"Wide" Galaxy Z Fold 8 First Look
Yesterday I posted an article showing off the brand new Galaxy Z Fold 8 renders, and I mentioned that the "wide" version of the Fold was likely right around the corner. Well, that day is here. We finally have a look at the device many of us have been waiting for, the wider, more "passport" style Samsung foldable, and I have some thoughts.
Looking at these images for the first time, my immediate impression is that this looks like a Z Fold that’s been squished down. It is very short and very wide, which is exactly what we expected from the animations found in One UI. It feels remarkably similar to the original Pixel Fold but with some height shaved off.
The big standout here is the aspect ratio. I actually did some quick math using the reported dimensions of 123.9 x 161.4. If you account for a 3.3mm bezel, you get an aspect ratio of that is incredibly close to a standard 4:3 ratio. For all intents and purposes, this is a 4:3 display.
Dual Camera
Now for the disappointing part. Looking at the renders, there are only two cameras on the back. This is almost certainly a primary and an ultrawide. It looks like the telephoto lens is getting the axe.
It feels like Samsung is falling into the trap of "Apple is doing it, so we can too." Since the rumored "slim" or "air" iPhone is supposedly only sporting two cameras, it seems Samsung decided they didn't need three either. It’s a frustrating move. While the 3x zoom on current Folds isn't exactly world-class, losing it entirely feels like a major step backward, especially when competitors like Moto, OPPO, and Honor are pushing the envelope with periscope zooms and better sensors.
Here is the breakdown of what we’re looking at:
Thickness: 4.9mm unfolded and 9.8mm closed. (Keep in mind, CAD renders usually include the bezel height, so Samsung will likely market the actual chassis as being closer to 4.5mm).
Screens: A 5.4 inch outer screen and a 7.6 inch inner screen.
Battery: While some reports say 5,000 mAh, it’s more likely to be 4,800 mAh given the smaller footprint.
Width: At 82mm across when folded, it's quite wide, even beating out the original Pixel Fold’s 79mm width.
There’s a chance this device gets announced alongside the Z Fold 8 and Flip 8 this summer, though Samsung might push it back slightly to give it its own breathing room.
I’m planning on 3D printing a "brick" model of these dimensions soon to get a real feel for the hand-held ergonomics. In the meantime, this news might have a lot of people looking more closely at the Moto Razr or other North American alternatives. It's a bit of a bummer to see such a cool form factor hampered by a camera downgrade, but I want to know what you think about the 4:3 dream finally happening with these caveats.