Galaxy Z Fold 8 without Flex Mode wins over reviewer with new hinge, tent mode

Flex Mode, available on previous Samsung foldables, allowed users to prop the phone open like a laptop. The hinge held the device in a fixed position while software provided split-screen controls such as media playback on the lower half and system-wide virtual trackpad. The reviewer, who has used Flex Mode since the Galaxy Z Flip 3, considered it his preferred method for watching videos on a desk.

When Samsung revealed the Galaxy Z Fold 8 with a wider 16:10 cover screen and 4:3 main display, the reviewer was initially excited but noticed Flex Mode was absent. He feared the omission was merely to differentiate the Fold 8 from the higher-end Fold 8 Ultra. Instead, Samsung said the new hinge, which uses a titanium-based display structure, refined mechanics and magnetic force, makes unfolding "feel smoother, lighter and more natural."

The review details how the new hinge works: the user manually unfolds the phone about three-quarters of the way, after which the hinge's magnetic force completes the motion. This reduces the friction typically associated with opening a foldable, encouraging the reviewer to use the large 7.6-inch internal display far more often than the cover screen. He says the ease of opening helped justify the $1,899 price tag.

Without Flex Mode, the reviewer turned to "tent mode." By activating the cover screen, partially opening the hinge and setting the phone down like a tent, the device keeps the screen at an ideal viewing angle for watching videos. Tent mode lacks Flex Mode's software enhancements, such as the virtual trackpad and integrated media controls, but the reviewer describes those missing tools as a mild inconvenience.

The reviewer concludes that he would still choose the Galaxy Z Fold 8 over the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, despite the latter retaining Flex Mode support.