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Why Has the US Banned Foreign-Made Routers?

Why Has the US Banned Foreign-Made Routers?

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The Federal Communications Commission has banned new consumer internet routers manufactured outside the US, citing national security concerns. The ban doesn’t affect any routers already in American homes or currently on sale in the US, but all new routers aimed at the consumer market will need to be approved.

While the headline is that foreign-made consumer routers are banned, manufacturers can apply for exemptions. There’s no need to throw out your router, and you’ll still find plenty of mesh systems on the store shelves. But what does this mean for you?

Why Are Foreign-Made Routers Banned?

“Malicious actors have exploited security gaps in foreign-made routers to attack American households, disrupt networks, enable espionage, and facilitate intellectual property theft,” the FCC wrote. “Foreign-made routers were also involved in the Volt, Flax, and Salt Typhoon cyberattacks targeting vital US infrastructure.”

Foreign-made consumer routers were added to the Covered List, which details equipment and services “deemed to pose an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States.”

Which Routers Are Banned?

The ban only affects the sale of new Wi-Fi routers aimed at consumer households. The ban does not apply to existing FCC-approved routers on sale in the US. Previously purchased routers already in use in homes across the country are also fine and are not part of the ban, according to the FCC’s FAQ. These routers can continue to be sold, used, and updated with new firmware.

Any new router manufactured outside the US now requires FCC approval before it can be imported, marketed, or sold in the US. This includes routers from US companies that are manufactured overseas, which is the vast majority of the market right now.

What Does Foreign-Made Mean?

This is decidedly murky. The ban is concerned with “consumer-grade” routers and could include any that are designed or manufactured outside the US or manufactured by companies that are not completely US-owned and operated. All the major players in the market, including Netgear, TP-Link, Asus, Amazon’s Eero, Google’s Nest, Synology, Linksys, and Ubiquiti, fall under the definition. As do most, if not all, of the routers supplied by internet service providers in the US.

Just like the recent federal drone ban, the router only applies only to new routers, but manufacturers can apply for Conditional Approval from the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security. Applications must include details about ownership, board membership, and country of origin for components, IP ownership, design, assembly, and firmware, among other things. The final section requests details of the applicant’s US manufacturing and onshoring plan, so there’s a clear push to persuade companies to commit to making their routers in the US.

“No routers or manufacturers have been granted a Conditional Approval so far, but as the process gets underway, we expect approvals to be granted in a timely manner,” an FCC spokesperson tells WIRED.

What About Foreign-Made Components?

Well, the FCC provides some clarification in its FAQ (“covered” here means banned):

“Non-‘covered’ devices do not become ‘covered’ simply because they contain a ‘covered’ component part, unless the ‘covered’ component part is a modular transmitter under the FCC’s rules,” it says. “Therefore, a router produced in the United States is not considered ‘covered’ equipment solely because it contains one or more foreign-made components.”

Manufacturers importing components from China but assembling them in the US will presumably be OK, though it’s far from clear. “Applicants will need to be able to have sufficient evidence that the routers were not produced in a foreign country to make this certification, but there is no specific documentation or evidence required,” according to the FCC.

Let’s look at the big three US router brands and see how they’re affected.

Will TP-Link Be Banned?

Since all of its routers are made overseas, TP-Link will have to apply for Conditional Approval or spin up manufacturing in the US to sell any new routers. Estimates vary, but TP-Link’s US consumer router market share is somewhere around 35 percent, with Netgear and Asus accounting for another 25 percent or so.

The US Commerce, Defense, and Justice departments have reportedly been investigating and considering a ban on TP-Link routers for more than a year over concerns about the company’s links to China. No ban has been enacted until now, but Texas attorney general Ken Paxton sued TP-Link in February, claiming the company allows the Chinese Communist Party to access American consumers’ devices. Detractors have also criticized perceived predatory pricing, claiming TP-Link flooded the US market with a wide range of affordable routers to establish dominance.

TP-Link has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and claims it has divested from its Chinese roots and is now headquartered in the US with the bulk of manufacturing in Vietnam. TP-Link’s cofounder and CEO, Jeffrey Chao, recently applied for permanent US residency through President Trump’s Gold Card program, according to the Times of India.

“Virtually all routers are made outside the United States, including those produced by US-based companies like TP-Link, which manufactures its products in Vietnam,” a spokesperson from TP-Link tells WIRED. “It appears that the entire router industry will be impacted by the FCC’s announcement concerning new devices not previously authorized by the FCC.”

TP-Link is a privately owned company and not publicly listed on any stock exchange. Chao and his wife, Hillary, are listed as the company’s sole owners.

Will Netgear Be Banned?

While it is a US-founded and headquartered company, Netgear’s routers are manufactured abroad, mostly in Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, and Taiwan, so it will have to apply for Conditional Approval. The company has moved away from China in recent years. Netgear has been lobbying the government on “cybersecurity and strategic competition with China.”

“We commend the administration and the FCC for their action toward a safer digital future for Americans,” a Netgear spokesperson tells WIRED. “Home routers and mesh systems are critical to national security and consumer protection, and today’s decision is a step forward.”

Netgear is a publicly traded company on the Nasdaq, mostly owned by institutional investors, including BlackRock and Vanguard. The company’s stock rose on news of the ban, suggesting that many investors believe it won’t be hit too hard.

Will Asus Be Banned?

Asus primarily makes its routers in Taiwan, though it has production facilities in China and works with several third-party manufacturers. Recent tariff pressures led the company to branch out to Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Mexico, and the Czech Republic, but the bulk of its routers still come from Taiwan or China. Asus will have to apply for Conditional Approval to sell new routers. The company did not respond to WIRED’s request for comment.

The company is listed on the Taiwanese Stock Exchange and is mostly owned by public shareholders. The ban doesn’t appear to have impacted its stock price.

Are Any Routers Manufactured in the US?

The only routers I know of that are manufactured in the US are some Starlink Wi-Fi routers, which are primarily made in Texas. Starlink is part of Elon Musk’s SpaceX company, but many of the components in these routers come from East Asia.

How Will the Router Ban Impact Ordinary Folks?

It’s not entirely clear, but in the short term it probably won’t have a huge impact. There is already a wide range of Wi-Fi 7 routers and mesh systems on the market that will continue to be sold—they enable speeds well in excess of what most people need at home. Long term, whether companies spin up manufacturing in the US or find other ways to satisfy government agencies that their wares are not a security risk, the result is likely to be higher prices for consumers. If you haven’t upgraded to the latest Wi-Fi 7 standard, now might be a good time to do it.

Unanswered Questions

The ban does leave several unanswered questions. Why is it being applied only to consumer routers? Which routers or manufacturers will be granted a Conditional Approval? Why are the foreign-made routers currently on sale and in our homes deemed safe? The FCC did not address these questions.

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TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 is built around one question: How do you build an enduring company in the AI era? Our programming and speaker lineup reflect that, based on the feedback we’ve gotten from the community and the reality on the ground.

Last year at Disrupt, we spoke with founders about their experiences and discovered the results of their attendance firsthand. One founder saw a 3x oversubscription rate after their confirmation for Startup Battlefield and more than 100 investor inbounds helping fuel conversations about a future fundraising round. Another founder had nearly 30 back-to-back conversations with investors who flocked to them after a pitch onstage and followed them to their booth.

That’s not the exception at Disrupt — that’s the point. And those opportunities aren’t just available for Battlefield finalists. Every conversation in the Expo Hall or in a Side Event can create an opportunity for your startup. For years, whether it’s been held in New York, San Francisco, or elsewhere, Disrupt has brought together thousands of founders, investors, startup team members, and tech leaders.  

We’re keeping that mission alive at SF’s Moscone West, this October 13-15 with a packed lineup of speakers, more than 200 expert sessions, a wealth of organized and serendipitous networking opportunities, and most of all, the chance to be in the same room as the person who could change your nascent idea for a company or your current startup’s trajectory.

This guide is for the founders out there who are just learning about Disrupt, who need a refresher, or are skeptical of whether it’s worth it. TechCrunch has been around for more than 20 years; we can take it.

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Every conversation in the Expo Hall or in a Side Event can create an opportunity for your startup. For years, whether it’s been held in New York, San Francisco, or elsewhere, Disrupt has brought together thousands of founders, investors, startup team members, and tech leaders.   We’re keeping that mission alive at SF’s Moscone West, this October 13-15 with a packed lineup of speakers, more than 200 expert sessions, a wealth of organized and serendipitous networking opportunities, and most of all, the chance to be in the same room as the person who could change your nascent idea for a company or your current startup’s trajectory. This guide is for the founders out there who are just learning about Disrupt, who need a refresher, or are skeptical of whether it’s worth it. TechCrunch has been around for more than 20 years; we can take it. 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Early revenue or actively raising  You’re here for capital and validation above all else, and your time is valuable. Prioritize our investor-matchmaking tools and the connections that come with your Founder Pass, including the networking tools in our app. You also get access to the Deal Flow Café, where we foster one-on-one conversations between founders and investors.   And when your schedule isn’t packed with dealmaking, learn from VC perspectives and fundraising-focused sessions at the Builders Stage. Scaling, hiring, in search of partnerships  You’re here in search of talent, strategic partners, and market visibility. Those same networking tools and opportunities can help you meet potential hires and partners and deepen those connections or make new ones. Disrupt’s Side Events aren’t to be missed — there’s one for every industry, interest, or post-event vibe you could be looking to find. 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Learn how the fastest-growing startups are building, deploying, and monetizing AI, with practical lessons on agents, models, infrastructure, and what it takes to win in the AI era. Real World AI Stage: AI is moving beyond the screen and into the physical world. Explore how robotics, autonomous systems, manufacturing, healthcare, and defense are turning AI breakthroughs into real-world products and businesses. Smart Money Stage: Follow the money. From fintech and stablecoins to payments, embedded finance, and AI-driven financial services, this stage explores how technology is reshaping the movement of capital. Smart Systems Stage: Every AI breakthrough depends on the infrastructure behind it. Discover the innovations in chips, compute, energy, networking, and data centers that will determine the next generation of technology companies. 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For larger teams, we have additional per-ticket discounts available.   San Francisco might be the hotbed of the startup community and an AI epicenter, but we all know it’s caused prices to spike in the Bay. We’ve partnered with some excellent nearby hotel options to keep accommodation costs as low as possible. Check out our four partner hotels right here. Your time at Disrupt is valuable, too, so before you head there, check on our regularly updated schedule of speakers and Side Events, get ahead of competitors’ schedules by booking your networking opportunities in advance, and get your own elevator pitches in order to make the most of those magical Disrupt moments that can come at any point October 13-15! When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.#founders #guide #TechCrunch #Disrupt #TechCrunchTechCrunch Disrupt
Image Credits:TechCrunch / Slava Blazer Photography

The reality of what makes Disrupt, Disrupt 

If you’re asking Claude or ChatGPT if TechCrunch Disrupt is worth it, you’re not alone. The reality is that Disrupt is a unique event, and it’s happening at a unique time for the startup community.

This year’s Disrupt isn’t about predicting the future of AI; it’s about building companies in it. Across six editorially curated stages, founders will hear practical lessons from the CEOs, investors, engineers, and operators shaping the next decade of technology.  

Whether you’re raising your first round, scaling your team, or deciding how AI changes your product, every session is designed to answer one question: “What can I take back to my company on Monday morning?”

The founders Disrupt empowers 

Disrupt works a bit differently, depending on where you are in your founding journey, with different tracks you can follow to make the most of the three days:

Pre-seed and idea stages 

You’re here to pressure-test your thesis, meet your first angel or pre-seed investors, and figure out who else is building in your space. Prioritize the Builders Stage, the Startup Battlefield semifinalist pitches, and the Expo Hall, along with roundtables tied to your industry and conversations you’ll want to learn more from.

Early revenue or actively raising 

You’re here for capital and validation above all else, and your time is valuable. Prioritize our investor-matchmaking tools and the connections that come with your Founder Pass, including the networking tools in our app. You also get access to the Deal Flow Café, where we foster one-on-one conversations between founders and investors.  

And when your schedule isn’t packed with dealmaking, learn from VC perspectives and fundraising-focused sessions at the Builders Stage.

Scaling, hiring, in search of partnerships 

You’re here in search of talent, strategic partners, and market visibility. Those same networking tools and opportunities can help you meet potential hires and partners and deepen those connections or make new ones. Disrupt’s Side Events aren’t to be missed — there’s one for every industry, interest, or post-event vibe you could be looking to find.

Startup Battlefield: The most iconic pitch competition 

The Startup Battlefield winner’s reveal packs the Disrupt stage and is each year’s capstone event. But it’s the lead-up to that $100,000 check and the deluge of attention the winner receives that’s the most valuable for founders attending Disrupt.

The 200 startups chosen on August 20 to compete go through a rigorous prep process and get the opportunity to pitch onstage in front of top-tier VCs and the Disrupt crowds. You’ll also get to watch those pitches, take notes, learn from the peaks and valleys, and potentially meet the teams behind the ideas and innovations. It could be in a follow-up meeting or just walking through the halls of Moscone.  

And if that all leaves you inspired, here’s an insider tip: Most Battlefield participants, and several winners, have gone through the process multiple times. We’re no longer taking applications for 2026’s competition, but we’re expanding the program to more international markets, and the 2027 process will be similar to this year’s, so take note for the future!

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49QN3jIThz0[/embed]

The founder-focused programming 

Disrupt 2026 spans several stages, each built around a different founder need:

  • Disrupt Stage: The biggest conversations in technology, featuring the founders, CEOs, and industry leaders defining what’s next. These are the conversations you’ll be talking about long after Disrupt ends.
  • Builders Stage: The tactical playbook for building a startup. From fundraising and hiring to GTM, product, and scaling, every session is designed to give founders practical advice they can put to work immediately.
  • AI Stage: AI isn’t the future — it’s the present. Learn how the fastest-growing startups are building, deploying, and monetizing AI, with practical lessons on agents, models, infrastructure, and what it takes to win in the AI era.
  • Real World AI Stage: AI is moving beyond the screen and into the physical world. Explore how robotics, autonomous systems, manufacturing, healthcare, and defense are turning AI breakthroughs into real-world products and businesses.
  • Smart Money Stage: Follow the money. From fintech and stablecoins to payments, embedded finance, and AI-driven financial services, this stage explores how technology is reshaping the movement of capital.
  • Smart Systems Stage: Every AI breakthrough depends on the infrastructure behind it. Discover the innovations in chips, compute, energy, networking, and data centers that will determine the next generation of technology companies.
TechCrunch's Builders Stage at the 2025 Disrupt event
Image Credits:TechCrunch / Slava Blazer Photography

Conversations you can only get at Disrupt 

  • RJ Scaringe (Rivian): Building a generational company. 
  • Panos Panay (Amazon): Designing products people love. 
  • Paolo Ardoino (Tether): Money, AI, and infrastructure. 
  • Toni Schneider and Rose Wang (Bluesky): Can social start over? 
  • Amjad Masad (Replit): Every founder becomes technical. 
  • Andrew Feldman (Cerebras): Winning the AI compute race. 

And that’s just the beginning — we’ll have more speakers to announce as we get closer to Disrupt. Check out the full lineup of speakers across all stages and events here.

How to get the most bang for your buck at Disrupt 

Disrupt’s prices increase as we get closer to the event, and founder tickets are currently $300 off their final price until August 21. But if you make the call to attend Disrupt before 11:59 p.m. PT August 7 via this link, you’ll save an additional $100!  

If you want to bring a co-founder, you can get a 10% discount on that second ticket. For larger teams, we have additional per-ticket discounts available.  

San Francisco might be the hotbed of the startup community and an AI epicenter, but we all know it’s caused prices to spike in the Bay. We’ve partnered with some excellent nearby hotel options to keep accommodation costs as low as possible. Check out our four partner hotels right here.

Your time at Disrupt is valuable, too, so before you head there, check on our regularly updated schedule of speakers and Side Events, get ahead of competitors’ schedules by booking your networking opportunities in advance, and get your own elevator pitches in order to make the most of those magical Disrupt moments that can come at any point October 13-15!

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.

#founders #guide #TechCrunch #Disrupt #TechCrunchTechCrunch Disrupt">The founder’s guide to TechCrunch Disrupt 2026: Everything you need to know | TechCrunch TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 is built around one question: How do you build an enduring company in the AI era? Our programming and speaker lineup reflect that, based on the feedback we’ve gotten from the community and the reality on the ground. Last year at Disrupt, we spoke with founders about their experiences and discovered the results of their attendance firsthand. One founder saw a 3x oversubscription rate after their confirmation for Startup Battlefield and more than 100 investor inbounds helping fuel conversations about a future fundraising round. Another founder had nearly 30 back-to-back conversations with investors who flocked to them after a pitch onstage and followed them to their booth. That’s not the exception at Disrupt — that’s the point. And those opportunities aren’t just available for Battlefield finalists. Every conversation in the Expo Hall or in a Side Event can create an opportunity for your startup. For years, whether it’s been held in New York, San Francisco, or elsewhere, Disrupt has brought together thousands of founders, investors, startup team members, and tech leaders.   We’re keeping that mission alive at SF’s Moscone West, this October 13-15 with a packed lineup of speakers, more than 200 expert sessions, a wealth of organized and serendipitous networking opportunities, and most of all, the chance to be in the same room as the person who could change your nascent idea for a company or your current startup’s trajectory. This guide is for the founders out there who are just learning about Disrupt, who need a refresher, or are skeptical of whether it’s worth it. TechCrunch has been around for more than 20 years; we can take it. Image Credits:TechCrunch / Slava Blazer Photography The reality of what makes Disrupt, Disrupt  If you’re asking Claude or ChatGPT if TechCrunch Disrupt is worth it, you’re not alone. The reality is that Disrupt is a unique event, and it’s happening at a unique time for the startup community. This year’s Disrupt isn’t about predicting the future of AI; it’s about building companies in it. Across six editorially curated stages, founders will hear practical lessons from the CEOs, investors, engineers, and operators shaping the next decade of technology.   Whether you’re raising your first round, scaling your team, or deciding how AI changes your product, every session is designed to answer one question: “What can I take back to my company on Monday morning?” The founders Disrupt empowers  Disrupt works a bit differently, depending on where you are in your founding journey, with different tracks you can follow to make the most of the three days: Pre-seed and idea stages  You’re here to pressure-test your thesis, meet your first angel or pre-seed investors, and figure out who else is building in your space. Prioritize the Builders Stage, the Startup Battlefield semifinalist pitches, and the Expo Hall, along with roundtables tied to your industry and conversations you’ll want to learn more from. Early revenue or actively raising  You’re here for capital and validation above all else, and your time is valuable. Prioritize our investor-matchmaking tools and the connections that come with your Founder Pass, including the networking tools in our app. You also get access to the Deal Flow Café, where we foster one-on-one conversations between founders and investors.   And when your schedule isn’t packed with dealmaking, learn from VC perspectives and fundraising-focused sessions at the Builders Stage. Scaling, hiring, in search of partnerships  You’re here in search of talent, strategic partners, and market visibility. Those same networking tools and opportunities can help you meet potential hires and partners and deepen those connections or make new ones. Disrupt’s Side Events aren’t to be missed — there’s one for every industry, interest, or post-event vibe you could be looking to find. Startup Battlefield: The most iconic pitch competition  The Startup Battlefield winner’s reveal packs the Disrupt stage and is each year’s capstone event. But it’s the lead-up to that 0,000 check and the deluge of attention the winner receives that’s the most valuable for founders attending Disrupt. The 200 startups chosen on August 20 to compete go through a rigorous prep process and get the opportunity to pitch onstage in front of top-tier VCs and the Disrupt crowds. You’ll also get to watch those pitches, take notes, learn from the peaks and valleys, and potentially meet the teams behind the ideas and innovations. It could be in a follow-up meeting or just walking through the halls of Moscone.   And if that all leaves you inspired, here’s an insider tip: Most Battlefield participants, and several winners, have gone through the process multiple times. We’re no longer taking applications for 2026’s competition, but we’re expanding the program to more international markets, and the 2027 process will be similar to this year’s, so take note for the future! [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49QN3jIThz0[/embed] The founder-focused programming  Disrupt 2026 spans several stages, each built around a different founder need: Disrupt Stage: The biggest conversations in technology, featuring the founders, CEOs, and industry leaders defining what’s next. These are the conversations you’ll be talking about long after Disrupt ends. Builders Stage: The tactical playbook for building a startup. From fundraising and hiring to GTM, product, and scaling, every session is designed to give founders practical advice they can put to work immediately. AI Stage: AI isn’t the future — it’s the present. Learn how the fastest-growing startups are building, deploying, and monetizing AI, with practical lessons on agents, models, infrastructure, and what it takes to win in the AI era. Real World AI Stage: AI is moving beyond the screen and into the physical world. Explore how robotics, autonomous systems, manufacturing, healthcare, and defense are turning AI breakthroughs into real-world products and businesses. Smart Money Stage: Follow the money. From fintech and stablecoins to payments, embedded finance, and AI-driven financial services, this stage explores how technology is reshaping the movement of capital. Smart Systems Stage: Every AI breakthrough depends on the infrastructure behind it. Discover the innovations in chips, compute, energy, networking, and data centers that will determine the next generation of technology companies. Image Credits:TechCrunch / Slava Blazer Photography Conversations you can only get at Disrupt  RJ Scaringe (Rivian): Building a generational company.  Panos Panay (Amazon): Designing products people love.  Paolo Ardoino (Tether): Money, AI, and infrastructure.  Toni Schneider and Rose Wang (Bluesky): Can social start over?  Amjad Masad (Replit): Every founder becomes technical.  Andrew Feldman (Cerebras): Winning the AI compute race.  And that’s just the beginning — we’ll have more speakers to announce as we get closer to Disrupt. Check out the full lineup of speakers across all stages and events here. How to get the most bang for your buck at Disrupt  Disrupt’s prices increase as we get closer to the event, and founder tickets are currently 0 off their final price until August 21. But if you make the call to attend Disrupt before 11:59 p.m. PT August 7 via this link, you’ll save an additional 0!   If you want to bring a co-founder, you can get a 10% discount on that second ticket. For larger teams, we have additional per-ticket discounts available.   San Francisco might be the hotbed of the startup community and an AI epicenter, but we all know it’s caused prices to spike in the Bay. We’ve partnered with some excellent nearby hotel options to keep accommodation costs as low as possible. Check out our four partner hotels right here. Your time at Disrupt is valuable, too, so before you head there, check on our regularly updated schedule of speakers and Side Events, get ahead of competitors’ schedules by booking your networking opportunities in advance, and get your own elevator pitches in order to make the most of those magical Disrupt moments that can come at any point October 13-15! When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.#founders #guide #TechCrunch #Disrupt #TechCrunchTechCrunch Disrupt

TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 is built around one question: How do you build an enduring company in the AI era? Our programming and speaker lineup reflect that, based on the feedback we’ve gotten from the community and the reality on the ground.

Last year at Disrupt, we spoke with founders about their experiences and discovered the results of their attendance firsthand. One founder saw a 3x oversubscription rate after their confirmation for Startup Battlefield and more than 100 investor inbounds helping fuel conversations about a future fundraising round. Another founder had nearly 30 back-to-back conversations with investors who flocked to them after a pitch onstage and followed them to their booth.

That’s not the exception at Disrupt — that’s the point. And those opportunities aren’t just available for Battlefield finalists. Every conversation in the Expo Hall or in a Side Event can create an opportunity for your startup. For years, whether it’s been held in New York, San Francisco, or elsewhere, Disrupt has brought together thousands of founders, investors, startup team members, and tech leaders.  

We’re keeping that mission alive at SF’s Moscone West, this October 13-15 with a packed lineup of speakers, more than 200 expert sessions, a wealth of organized and serendipitous networking opportunities, and most of all, the chance to be in the same room as the person who could change your nascent idea for a company or your current startup’s trajectory.

This guide is for the founders out there who are just learning about Disrupt, who need a refresher, or are skeptical of whether it’s worth it. TechCrunch has been around for more than 20 years; we can take it.

The founder’s guide to TechCrunch Disrupt 2026: Everything you need to know | TechCrunch TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 is built around one question: How do you build an enduring company in the AI era? Our programming and speaker lineup reflect that, based on the feedback we’ve gotten from the community and the reality on the ground. Last year at Disrupt, we spoke with founders about their experiences and discovered the results of their attendance firsthand. One founder saw a 3x oversubscription rate after their confirmation for Startup Battlefield and more than 100 investor inbounds helping fuel conversations about a future fundraising round. Another founder had nearly 30 back-to-back conversations with investors who flocked to them after a pitch onstage and followed them to their booth. That’s not the exception at Disrupt — that’s the point. And those opportunities aren’t just available for Battlefield finalists. Every conversation in the Expo Hall or in a Side Event can create an opportunity for your startup. For years, whether it’s been held in New York, San Francisco, or elsewhere, Disrupt has brought together thousands of founders, investors, startup team members, and tech leaders.   We’re keeping that mission alive at SF’s Moscone West, this October 13-15 with a packed lineup of speakers, more than 200 expert sessions, a wealth of organized and serendipitous networking opportunities, and most of all, the chance to be in the same room as the person who could change your nascent idea for a company or your current startup’s trajectory. This guide is for the founders out there who are just learning about Disrupt, who need a refresher, or are skeptical of whether it’s worth it. TechCrunch has been around for more than 20 years; we can take it. Image Credits:TechCrunch / Slava Blazer Photography The reality of what makes Disrupt, Disrupt  If you’re asking Claude or ChatGPT if TechCrunch Disrupt is worth it, you’re not alone. The reality is that Disrupt is a unique event, and it’s happening at a unique time for the startup community. This year’s Disrupt isn’t about predicting the future of AI; it’s about building companies in it. Across six editorially curated stages, founders will hear practical lessons from the CEOs, investors, engineers, and operators shaping the next decade of technology.   Whether you’re raising your first round, scaling your team, or deciding how AI changes your product, every session is designed to answer one question: “What can I take back to my company on Monday morning?” The founders Disrupt empowers  Disrupt works a bit differently, depending on where you are in your founding journey, with different tracks you can follow to make the most of the three days: Pre-seed and idea stages  You’re here to pressure-test your thesis, meet your first angel or pre-seed investors, and figure out who else is building in your space. Prioritize the Builders Stage, the Startup Battlefield semifinalist pitches, and the Expo Hall, along with roundtables tied to your industry and conversations you’ll want to learn more from. Early revenue or actively raising  You’re here for capital and validation above all else, and your time is valuable. Prioritize our investor-matchmaking tools and the connections that come with your Founder Pass, including the networking tools in our app. You also get access to the Deal Flow Café, where we foster one-on-one conversations between founders and investors.   And when your schedule isn’t packed with dealmaking, learn from VC perspectives and fundraising-focused sessions at the Builders Stage. Scaling, hiring, in search of partnerships  You’re here in search of talent, strategic partners, and market visibility. Those same networking tools and opportunities can help you meet potential hires and partners and deepen those connections or make new ones. Disrupt’s Side Events aren’t to be missed — there’s one for every industry, interest, or post-event vibe you could be looking to find. Startup Battlefield: The most iconic pitch competition  The Startup Battlefield winner’s reveal packs the Disrupt stage and is each year’s capstone event. But it’s the lead-up to that 0,000 check and the deluge of attention the winner receives that’s the most valuable for founders attending Disrupt. The 200 startups chosen on August 20 to compete go through a rigorous prep process and get the opportunity to pitch onstage in front of top-tier VCs and the Disrupt crowds. You’ll also get to watch those pitches, take notes, learn from the peaks and valleys, and potentially meet the teams behind the ideas and innovations. It could be in a follow-up meeting or just walking through the halls of Moscone.   And if that all leaves you inspired, here’s an insider tip: Most Battlefield participants, and several winners, have gone through the process multiple times. We’re no longer taking applications for 2026’s competition, but we’re expanding the program to more international markets, and the 2027 process will be similar to this year’s, so take note for the future! [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49QN3jIThz0[/embed] The founder-focused programming  Disrupt 2026 spans several stages, each built around a different founder need: Disrupt Stage: The biggest conversations in technology, featuring the founders, CEOs, and industry leaders defining what’s next. These are the conversations you’ll be talking about long after Disrupt ends. Builders Stage: The tactical playbook for building a startup. From fundraising and hiring to GTM, product, and scaling, every session is designed to give founders practical advice they can put to work immediately. AI Stage: AI isn’t the future — it’s the present. Learn how the fastest-growing startups are building, deploying, and monetizing AI, with practical lessons on agents, models, infrastructure, and what it takes to win in the AI era. Real World AI Stage: AI is moving beyond the screen and into the physical world. Explore how robotics, autonomous systems, manufacturing, healthcare, and defense are turning AI breakthroughs into real-world products and businesses. Smart Money Stage: Follow the money. From fintech and stablecoins to payments, embedded finance, and AI-driven financial services, this stage explores how technology is reshaping the movement of capital. Smart Systems Stage: Every AI breakthrough depends on the infrastructure behind it. Discover the innovations in chips, compute, energy, networking, and data centers that will determine the next generation of technology companies. Image Credits:TechCrunch / Slava Blazer Photography Conversations you can only get at Disrupt  RJ Scaringe (Rivian): Building a generational company.  Panos Panay (Amazon): Designing products people love.  Paolo Ardoino (Tether): Money, AI, and infrastructure.  Toni Schneider and Rose Wang (Bluesky): Can social start over?  Amjad Masad (Replit): Every founder becomes technical.  Andrew Feldman (Cerebras): Winning the AI compute race.  And that’s just the beginning — we’ll have more speakers to announce as we get closer to Disrupt. Check out the full lineup of speakers across all stages and events here. How to get the most bang for your buck at Disrupt  Disrupt’s prices increase as we get closer to the event, and founder tickets are currently 0 off their final price until August 21. But if you make the call to attend Disrupt before 11:59 p.m. PT August 7 via this link, you’ll save an additional 0!   If you want to bring a co-founder, you can get a 10% discount on that second ticket. For larger teams, we have additional per-ticket discounts available.   San Francisco might be the hotbed of the startup community and an AI epicenter, but we all know it’s caused prices to spike in the Bay. We’ve partnered with some excellent nearby hotel options to keep accommodation costs as low as possible. Check out our four partner hotels right here. Your time at Disrupt is valuable, too, so before you head there, check on our regularly updated schedule of speakers and Side Events, get ahead of competitors’ schedules by booking your networking opportunities in advance, and get your own elevator pitches in order to make the most of those magical Disrupt moments that can come at any point October 13-15! When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.#founders #guide #TechCrunch #Disrupt #TechCrunchTechCrunch Disrupt
Image Credits:TechCrunch / Slava Blazer Photography

The reality of what makes Disrupt, Disrupt 

If you’re asking Claude or ChatGPT if TechCrunch Disrupt is worth it, you’re not alone. The reality is that Disrupt is a unique event, and it’s happening at a unique time for the startup community.

This year’s Disrupt isn’t about predicting the future of AI; it’s about building companies in it. Across six editorially curated stages, founders will hear practical lessons from the CEOs, investors, engineers, and operators shaping the next decade of technology.  

Whether you’re raising your first round, scaling your team, or deciding how AI changes your product, every session is designed to answer one question: “What can I take back to my company on Monday morning?”

The founders Disrupt empowers 

Disrupt works a bit differently, depending on where you are in your founding journey, with different tracks you can follow to make the most of the three days:

Pre-seed and idea stages 

You’re here to pressure-test your thesis, meet your first angel or pre-seed investors, and figure out who else is building in your space. Prioritize the Builders Stage, the Startup Battlefield semifinalist pitches, and the Expo Hall, along with roundtables tied to your industry and conversations you’ll want to learn more from.

Early revenue or actively raising 

You’re here for capital and validation above all else, and your time is valuable. Prioritize our investor-matchmaking tools and the connections that come with your Founder Pass, including the networking tools in our app. You also get access to the Deal Flow Café, where we foster one-on-one conversations between founders and investors.  

And when your schedule isn’t packed with dealmaking, learn from VC perspectives and fundraising-focused sessions at the Builders Stage.

Scaling, hiring, in search of partnerships 

You’re here in search of talent, strategic partners, and market visibility. Those same networking tools and opportunities can help you meet potential hires and partners and deepen those connections or make new ones. Disrupt’s Side Events aren’t to be missed — there’s one for every industry, interest, or post-event vibe you could be looking to find.

Startup Battlefield: The most iconic pitch competition 

The Startup Battlefield winner’s reveal packs the Disrupt stage and is each year’s capstone event. But it’s the lead-up to that $100,000 check and the deluge of attention the winner receives that’s the most valuable for founders attending Disrupt.

The 200 startups chosen on August 20 to compete go through a rigorous prep process and get the opportunity to pitch onstage in front of top-tier VCs and the Disrupt crowds. You’ll also get to watch those pitches, take notes, learn from the peaks and valleys, and potentially meet the teams behind the ideas and innovations. It could be in a follow-up meeting or just walking through the halls of Moscone.  

And if that all leaves you inspired, here’s an insider tip: Most Battlefield participants, and several winners, have gone through the process multiple times. We’re no longer taking applications for 2026’s competition, but we’re expanding the program to more international markets, and the 2027 process will be similar to this year’s, so take note for the future!

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49QN3jIThz0[/embed]

The founder-focused programming 

Disrupt 2026 spans several stages, each built around a different founder need:

  • Disrupt Stage: The biggest conversations in technology, featuring the founders, CEOs, and industry leaders defining what’s next. These are the conversations you’ll be talking about long after Disrupt ends.
  • Builders Stage: The tactical playbook for building a startup. From fundraising and hiring to GTM, product, and scaling, every session is designed to give founders practical advice they can put to work immediately.
  • AI Stage: AI isn’t the future — it’s the present. Learn how the fastest-growing startups are building, deploying, and monetizing AI, with practical lessons on agents, models, infrastructure, and what it takes to win in the AI era.
  • Real World AI Stage: AI is moving beyond the screen and into the physical world. Explore how robotics, autonomous systems, manufacturing, healthcare, and defense are turning AI breakthroughs into real-world products and businesses.
  • Smart Money Stage: Follow the money. From fintech and stablecoins to payments, embedded finance, and AI-driven financial services, this stage explores how technology is reshaping the movement of capital.
  • Smart Systems Stage: Every AI breakthrough depends on the infrastructure behind it. Discover the innovations in chips, compute, energy, networking, and data centers that will determine the next generation of technology companies.
TechCrunch's Builders Stage at the 2025 Disrupt event
Image Credits:TechCrunch / Slava Blazer Photography

Conversations you can only get at Disrupt 

  • RJ Scaringe (Rivian): Building a generational company. 
  • Panos Panay (Amazon): Designing products people love. 
  • Paolo Ardoino (Tether): Money, AI, and infrastructure. 
  • Toni Schneider and Rose Wang (Bluesky): Can social start over? 
  • Amjad Masad (Replit): Every founder becomes technical. 
  • Andrew Feldman (Cerebras): Winning the AI compute race. 

And that’s just the beginning — we’ll have more speakers to announce as we get closer to Disrupt. Check out the full lineup of speakers across all stages and events here.

How to get the most bang for your buck at Disrupt 

Disrupt’s prices increase as we get closer to the event, and founder tickets are currently $300 off their final price until August 21. But if you make the call to attend Disrupt before 11:59 p.m. PT August 7 via this link, you’ll save an additional $100!  

If you want to bring a co-founder, you can get a 10% discount on that second ticket. For larger teams, we have additional per-ticket discounts available.  

San Francisco might be the hotbed of the startup community and an AI epicenter, but we all know it’s caused prices to spike in the Bay. We’ve partnered with some excellent nearby hotel options to keep accommodation costs as low as possible. Check out our four partner hotels right here.

Your time at Disrupt is valuable, too, so before you head there, check on our regularly updated schedule of speakers and Side Events, get ahead of competitors’ schedules by booking your networking opportunities in advance, and get your own elevator pitches in order to make the most of those magical Disrupt moments that can come at any point October 13-15!

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.

#founders #guide #TechCrunch #Disrupt #TechCrunchTechCrunch Disrupt">The founder’s guide to TechCrunch Disrupt 2026: Everything you need to know | TechCrunch

TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 is built around one question: How do you build an enduring company in the AI era? Our programming and speaker lineup reflect that, based on the feedback we’ve gotten from the community and the reality on the ground.

Last year at Disrupt, we spoke with founders about their experiences and discovered the results of their attendance firsthand. One founder saw a 3x oversubscription rate after their confirmation for Startup Battlefield and more than 100 investor inbounds helping fuel conversations about a future fundraising round. Another founder had nearly 30 back-to-back conversations with investors who flocked to them after a pitch onstage and followed them to their booth.

That’s not the exception at Disrupt — that’s the point. And those opportunities aren’t just available for Battlefield finalists. Every conversation in the Expo Hall or in a Side Event can create an opportunity for your startup. For years, whether it’s been held in New York, San Francisco, or elsewhere, Disrupt has brought together thousands of founders, investors, startup team members, and tech leaders.  

We’re keeping that mission alive at SF’s Moscone West, this October 13-15 with a packed lineup of speakers, more than 200 expert sessions, a wealth of organized and serendipitous networking opportunities, and most of all, the chance to be in the same room as the person who could change your nascent idea for a company or your current startup’s trajectory.

This guide is for the founders out there who are just learning about Disrupt, who need a refresher, or are skeptical of whether it’s worth it. TechCrunch has been around for more than 20 years; we can take it.

The founder’s guide to TechCrunch Disrupt 2026: Everything you need to know | TechCrunch TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 is built around one question: How do you build an enduring company in the AI era? Our programming and speaker lineup reflect that, based on the feedback we’ve gotten from the community and the reality on the ground. Last year at Disrupt, we spoke with founders about their experiences and discovered the results of their attendance firsthand. One founder saw a 3x oversubscription rate after their confirmation for Startup Battlefield and more than 100 investor inbounds helping fuel conversations about a future fundraising round. Another founder had nearly 30 back-to-back conversations with investors who flocked to them after a pitch onstage and followed them to their booth. That’s not the exception at Disrupt — that’s the point. And those opportunities aren’t just available for Battlefield finalists. Every conversation in the Expo Hall or in a Side Event can create an opportunity for your startup. For years, whether it’s been held in New York, San Francisco, or elsewhere, Disrupt has brought together thousands of founders, investors, startup team members, and tech leaders.   We’re keeping that mission alive at SF’s Moscone West, this October 13-15 with a packed lineup of speakers, more than 200 expert sessions, a wealth of organized and serendipitous networking opportunities, and most of all, the chance to be in the same room as the person who could change your nascent idea for a company or your current startup’s trajectory. This guide is for the founders out there who are just learning about Disrupt, who need a refresher, or are skeptical of whether it’s worth it. TechCrunch has been around for more than 20 years; we can take it. Image Credits:TechCrunch / Slava Blazer Photography The reality of what makes Disrupt, Disrupt  If you’re asking Claude or ChatGPT if TechCrunch Disrupt is worth it, you’re not alone. The reality is that Disrupt is a unique event, and it’s happening at a unique time for the startup community. This year’s Disrupt isn’t about predicting the future of AI; it’s about building companies in it. Across six editorially curated stages, founders will hear practical lessons from the CEOs, investors, engineers, and operators shaping the next decade of technology.   Whether you’re raising your first round, scaling your team, or deciding how AI changes your product, every session is designed to answer one question: “What can I take back to my company on Monday morning?” The founders Disrupt empowers  Disrupt works a bit differently, depending on where you are in your founding journey, with different tracks you can follow to make the most of the three days: Pre-seed and idea stages  You’re here to pressure-test your thesis, meet your first angel or pre-seed investors, and figure out who else is building in your space. Prioritize the Builders Stage, the Startup Battlefield semifinalist pitches, and the Expo Hall, along with roundtables tied to your industry and conversations you’ll want to learn more from. Early revenue or actively raising  You’re here for capital and validation above all else, and your time is valuable. Prioritize our investor-matchmaking tools and the connections that come with your Founder Pass, including the networking tools in our app. You also get access to the Deal Flow Café, where we foster one-on-one conversations between founders and investors.   And when your schedule isn’t packed with dealmaking, learn from VC perspectives and fundraising-focused sessions at the Builders Stage. Scaling, hiring, in search of partnerships  You’re here in search of talent, strategic partners, and market visibility. Those same networking tools and opportunities can help you meet potential hires and partners and deepen those connections or make new ones. Disrupt’s Side Events aren’t to be missed — there’s one for every industry, interest, or post-event vibe you could be looking to find. Startup Battlefield: The most iconic pitch competition  The Startup Battlefield winner’s reveal packs the Disrupt stage and is each year’s capstone event. But it’s the lead-up to that 0,000 check and the deluge of attention the winner receives that’s the most valuable for founders attending Disrupt. The 200 startups chosen on August 20 to compete go through a rigorous prep process and get the opportunity to pitch onstage in front of top-tier VCs and the Disrupt crowds. You’ll also get to watch those pitches, take notes, learn from the peaks and valleys, and potentially meet the teams behind the ideas and innovations. It could be in a follow-up meeting or just walking through the halls of Moscone.   And if that all leaves you inspired, here’s an insider tip: Most Battlefield participants, and several winners, have gone through the process multiple times. We’re no longer taking applications for 2026’s competition, but we’re expanding the program to more international markets, and the 2027 process will be similar to this year’s, so take note for the future! [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49QN3jIThz0[/embed] The founder-focused programming  Disrupt 2026 spans several stages, each built around a different founder need: Disrupt Stage: The biggest conversations in technology, featuring the founders, CEOs, and industry leaders defining what’s next. These are the conversations you’ll be talking about long after Disrupt ends. Builders Stage: The tactical playbook for building a startup. From fundraising and hiring to GTM, product, and scaling, every session is designed to give founders practical advice they can put to work immediately. AI Stage: AI isn’t the future — it’s the present. Learn how the fastest-growing startups are building, deploying, and monetizing AI, with practical lessons on agents, models, infrastructure, and what it takes to win in the AI era. Real World AI Stage: AI is moving beyond the screen and into the physical world. Explore how robotics, autonomous systems, manufacturing, healthcare, and defense are turning AI breakthroughs into real-world products and businesses. Smart Money Stage: Follow the money. From fintech and stablecoins to payments, embedded finance, and AI-driven financial services, this stage explores how technology is reshaping the movement of capital. Smart Systems Stage: Every AI breakthrough depends on the infrastructure behind it. Discover the innovations in chips, compute, energy, networking, and data centers that will determine the next generation of technology companies. Image Credits:TechCrunch / Slava Blazer Photography Conversations you can only get at Disrupt  RJ Scaringe (Rivian): Building a generational company.  Panos Panay (Amazon): Designing products people love.  Paolo Ardoino (Tether): Money, AI, and infrastructure.  Toni Schneider and Rose Wang (Bluesky): Can social start over?  Amjad Masad (Replit): Every founder becomes technical.  Andrew Feldman (Cerebras): Winning the AI compute race.  And that’s just the beginning — we’ll have more speakers to announce as we get closer to Disrupt. Check out the full lineup of speakers across all stages and events here. How to get the most bang for your buck at Disrupt  Disrupt’s prices increase as we get closer to the event, and founder tickets are currently 0 off their final price until August 21. But if you make the call to attend Disrupt before 11:59 p.m. PT August 7 via this link, you’ll save an additional 0!   If you want to bring a co-founder, you can get a 10% discount on that second ticket. For larger teams, we have additional per-ticket discounts available.   San Francisco might be the hotbed of the startup community and an AI epicenter, but we all know it’s caused prices to spike in the Bay. We’ve partnered with some excellent nearby hotel options to keep accommodation costs as low as possible. Check out our four partner hotels right here. Your time at Disrupt is valuable, too, so before you head there, check on our regularly updated schedule of speakers and Side Events, get ahead of competitors’ schedules by booking your networking opportunities in advance, and get your own elevator pitches in order to make the most of those magical Disrupt moments that can come at any point October 13-15! When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.#founders #guide #TechCrunch #Disrupt #TechCrunchTechCrunch Disrupt
Image Credits:TechCrunch / Slava Blazer Photography

The reality of what makes Disrupt, Disrupt 

If you’re asking Claude or ChatGPT if TechCrunch Disrupt is worth it, you’re not alone. The reality is that Disrupt is a unique event, and it’s happening at a unique time for the startup community.

This year’s Disrupt isn’t about predicting the future of AI; it’s about building companies in it. Across six editorially curated stages, founders will hear practical lessons from the CEOs, investors, engineers, and operators shaping the next decade of technology.  

Whether you’re raising your first round, scaling your team, or deciding how AI changes your product, every session is designed to answer one question: “What can I take back to my company on Monday morning?”

The founders Disrupt empowers 

Disrupt works a bit differently, depending on where you are in your founding journey, with different tracks you can follow to make the most of the three days:

Pre-seed and idea stages 

You’re here to pressure-test your thesis, meet your first angel or pre-seed investors, and figure out who else is building in your space. Prioritize the Builders Stage, the Startup Battlefield semifinalist pitches, and the Expo Hall, along with roundtables tied to your industry and conversations you’ll want to learn more from.

Early revenue or actively raising 

You’re here for capital and validation above all else, and your time is valuable. Prioritize our investor-matchmaking tools and the connections that come with your Founder Pass, including the networking tools in our app. You also get access to the Deal Flow Café, where we foster one-on-one conversations between founders and investors.  

And when your schedule isn’t packed with dealmaking, learn from VC perspectives and fundraising-focused sessions at the Builders Stage.

Scaling, hiring, in search of partnerships 

You’re here in search of talent, strategic partners, and market visibility. Those same networking tools and opportunities can help you meet potential hires and partners and deepen those connections or make new ones. Disrupt’s Side Events aren’t to be missed — there’s one for every industry, interest, or post-event vibe you could be looking to find.

Startup Battlefield: The most iconic pitch competition 

The Startup Battlefield winner’s reveal packs the Disrupt stage and is each year’s capstone event. But it’s the lead-up to that $100,000 check and the deluge of attention the winner receives that’s the most valuable for founders attending Disrupt.

The 200 startups chosen on August 20 to compete go through a rigorous prep process and get the opportunity to pitch onstage in front of top-tier VCs and the Disrupt crowds. You’ll also get to watch those pitches, take notes, learn from the peaks and valleys, and potentially meet the teams behind the ideas and innovations. It could be in a follow-up meeting or just walking through the halls of Moscone.  

And if that all leaves you inspired, here’s an insider tip: Most Battlefield participants, and several winners, have gone through the process multiple times. We’re no longer taking applications for 2026’s competition, but we’re expanding the program to more international markets, and the 2027 process will be similar to this year’s, so take note for the future!

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49QN3jIThz0[/embed]

The founder-focused programming 

Disrupt 2026 spans several stages, each built around a different founder need:

  • Disrupt Stage: The biggest conversations in technology, featuring the founders, CEOs, and industry leaders defining what’s next. These are the conversations you’ll be talking about long after Disrupt ends.
  • Builders Stage: The tactical playbook for building a startup. From fundraising and hiring to GTM, product, and scaling, every session is designed to give founders practical advice they can put to work immediately.
  • AI Stage: AI isn’t the future — it’s the present. Learn how the fastest-growing startups are building, deploying, and monetizing AI, with practical lessons on agents, models, infrastructure, and what it takes to win in the AI era.
  • Real World AI Stage: AI is moving beyond the screen and into the physical world. Explore how robotics, autonomous systems, manufacturing, healthcare, and defense are turning AI breakthroughs into real-world products and businesses.
  • Smart Money Stage: Follow the money. From fintech and stablecoins to payments, embedded finance, and AI-driven financial services, this stage explores how technology is reshaping the movement of capital.
  • Smart Systems Stage: Every AI breakthrough depends on the infrastructure behind it. Discover the innovations in chips, compute, energy, networking, and data centers that will determine the next generation of technology companies.
TechCrunch's Builders Stage at the 2025 Disrupt event
Image Credits:TechCrunch / Slava Blazer Photography

Conversations you can only get at Disrupt 

  • RJ Scaringe (Rivian): Building a generational company. 
  • Panos Panay (Amazon): Designing products people love. 
  • Paolo Ardoino (Tether): Money, AI, and infrastructure. 
  • Toni Schneider and Rose Wang (Bluesky): Can social start over? 
  • Amjad Masad (Replit): Every founder becomes technical. 
  • Andrew Feldman (Cerebras): Winning the AI compute race. 

And that’s just the beginning — we’ll have more speakers to announce as we get closer to Disrupt. Check out the full lineup of speakers across all stages and events here.

How to get the most bang for your buck at Disrupt 

Disrupt’s prices increase as we get closer to the event, and founder tickets are currently $300 off their final price until August 21. But if you make the call to attend Disrupt before 11:59 p.m. PT August 7 via this link, you’ll save an additional $100!  

If you want to bring a co-founder, you can get a 10% discount on that second ticket. For larger teams, we have additional per-ticket discounts available.  

San Francisco might be the hotbed of the startup community and an AI epicenter, but we all know it’s caused prices to spike in the Bay. We’ve partnered with some excellent nearby hotel options to keep accommodation costs as low as possible. Check out our four partner hotels right here.

Your time at Disrupt is valuable, too, so before you head there, check on our regularly updated schedule of speakers and Side Events, get ahead of competitors’ schedules by booking your networking opportunities in advance, and get your own elevator pitches in order to make the most of those magical Disrupt moments that can come at any point October 13-15!

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.

#founders #guide #TechCrunch #Disrupt #TechCrunchTechCrunch Disrupt
OmniPad 12 as an alternative to carrying a conventional laptop, particularly for students, young professionals, first-time PC buyers, and small businesses. The tablet runs Android 16 and can be used for everything from attending online classes and taking notes to working on documents, presentations, video calls, and light content creation.

HP OmniPad 12 Specifications

HP’s New OmniPad 12 Wants to Replace Your Laptop for ₹48,999 HP has expanded its tablet lineup in India with the launch of the HP OmniPad 12, its first OmniPad designed specifically for the Indian market. Starting at ₹48,999, the Android tablet comes with a detachable keyboard, a 12-inch 2K display, a Snapdragon processor, and up to 18 hours of claimed battery life. HP is positioning the OmniPad 12 as an alternative to carrying a conventional laptop, particularly for students, young professionals, first-time PC buyers, and small businesses. The tablet runs Android 16 and can be used for everything from attending online classes and taking notes to working on documents, presentations, video calls, and light content creation. HP OmniPad 12 Specifications The HP OmniPad 12 features a 12-inch 2K touchscreen with a 16:10 aspect ratio, 90Hz refresh rate, and up to 400 nits of brightness. The detachable keyboard lets you switch between a conventional tablet setup and something closer to a lightweight laptop when you need to get some work done. Without the keyboard attached, the tablet weighs around 600 grams, making it relatively easy to carry around. Under the hood, the OmniPad 12 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3, paired with 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM and UFS storage. There’s also a microSD card slot supporting up to 1TB of expandable storage, which should come in handy if you plan on keeping a lot of documents, videos, or other files locally. HP claims the tablet can deliver up to 18 hours of battery life on a single charge. For video calls and online classes, you get an 8MP front camera, a 13MP rear camera, and dual high-SNR microphones. There are also quad speakers with DTS Ultra support for watching movies or listening to music. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, and a USB 2.0 Type-C port. Price, Availability, and Launch Offers The HP OmniPad 12 starts at ₹48,999 in India and is available in Denim Blue and Meteor Silver. Buyers can pick it up through HP’s online store, Amazon, Flipkart, Reliance, Croma, Vijay Sales, and HP World stores. HP is also offering ₹5,000 cashback on eligible bank credit cards during the launch period. Perhaps the more interesting launch offer is the bundled one-year AI subscription package, which HP values at ₹96,000. According to the company, buyers get access to services powered by GPT-5, Claude 4, Gemini 2.5, Perplexity, Grok 4, and DeepSeek for one year. #HPs #OmniPad #Replace #LaptopHP

The HP OmniPad 12 features a 12-inch 2K touchscreen with a 16:10 aspect ratio, 90Hz refresh rate, and up to 400 nits of brightness. The detachable keyboard lets you switch between a conventional tablet setup and something closer to a lightweight laptop when you need to get some work done. Without the keyboard attached, the tablet weighs around 600 grams, making it relatively easy to carry around.

Under the hood, the OmniPad 12 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3, paired with 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM and UFS storage. There’s also a microSD card slot supporting up to 1TB of expandable storage, which should come in handy if you plan on keeping a lot of documents, videos, or other files locally.

HP claims the tablet can deliver up to 18 hours of battery life on a single charge. For video calls and online classes, you get an 8MP front camera, a 13MP rear camera, and dual high-SNR microphones. There are also quad speakers with DTS Ultra support for watching movies or listening to music. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, and a USB 2.0 Type-C port.

Price, Availability, and Launch Offers

The HP OmniPad 12 starts at ₹48,999 in India and is available in Denim Blue and Meteor Silver. Buyers can pick it up through HP’s online store, Amazon, Flipkart, Reliance, Croma, Vijay Sales, and HP World stores. HP is also offering ₹5,000 cashback on eligible bank credit cards during the launch period.

Perhaps the more interesting launch offer is the bundled one-year AI subscription package, which HP values at ₹96,000. According to the company, buyers get access to services powered by GPT-5, Claude 4, Gemini 2.5, Perplexity, Grok 4, and DeepSeek for one year.

#HPs #OmniPad #Replace #LaptopHP">HP’s New OmniPad 12 Wants to Replace Your Laptop for ₹48,999 HP has expanded its tablet lineup in India with the launch of the HP OmniPad 12, its first OmniPad designed specifically for the Indian market. Starting at ₹48,999, the Android tablet comes with a detachable keyboard, a 12-inch 2K display, a Snapdragon processor, and up to 18 hours of claimed battery life. HP is positioning the OmniPad 12 as an alternative to carrying a conventional laptop, particularly for students, young professionals, first-time PC buyers, and small businesses. The tablet runs Android 16 and can be used for everything from attending online classes and taking notes to working on documents, presentations, video calls, and light content creation. HP OmniPad 12 Specifications The HP OmniPad 12 features a 12-inch 2K touchscreen with a 16:10 aspect ratio, 90Hz refresh rate, and up to 400 nits of brightness. The detachable keyboard lets you switch between a conventional tablet setup and something closer to a lightweight laptop when you need to get some work done. Without the keyboard attached, the tablet weighs around 600 grams, making it relatively easy to carry around. Under the hood, the OmniPad 12 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3, paired with 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM and UFS storage. There’s also a microSD card slot supporting up to 1TB of expandable storage, which should come in handy if you plan on keeping a lot of documents, videos, or other files locally. HP claims the tablet can deliver up to 18 hours of battery life on a single charge. For video calls and online classes, you get an 8MP front camera, a 13MP rear camera, and dual high-SNR microphones. There are also quad speakers with DTS Ultra support for watching movies or listening to music. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, and a USB 2.0 Type-C port. Price, Availability, and Launch Offers The HP OmniPad 12 starts at ₹48,999 in India and is available in Denim Blue and Meteor Silver. Buyers can pick it up through HP’s online store, Amazon, Flipkart, Reliance, Croma, Vijay Sales, and HP World stores. HP is also offering ₹5,000 cashback on eligible bank credit cards during the launch period. Perhaps the more interesting launch offer is the bundled one-year AI subscription package, which HP values at ₹96,000. According to the company, buyers get access to services powered by GPT-5, Claude 4, Gemini 2.5, Perplexity, Grok 4, and DeepSeek for one year. #HPs #OmniPad #Replace #LaptopHP

as an alternative to carrying a conventional laptop, particularly for students, young professionals, first-time PC buyers, and small businesses. The tablet runs Android 16 and can be used for everything from attending online classes and taking notes to working on documents, presentations, video calls, and light content creation.

HP OmniPad 12 Specifications

HP’s New OmniPad 12 Wants to Replace Your Laptop for ₹48,999 HP has expanded its tablet lineup in India with the launch of the HP OmniPad 12, its first OmniPad designed specifically for the Indian market. Starting at ₹48,999, the Android tablet comes with a detachable keyboard, a 12-inch 2K display, a Snapdragon processor, and up to 18 hours of claimed battery life. HP is positioning the OmniPad 12 as an alternative to carrying a conventional laptop, particularly for students, young professionals, first-time PC buyers, and small businesses. The tablet runs Android 16 and can be used for everything from attending online classes and taking notes to working on documents, presentations, video calls, and light content creation. HP OmniPad 12 Specifications The HP OmniPad 12 features a 12-inch 2K touchscreen with a 16:10 aspect ratio, 90Hz refresh rate, and up to 400 nits of brightness. The detachable keyboard lets you switch between a conventional tablet setup and something closer to a lightweight laptop when you need to get some work done. Without the keyboard attached, the tablet weighs around 600 grams, making it relatively easy to carry around. Under the hood, the OmniPad 12 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3, paired with 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM and UFS storage. There’s also a microSD card slot supporting up to 1TB of expandable storage, which should come in handy if you plan on keeping a lot of documents, videos, or other files locally. HP claims the tablet can deliver up to 18 hours of battery life on a single charge. For video calls and online classes, you get an 8MP front camera, a 13MP rear camera, and dual high-SNR microphones. There are also quad speakers with DTS Ultra support for watching movies or listening to music. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, and a USB 2.0 Type-C port. Price, Availability, and Launch Offers The HP OmniPad 12 starts at ₹48,999 in India and is available in Denim Blue and Meteor Silver. Buyers can pick it up through HP’s online store, Amazon, Flipkart, Reliance, Croma, Vijay Sales, and HP World stores. HP is also offering ₹5,000 cashback on eligible bank credit cards during the launch period. Perhaps the more interesting launch offer is the bundled one-year AI subscription package, which HP values at ₹96,000. According to the company, buyers get access to services powered by GPT-5, Claude 4, Gemini 2.5, Perplexity, Grok 4, and DeepSeek for one year. #HPs #OmniPad #Replace #LaptopHP

The HP OmniPad 12 features a 12-inch 2K touchscreen with a 16:10 aspect ratio, 90Hz refresh rate, and up to 400 nits of brightness. The detachable keyboard lets you switch between a conventional tablet setup and something closer to a lightweight laptop when you need to get some work done. Without the keyboard attached, the tablet weighs around 600 grams, making it relatively easy to carry around.

Under the hood, the OmniPad 12 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3, paired with 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM and UFS storage. There’s also a microSD card slot supporting up to 1TB of expandable storage, which should come in handy if you plan on keeping a lot of documents, videos, or other files locally.

HP claims the tablet can deliver up to 18 hours of battery life on a single charge. For video calls and online classes, you get an 8MP front camera, a 13MP rear camera, and dual high-SNR microphones. There are also quad speakers with DTS Ultra support for watching movies or listening to music. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, and a USB 2.0 Type-C port.

Price, Availability, and Launch Offers

The HP OmniPad 12 starts at ₹48,999 in India and is available in Denim Blue and Meteor Silver. Buyers can pick it up through HP’s online store, Amazon, Flipkart, Reliance, Croma, Vijay Sales, and HP World stores. HP is also offering ₹5,000 cashback on eligible bank credit cards during the launch period.

Perhaps the more interesting launch offer is the bundled one-year AI subscription package, which HP values at ₹96,000. According to the company, buyers get access to services powered by GPT-5, Claude 4, Gemini 2.5, Perplexity, Grok 4, and DeepSeek for one year.

#HPs #OmniPad #Replace #LaptopHP">HP’s New OmniPad 12 Wants to Replace Your Laptop for ₹48,999

HP has expanded its tablet lineup in India with the launch of the HP OmniPad 12, its first OmniPad designed specifically for the Indian market. Starting at ₹48,999, the Android tablet comes with a detachable keyboard, a 12-inch 2K display, a Snapdragon processor, and up to 18 hours of claimed battery life.

HP is positioning the OmniPad 12 as an alternative to carrying a conventional laptop, particularly for students, young professionals, first-time PC buyers, and small businesses. The tablet runs Android 16 and can be used for everything from attending online classes and taking notes to working on documents, presentations, video calls, and light content creation.

HP OmniPad 12 Specifications

HP’s New OmniPad 12 Wants to Replace Your Laptop for ₹48,999 HP has expanded its tablet lineup in India with the launch of the HP OmniPad 12, its first OmniPad designed specifically for the Indian market. Starting at ₹48,999, the Android tablet comes with a detachable keyboard, a 12-inch 2K display, a Snapdragon processor, and up to 18 hours of claimed battery life. HP is positioning the OmniPad 12 as an alternative to carrying a conventional laptop, particularly for students, young professionals, first-time PC buyers, and small businesses. The tablet runs Android 16 and can be used for everything from attending online classes and taking notes to working on documents, presentations, video calls, and light content creation. HP OmniPad 12 Specifications The HP OmniPad 12 features a 12-inch 2K touchscreen with a 16:10 aspect ratio, 90Hz refresh rate, and up to 400 nits of brightness. The detachable keyboard lets you switch between a conventional tablet setup and something closer to a lightweight laptop when you need to get some work done. Without the keyboard attached, the tablet weighs around 600 grams, making it relatively easy to carry around. Under the hood, the OmniPad 12 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3, paired with 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM and UFS storage. There’s also a microSD card slot supporting up to 1TB of expandable storage, which should come in handy if you plan on keeping a lot of documents, videos, or other files locally. HP claims the tablet can deliver up to 18 hours of battery life on a single charge. For video calls and online classes, you get an 8MP front camera, a 13MP rear camera, and dual high-SNR microphones. There are also quad speakers with DTS Ultra support for watching movies or listening to music. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, and a USB 2.0 Type-C port. Price, Availability, and Launch Offers The HP OmniPad 12 starts at ₹48,999 in India and is available in Denim Blue and Meteor Silver. Buyers can pick it up through HP’s online store, Amazon, Flipkart, Reliance, Croma, Vijay Sales, and HP World stores. HP is also offering ₹5,000 cashback on eligible bank credit cards during the launch period. Perhaps the more interesting launch offer is the bundled one-year AI subscription package, which HP values at ₹96,000. According to the company, buyers get access to services powered by GPT-5, Claude 4, Gemini 2.5, Perplexity, Grok 4, and DeepSeek for one year. #HPs #OmniPad #Replace #LaptopHP

The HP OmniPad 12 features a 12-inch 2K touchscreen with a 16:10 aspect ratio, 90Hz refresh rate, and up to 400 nits of brightness. The detachable keyboard lets you switch between a conventional tablet setup and something closer to a lightweight laptop when you need to get some work done. Without the keyboard attached, the tablet weighs around 600 grams, making it relatively easy to carry around.

Under the hood, the OmniPad 12 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3, paired with 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM and UFS storage. There’s also a microSD card slot supporting up to 1TB of expandable storage, which should come in handy if you plan on keeping a lot of documents, videos, or other files locally.

HP claims the tablet can deliver up to 18 hours of battery life on a single charge. For video calls and online classes, you get an 8MP front camera, a 13MP rear camera, and dual high-SNR microphones. There are also quad speakers with DTS Ultra support for watching movies or listening to music. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, and a USB 2.0 Type-C port.

Price, Availability, and Launch Offers

The HP OmniPad 12 starts at ₹48,999 in India and is available in Denim Blue and Meteor Silver. Buyers can pick it up through HP’s online store, Amazon, Flipkart, Reliance, Croma, Vijay Sales, and HP World stores. HP is also offering ₹5,000 cashback on eligible bank credit cards during the launch period.

Perhaps the more interesting launch offer is the bundled one-year AI subscription package, which HP values at ₹96,000. According to the company, buyers get access to services powered by GPT-5, Claude 4, Gemini 2.5, Perplexity, Grok 4, and DeepSeek for one year.

#HPs #OmniPad #Replace #LaptopHP

Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 is the best phone (not just foldable) I’ve ever used for consuming content—watching videos, playing mobile games, reading, and yes, even doomscrolling social media—thanks to its 7.6-inch inner screen.

The book-style foldable phone’s novel shape when closed may look strange at first, but I promise you that its shorter and wider footprint (when closed) quickly feels normal after a few days. The whole point of this form factor is to unfold it for its larger tablet-sized screen, and I can assure you that you’ll be doing that often because the experience encourages it more.

See Galaxy Z Fold 8 at Samsung

See Galaxy Z Fold 8 at Amazon

More importantly, the Z Fold 8 has fewer of the compromises that held back Samsung’s previous foldable phones. The device is lighter and easier to unfold, the battery is bigger and lasts all day, and Samsung has greatly reduced the crease on the inner screen.

Some apps still might not display correctly on both screens, but even so, I’m declaring the Z Fold 8 a home run. I can’t stop using it.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 is Samsung’s best version of a book-style foldable phone yet, even with its premium price.

  • Thin and light
  • Gorgeous AMOLED screens
  • Crease is greatly reduced and flat
  • All-day battery life with faster charging
  • Solid cameras
  • Easy to use with one hand
  • Quick Share works with Apple AirDrop
  • Inner hole punch camera can block content
  • Can get warm for no reason
  • Only IP48 rating
  • No built-in magnet ring for wireless charging
  • Some apps aren’t optimized properly
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Review 11
© Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

The best size comparisons for the Z Fold 8 are a passport or a B7-sized notebook. The foldable measures 4.88 x 3.24 inches when it’s closed. It’s a few hairs thicker than the Z Fold 8 Ultra, but because of the squatter dimensions and lighter weight, the Z Fold 8 doesn’t feel unwieldy. I’m mostly able to reach corner to corner on the 5.5-inch AMOLED cover screen, something I haven’t been able to do on any “regular” (read: 6 to 6.9-inch) bar-style phone in years.

It also fits in my front pants pockets better than expected; I had concerns that the width might be too wide. I guess if you’re already used to the width of an iPhone 17 Pro Max or a Galaxy S26 Ultra, the Z Fold 8’s only slightly wider.

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© Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

I’m able to reach the power button/fingerprint reader easily with my right thumb. Lefties might struggle since they can’t use their thumb and will have to register their index finger, which might be a little stretch to press the button, like it is for me. The volume rocker is a little high for me; I prefer its lower position on the Z Fold 7/Z Fold 8 Ultra. Typing with two hands on the cover screen is a much easier affair than on narrower phones; I made fewer typos compared to my iPhone. One-handed typing will depend on whether your hand is large enough and your thumb can stretch across the keyboard.

The 10:16 aspect ratio of the cover screen is also not as cramped as it seems. You lose vertical space compared to most regular phones and taller foldables like the Z Fold 8 Ultra, which means apps will show less and you’ll need to scroll more, but that’s mostly a non-issue if you open the phone and rotate it to vertical orientation. I never found myself bothered that I couldn’t see enough on the cover screen. If anything, I appreciated the shorter screen more because I didn’t feel compelled to pull it out as much unless I wanted to unfold it.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Review 9
© Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

Like on the Z Fold 8 Ultra, you can use the Z Fold 8 in “tent” mode. This is great for propping up the device on a plane tray table or if you’re just too lazy to hold it up while in bed. I fly a lot for work, so tent mode is something I find very useful. A Z Fold 8 Ultra feature that you won’t find on the Z Fold 8 is “Flex mode.” On the Z Fold 8 Ultra, you can snap the screen so that it resembles a baby laptop, and some apps, like YouTube, will display the video above the crease and controls below it. I never found much utility for Flex mode on the previous Z Folds and I don’t miss it on the Z Fold 8. If that’s something you care about, get the Z Fold 8 Ultra instead.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Review 25
© Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

Out of all the book-style foldable phones I’ve tested over the past seven years, the Z Fold 8 is the only one that I have unfolded more times than I have not. With each generation of Z Fold, Samsung made the dimensions more like a regular bar-style phone. I heaped praise on the Z Fold 7 for finally ditching the previous skinny, remote-like shape. And even though I considered the Z Fold 7 my favorite Android phone of 2025, I realized that I only used its inner screen maybe less than 50% of the time I pulled it out. With the cover screen being normal-sized, there just wasn’t as much of a need to unfold it for the 8-inch screen.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Review 12
© Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

That hasn’t been the case with the Z Fold 8. Because of the shorter cover screen, I almost always unfold it to use the larger display. Maybe that’s because the Flex Titanium technology helps the hinge spring open better or the beveled aluminum frame makes it easier to unfold without needing fingernails, or both. Whatever the reasons are, it’s easier to see and feel the benefits of the larger size of the inner screen’s 4:3 aspect ratio for most content than on a more square-ish folding screen like the Z Fold 8 Ultra’s. To get roughly the same diagonal screen for widescreen videos on the Z Fold 8 Ultra, you need to rotate it, which is an extra step. It’s a tiny bit of friction that makes the task of quickly unfolding and getting more screen real estate less convenient. When you’re unfolding the phone dozens of times a day, that one extra step adds up.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Review 8
© Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

After two weeks of using the Z Fold 8 and Z Fold 8 Ultra, I’ve concluded that if you watch more videos and game more than you read, the Z Fold 8 is the better foldable since you won’t need to rotate it so much. If you do more reading and split-screen multitasking, the Z Fold 8 Ultra is more suitable since you’ll get more vertical display on both the cover and inner screens without rotating, and you’ll do less scrolling.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Review 5
© Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

I consume a ridiculous amount of content on a daily basis, so I find the 4:3 aspect ratio more versatile for my needs. In just two weeks, I watched, gamed, and read more on the Z Fold 8 than I have on any new phone I’ve ever tested. Videos look incredible on the 7.6-inch inner screen; 16:9 videos have minimal letterboxing (black bars) above and below them, and old content like many original anime series in 4:3 aspect ratio fill up the entire screen. I’ve never felt more informed and entertained from my phone.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Review 19
© Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

As with the Z Fold 8 Ultra, the Z Fold 8 lets you run three apps in split-screen layouts or four (with a pop-up) on the inner screen. I wouldn’t recommend running more than two apps side by side in landscape orientation. Three apps side by side make each app window very skinny, and one app on one side and two stacked on the other half feel squished. Split-screen apps in vertical orientation just look too long to be useful in most cases. In some split-screen layouts, Samsung’s One UI 9 does let you tap between split-screen apps to have it fill more or most of the screen, but it’s not a function that’s easy to discover.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Review 14
© Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

Performance from the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy chip is snappy and the 12GB of RAM on my 256GB review unit (you’ll get 16GB if you buy the 1TB model) never chugged when I threw Gemini and Galaxy AI tasks at it. The only thing that occasionally bugs me is that the Z Fold 8 gets toasty even when I’m not doing anything power-hungry. I suspect the super-thin design doesn’t leave much room for adequate thermals; there’s no vapor chamber for cooling like there is on the Galaxy S26 Ultra and iPhone 17 Pro.

The inner screen has been a joy to use, especially on my 1-hour subway commute to and from work. And instead of reaching for my iPad mini in bed, the Z Fold 8 now fills the role instead. It’s great only having to charge one device.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Review 17
© Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

On the topic of charging, the Z Fold 8’s battery is rock solid, lasting me a full day even with heavy use of the inner screen. That’s not surprising since Samsung added a small percentage of silicon carbon into the 4,800mAh battery, which allows for the larger cell while maintaining a slim size. The 45W fast wired charging, with a compatible charger sold separately (of course), was more than quick enough to give me a recharge (around 0% to 65% in 30 minutes) whenever I was low on power. The Z Fold 8 also supports fast wireless charging at 20W, but I used it less compared to other phones like the iPhone 17 Pro or Pixel 10 Pro because Samsung still refuses to include built-in magnetic charging rings. You, again, need to buy a case with magnets to align the phone effortlessly with a Qi2 charger.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Review 6
© Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

The only blemish, literally, on the larger screen experience is the 10-megapixel hole-punch camera on the inner screen. It can obscure essential parts of a menu, buttons, or text depending on what you’re looking at. For example, in Asphalt Legends, I couldn’t see a menu button that the hole punch covered. The hole punch is most noticeable when reading long blocks of text or black and white manga. It makes more sense to put the camera in the corner since it can’t fit in a bezel like on a regular tablet.

Other than that, I might nitpick the placement of the two stereo speakers. They’re located on the top and bottom of the cover screen, which makes them left-side oriented when the Z Fold 8 is unfolded. The speakers get loud enough, but because they’re both on the left in tablet mode, it almost sounds mono coming from one side. To be clear, these are stereo speakers. I get why Samsung might have designed it like this: the speakers fire out of the left and right in tent mode. Maybe put one speaker on each side for a balanced sound when it’s unfolded?

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Review 4
© Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

As for the crease… It’s less visible for sure, but hasn’t been completely eliminated. Fresh out of the box, the inner screen is pristine and crease-free. Two weeks in, the crease has deepened with hundreds of folds and I can see it when the screen is off, but it doesn’t warp as much as it did on past Samsung foldables. I almost never notice it when I’m watching videos, gaming, or reading. Besides the reinforced titanium alloy film on top of the screen and the titanium plate underneath it to ensure it stays flatter to the touch over time, Samsung also added an anti-reflective layer to reduce glare, and it really does help. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: the crease may never be fully eliminated from folding screens. The best we can hope for may just be making it less visible.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Review 50
© Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

Depending on what you consider the Z Fold 8, either as the sequel to the Z Fold 7 or as a new class of foldables, the cameras will impress or disappoint. If viewed as a Z Fold 7 successor, the 50-megapixel main camera may feel like a downgrade from the previous 200-megapixel shooter. The 50-megapixel ultrawide on the Z Fold 8 will, however, be an upgrade from the Z Fold 7’s 12-megapixel one. You may also be upset it doesn’t have a telephoto lens.

If you want triple rear cameras and more resolution for the main camera, Samsung sells the Z Fold 8 Ultra. I have no complaints with the dual 50-megapixel rear cameras and dual 10-megapixel hole-punch cameras on the Z Fold 8. I don’t think most people will care there’s no telephoto. You still get a 2x zoom that crops in on the 50-megapixel sensor and looks nearly optical-quality to me. This is similar to the virtual 2x “telephoto” that you’ll find on other phones and all recent iPhones that have larger main sensors. The 4x and 10x zooms on the Z Fold 8 are digital, though, and the fuzzier image quality shows.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Review 52
© Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

For everyday photos and videos, the Z Fold 8 cameras are good enough. Image quality looks vibrant and not overly saturated like it used to on Samsung phones and I think the HDR looks less processed compared to iPhone photos. Low-light shots look solid, too. If you’re the type of person who doesn’t want to spend too much or any time editing your photos, the Z Fold 8 photos are more than fine to post directly to social media.

The Z Fold 8 is loaded with a bunch of AI editing features, like “Photo Assist,” which lets you describe an edit with text; “My FanCam,” which lets you motion-track a subject in a video and then crop it for different aspect ratios for posting to social media; and a “Scan” feature that can clean up photos of documents (i.e. sharpen text, flatten and fix the geometry, and remove folded corners or fingers). These can be useful, but there already are apps that exist that do these things. I suppose it’s nice they’re free and built-in.

I also don’t hate any of the new video recording features, like the dual recording mode that lets you record from both the front and rear cameras simultaneously in various layouts (side by side, split top and bottom, and picture in picture) and super steady recording with horizon lock, which keeps the horizon line straight. Again, none are particularly special, but it’s nice that they’re there when you might need them.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Review 43
© Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

It didn’t take long for me to fall in love with the Galaxy Z Fold 8. That’s just not something that happens often anymore. But fall in love with Samsung’s new foldable—I did. The Z Fold 8 is proof that great hardware still matters—and matters more than simply shoving in more AI features.

I like it more than the Z Fold 7 and the Z Fold 8 Ultra, mainly because its 4:3 inner screen makes consuming content a better and more fun experience than swiping on a long bar. One UI 9 is a very polished Android experience, and a feature like Quick Share, which lets you AirDrop files to Apple devices, is a game-changer. Anything that makes an Android phone work with Apple devices is a big plus to me.

There are still some minor things that people will find fault with, like the fact that Samsung has stuck with an IP48 rating for dust and water resistance instead of bumping that up higher to IP68 like Google did with the Pixel 10 Pro Fold or that Samsung didn’t bring back S Pen support. Neither omission makes the Z Fold 8 feel insufficient in my book. I’m not exposing the Z Fold 8 to harsh conditions and I have no attachment to a stylus.

Look, I get it: the Z Fold 8 is still expensive starting at $1,900. I don’t foresee the price of it coming down anytime soon. Samsung’s stuck to around $2,000 for its book-style foldables since the original Galaxy Fold. If you can justify the value of a larger screen experience, the Z Fold 8 is amazing in almost every aspect.

See Galaxy Z Fold 8 at Samsung

See Galaxy Z Fold 8 at Amazon

#Samsung #Galaxy #Fold #Review #Fun #Phone #AgesAndroid,foldables,mobile,Reviews,Samsung,Smartphones">Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Review: The Most Fun Phone in Ages Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 is the best phone (not just foldable) I’ve ever used for consuming content—watching videos, playing mobile games, reading, and yes, even doomscrolling social media—thanks to its 7.6-inch inner screen. The book-style foldable phone’s novel shape when closed may look strange at first, but I promise you that its shorter and wider footprint (when closed) quickly feels normal after a few days. The whole point of this form factor is to unfold it for its larger tablet-sized screen, and I can assure you that you’ll be doing that often because the experience encourages it more. See Galaxy Z Fold 8 at Samsung See Galaxy Z Fold 8 at Amazon More importantly, the Z Fold 8 has fewer of the compromises that held back Samsung’s previous foldable phones. The device is lighter and easier to unfold, the battery is bigger and lasts all day, and Samsung has greatly reduced the crease on the inner screen. Some apps still might not display correctly on both screens, but even so, I’m declaring the Z Fold 8 a home run. I can’t stop using it. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 The Galaxy Z Fold 8 is Samsung’s best version of a book-style foldable phone yet, even with its premium price. Thin and light Gorgeous AMOLED screens Crease is greatly reduced and flat All-day battery life with faster charging Solid cameras Easy to use with one hand Quick Share works with Apple AirDrop Inner hole punch camera can block content Can get warm for no reason Only IP48 rating No built-in magnet ring for wireless charging Some apps aren’t optimized properly © Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo The best size comparisons for the Z Fold 8 are a passport or a B7-sized notebook. The foldable measures 4.88 x 3.24 inches when it’s closed. It’s a few hairs thicker than the Z Fold 8 Ultra, but because of the squatter dimensions and lighter weight, the Z Fold 8 doesn’t feel unwieldy. I’m mostly able to reach corner to corner on the 5.5-inch AMOLED cover screen, something I haven’t been able to do on any “regular” (read: 6 to 6.9-inch) bar-style phone in years. It also fits in my front pants pockets better than expected; I had concerns that the width might be too wide. I guess if you’re already used to the width of an iPhone 17 Pro Max or a Galaxy S26 Ultra, the Z Fold 8’s only slightly wider. © Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo I’m able to reach the power button/fingerprint reader easily with my right thumb. Lefties might struggle since they can’t use their thumb and will have to register their index finger, which might be a little stretch to press the button, like it is for me. The volume rocker is a little high for me; I prefer its lower position on the Z Fold 7/Z Fold 8 Ultra. Typing with two hands on the cover screen is a much easier affair than on narrower phones; I made fewer typos compared to my iPhone. One-handed typing will depend on whether your hand is large enough and your thumb can stretch across the keyboard. © Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo © Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo © Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo © Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo The 10:16 aspect ratio of the cover screen is also not as cramped as it seems. You lose vertical space compared to most regular phones and taller foldables like the Z Fold 8 Ultra, which means apps will show less and you’ll need to scroll more, but that’s mostly a non-issue if you open the phone and rotate it to vertical orientation. I never found myself bothered that I couldn’t see enough on the cover screen. If anything, I appreciated the shorter screen more because I didn’t feel compelled to pull it out as much unless I wanted to unfold it. © Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo Like on the Z Fold 8 Ultra, you can use the Z Fold 8 in “tent” mode. This is great for propping up the device on a plane tray table or if you’re just too lazy to hold it up while in bed. I fly a lot for work, so tent mode is something I find very useful. A Z Fold 8 Ultra feature that you won’t find on the Z Fold 8 is “Flex mode.” On the Z Fold 8 Ultra, you can snap the screen so that it resembles a baby laptop, and some apps, like YouTube, will display the video above the crease and controls below it. I never found much utility for Flex mode on the previous Z Folds and I don’t miss it on the Z Fold 8. If that’s something you care about, get the Z Fold 8 Ultra instead. © Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo Out of all the book-style foldable phones I’ve tested over the past seven years, the Z Fold 8 is the only one that I have unfolded more times than I have not. With each generation of Z Fold, Samsung made the dimensions more like a regular bar-style phone. I heaped praise on the Z Fold 7 for finally ditching the previous skinny, remote-like shape. And even though I considered the Z Fold 7 my favorite Android phone of 2025, I realized that I only used its inner screen maybe less than 50% of the time I pulled it out. With the cover screen being normal-sized, there just wasn’t as much of a need to unfold it for the 8-inch screen. © Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo That hasn’t been the case with the Z Fold 8. Because of the shorter cover screen, I almost always unfold it to use the larger display. Maybe that’s because the Flex Titanium technology helps the hinge spring open better or the beveled aluminum frame makes it easier to unfold without needing fingernails, or both. Whatever the reasons are, it’s easier to see and feel the benefits of the larger size of the inner screen’s 4:3 aspect ratio for most content than on a more square-ish folding screen like the Z Fold 8 Ultra’s. To get roughly the same diagonal screen for widescreen videos on the Z Fold 8 Ultra, you need to rotate it, which is an extra step. It’s a tiny bit of friction that makes the task of quickly unfolding and getting more screen real estate less convenient. When you’re unfolding the phone dozens of times a day, that one extra step adds up. © Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo After two weeks of using the Z Fold 8 and Z Fold 8 Ultra, I’ve concluded that if you watch more videos and game more than you read, the Z Fold 8 is the better foldable since you won’t need to rotate it so much. If you do more reading and split-screen multitasking, the Z Fold 8 Ultra is more suitable since you’ll get more vertical display on both the cover and inner screens without rotating, and you’ll do less scrolling. © Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo I consume a ridiculous amount of content on a daily basis, so I find the 4:3 aspect ratio more versatile for my needs. In just two weeks, I watched, gamed, and read more on the Z Fold 8 than I have on any new phone I’ve ever tested. Videos look incredible on the 7.6-inch inner screen; 16:9 videos have minimal letterboxing (black bars) above and below them, and old content like many original anime series in 4:3 aspect ratio fill up the entire screen. I’ve never felt more informed and entertained from my phone. © Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo As with the Z Fold 8 Ultra, the Z Fold 8 lets you run three apps in split-screen layouts or four (with a pop-up) on the inner screen. I wouldn’t recommend running more than two apps side by side in landscape orientation. Three apps side by side make each app window very skinny, and one app on one side and two stacked on the other half feel squished. Split-screen apps in vertical orientation just look too long to be useful in most cases. In some split-screen layouts, Samsung’s One UI 9 does let you tap between split-screen apps to have it fill more or most of the screen, but it’s not a function that’s easy to discover. © Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo Performance from the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy chip is snappy and the 12GB of RAM on my 256GB review unit (you’ll get 16GB if you buy the 1TB model) never chugged when I threw Gemini and Galaxy AI tasks at it. The only thing that occasionally bugs me is that the Z Fold 8 gets toasty even when I’m not doing anything power-hungry. I suspect the super-thin design doesn’t leave much room for adequate thermals; there’s no vapor chamber for cooling like there is on the Galaxy S26 Ultra and iPhone 17 Pro. The inner screen has been a joy to use, especially on my 1-hour subway commute to and from work. And instead of reaching for my iPad mini in bed, the Z Fold 8 now fills the role instead. It’s great only having to charge one device. © Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo On the topic of charging, the Z Fold 8’s battery is rock solid, lasting me a full day even with heavy use of the inner screen. That’s not surprising since Samsung added a small percentage of silicon carbon into the 4,800mAh battery, which allows for the larger cell while maintaining a slim size. The 45W fast wired charging, with a compatible charger sold separately (of course), was more than quick enough to give me a recharge (around 0% to 65% in 30 minutes) whenever I was low on power. The Z Fold 8 also supports fast wireless charging at 20W, but I used it less compared to other phones like the iPhone 17 Pro or Pixel 10 Pro because Samsung still refuses to include built-in magnetic charging rings. You, again, need to buy a case with magnets to align the phone effortlessly with a Qi2 charger. © Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo The only blemish, literally, on the larger screen experience is the 10-megapixel hole-punch camera on the inner screen. It can obscure essential parts of a menu, buttons, or text depending on what you’re looking at. For example, in Asphalt Legends, I couldn’t see a menu button that the hole punch covered. The hole punch is most noticeable when reading long blocks of text or black and white manga. It makes more sense to put the camera in the corner since it can’t fit in a bezel like on a regular tablet. Other than that, I might nitpick the placement of the two stereo speakers. They’re located on the top and bottom of the cover screen, which makes them left-side oriented when the Z Fold 8 is unfolded. The speakers get loud enough, but because they’re both on the left in tablet mode, it almost sounds mono coming from one side. To be clear, these are stereo speakers. I get why Samsung might have designed it like this: the speakers fire out of the left and right in tent mode. Maybe put one speaker on each side for a balanced sound when it’s unfolded? © Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo As for the crease… It’s less visible for sure, but hasn’t been completely eliminated. Fresh out of the box, the inner screen is pristine and crease-free. Two weeks in, the crease has deepened with hundreds of folds and I can see it when the screen is off, but it doesn’t warp as much as it did on past Samsung foldables. I almost never notice it when I’m watching videos, gaming, or reading. Besides the reinforced titanium alloy film on top of the screen and the titanium plate underneath it to ensure it stays flatter to the touch over time, Samsung also added an anti-reflective layer to reduce glare, and it really does help. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: the crease may never be fully eliminated from folding screens. The best we can hope for may just be making it less visible. © Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo Depending on what you consider the Z Fold 8, either as the sequel to the Z Fold 7 or as a new class of foldables, the cameras will impress or disappoint. If viewed as a Z Fold 7 successor, the 50-megapixel main camera may feel like a downgrade from the previous 200-megapixel shooter. The 50-megapixel ultrawide on the Z Fold 8 will, however, be an upgrade from the Z Fold 7’s 12-megapixel one. You may also be upset it doesn’t have a telephoto lens. If you want triple rear cameras and more resolution for the main camera, Samsung sells the Z Fold 8 Ultra. I have no complaints with the dual 50-megapixel rear cameras and dual 10-megapixel hole-punch cameras on the Z Fold 8. I don’t think most people will care there’s no telephoto. You still get a 2x zoom that crops in on the 50-megapixel sensor and looks nearly optical-quality to me. This is similar to the virtual 2x “telephoto” that you’ll find on other phones and all recent iPhones that have larger main sensors. The 4x and 10x zooms on the Z Fold 8 are digital, though, and the fuzzier image quality shows. © Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo For everyday photos and videos, the Z Fold 8 cameras are good enough. Image quality looks vibrant and not overly saturated like it used to on Samsung phones and I think the HDR looks less processed compared to iPhone photos. Low-light shots look solid, too. If you’re the type of person who doesn’t want to spend too much or any time editing your photos, the Z Fold 8 photos are more than fine to post directly to social media. The Z Fold 8 is loaded with a bunch of AI editing features, like “Photo Assist,” which lets you describe an edit with text; “My FanCam,” which lets you motion-track a subject in a video and then crop it for different aspect ratios for posting to social media; and a “Scan” feature that can clean up photos of documents (i.e. sharpen text, flatten and fix the geometry, and remove folded corners or fingers). These can be useful, but there already are apps that exist that do these things. I suppose it’s nice they’re free and built-in. I also don’t hate any of the new video recording features, like the dual recording mode that lets you record from both the front and rear cameras simultaneously in various layouts (side by side, split top and bottom, and picture in picture) and super steady recording with horizon lock, which keeps the horizon line straight. Again, none are particularly special, but it’s nice that they’re there when you might need them. © Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo It didn’t take long for me to fall in love with the Galaxy Z Fold 8. That’s just not something that happens often anymore. But fall in love with Samsung’s new foldable—I did. The Z Fold 8 is proof that great hardware still matters—and matters more than simply shoving in more AI features. I like it more than the Z Fold 7 and the Z Fold 8 Ultra, mainly because its 4:3 inner screen makes consuming content a better and more fun experience than swiping on a long bar. One UI 9 is a very polished Android experience, and a feature like Quick Share, which lets you AirDrop files to Apple devices, is a game-changer. Anything that makes an Android phone work with Apple devices is a big plus to me. There are still some minor things that people will find fault with, like the fact that Samsung has stuck with an IP48 rating for dust and water resistance instead of bumping that up higher to IP68 like Google did with the Pixel 10 Pro Fold or that Samsung didn’t bring back S Pen support. Neither omission makes the Z Fold 8 feel insufficient in my book. I’m not exposing the Z Fold 8 to harsh conditions and I have no attachment to a stylus. Look, I get it: the Z Fold 8 is still expensive starting at ,900. I don’t foresee the price of it coming down anytime soon. Samsung’s stuck to around ,000 for its book-style foldables since the original Galaxy Fold. If you can justify the value of a larger screen experience, the Z Fold 8 is amazing in almost every aspect. See Galaxy Z Fold 8 at Samsung See Galaxy Z Fold 8 at Amazon #Samsung #Galaxy #Fold #Review #Fun #Phone #AgesAndroid,foldables,mobile,Reviews,Samsung,Smartphones

Galaxy Z Fold 8 is the best phone (not just foldable) I’ve ever used for consuming content—watching videos, playing mobile games, reading, and yes, even doomscrolling social media—thanks to its 7.6-inch inner screen.

The book-style foldable phone’s novel shape when closed may look strange at first, but I promise you that its shorter and wider footprint (when closed) quickly feels normal after a few days. The whole point of this form factor is to unfold it for its larger tablet-sized screen, and I can assure you that you’ll be doing that often because the experience encourages it more.

See Galaxy Z Fold 8 at Samsung

See Galaxy Z Fold 8 at Amazon

More importantly, the Z Fold 8 has fewer of the compromises that held back Samsung’s previous foldable phones. The device is lighter and easier to unfold, the battery is bigger and lasts all day, and Samsung has greatly reduced the crease on the inner screen.

Some apps still might not display correctly on both screens, but even so, I’m declaring the Z Fold 8 a home run. I can’t stop using it.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 is Samsung’s best version of a book-style foldable phone yet, even with its premium price.

  • Thin and light
  • Gorgeous AMOLED screens
  • Crease is greatly reduced and flat
  • All-day battery life with faster charging
  • Solid cameras
  • Easy to use with one hand
  • Quick Share works with Apple AirDrop
  • Inner hole punch camera can block content
  • Can get warm for no reason
  • Only IP48 rating
  • No built-in magnet ring for wireless charging
  • Some apps aren’t optimized properly
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Review 11
© Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

The best size comparisons for the Z Fold 8 are a passport or a B7-sized notebook. The foldable measures 4.88 x 3.24 inches when it’s closed. It’s a few hairs thicker than the Z Fold 8 Ultra, but because of the squatter dimensions and lighter weight, the Z Fold 8 doesn’t feel unwieldy. I’m mostly able to reach corner to corner on the 5.5-inch AMOLED cover screen, something I haven’t been able to do on any “regular” (read: 6 to 6.9-inch) bar-style phone in years.

It also fits in my front pants pockets better than expected; I had concerns that the width might be too wide. I guess if you’re already used to the width of an iPhone 17 Pro Max or a Galaxy S26 Ultra, the Z Fold 8’s only slightly wider.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Review 44
© Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

I’m able to reach the power button/fingerprint reader easily with my right thumb. Lefties might struggle since they can’t use their thumb and will have to register their index finger, which might be a little stretch to press the button, like it is for me. The volume rocker is a little high for me; I prefer its lower position on the Z Fold 7/Z Fold 8 Ultra. Typing with two hands on the cover screen is a much easier affair than on narrower phones; I made fewer typos compared to my iPhone. One-handed typing will depend on whether your hand is large enough and your thumb can stretch across the keyboard.

The 10:16 aspect ratio of the cover screen is also not as cramped as it seems. You lose vertical space compared to most regular phones and taller foldables like the Z Fold 8 Ultra, which means apps will show less and you’ll need to scroll more, but that’s mostly a non-issue if you open the phone and rotate it to vertical orientation. I never found myself bothered that I couldn’t see enough on the cover screen. If anything, I appreciated the shorter screen more because I didn’t feel compelled to pull it out as much unless I wanted to unfold it.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Review 9
© Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

Like on the Z Fold 8 Ultra, you can use the Z Fold 8 in “tent” mode. This is great for propping up the device on a plane tray table or if you’re just too lazy to hold it up while in bed. I fly a lot for work, so tent mode is something I find very useful. A Z Fold 8 Ultra feature that you won’t find on the Z Fold 8 is “Flex mode.” On the Z Fold 8 Ultra, you can snap the screen so that it resembles a baby laptop, and some apps, like YouTube, will display the video above the crease and controls below it. I never found much utility for Flex mode on the previous Z Folds and I don’t miss it on the Z Fold 8. If that’s something you care about, get the Z Fold 8 Ultra instead.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Review 25
© Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

Out of all the book-style foldable phones I’ve tested over the past seven years, the Z Fold 8 is the only one that I have unfolded more times than I have not. With each generation of Z Fold, Samsung made the dimensions more like a regular bar-style phone. I heaped praise on the Z Fold 7 for finally ditching the previous skinny, remote-like shape. And even though I considered the Z Fold 7 my favorite Android phone of 2025, I realized that I only used its inner screen maybe less than 50% of the time I pulled it out. With the cover screen being normal-sized, there just wasn’t as much of a need to unfold it for the 8-inch screen.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Review 12
© Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

That hasn’t been the case with the Z Fold 8. Because of the shorter cover screen, I almost always unfold it to use the larger display. Maybe that’s because the Flex Titanium technology helps the hinge spring open better or the beveled aluminum frame makes it easier to unfold without needing fingernails, or both. Whatever the reasons are, it’s easier to see and feel the benefits of the larger size of the inner screen’s 4:3 aspect ratio for most content than on a more square-ish folding screen like the Z Fold 8 Ultra’s. To get roughly the same diagonal screen for widescreen videos on the Z Fold 8 Ultra, you need to rotate it, which is an extra step. It’s a tiny bit of friction that makes the task of quickly unfolding and getting more screen real estate less convenient. When you’re unfolding the phone dozens of times a day, that one extra step adds up.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Review 8
© Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

After two weeks of using the Z Fold 8 and Z Fold 8 Ultra, I’ve concluded that if you watch more videos and game more than you read, the Z Fold 8 is the better foldable since you won’t need to rotate it so much. If you do more reading and split-screen multitasking, the Z Fold 8 Ultra is more suitable since you’ll get more vertical display on both the cover and inner screens without rotating, and you’ll do less scrolling.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Review 5
© Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

I consume a ridiculous amount of content on a daily basis, so I find the 4:3 aspect ratio more versatile for my needs. In just two weeks, I watched, gamed, and read more on the Z Fold 8 than I have on any new phone I’ve ever tested. Videos look incredible on the 7.6-inch inner screen; 16:9 videos have minimal letterboxing (black bars) above and below them, and old content like many original anime series in 4:3 aspect ratio fill up the entire screen. I’ve never felt more informed and entertained from my phone.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Review 19
© Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

As with the Z Fold 8 Ultra, the Z Fold 8 lets you run three apps in split-screen layouts or four (with a pop-up) on the inner screen. I wouldn’t recommend running more than two apps side by side in landscape orientation. Three apps side by side make each app window very skinny, and one app on one side and two stacked on the other half feel squished. Split-screen apps in vertical orientation just look too long to be useful in most cases. In some split-screen layouts, Samsung’s One UI 9 does let you tap between split-screen apps to have it fill more or most of the screen, but it’s not a function that’s easy to discover.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Review 14
© Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

Performance from the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy chip is snappy and the 12GB of RAM on my 256GB review unit (you’ll get 16GB if you buy the 1TB model) never chugged when I threw Gemini and Galaxy AI tasks at it. The only thing that occasionally bugs me is that the Z Fold 8 gets toasty even when I’m not doing anything power-hungry. I suspect the super-thin design doesn’t leave much room for adequate thermals; there’s no vapor chamber for cooling like there is on the Galaxy S26 Ultra and iPhone 17 Pro.

The inner screen has been a joy to use, especially on my 1-hour subway commute to and from work. And instead of reaching for my iPad mini in bed, the Z Fold 8 now fills the role instead. It’s great only having to charge one device.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Review 17
© Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

On the topic of charging, the Z Fold 8’s battery is rock solid, lasting me a full day even with heavy use of the inner screen. That’s not surprising since Samsung added a small percentage of silicon carbon into the 4,800mAh battery, which allows for the larger cell while maintaining a slim size. The 45W fast wired charging, with a compatible charger sold separately (of course), was more than quick enough to give me a recharge (around 0% to 65% in 30 minutes) whenever I was low on power. The Z Fold 8 also supports fast wireless charging at 20W, but I used it less compared to other phones like the iPhone 17 Pro or Pixel 10 Pro because Samsung still refuses to include built-in magnetic charging rings. You, again, need to buy a case with magnets to align the phone effortlessly with a Qi2 charger.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Review 6
© Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

The only blemish, literally, on the larger screen experience is the 10-megapixel hole-punch camera on the inner screen. It can obscure essential parts of a menu, buttons, or text depending on what you’re looking at. For example, in Asphalt Legends, I couldn’t see a menu button that the hole punch covered. The hole punch is most noticeable when reading long blocks of text or black and white manga. It makes more sense to put the camera in the corner since it can’t fit in a bezel like on a regular tablet.

Other than that, I might nitpick the placement of the two stereo speakers. They’re located on the top and bottom of the cover screen, which makes them left-side oriented when the Z Fold 8 is unfolded. The speakers get loud enough, but because they’re both on the left in tablet mode, it almost sounds mono coming from one side. To be clear, these are stereo speakers. I get why Samsung might have designed it like this: the speakers fire out of the left and right in tent mode. Maybe put one speaker on each side for a balanced sound when it’s unfolded?

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Review 4
© Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

As for the crease… It’s less visible for sure, but hasn’t been completely eliminated. Fresh out of the box, the inner screen is pristine and crease-free. Two weeks in, the crease has deepened with hundreds of folds and I can see it when the screen is off, but it doesn’t warp as much as it did on past Samsung foldables. I almost never notice it when I’m watching videos, gaming, or reading. Besides the reinforced titanium alloy film on top of the screen and the titanium plate underneath it to ensure it stays flatter to the touch over time, Samsung also added an anti-reflective layer to reduce glare, and it really does help. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: the crease may never be fully eliminated from folding screens. The best we can hope for may just be making it less visible.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Review 50
© Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

Depending on what you consider the Z Fold 8, either as the sequel to the Z Fold 7 or as a new class of foldables, the cameras will impress or disappoint. If viewed as a Z Fold 7 successor, the 50-megapixel main camera may feel like a downgrade from the previous 200-megapixel shooter. The 50-megapixel ultrawide on the Z Fold 8 will, however, be an upgrade from the Z Fold 7’s 12-megapixel one. You may also be upset it doesn’t have a telephoto lens.

If you want triple rear cameras and more resolution for the main camera, Samsung sells the Z Fold 8 Ultra. I have no complaints with the dual 50-megapixel rear cameras and dual 10-megapixel hole-punch cameras on the Z Fold 8. I don’t think most people will care there’s no telephoto. You still get a 2x zoom that crops in on the 50-megapixel sensor and looks nearly optical-quality to me. This is similar to the virtual 2x “telephoto” that you’ll find on other phones and all recent iPhones that have larger main sensors. The 4x and 10x zooms on the Z Fold 8 are digital, though, and the fuzzier image quality shows.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Review 52
© Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

For everyday photos and videos, the Z Fold 8 cameras are good enough. Image quality looks vibrant and not overly saturated like it used to on Samsung phones and I think the HDR looks less processed compared to iPhone photos. Low-light shots look solid, too. If you’re the type of person who doesn’t want to spend too much or any time editing your photos, the Z Fold 8 photos are more than fine to post directly to social media.

The Z Fold 8 is loaded with a bunch of AI editing features, like “Photo Assist,” which lets you describe an edit with text; “My FanCam,” which lets you motion-track a subject in a video and then crop it for different aspect ratios for posting to social media; and a “Scan” feature that can clean up photos of documents (i.e. sharpen text, flatten and fix the geometry, and remove folded corners or fingers). These can be useful, but there already are apps that exist that do these things. I suppose it’s nice they’re free and built-in.

I also don’t hate any of the new video recording features, like the dual recording mode that lets you record from both the front and rear cameras simultaneously in various layouts (side by side, split top and bottom, and picture in picture) and super steady recording with horizon lock, which keeps the horizon line straight. Again, none are particularly special, but it’s nice that they’re there when you might need them.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Review 43
© Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

It didn’t take long for me to fall in love with the Galaxy Z Fold 8. That’s just not something that happens often anymore. But fall in love with Samsung’s new foldable—I did. The Z Fold 8 is proof that great hardware still matters—and matters more than simply shoving in more AI features.

I like it more than the Z Fold 7 and the Z Fold 8 Ultra, mainly because its 4:3 inner screen makes consuming content a better and more fun experience than swiping on a long bar. One UI 9 is a very polished Android experience, and a feature like Quick Share, which lets you AirDrop files to Apple devices, is a game-changer. Anything that makes an Android phone work with Apple devices is a big plus to me.

There are still some minor things that people will find fault with, like the fact that Samsung has stuck with an IP48 rating for dust and water resistance instead of bumping that up higher to IP68 like Google did with the Pixel 10 Pro Fold or that Samsung didn’t bring back S Pen support. Neither omission makes the Z Fold 8 feel insufficient in my book. I’m not exposing the Z Fold 8 to harsh conditions and I have no attachment to a stylus.

Look, I get it: the Z Fold 8 is still expensive starting at $1,900. I don’t foresee the price of it coming down anytime soon. Samsung’s stuck to around $2,000 for its book-style foldables since the original Galaxy Fold. If you can justify the value of a larger screen experience, the Z Fold 8 is amazing in almost every aspect.

See Galaxy Z Fold 8 at Samsung

See Galaxy Z Fold 8 at Amazon

#Samsung #Galaxy #Fold #Review #Fun #Phone #AgesAndroid,foldables,mobile,Reviews,Samsung,Smartphones">Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Review: The Most Fun Phone in Ages
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Review: The Most Fun Phone in Ages Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 is the best phone (not just foldable) I’ve ever used for consuming content—watching videos, playing mobile games, reading, and yes, even doomscrolling social media—thanks to its 7.6-inch inner screen. The book-style foldable phone’s novel shape when closed may look strange at first, but I promise you that its shorter and wider footprint (when closed) quickly feels normal after a few days. The whole point of this form factor is to unfold it for its larger tablet-sized screen, and I can assure you that you’ll be doing that often because the experience encourages it more. See Galaxy Z Fold 8 at Samsung See Galaxy Z Fold 8 at Amazon More importantly, the Z Fold 8 has fewer of the compromises that held back Samsung’s previous foldable phones. The device is lighter and easier to unfold, the battery is bigger and lasts all day, and Samsung has greatly reduced the crease on the inner screen. Some apps still might not display correctly on both screens, but even so, I’m declaring the Z Fold 8 a home run. I can’t stop using it. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 The Galaxy Z Fold 8 is Samsung’s best version of a book-style foldable phone yet, even with its premium price. Thin and light Gorgeous AMOLED screens Crease is greatly reduced and flat All-day battery life with faster charging Solid cameras Easy to use with one hand Quick Share works with Apple AirDrop Inner hole punch camera can block content Can get warm for no reason Only IP48 rating No built-in magnet ring for wireless charging Some apps aren’t optimized properly © Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo The best size comparisons for the Z Fold 8 are a passport or a B7-sized notebook. The foldable measures 4.88 x 3.24 inches when it’s closed. It’s a few hairs thicker than the Z Fold 8 Ultra, but because of the squatter dimensions and lighter weight, the Z Fold 8 doesn’t feel unwieldy. I’m mostly able to reach corner to corner on the 5.5-inch AMOLED cover screen, something I haven’t been able to do on any “regular” (read: 6 to 6.9-inch) bar-style phone in years. It also fits in my front pants pockets better than expected; I had concerns that the width might be too wide. I guess if you’re already used to the width of an iPhone 17 Pro Max or a Galaxy S26 Ultra, the Z Fold 8’s only slightly wider. © Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo I’m able to reach the power button/fingerprint reader easily with my right thumb. Lefties might struggle since they can’t use their thumb and will have to register their index finger, which might be a little stretch to press the button, like it is for me. The volume rocker is a little high for me; I prefer its lower position on the Z Fold 7/Z Fold 8 Ultra. Typing with two hands on the cover screen is a much easier affair than on narrower phones; I made fewer typos compared to my iPhone. One-handed typing will depend on whether your hand is large enough and your thumb can stretch across the keyboard. © Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo © Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo © Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo © Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo The 10:16 aspect ratio of the cover screen is also not as cramped as it seems. You lose vertical space compared to most regular phones and taller foldables like the Z Fold 8 Ultra, which means apps will show less and you’ll need to scroll more, but that’s mostly a non-issue if you open the phone and rotate it to vertical orientation. I never found myself bothered that I couldn’t see enough on the cover screen. If anything, I appreciated the shorter screen more because I didn’t feel compelled to pull it out as much unless I wanted to unfold it. © Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo Like on the Z Fold 8 Ultra, you can use the Z Fold 8 in “tent” mode. This is great for propping up the device on a plane tray table or if you’re just too lazy to hold it up while in bed. I fly a lot for work, so tent mode is something I find very useful. A Z Fold 8 Ultra feature that you won’t find on the Z Fold 8 is “Flex mode.” On the Z Fold 8 Ultra, you can snap the screen so that it resembles a baby laptop, and some apps, like YouTube, will display the video above the crease and controls below it. I never found much utility for Flex mode on the previous Z Folds and I don’t miss it on the Z Fold 8. If that’s something you care about, get the Z Fold 8 Ultra instead. © Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo Out of all the book-style foldable phones I’ve tested over the past seven years, the Z Fold 8 is the only one that I have unfolded more times than I have not. With each generation of Z Fold, Samsung made the dimensions more like a regular bar-style phone. I heaped praise on the Z Fold 7 for finally ditching the previous skinny, remote-like shape. And even though I considered the Z Fold 7 my favorite Android phone of 2025, I realized that I only used its inner screen maybe less than 50% of the time I pulled it out. With the cover screen being normal-sized, there just wasn’t as much of a need to unfold it for the 8-inch screen. © Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo That hasn’t been the case with the Z Fold 8. Because of the shorter cover screen, I almost always unfold it to use the larger display. Maybe that’s because the Flex Titanium technology helps the hinge spring open better or the beveled aluminum frame makes it easier to unfold without needing fingernails, or both. Whatever the reasons are, it’s easier to see and feel the benefits of the larger size of the inner screen’s 4:3 aspect ratio for most content than on a more square-ish folding screen like the Z Fold 8 Ultra’s. To get roughly the same diagonal screen for widescreen videos on the Z Fold 8 Ultra, you need to rotate it, which is an extra step. It’s a tiny bit of friction that makes the task of quickly unfolding and getting more screen real estate less convenient. When you’re unfolding the phone dozens of times a day, that one extra step adds up. © Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo After two weeks of using the Z Fold 8 and Z Fold 8 Ultra, I’ve concluded that if you watch more videos and game more than you read, the Z Fold 8 is the better foldable since you won’t need to rotate it so much. If you do more reading and split-screen multitasking, the Z Fold 8 Ultra is more suitable since you’ll get more vertical display on both the cover and inner screens without rotating, and you’ll do less scrolling. © Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo I consume a ridiculous amount of content on a daily basis, so I find the 4:3 aspect ratio more versatile for my needs. In just two weeks, I watched, gamed, and read more on the Z Fold 8 than I have on any new phone I’ve ever tested. Videos look incredible on the 7.6-inch inner screen; 16:9 videos have minimal letterboxing (black bars) above and below them, and old content like many original anime series in 4:3 aspect ratio fill up the entire screen. I’ve never felt more informed and entertained from my phone. © Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo As with the Z Fold 8 Ultra, the Z Fold 8 lets you run three apps in split-screen layouts or four (with a pop-up) on the inner screen. I wouldn’t recommend running more than two apps side by side in landscape orientation. Three apps side by side make each app window very skinny, and one app on one side and two stacked on the other half feel squished. Split-screen apps in vertical orientation just look too long to be useful in most cases. In some split-screen layouts, Samsung’s One UI 9 does let you tap between split-screen apps to have it fill more or most of the screen, but it’s not a function that’s easy to discover. © Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo Performance from the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy chip is snappy and the 12GB of RAM on my 256GB review unit (you’ll get 16GB if you buy the 1TB model) never chugged when I threw Gemini and Galaxy AI tasks at it. The only thing that occasionally bugs me is that the Z Fold 8 gets toasty even when I’m not doing anything power-hungry. I suspect the super-thin design doesn’t leave much room for adequate thermals; there’s no vapor chamber for cooling like there is on the Galaxy S26 Ultra and iPhone 17 Pro. The inner screen has been a joy to use, especially on my 1-hour subway commute to and from work. And instead of reaching for my iPad mini in bed, the Z Fold 8 now fills the role instead. It’s great only having to charge one device. © Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo On the topic of charging, the Z Fold 8’s battery is rock solid, lasting me a full day even with heavy use of the inner screen. That’s not surprising since Samsung added a small percentage of silicon carbon into the 4,800mAh battery, which allows for the larger cell while maintaining a slim size. The 45W fast wired charging, with a compatible charger sold separately (of course), was more than quick enough to give me a recharge (around 0% to 65% in 30 minutes) whenever I was low on power. The Z Fold 8 also supports fast wireless charging at 20W, but I used it less compared to other phones like the iPhone 17 Pro or Pixel 10 Pro because Samsung still refuses to include built-in magnetic charging rings. You, again, need to buy a case with magnets to align the phone effortlessly with a Qi2 charger. © Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo The only blemish, literally, on the larger screen experience is the 10-megapixel hole-punch camera on the inner screen. It can obscure essential parts of a menu, buttons, or text depending on what you’re looking at. For example, in Asphalt Legends, I couldn’t see a menu button that the hole punch covered. The hole punch is most noticeable when reading long blocks of text or black and white manga. It makes more sense to put the camera in the corner since it can’t fit in a bezel like on a regular tablet. Other than that, I might nitpick the placement of the two stereo speakers. They’re located on the top and bottom of the cover screen, which makes them left-side oriented when the Z Fold 8 is unfolded. The speakers get loud enough, but because they’re both on the left in tablet mode, it almost sounds mono coming from one side. To be clear, these are stereo speakers. I get why Samsung might have designed it like this: the speakers fire out of the left and right in tent mode. Maybe put one speaker on each side for a balanced sound when it’s unfolded? © Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo As for the crease… It’s less visible for sure, but hasn’t been completely eliminated. Fresh out of the box, the inner screen is pristine and crease-free. Two weeks in, the crease has deepened with hundreds of folds and I can see it when the screen is off, but it doesn’t warp as much as it did on past Samsung foldables. I almost never notice it when I’m watching videos, gaming, or reading. Besides the reinforced titanium alloy film on top of the screen and the titanium plate underneath it to ensure it stays flatter to the touch over time, Samsung also added an anti-reflective layer to reduce glare, and it really does help. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: the crease may never be fully eliminated from folding screens. The best we can hope for may just be making it less visible. © Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo Depending on what you consider the Z Fold 8, either as the sequel to the Z Fold 7 or as a new class of foldables, the cameras will impress or disappoint. If viewed as a Z Fold 7 successor, the 50-megapixel main camera may feel like a downgrade from the previous 200-megapixel shooter. The 50-megapixel ultrawide on the Z Fold 8 will, however, be an upgrade from the Z Fold 7’s 12-megapixel one. You may also be upset it doesn’t have a telephoto lens. If you want triple rear cameras and more resolution for the main camera, Samsung sells the Z Fold 8 Ultra. I have no complaints with the dual 50-megapixel rear cameras and dual 10-megapixel hole-punch cameras on the Z Fold 8. I don’t think most people will care there’s no telephoto. You still get a 2x zoom that crops in on the 50-megapixel sensor and looks nearly optical-quality to me. This is similar to the virtual 2x “telephoto” that you’ll find on other phones and all recent iPhones that have larger main sensors. The 4x and 10x zooms on the Z Fold 8 are digital, though, and the fuzzier image quality shows. © Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo For everyday photos and videos, the Z Fold 8 cameras are good enough. Image quality looks vibrant and not overly saturated like it used to on Samsung phones and I think the HDR looks less processed compared to iPhone photos. Low-light shots look solid, too. If you’re the type of person who doesn’t want to spend too much or any time editing your photos, the Z Fold 8 photos are more than fine to post directly to social media. The Z Fold 8 is loaded with a bunch of AI editing features, like “Photo Assist,” which lets you describe an edit with text; “My FanCam,” which lets you motion-track a subject in a video and then crop it for different aspect ratios for posting to social media; and a “Scan” feature that can clean up photos of documents (i.e. sharpen text, flatten and fix the geometry, and remove folded corners or fingers). These can be useful, but there already are apps that exist that do these things. I suppose it’s nice they’re free and built-in. I also don’t hate any of the new video recording features, like the dual recording mode that lets you record from both the front and rear cameras simultaneously in various layouts (side by side, split top and bottom, and picture in picture) and super steady recording with horizon lock, which keeps the horizon line straight. Again, none are particularly special, but it’s nice that they’re there when you might need them. © Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo It didn’t take long for me to fall in love with the Galaxy Z Fold 8. That’s just not something that happens often anymore. But fall in love with Samsung’s new foldable—I did. The Z Fold 8 is proof that great hardware still matters—and matters more than simply shoving in more AI features. I like it more than the Z Fold 7 and the Z Fold 8 Ultra, mainly because its 4:3 inner screen makes consuming content a better and more fun experience than swiping on a long bar. One UI 9 is a very polished Android experience, and a feature like Quick Share, which lets you AirDrop files to Apple devices, is a game-changer. Anything that makes an Android phone work with Apple devices is a big plus to me. There are still some minor things that people will find fault with, like the fact that Samsung has stuck with an IP48 rating for dust and water resistance instead of bumping that up higher to IP68 like Google did with the Pixel 10 Pro Fold or that Samsung didn’t bring back S Pen support. Neither omission makes the Z Fold 8 feel insufficient in my book. I’m not exposing the Z Fold 8 to harsh conditions and I have no attachment to a stylus. Look, I get it: the Z Fold 8 is still expensive starting at ,900. I don’t foresee the price of it coming down anytime soon. Samsung’s stuck to around ,000 for its book-style foldables since the original Galaxy Fold. If you can justify the value of a larger screen experience, the Z Fold 8 is amazing in almost every aspect. See Galaxy Z Fold 8 at Samsung See Galaxy Z Fold 8 at Amazon #Samsung #Galaxy #Fold #Review #Fun #Phone #AgesAndroid,foldables,mobile,Reviews,Samsung,Smartphones

Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 is the best phone (not just foldable) I’ve ever used for consuming content—watching videos, playing mobile games, reading, and yes, even doomscrolling social media—thanks to its 7.6-inch inner screen.

The book-style foldable phone’s novel shape when closed may look strange at first, but I promise you that its shorter and wider footprint (when closed) quickly feels normal after a few days. The whole point of this form factor is to unfold it for its larger tablet-sized screen, and I can assure you that you’ll be doing that often because the experience encourages it more.

See Galaxy Z Fold 8 at Samsung

See Galaxy Z Fold 8 at Amazon

More importantly, the Z Fold 8 has fewer of the compromises that held back Samsung’s previous foldable phones. The device is lighter and easier to unfold, the battery is bigger and lasts all day, and Samsung has greatly reduced the crease on the inner screen.

Some apps still might not display correctly on both screens, but even so, I’m declaring the Z Fold 8 a home run. I can’t stop using it.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 is Samsung’s best version of a book-style foldable phone yet, even with its premium price.

  • Thin and light
  • Gorgeous AMOLED screens
  • Crease is greatly reduced and flat
  • All-day battery life with faster charging
  • Solid cameras
  • Easy to use with one hand
  • Quick Share works with Apple AirDrop
  • Inner hole punch camera can block content
  • Can get warm for no reason
  • Only IP48 rating
  • No built-in magnet ring for wireless charging
  • Some apps aren’t optimized properly
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Review 11
© Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

The best size comparisons for the Z Fold 8 are a passport or a B7-sized notebook. The foldable measures 4.88 x 3.24 inches when it’s closed. It’s a few hairs thicker than the Z Fold 8 Ultra, but because of the squatter dimensions and lighter weight, the Z Fold 8 doesn’t feel unwieldy. I’m mostly able to reach corner to corner on the 5.5-inch AMOLED cover screen, something I haven’t been able to do on any “regular” (read: 6 to 6.9-inch) bar-style phone in years.

It also fits in my front pants pockets better than expected; I had concerns that the width might be too wide. I guess if you’re already used to the width of an iPhone 17 Pro Max or a Galaxy S26 Ultra, the Z Fold 8’s only slightly wider.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Review 44
© Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

I’m able to reach the power button/fingerprint reader easily with my right thumb. Lefties might struggle since they can’t use their thumb and will have to register their index finger, which might be a little stretch to press the button, like it is for me. The volume rocker is a little high for me; I prefer its lower position on the Z Fold 7/Z Fold 8 Ultra. Typing with two hands on the cover screen is a much easier affair than on narrower phones; I made fewer typos compared to my iPhone. One-handed typing will depend on whether your hand is large enough and your thumb can stretch across the keyboard.

The 10:16 aspect ratio of the cover screen is also not as cramped as it seems. You lose vertical space compared to most regular phones and taller foldables like the Z Fold 8 Ultra, which means apps will show less and you’ll need to scroll more, but that’s mostly a non-issue if you open the phone and rotate it to vertical orientation. I never found myself bothered that I couldn’t see enough on the cover screen. If anything, I appreciated the shorter screen more because I didn’t feel compelled to pull it out as much unless I wanted to unfold it.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Review 9
© Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

Like on the Z Fold 8 Ultra, you can use the Z Fold 8 in “tent” mode. This is great for propping up the device on a plane tray table or if you’re just too lazy to hold it up while in bed. I fly a lot for work, so tent mode is something I find very useful. A Z Fold 8 Ultra feature that you won’t find on the Z Fold 8 is “Flex mode.” On the Z Fold 8 Ultra, you can snap the screen so that it resembles a baby laptop, and some apps, like YouTube, will display the video above the crease and controls below it. I never found much utility for Flex mode on the previous Z Folds and I don’t miss it on the Z Fold 8. If that’s something you care about, get the Z Fold 8 Ultra instead.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Review 25
© Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

Out of all the book-style foldable phones I’ve tested over the past seven years, the Z Fold 8 is the only one that I have unfolded more times than I have not. With each generation of Z Fold, Samsung made the dimensions more like a regular bar-style phone. I heaped praise on the Z Fold 7 for finally ditching the previous skinny, remote-like shape. And even though I considered the Z Fold 7 my favorite Android phone of 2025, I realized that I only used its inner screen maybe less than 50% of the time I pulled it out. With the cover screen being normal-sized, there just wasn’t as much of a need to unfold it for the 8-inch screen.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Review 12
© Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

That hasn’t been the case with the Z Fold 8. Because of the shorter cover screen, I almost always unfold it to use the larger display. Maybe that’s because the Flex Titanium technology helps the hinge spring open better or the beveled aluminum frame makes it easier to unfold without needing fingernails, or both. Whatever the reasons are, it’s easier to see and feel the benefits of the larger size of the inner screen’s 4:3 aspect ratio for most content than on a more square-ish folding screen like the Z Fold 8 Ultra’s. To get roughly the same diagonal screen for widescreen videos on the Z Fold 8 Ultra, you need to rotate it, which is an extra step. It’s a tiny bit of friction that makes the task of quickly unfolding and getting more screen real estate less convenient. When you’re unfolding the phone dozens of times a day, that one extra step adds up.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Review 8
© Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

After two weeks of using the Z Fold 8 and Z Fold 8 Ultra, I’ve concluded that if you watch more videos and game more than you read, the Z Fold 8 is the better foldable since you won’t need to rotate it so much. If you do more reading and split-screen multitasking, the Z Fold 8 Ultra is more suitable since you’ll get more vertical display on both the cover and inner screens without rotating, and you’ll do less scrolling.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Review 5
© Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

I consume a ridiculous amount of content on a daily basis, so I find the 4:3 aspect ratio more versatile for my needs. In just two weeks, I watched, gamed, and read more on the Z Fold 8 than I have on any new phone I’ve ever tested. Videos look incredible on the 7.6-inch inner screen; 16:9 videos have minimal letterboxing (black bars) above and below them, and old content like many original anime series in 4:3 aspect ratio fill up the entire screen. I’ve never felt more informed and entertained from my phone.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Review 19
© Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

As with the Z Fold 8 Ultra, the Z Fold 8 lets you run three apps in split-screen layouts or four (with a pop-up) on the inner screen. I wouldn’t recommend running more than two apps side by side in landscape orientation. Three apps side by side make each app window very skinny, and one app on one side and two stacked on the other half feel squished. Split-screen apps in vertical orientation just look too long to be useful in most cases. In some split-screen layouts, Samsung’s One UI 9 does let you tap between split-screen apps to have it fill more or most of the screen, but it’s not a function that’s easy to discover.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Review 14
© Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

Performance from the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy chip is snappy and the 12GB of RAM on my 256GB review unit (you’ll get 16GB if you buy the 1TB model) never chugged when I threw Gemini and Galaxy AI tasks at it. The only thing that occasionally bugs me is that the Z Fold 8 gets toasty even when I’m not doing anything power-hungry. I suspect the super-thin design doesn’t leave much room for adequate thermals; there’s no vapor chamber for cooling like there is on the Galaxy S26 Ultra and iPhone 17 Pro.

The inner screen has been a joy to use, especially on my 1-hour subway commute to and from work. And instead of reaching for my iPad mini in bed, the Z Fold 8 now fills the role instead. It’s great only having to charge one device.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Review 17
© Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

On the topic of charging, the Z Fold 8’s battery is rock solid, lasting me a full day even with heavy use of the inner screen. That’s not surprising since Samsung added a small percentage of silicon carbon into the 4,800mAh battery, which allows for the larger cell while maintaining a slim size. The 45W fast wired charging, with a compatible charger sold separately (of course), was more than quick enough to give me a recharge (around 0% to 65% in 30 minutes) whenever I was low on power. The Z Fold 8 also supports fast wireless charging at 20W, but I used it less compared to other phones like the iPhone 17 Pro or Pixel 10 Pro because Samsung still refuses to include built-in magnetic charging rings. You, again, need to buy a case with magnets to align the phone effortlessly with a Qi2 charger.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Review 6
© Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

The only blemish, literally, on the larger screen experience is the 10-megapixel hole-punch camera on the inner screen. It can obscure essential parts of a menu, buttons, or text depending on what you’re looking at. For example, in Asphalt Legends, I couldn’t see a menu button that the hole punch covered. The hole punch is most noticeable when reading long blocks of text or black and white manga. It makes more sense to put the camera in the corner since it can’t fit in a bezel like on a regular tablet.

Other than that, I might nitpick the placement of the two stereo speakers. They’re located on the top and bottom of the cover screen, which makes them left-side oriented when the Z Fold 8 is unfolded. The speakers get loud enough, but because they’re both on the left in tablet mode, it almost sounds mono coming from one side. To be clear, these are stereo speakers. I get why Samsung might have designed it like this: the speakers fire out of the left and right in tent mode. Maybe put one speaker on each side for a balanced sound when it’s unfolded?

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Review 4
© Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

As for the crease… It’s less visible for sure, but hasn’t been completely eliminated. Fresh out of the box, the inner screen is pristine and crease-free. Two weeks in, the crease has deepened with hundreds of folds and I can see it when the screen is off, but it doesn’t warp as much as it did on past Samsung foldables. I almost never notice it when I’m watching videos, gaming, or reading. Besides the reinforced titanium alloy film on top of the screen and the titanium plate underneath it to ensure it stays flatter to the touch over time, Samsung also added an anti-reflective layer to reduce glare, and it really does help. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: the crease may never be fully eliminated from folding screens. The best we can hope for may just be making it less visible.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Review 50
© Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

Depending on what you consider the Z Fold 8, either as the sequel to the Z Fold 7 or as a new class of foldables, the cameras will impress or disappoint. If viewed as a Z Fold 7 successor, the 50-megapixel main camera may feel like a downgrade from the previous 200-megapixel shooter. The 50-megapixel ultrawide on the Z Fold 8 will, however, be an upgrade from the Z Fold 7’s 12-megapixel one. You may also be upset it doesn’t have a telephoto lens.

If you want triple rear cameras and more resolution for the main camera, Samsung sells the Z Fold 8 Ultra. I have no complaints with the dual 50-megapixel rear cameras and dual 10-megapixel hole-punch cameras on the Z Fold 8. I don’t think most people will care there’s no telephoto. You still get a 2x zoom that crops in on the 50-megapixel sensor and looks nearly optical-quality to me. This is similar to the virtual 2x “telephoto” that you’ll find on other phones and all recent iPhones that have larger main sensors. The 4x and 10x zooms on the Z Fold 8 are digital, though, and the fuzzier image quality shows.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Review 52
© Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

For everyday photos and videos, the Z Fold 8 cameras are good enough. Image quality looks vibrant and not overly saturated like it used to on Samsung phones and I think the HDR looks less processed compared to iPhone photos. Low-light shots look solid, too. If you’re the type of person who doesn’t want to spend too much or any time editing your photos, the Z Fold 8 photos are more than fine to post directly to social media.

The Z Fold 8 is loaded with a bunch of AI editing features, like “Photo Assist,” which lets you describe an edit with text; “My FanCam,” which lets you motion-track a subject in a video and then crop it for different aspect ratios for posting to social media; and a “Scan” feature that can clean up photos of documents (i.e. sharpen text, flatten and fix the geometry, and remove folded corners or fingers). These can be useful, but there already are apps that exist that do these things. I suppose it’s nice they’re free and built-in.

I also don’t hate any of the new video recording features, like the dual recording mode that lets you record from both the front and rear cameras simultaneously in various layouts (side by side, split top and bottom, and picture in picture) and super steady recording with horizon lock, which keeps the horizon line straight. Again, none are particularly special, but it’s nice that they’re there when you might need them.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Review 43
© Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo

It didn’t take long for me to fall in love with the Galaxy Z Fold 8. That’s just not something that happens often anymore. But fall in love with Samsung’s new foldable—I did. The Z Fold 8 is proof that great hardware still matters—and matters more than simply shoving in more AI features.

I like it more than the Z Fold 7 and the Z Fold 8 Ultra, mainly because its 4:3 inner screen makes consuming content a better and more fun experience than swiping on a long bar. One UI 9 is a very polished Android experience, and a feature like Quick Share, which lets you AirDrop files to Apple devices, is a game-changer. Anything that makes an Android phone work with Apple devices is a big plus to me.

There are still some minor things that people will find fault with, like the fact that Samsung has stuck with an IP48 rating for dust and water resistance instead of bumping that up higher to IP68 like Google did with the Pixel 10 Pro Fold or that Samsung didn’t bring back S Pen support. Neither omission makes the Z Fold 8 feel insufficient in my book. I’m not exposing the Z Fold 8 to harsh conditions and I have no attachment to a stylus.

Look, I get it: the Z Fold 8 is still expensive starting at $1,900. I don’t foresee the price of it coming down anytime soon. Samsung’s stuck to around $2,000 for its book-style foldables since the original Galaxy Fold. If you can justify the value of a larger screen experience, the Z Fold 8 is amazing in almost every aspect.

See Galaxy Z Fold 8 at Samsung

See Galaxy Z Fold 8 at Amazon

#Samsung #Galaxy #Fold #Review #Fun #Phone #AgesAndroid,foldables,mobile,Reviews,Samsung,Smartphones

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