Name: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8
Brand: Samsung

Our verdict

The Galaxy Z Flip8 folds in half like an old flip phone. Closed, a 4.1-inch cover screen handles notifications, photos and some apps; open, it is a 6.9-inch phone. The UK model uses Samsung’s Exynos 2600 chip, which Tech Advisor found “relatively cool and energy-efficient”. It is 6.1mm thin when open and weighs 180g. The battery is 4,300mAh, and reviewers’ battery tests gave mixed results. Samsung promises seven years of Android and security updates. Its UK RRP is £1,149 for 256GB. We have not tested it ourselves: this review draws on Samsung’s specifications and reviews by Tech Advisor, PhoneArena and Tom’s Guide.

Buy it if

You want a big-screen phone that folds small for pockets and bags
You like checking messages and maps without opening your phone
You want seven years of Android and security updates

Skip it if

You often use your phone around sand or grit, as the IP48 rating offers limited dust protection
Camera quality, especially at night, is your top priority
You want the fastest charging or a zoom lens

How it would fit your home

Quick replies on the go

The cover screen shows notifications and can run apps, so a quick message or map check does not mean opening the phone.

Steady video on the move

Tom’s Guide praised Horizon Lock, which keeps video level as you walk or move the phone.

Small bags and pockets

Folded, it is about half the height of a standard phone, which suits small bags and front pockets.

The details, in plain English

Screens

The inside screen is 6.9 inches with a 1 to 120Hz refresh rate; the outside cover screen is 4.1 inches and also reaches 120Hz. Samsung claims 2,600 nits at peak; Tom’s Guide, testing the US model, measured 2,150 nits. Tech Advisor called the panels “excellent”. Tech Advisor found many apps can run on the cover screen, though some handle the small square screen poorly.

Speed

UK models use Samsung’s Exynos 2600 chip with 12GB of RAM. PhoneArena measured Geekbench 6 scores of 2,948 single-core and 10,205 multi-core. Tech Advisor recorded similar results and found it “relatively cool and energy-efficient”, though behind the Galaxy S26 Ultra. Tom’s Guide tested the US Snapdragon version, so its speed results do not apply to UK phones.

Battery and charging

The battery is 4,300mAh, and reviewers’ results vary. PhoneArena measured 10 hours 2 minutes in its gaming test. Tom’s Guide, using the US model, measured 12 hours 5 minutes. Tech Advisor measured about 16 hours of video streaming. Wired charging is 25W: PhoneArena reached 54% in 30 minutes and full in 1 hour 21 minutes. Wireless charging is 15W.

Cameras

There is a 50MP main camera, a 12MP ultrawide and a 10MP selfie camera. Tech Advisor found the ultrawide struggles with bright and dark areas in the same shot, and night photos and video look weaker than on other Galaxy phones. PhoneArena found colours oversaturated. Tom’s Guide praised Horizon Lock, which keeps video level as you move. There is no telephoto lens for zooming.

Build and ownership

Samsung calls the hinge Armor FlexHinge. The phone is rated IP48, which covers immersion in fresh water to 1.5m for 30 minutes but offers limited dust protection. Folding phones need more care than standard phones around sand and grit. It ships with Android 17 and seven years of updates. Galaxy AI’s basic features are free; Samsung says future features may be paid. It includes six months of Google AI Pro, then £18.99 a month if you keep it.

Strengths and drawbacks

What it does well

Folds to a pocket-sized square; 180g and 6.1mm thin when open
Exynos 2600 chip: PhoneArena measured a Geekbench 6 multi-core score of 10,205
4.1-inch cover screen can run apps, so you can reply without opening the phone
PhoneArena found the main screen “almost creaseless”
Seven years of Android and security updates

What to watch out for

Tech Advisor found night shots and video weaker than on other Galaxy phones
Wired charging is 25W: about 50% in 30 minutes
4,300mAh battery, with mixed results in reviewers’ battery tests
No telephoto camera

Tech Advisor’s reviewer preferred the Motorola Razr 70 Ultra. If you want a bigger screen for work and reading, the Galaxy Z Fold8 opens into a small tablet, but costs far more. We have not tested these phones side by side.

Alternatives we have reviewed

Product	Our verdict	Price	Buy
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8 (this one)	A slim, pocketable folding phone with a fast chip and a cover screen that can run apps, best for anyone moving from a standard phone who wants something smaller to carry.	£1,149RRP · 256GB, RRP recorded 12 Oct 2026	Check price
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8	Worth considering if reading and browsing on a normal phone feel cramped, provided the 4:3 unfolded shape suits the content you use.	£1,699RRP · 256GB storage, RRP recorded 12 Oct 2026	Check price
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra	Consider the Fold8 Ultra only if opening the 8-inch screen would help with a task you do every day; occasional novelty is a weak reason for £1,899.	£1,899RRP · 256GB storage, RRP recorded 12 Oct 2026	Check price
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra	A privacy-first phone with very fast charging, suited to people who use private apps in public and want long software support.	£1,359RRP · 256GB, RRP recorded 12 Oct 2026	Check price

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Where our findings come from

This review is based on Samsung’s UK product page, and hands-on reviews by Tech Advisor (Mattias Inghe, 25 August 2026), PhoneArena (four days of use plus lab tests on the Exynos model) and Tom’s Guide (John Velasco, US Snapdragon model, 1 August 2026), with Expert Reviews’ hands-on impressions (22 July 2026). Their findings are credited to them in the text, and where they disagree, as on battery life, we say so. Tech Advisor’s article lists the weight as 120g, which appears to be an error; we use Samsung’s 180g. Prices and offers were checked on 12 October 2026.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8 review