Review of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 external screen: looks truncated but good, the app still needs optimization

The outer screen of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 has a fairly square aspect ratio of 10:16, different from the narrow ratio of about 9:19.5 of current bar phones. Therefore, content originally designed for bar phones will display slightly differently on this device. Quick summary of the pros and cons of the Z Fold 8 external screen:

Holding the device with your pinky finger won't bother you.

Feeling of holding and looking

Holding the camera in the palm of your hand will be a bit awkward.

The keyboard is more comfortable to type on thanks to its wider width.

When using the external screen in portrait position, Z Fold 8 feels comfortable and convenient. The reason is that the width is larger than a bar phone: I actually measured the Z Fold 8 to be 74 mm wide, while the Galaxy S26 Ultra is 73 mm, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is 72.7 mm and the iPhone is 70 mm. One reason the keyboard is more comfortable to type on is that the device is more balanced in the hand. When typing, we often hold the device in the lower part, while the upper part is blank. However, bar phones are so long that the fingers have to support the top; Many devices are top heavy due to the camera cluster located there... in general, bar devices are not as balanced as the Z Fold 8 when held.

The keyboard is very good to type on. However, the content, i.e. the typing box, is not much to observe the content.

Content with lots of text is easier to read

With long content such as articles, books or social media posts, the Z Fold 8's 10:16 external screen provides a much better experience. It's like a small book reader or an A5 piece of paper... today's phones are too vertical so we have to scroll up and down or slide the content to read in the middle, and our eyes can't cover everything. While my eyes are horizontal, on both sides of the two children. Using a bar phone is like watching vertical video on a horizontal TV...

Read good books or long articles.

Spot or view mindmap easily

Watching vertical video will see two black bands on both sides.

Vertical videos today often have an aspect ratio of 9:16, and when I tried it on Real or YouTube Short, I noticed that two black bands along both sides appeared quite commonly. When trying Short 3:4 shot with Rayban Meta AI glass, the image did not display well or fill the 10:16 screen of the Z Fold 8. Looking more closely, the problem is not only due to ratio deviation but also due to the applications being optimized for narrow bar phones; When opened on the squarer Z Fold 8, the interface doesn't look nice, like it's corrupted.

The 9:16 vertical video has two black bars on both sides.

The 3:4 video above is truncated. If the app is optimized, both can be zoomed out.

Surfing Facebook is quite okay, not too uncomfortable even though it is not the most optimal.

When surfing Facebook, posts with little text, large text format, lots of text or horizontal images bring a great, clearer experience compared to bar phones. However, some applications have vertical images or multiple images, causing the viewing angle to be incomplete and some elements to be obscured due to optimization for narrower screens. However, I don't find this part too serious.

Facebook's photo gallery will slightly overflow to the bottom.

Conclusion: the Z Fold 8 external screen experience is very good.

Previously, when using a folding phone, I didn't like the external screen and even wanted to remove it. The first reason is that the internal screen is much larger. Next, the external screen is too narrow, especially when typing, the size is too small, requiring high concentration. Galaxy Z Fold 8 has a larger external screen, making typing easier; Since I often read long content, this device is superior to a bar phone. Therefore, I use the external monitor more than before. However, when sitting steadily, I still prioritize the clear screen.

Telegram chat is beautiful, spacious and airy.

Google News reads comfortably.

Facebook posting horizontally is fine.

Facebook story image 9:16 is black on both sides. QC:

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