What you need to know
- Early reports claim the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is capturing audiences overseas as pre-orders are exceeding expectations.
- The device is apparently outperforming Samsung’s Fold 8 Ultra and Flip 8 as inventory runs out online, causing shipping delays.
- The Galaxy Z Fold 8 features a 5.4-inch clamshell display with a 16:10 aspect ratio in a more convenient, pocketable form factor.
It’s been almost a week since Galaxy Unpacked, and almost a week since pre-orders began for its next-generation foldable devices like the (wide) Galaxy Z Fold 8. Early reports claim that this device is gaining popularity that surprises Samsung.
The popularity of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is reportedly breaking Samsung’s expectations. Rumors began about his performance. appearing in xcourtesy of tipster Ice Universe (via 9to5Google). The tipster alleges that the “pre-order volume” of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 has “far surpassed the Fold 8 Ultra.” This information reportedly comes from initial figures coming from South Korea. Users in the thread commented, offering their experience.
a user states that as soon as the booking period began in South Korea, “the site crashed and in less than 30 minutes, the dates were pushed back from August 4 to August 28.” They added that the device was apparently out of stock (or delayed due to its high popularity) on Samsung’s official website. The Flip 8 and Fold 8 Ultra are reportedly still scheduled to ship or arrive before August 4.
Similarly, a report from another informant, Lanzuk, in naver suggests more of the same. They claim sales of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 are “exceeding expectations,” reportedly based on a “preliminary count” of the first round of pre-orders. Online stock is apparently out of stock and many offline channels to purchase the device are backordered. Users in the comments seemed to agree with the Fold 8’s supposed popularity.
Don’t jump to conclusions
Some people were understandably skeptical about the Galaxy Z Fold 8, like Android Central’s Derrek Lee. The Fold 8 is the broad addition to the foldable lineup, meaning the Fold 8 Ultra is actually the successor to the Fold 7. These two look virtually identical; However, the bigger story here is the Galaxy Z Fold 8. Samsung got smaller to get bigger. The Fold 8 offers a 5.4-inch clamshell display with a 16:10 aspect ratio.
In Derrek’s experience, the Fold 8 fits very well in the palm of your hand and its slim profile (9.7mm) makes it a pocketable phone. One concern was how apps would react to a phone this size, but they resize well on the Fold 8. Long-form videos look a little better on the taller Fold 8 Ultra, due to its size, but if you turn the device on its side, it’s all gravy. Multitasking also took a step forward, as the Fold 8 can house three apps side by side.
What also caught our attention is the S Pen, or rather the lack thereof. Neither the Fold 8 nor the Fold 8 Ultra have Samsung’s stylus. When you consider how heavy these phones are for multitasking and how Samsung pushes users to take advantage of them, one would imagine the stylus would be there. Other tools on phones probably make the lack of a stylus hurt less, so it’s not a big deal.
Android Central’s opinion
I think the main thing that consumers will find problematic is their choice. What decision will you make? Are you more interested in a taller, “bigger” foldable or something a little smaller and wider? One more pocket phone. I like the wide Galaxy Z Fold 8. And this is where things get interesting because I mentioned it during the live blog. We see how popular the Fold 8 is and how the Flip 8 supposedly regresses. The Fold 8 appears to achieve what consumers are looking for in a foldable device. I’m still curious about specific numbers on whether these reports are true.
