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# A smartphone the size of a passport. Until you open it.
- URL: https://www.nevillehobson.io/a-smartphone-the-size-of-a-passport-until-you-open-it/
- Published: 2026-11-07T09:44:04.000Z
- Updated: 2026-11-07T09:51:34.000Z
- Description: My first impressions of Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8, its striking design, transformative form factor, remarkable engineering and the curiosity that led me to explore a different kind of foldable phone.
- Author: Neville Hobson
- Tags: Innovation, Reviews, Technology

I've always been fascinated by technology that challenges familiar ideas about how things should look and work. Folding smartphones are a good example. They take something we've become thoroughly accustomed to – the rectangular slab of glass in our pockets – and ask whether it really has to stay that way.

My latest experiment arrived last week: a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8.

Samsung offers two versions of its latest Fold. The [Z Fold 8 Ultra](https://www.samsung.com/uk/smartphones/galaxy-z-fold8-ultra/?ref=nevillehobson.io) follows the more traditional, tall smartphone design when closed, opening into a large tablet-like display. The standard [Z Fold 8](https://www.samsung.com/uk/smartphones/galaxy-z-fold8/?ref=nevillehobson.io) takes a different approach. It's shorter and wider, roughly the size of a British passport when folded, opening into a surprisingly expansive screen.

This unusual form factor particularly caught my imagination.

I've been an enthusiast for folding smartphones for several years. My current Galaxy Z Flip 7 followed a Z Flip 5, and I've owned earlier generations too. I've long believed that foldable technology represents a genuinely interesting direction in smartphone design, not simply a novelty.

The Z Fold 8 isn't replacing my Z Flip 7\. It's an additional device, with its own phone number, acquired largely because I wanted to experience this different approach to folding technology for myself.

And what an intriguing piece of technology it is.

## **The Z Fold 8 at a glance**

| Feature             | Specification                                |
| ------------------- | -------------------------------------------- |
| Model               | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8                      |
| Colour              | Graphite (other colours: Lavender and Cream) |
| Cover screen        | 5.5-inch WUXGA+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz     |
| Main screen         | 7.6-inch QXGA+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz      |
| Processor           | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy |
| RAM                 | 12GB (option for 16GB with 1TB storage)      |
| Storage             | 512GB (options for 256GB and 1TB)            |
| Rear cameras        | Dual 50MP wide and ultra-wide                |
| Front cameras       | 10MP on each screen                          |
| Battery             | 4,800 mAh, with wireless charging            |
| Operating system    | Android 17 with Samsung One UI 9             |
| Weight              | 201g                                         |
| Folded dimensions   | 123.9 × 81.9 × 9.7mm                         |
| Unfolded dimensions | 123.9 × 161.4 × 4.5mm                        |
| Water resistance    | IP48 rating                                  |

Two figures particularly stand out to me: the weight of just 201g and the dimensions when folded. They help explain why this device feels so different from the conventional smartphone form factor.

For the complete technical details, see [Samsung's official Fold 8 specifications](https://www.samsung.com/uk/support/mobile-devices/what-is-the-difference-between-the-galaxy-z-fold8-ultra-and-z-fold8/?ref=nevillehobson.io).

## **First impressions**

The first thing that strikes me is the physical design. The compact proportions are immediately appealing, especially when holding the device. Only when it's opened does the cleverness of the design become fully apparent.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/59/f0/59f0f3d2-7a4d-469d-80ba-430572591933/content/images/2026/11/20261103_154601-1200x1600.jpg)

Small enough to hold comfortably in one hand, the Z Fold 8 has a 5.5-inch cover display.

And so, you open it.

Suddenly, what looked like a relatively conventional smartphone becomes an expansive display, with an entirely different sense of possibility.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/59/f0/59f0f3d2-7a4d-469d-80ba-430572591933/content/images/2026/11/20261106_133000-1600x1415.jpg)

Open the Z Fold 8 and its 7.6-inch display offers a very different canvas for reading.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/59/f0/59f0f3d2-7a4d-469d-80ba-430572591933/content/images/2026/11/20261106_133349-1600x1200.jpg)

The larger display opens up possibilities for watching streaming video, too

There's something satisfying about that transformation, even before you consider what you might actually do with the extra screen space.

I'm particularly impressed by the industrial design and manufacturing quality. The finish, the precision of the construction and the overall appearance suggest a product that has benefited from years of refinement. This is a beautifully engineered object, and I find myself admiring it as much for how it's made as for what it promises to do.

Of course, beauty needs protecting. I've already fitted a slim Kevlar case, which complements the design without overwhelming it. Given the cost of the device, going without protection was never seriously an option!

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/59/f0/59f0f3d2-7a4d-469d-80ba-430572591933/content/images/2026/11/20261103_154502-1200x1600.jpg)

A slim Kevlar protective case adds reassurance without overwhelming the design.

## **Curiosity rather than conclusions**

I've also been exploring the [r/GalaxyFold](https://www.reddit.com/r/GalaxyFold/?ref=nevillehobson.io) community on Reddit, where enthusiasm for these devices is infectious. It's interesting to see how strongly people feel about a form factor that remains relatively unusual in the wider smartphone market.

And then there's the price. The Z Fold 8 is undeniably expensive, and that comes up often in reviews. With UK retail pricing starting at £1,699, depending on storage and memory options, buying one outright is a substantial commitment. Especially if, like me, you're acquiring it largely out of curiosity.

Shopping around, though, can make quite a difference. There are discounts on outright purchases and a variety of pay-monthly contracts that include airtime. And with Black Friday approaching, it's likely there may be even better offers!

But this article isn't a review. It's far too early for that.

I want to spend the next three or four weeks discovering what it's like to live with the Z Fold 8, how naturally it fits into everyday routines, and whether that large folding display changes the way I use a mobile device.

There's also my Galaxy Tab S9 tablet to consider. I use it mainly for reading, social media, and watching videos, but it's a fairly weighty device to hold. Could the Fold eventually replace it? Even with the different screen sizes? Potentially, yes. That's one of the questions I'm looking forward to exploring.

For now, I'm simply enjoying the experience of encountering something genuinely different.

Sometimes, curiosity is reason enough to try something new.

---

(All photos by and © the author; some rights reserved under [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en?ref=nevillehobson.io))