A 9to5Google reviewer says Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8 still holds up against Apple's new iPhone Duo, mainly because of its compact size and software.
A reviewer at 9to5Google says Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8 remains the foldable phone to beat, even now that Apple has entered the market with the iPhone Duo. The verdict is personal, not a lab test. The reviewer also says Samsung's inner screen needs work, and that Apple's screen looks better in two ways.
The main argument is size. The Fold 8 is about as big as a passport when closed. The reviewer says that makes the outer screen enough for quick tasks and easy to reach with one hand. Open it, and the inner screen becomes a larger space for everything else. The reviewer calls it a mini tablet that weighs less than most other phones and slips into a jacket pocket or side bag.
The review is open about Samsung's weak spot. The Fold 8's inner screen is glossy and has a visible crease. The iPhone Duo is described as having an almost invisible crease and an anti-reflective coating the reviewer calls beautiful. The reviewer says Samsung, long known for strong displays, needs to improve here.
The reviewer likes Samsung's One UI software for foldables and says it allows much more customization than most rivals. Some of that needs extra Samsung tools, named as Home Up and Good Lock. Google's own Pixel foldables felt less playful to the reviewer. Big apps run well on the inner screen, and Instagram shows comments and the feed together. Running two apps side by side has a little jank, which resizing can fix.
The reviewer put a screen protector on the outer display and used the phone at the beach as an e-reader. The only damage so far is one minor ding on the top frame edge. A matte screen protector from Amazon cut reflections and fingerprints on the inner screen, but was not as matte as advertised. Samsung does not entirely recommend protectors there, and fitting one took several attempts.
The reviewer admits that the traditional, larger foldable shape is more useful in most situations. The choice comes down to whether a smaller, tablet-like device or a phone that opens up for more apps suits you better. The material does not give prices or release dates for either phone.
Before buying a foldable, decide between a small, light, tablet-like shape and a larger phone, and check how each inner screen looks in person.
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