Galaxy Z Fold8: One Month of Use Review

Looking closely at the advantages the Fold8 offers for each type and the points to consider when switching, the review provided detailed information to help predict the changes in real-world use.

Y-by explained that these weight and thickness figures do not feel very different from conventional bar-type smartphones. This is considered to have largely resolved the portability problem that was long pointed out as a chronic weakness of foldable smartphones.

This form-factor improvement works as an important factor in making the Fold8 feel like a device that users of conventional bar-type smartphones can use daily without much burden. It is also easier to carry in a pocket or hold with one hand, improving ease of use.

The main reasons users prefer Galaxy bar-type smartphones were work efficiency and convenience features. In particular, office workers emphasized call recording as the most important feature, stressing that it is essential for their jobs. Samsung Pay, which enables payments without a wallet, was also found to offer significant convenience in daily life.

Beyond these, there is strong preference for one-handed operation features, showing that the optimized user experience of bar-type smartphones contributes to the loyalty of Galaxy users.

This ratio minimizes letterboxing (the black bars at the top and bottom) when watching movies, dramas, and other content, giving a sense of using the entire screen. Y-by described this 4:3 ratio as a 'masterstroke' that maximizes the immersion of video content.

When watching content, the reduced left and right margins make the screen feel more filled visually, emphasizing the beauty of the image and helping users focus more on the content. This is expected to bring great satisfaction especially to users who enjoy movies or high-definition video.

Even users accustomed to the 16:9 or 21:9 ratios of existing smartphones are quickly adapting to the 4:3 ratio and positively accepting the new viewing experience.

The Fold8 offers an experience optimized for e-book reading even on the cover screen when closed. The cover screen is wider than the previous model's, improving readability. It gives the feeling of holding and reading a real book with one hand.

In particular, the advantage of being able to hold the Fold8 with one hand and read an e-book on public transportation was highlighted. Content can be enjoyed without unfolding, making reading or quick information checks easy even on the move.

Split-screen functionality using the large inner display shines when multiple apps need to be used at once. For example, you can join a Zoom meeting while checking necessary materials, or check stock prices while messaging, handling several tasks on one screen.

Users can set up frequently used multitasking environments in advance with the favorites feature. This lets them call up their preferred app combinations with one tap to start working, greatly improving work efficiency. Y-by stressed that multitasking is the core value of foldable phones.

These multitasking features give users greater flexibility and productivity in busy daily life and work environments, opening new possibilities for smartphone use.

Office workers highly valued the combination of the Fold8's portability and large screen. Even during busy travel, when they need to take work calls or check email, unfolding the Fold8 to read email on a large screen was described as far more convenient than a bar-type smartphone or tablet.

In particular, since they don't need to carry a separate tablet and can handle work with the Fold8 alone, they achieved both portability and work efficiency. This suggests the Fold8 can become a powerful work tool for people who travel frequently.

As a result, users can enjoy the advantages of both a smartphone and a tablet in a single device.

Users accustomed to the longer screen of the previous model said the new ratio felt unfamiliar at first. They explained that operating the device one-handed required different finger movements than before.

Although this adaptation period is needed, the wider cover screen is working in a direction that improves overall ease of use. Once users get used to the new screen ratio, they are expected to enjoy a more comfortable one-handed experience.

This may feel like a weakness especially to users who prefer a clean screen.

However, some opinions hold that it is not a major problem in portrait mode or when using certain apps, and that it does not significantly affect overall usability. This shows that users perceive the punch hole differently.

The strong connectivity among multiple Apple devices such as the Watch, AirPods, and MacBook shapes users' lifestyle patterns and habits around Apple, making it difficult to switch to other devices. An interviewee mentioned the emotionally appealing results of iPhone photos while traveling, and the financial burden of replacing all their existing devices.

The prevailing opinion was that the devices users had already invested in and the usage habits they had formed make switching to Galaxy a psychological and financial burden. This is perceived as a problem that goes beyond changing a single smartphone, requiring a change to the entire digital environment.

Photos taken on a Galaxy can now be easily transferred to an Apple iPhone or MacBook.

This feature is expected to greatly ease the psychological burden that existing iPhone users felt when considering a switch to Galaxy devices. Seamless file sharing between devices offers great convenience to users who use devices from different brands.

The interviewee highlighted that the Fold8 has a 'new shape,' is 'light,' and that 'pretty is good.' This contributed to improving perceptions of previous Fold products.

In particular, new color options favored by women, such as lavender and cream, served as factors in purchase consideration, showing the possibility that the Fold8 could expand to a wider range of users.

The interviewee said they prefer Samsung Fold because Samsung 'made folding first.' This reflects a positive perception of Samsung for pioneering the market and accumulating technological expertise.

The Galaxy Z Fold8 offers a differentiated user experience through selfie shooting using the rear camera. Y-by explained that users can take selfies with the high-quality rear camera while viewing the cover screen without unfolding the device. This has the advantage of producing selfies of better image quality than the front camera.

Users can check their own appearance in real time on the cover screen and shoot selfies with their preferred framing and expression, and reported that the convenience and satisfaction of selfie shooting have increased.

iPhone users expressed envy toward Galaxy's free font-changing and icon theme settings. The presenter praised Galaxy's 'pretty fonts' and 'icons that can be changed in many ways,' evaluating these customization features as a strength unique to Galaxy.

Unlike the limited decoration options offered by iPhone, Galaxy provides a wide range of choices for expressing user personality, which works as a factor in raising user satisfaction.

In particular, the 'Circle to Search' feature makes it easy to capture only the desired part of the screen by drawing a circle around it. This is useful when you need to scrap only the necessary information accurately.

In addition, the ability to instantly recognize and copy items such as account numbers or specific phrases in images reduces errors that can occur when sharing materials or entering information. Y-by stressed that this feature is 'convenient' because it allows copying, which previously required several steps, to be done in one go.

These features go beyond simply viewing information, helping users manage and use information efficiently, and contribute to boosting the work productivity of office workers.

The Galaxy Z Fold8 supports quick and convenient launching of frequently used apps through one-handed gesture settings. Y-by explained that you can set it up so that swiping the screen up captures a screenshot, a light swipe opens Instagram, and swiping down opens KakaoTalk, letting you launch your preferred apps instantly.

These gesture features maximize usefulness when operating the smartphone one-handed, and make the user experience even more convenient by allowing direct switching to the desired app without multiple taps.