The Galaxy Z Fold 5 will soon receive its final major OS update, while the Galaxy Z Fold 8 arrives as a clear generational upgrade with a new form factor, brighter displays, lighter build, improved battery technology and expanded software support.
Galaxy Z Fold 8: a wider, more tablet-like foldable
The Fold 8 keeps a 7.6-inch inner display but changes the aspect ratio from the Fold 5’s unusual 21.6:18 to a much more conventional 4:3, making the inner screen feel wider and more tablet-like. The Fold 8 also uses a 5.5-inch cover screen with a 16:10 aspect ratio, creating a passport-style form factor that the manufacturer says makes the device feel more compact and easier to use one-handed. Both Fold 8 screens reach up to 3,000 nits of peak brightness, which the company highlights for improved outdoor legibility compared with the Fold 5.
Design, weight and durability
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 is considerably thinner and lighter than the Fold 5 when folded: 8.7mm versus 13.4mm in thickness, and 201 grams versus 253 grams in weight. The Fold 8 uses newer materials, including Gorilla Glass Victus Ceramic 3 and Victus 2, and offers an improved IP48 dust and water resistance rating (up from IPX8). Its foldable panel incorporates Flex Titanium, advertised as stronger and flatter with an almost invisible crease and an anti-reflective finish.
Performance, battery and connectivity
The Fold 8 is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset. It adopts a Silicon-Carbon (Si-C) battery with a 4,800mAh capacity, up from the Fold 5’s 4,400mAh, and supports faster wired charging (45W vs 25W) and faster wireless charging (20W vs 15W). The Fold 8 also adds newer connectivity standards including Wi‑Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.0.
Software and long-term support
The Fold 5 is set to receive its last major OS update in the form of an Android 17-based One UI 9 release that has been spotted in development. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 ships with Android 18 and One UI 9.0, includes the latest Galaxy AI and One UI features, and will be supported for up to seven OS generations (an increase from the prior four-generation policy mentioned since the Fold 5’s launch).
Trade-offs to consider
The Fold 8 removes a few features found on the Fold 5: the Fold 5 had a 10MP rear telephoto camera, which the Fold 8 lacks; S Pen support was abandoned starting with the Fold 7 and is not supported on the Fold 8; and the newer model does not include Flex Mode. The Fold 8’s main, ultrawide and selfie cameras are described as superior to the Fold 5’s, despite the absence of a rear telephoto shooter.
Price and trade-in example
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 starts at $1,899 / €1,999. In select markets trade-in programs can lower the effective price: for example, Samsung USA values a Galaxy Z Fold 5 at $550 through its trade-in program, which would reduce the Fold 8’s price to $1,349 for a Fold 5 in good condition.
