Month With Galaxy Z Fold 8 Makes Other Android Phones Feel Too Tall, Android Authority Says
Android Authority says a month with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 made other Android phones feel too tall, while the foldable improved video, reading, and one-handed use.
The author wrote that he had used most Samsung foldables over the years and had seen them move from distinctive and groundbreaking to commonplace. He was drawn mainly by the Fold 8's new, squatter shape, expecting it to handle entertainment, reading, and internet browsing without the awkward banding or scaling of regular book-style foldables while still folding into a compact package that fits in a pocket. The author said the device delivered those expectations.
The article said the author is not a fan of watching long-form videos, shows, or movies on tiny screens and has been trying to cut back on short-form content. Before the Fold 8, he used a tablet or an 11-inch iPad Pro for content when not watching TV, but those devices can feel jarring because of their bulk and dimensions and require both hands. An iPad Mini might fit better, the author wrote, but it would become another device to carry alongside a phone rather than a replacement. Standard book-style foldables were another option, but after using several generations of Samsung Folds and models from OnePlus, vivo, and TECNO, the author said he never grew fond of the empty black bands on both sides of a video. The Fold 8 addressed banding and optimal use of space across both screens, he wrote.
When unfolded, the inner screen mimics the shape and size of a regular novel or a Kindle, the author said, making reading feel natural. A Kindle serves that purpose, but mobile apps offer vertical scrolling that a dedicated e-reader does not, which the author said substantially boosts reading without interruptions. When folded, the phone works as a small handset, fitting in the hand, allowing effortless scrolling, and letting the author reach the farthest keys on the keyboard. Reaching the top edge for notifications or quick settings did not create anxiety about dropping the phone, even with a case installed, a secure feeling the author said he rarely gets from other devices.
Compared with previous daily drivers, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra and OnePlus 15, the article said those phones satisfy entertainment and performance needs but do not offer the comfort of keeping just one hand engaged. The recurring feeling was how tall those phones felt, something the author had not anticipated. Before using the Fold 8, he expected it to be shorter than regular phones. Instead, it redefined regular phone height for him. Each switch from the Fold 8 to another device made the other phone feel too long or reminded him of unusually tall Motorola phones from the One series. The author said the Fold 8 delivers the best abilities of a large phone in a small phone's footprint. The feeling lasts only a few seconds, he wrote, but it is a constant reminder that phones can be useful without being humongous.