"Crease Is Invisible": Global Media Praise Galaxy Fold8... Price Competitiveness Put to the Test

Praised for Crease-Free Display and Immersive Aspect Ratio
Mixed Reactions on Price... "The Deciding Moment Comes This Fall"

Samsung Electronics has received enthusiastic praise from major global media outlets for the new form factor 'Galaxy Z Fold8' unveiled at this year's 'Galaxy Unpacked 2026'. In particular, improvements to the long-standing crease issue on foldable phone displays, the new screen aspect ratio, and the tablet-level multitasking capabilities of the 'Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra' model have all drawn focused attention.

On the 22nd (local time), the 'Galaxy Z Fold8' (left) and 'Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra' displayed at the Samsung Electronics 'Galaxy Unpacked 2026' exhibition venue inside Old Billingsgate in London, UK. Photo by Kyungjo Noh

The 'Galaxy Z Fold8' has been highly rated especially for its 7.6-inch inner display, which adopts a new 4:3 aspect ratio. On July 23 (local time), Bloomberg noted, "Compared to previous Z Fold devices, the biggest advantage lies in the entertainment experience," adding, "The 4:3 screen aspect ratio, which fills the entire display, provides a much more immersive and outstanding viewing experience compared to typical smartphones such as the Galaxy S26 or iPhone 17 Pro Max." U.S. tech outlets Wired and CNN Underscored also praised the new form factor as ideal and comfortable for watching movies and e-books.

On the perennial 'crease' issue commonly cited as a drawback for foldable phones, reviewers noted that Samsung's efforts at improvement were evident. U.S. tech media outlet Gizmodo said, "The 'Flex Titanium' technology used on the main screen means the crease is almost unnoticeable when unfolded," and commended Samsung, stating, "They've finally solved the last remaining drawback of foldable phones." The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) likewise pointed out, "Samsung worked hard to ensure creasing is less visible when the screen is completely unfolded and flat."

In terms of design, performance, and weight, reviews indicated the device exceeded expectations. Another U.S. IT media outlet, The Verge, reported, "Unlike the chunky look in photos, the device in person feels very nice and intuitively comfortable." Digital Trends analyzed that, "Despite being equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Elite 5th generation chip and a 4,800mAh battery, the device is even lighter."

There was also intense interest in the Fold8 Ultra, which boasts the highest specifications among foldable phones. Like the Fold8, the praised advancements in display technology to address the crease issue continued for the Fold8 Ultra as well. The Verge stated, "During the three hours I spent with the device, I kept thinking that Samsung had finally made the crease imperceptible," and confirmed, "Samsung has applied silicon-carbon technology to the Fold8 Ultra."

Even the thinnest and largest display ever was positively evaluated. Digital Trends commented, "The Fold8 Ultra feels like a compact tablet workspace, great for multitasking and content creation," but added, "The regular model may feel a bit narrow in comparison."

Mixed Reactions to Higher Prices

Responses were divided over the new pricing. The U.S. launch price for the Fold8 is $1,899.99, and some reviewers noted disappointment over the lack of a separate telephoto camera. In Korea, the 12GB RAM·256GB model is priced at around 2,270,000 won. The 512GB and 1TB models are set at approximately 2,530,000 won and 3,150,000 won, respectively.

WSJ addressed the foldable phone's premium market strategy amid declining overall smartphone sales. WSJ wrote, "Foldable phones are positioned at high price points," adding, "Apple's foldable iPhone is also expected to be priced at $2,500, so this fall will test whether wealthy customers genuinely want foldable phones."

CNBC cited Ben Wood, Chief Analyst at CCS Insight: "The price increase was not as large as expected." Wood also noted, "It appears Samsung Electronics did not pass the full cost increases caused by the chip supply crisis onto consumers," and expressed surprise at Samsung's efforts to maintain price competitiveness. However, he added that the price tag exceeding $2,000 for the Ultra model would remain a key topic in the market.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.