I’ve spent more time with the Galaxy Z Flip 7 than any other phone in the last year. That’s saying a lot for Samsung’s flip-style phone because it is undoubtedly worthy of being called the best foldable phone around, beating out other distinguished models like the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Pixel 10 Pro Fold. In fact, it’s been so good that I’ve made it my daily driver for the past 8 months.
When you review as many of the best phones as I do, holding onto a device for that long is rare — but there’s still room for improvement. Summertime is typically when Samsung holds its Galaxy Unpacked event specifically for its foldable devices, and there’s a very good chance that the Galaxy Z Flip 8 will be part of the reveal.
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Longer battery life
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide / John Velasco)
Topping my list of improvements for the Galaxy Z Flip 8 is the biggest shortcoming I’ve experienced with the Galaxy Z Flip 7: its battery life. While it’s actually not too bad —getting me through a workday with ease — the performance needs to step up.
In our battery benchmark test, the Z Flip 7 clocked an average time of 12 hours and 24 minutes. Even though that’s better than the average phone, it trails the Motorola Razr Ultra 2025’s superior time of 15 hours and 42 minutes. Considering that Moto has opted for a future-proof silicon-carbon battery for its 2026 version, Samsung can’t afford to stick with the same old lithium-ion battery.
Samsung currently doesn’t use silicon-carbon batteries in any of its phones, and its reluctance to embrace the technology could adversely impact devices like the Galaxy Z Flip 8. However, that doesn’t mean Samsung is passing on it entirely — so there’s still a possibility for a change.
Lighter, thinner design
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide / John Velasco)
If the Galaxy Z Fold 7 proved anything to me, it’s that design is still a huge draw for any phone — and nothing gets more attention nowadays than ultra-thin profiles. A recent leak indicates that Samsung is going to improve the design of the Galaxy Z Flip 8 by making it thinner and lighter.
Apparently, this will be achieved by making the phone ever so slightly wider, which in turn should allow it to be thinner. At the same time, a rumored new hinge design could also reduce the weight to 180 grams, down from the Z Flip 7’s 188-gram frame.
Samsung’s designs have always been more utilitarian compared to the stylish aesthetics of Motorola’s Razr phones, but making the Z Flip 8 thinner and lighter would be a step in the right direction.
Qi2 magnetic wireless charging
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide / John Velasco)
Since I made the Galaxy Z Flip 7 my daily driver, I ended up getting Spigen’s Tough Armor Pro case because it adds a magnetic ring to the back of the phone. This allows me to use all of my favorite MagSafe accessories—like my 3-in-1 bedside charger and MagSafe wallet—which the phone wouldn’t be able to do on its own.
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While the Galaxy Z Flip 7 has slower 15W wireless charging, I’m hoping the Z Flip 8 gets upgraded with Qi2 support. This could bring its speed to 25W, just like the Galaxy S26 Ultra. However, that phone lacked the proper magnets to enable magnetic charging natively. I’m hoping Samsung doesn’t make the same mistake twice.
Upgrade the ultrawide camera
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide / John Velasco)
Despite taking outstanding images with its rear cameras, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 actually recycled the same camera hardware as its predecessor. Even though the updated ProVisual Engine yielded improvements for the Z Flip 7 — particularly in low light — I’m hoping Samsung finally gives us a hardware upgrade.
The Motorola Razr Ultra 2026 will undeniably be its biggest rival, so I’m crossing my fingers that Samsung at the very least upgrades the Z Flip 8 with a 50MP ultrawide sensor, up from the current 12MP one.
Unfortunately, rumors don’t point to Samsung making any changes to the camera hardware. I really hope we’re proven wrong, because the Galaxy Z Flip series has continually edged out Moto’s Razr phones in my photo shootouts. Samsung can’t afford to go against the Razr Ultra 2026 with inferior-spec cameras.
Full apps support with cover display
(Image credit: Future)
Samsung’s cover displays have always been helpful, especially for capturing selfies with the higher-performing rear cameras. Yet, Samsung has refused to unlock the screen’s full potential by providing native support for full apps.
Even though Samsung prefers widgets for the cover screen, I’m hoping it brings native app support without the roundabout method of downloading the Good Lock app. The reason I crave full app support is because of the many times when one-handed use is preferred—like when I’m riding the subway with my other hand on a rail.
Crease-free display
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide / John Velasco)
While it doesn’t bother me personally, the crease running down the middle of the display can be somewhat distracting. The quest for a crease-free display may finally be nearing its end, as rumors suggest Samsung is looking to equip the Z Flip 8 with a truly crease-free foldable OLED panel — likely the result of a redesigned hinge mechanism.
This refinement would significantly elevate the viewing experience, especially when watching videos. Currently, the crease on my Z Flip 7 remains visible at certain angles, particularly under direct light. This improvement is certainly within the realm of possibility, considering the Oppo Find N6 already features a ‘zero-feel’ crease.
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