Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 announced to compete with future iPhone Fold

After months of buildup, Samsung finally unveiled its newest, most interesting foldable device — the Galaxy Z Fold 8.

At a Galaxy Unpacked event in London, the Korean tech company announced three new foldable phones: the Galaxy Z Flip 8, the Galaxy Z Fold 8, and the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra. However, it's the Z Fold 8 that might be the biggest draw, for two reasons. First, the Z Fold 8 is an entirely new device and form factor. Second, it looks well-placed to compete head-to-head with the still-unannounced iPhone Ultra Fold, which we think will be revealed in September. We expect Apple's first foldable to have a shorter, wider form factor, just like the Z Fold 8.

Mashable got the chance to try the new Galaxy foldables ahead of the launch event, but before we get into the details, we have one point of clarification. Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8 is not really a successor to the Z Fold 7 from a year ago, as you might expect. If you want that, check out the new Z Fold 8 Ultra.

The all-new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 is available for pre-order today and starts at $1,899.99. It's available in four colors — lavender, cream, graphite, and pistachio — and will be widely available starting Aug. 7.

The new Galaxy Z Fold 8 foldable smartphone has a 4:3 aspect ratio, which is an ideal size whether in landscape or portrait orientation. The inner display has enough extra real estate for multitasking and entertainment. And if you're worried about a crease in the middle of the display, don't be. We got up close with the device, and the crease fully disappears when the display is activated.

These are the key specs to know:

• Inner display: 7.6-inch AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate

• Outer display: 5.5-inches AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate

• Processor: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy chipset

• Colors: Lavender, cream, graphite, and pistachio

• Unfolded dimensions: 123.9 x 161.4 x 4.5 mm

• Folded dimensions: 1123.9 x 81.9 x 9.7 mm

• Weight: 201 grams

• RAM: 12GB to 16GB RAM

• Storage: 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB storage

• Battery: 4,800mAh battery

• Charging: 45W wired, 20W wireless

• Cameras: 50MP wide, 50MP ultrawide, 10MP selfie cameras

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 key features

As stated above, the main distinguishing factor of the new Z Fold 8 is its wided 4:3 proportions compared to the Z Fold 8 Ultra. If the latter is a book-style foldable, the former can almost be called a tablet-style foldable, instead. We think the wide screen will serve even better for reading books or multi-tasking with several apps open at once.

The Z Fold 8 feels like a solid middle point between the premium Z Fold 8 Ultra and the comparatively affordable Z Flip 8. All three phones have the same chip powering them, but the Z Fold 8's 4,800mAh battery is smaller than that of the Z Fold 8 Ultra. However, the Z Fold 8 does have an option for 16GB RAM and 1TB of storage, similar to the Ultra.

Where the Ultra will feel distinctly more premium than the Z Fold 8 is in the camera array. The Ultra comes with a 200MP main shooter, while the Fold 8's is only 50MP. The former also has a telephoto lens, while the latter does not. Its relatively meager camera specs are closer to those found on the Z Flip 8, meaning it's probably best used for social media shots, not professional photography. However, Samsung says the Fold 8 can still shoot 8K video at 30 frames per second.

All eyes are on Apple now. We can't wait to directly compare the Z Fold 8 to whatever Apple is cooking up. Hopefully, all will be revealed in September.

Where to buy the Galaxy Z Fold 8

You can purchase the new Galaxy Z Fold 8 at Samsung, Amazon, and other mobile retailers. If you're looking for the best pre-order launch offers, check out the new offers from mobile carriers like Verizon and T-Mobile as well.