrades is basically sounding a dying knell for the road
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
I’m not asking for an Oppo Discover X9 Extremely-rivalling 7000+mAh battery right here. I don’t even want a silicon-carbon battery, although it’d make good sense given the house constraints right here. I simply need one thing better than 5000mAh – it might guarantee comfy all-day battery life for mainly everybody.
Whereas we’re at it, can Samsung lastly ditch the snail-paced 25W charging, please? 45W must be the naked minimal for a contemporary flagship telephone, particularly with a (hopefully) larger battery to energy.
The state of affairs here’s a main purpose persons are avoiding the Galaxy Z Flip. Declining to introduce important battery upgrades is basically sounding a dying knell for the road.
A worth drop is important (even when there are downgrades)
Even when Samsung addressed the problems above, I don’t assume sufficient individuals would purchase the Galaxy Z Flip 8 for it to be a hit.
Why? The Z Flip 7 is just too costly, particularly for a type issue that many gained’t be acquainted with. Dropping over £1,000/$1,000 on a tool that’s so unfamiliar is a large danger that many gained’t be comfy with.
To handle this, the Galaxy Z Flip 8 must be considerably cheaper than its predecessor.
Within the period of worldwide RAM shortages and financial uncertainty, which may really feel nearly not possible. Nonetheless, I believe Samsung could make some cost-effective compromises in different areas that may permit it to scale back the worth.
Firstly, efficiency. The Z Flip 7’s Exynos 2500 chipset was already lots highly effective – switching to the (seemingly dearer) Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is all the time more likely to drive the worth up.
I truthfully don’t consider that this improve gives a cloth distinction to the tip consumer, until you’re a faithful cellular gamer, during which case I’d advocate a distinct telephone anyway. Sticking with the Exynos 2500 and even dropping to a earlier technology is a savvy solution to cut back prices.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Subsequent, the front-facing digital camera. The Z Flip 7’s 10Mp lens is already common, and most of the people will use the rear cameras for selfies anyway. For the odd event while you’re on a video name, there’s no purpose you may’t drop to a lower-resolution sensor.
I additionally don’t assume it must have a flowery AMOLED show. Common LCD panels are simply superb in most situations and must be an enormous value saver. I’m additionally pleased for Samsung to go away the Z Flip 8 out of the lineup for upcoming Galaxy AI options – Gemini and Circle to Search are all most individuals want.
if that is the road’s final likelihood to show itself, I actually hope it doesn’t go down with out a combat.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Will this be sufficient for Samsung to considerably drop the worth of the Galaxy Z Flip 8 within the present local weather? I’m unsure. However I believe worth stays the one largest purpose extra individuals haven’t made the swap, so it must be the precedence.
If Samsung is critically contemplating ditching the Galaxy Z Flip line, I’ll be disenchanted. But when that is the road’s final likelihood to show itself, I actually hope it doesn’t go down with out a combat.