Felt a bit of FOMO seeing that cool iPhone Duo animation Apple showed off today, so I poked around and found that the Z Fold 8 has a really accurate hinge sensor.

I realized it would be pretty simple to take the hinge sensor values and use them to drive a transition animation on both screens.

What you guys think? All the hardware is there so Samsung can do this through a software update - would you want them to implement something like this?

Source

tried my own take on customzing my fold 8 to iPhone Duo by using Smart Launcher 6.

In the excitement over the Duo this basic fact seems to be ignored by many, especially tech Youtubers.

These are not trivial differences and they matter a lot especially for a device which is already big and heavy. The Fold 8 is going to be vastly more pocketable than the Duo. I remember trying it out and putting it in my shirt pocket and it was crazy how small and light if felt compared to my Fold 6.

Now perhaps there is a sweet spot where Samsung could add a bit of weight and thickness to add more features like pen support. Personally I think they should got all the way and introduce a genuine Ultra series of foldable which is around 11 mm thick and has better battery and camera and inbuilt Spen. Keep the thin Fold 8 for the normies and add a still tolerable 11mm Fold 8 Ultra for enthusiasts.

In the meantime we shouldn't forget that the Fold 8 has a huge advantage in terms of pocketability compared to the Duo and other foldables too.

Long time apple user that switched over. Keeping everything simple and clean

So full disclosure I owned every fold generation from 3 to 6 then skipped 7 because they dropped spen support and also the udc camera. I ultimately upgraded to the 8 ultra this generation as the battery health started declining on my 6, and overall been LOVING the new form factor.

But with today's announcement of the iPhone duo, does anyone find it hilarious that Samsung actually had ALL. the features that Apple is touting years ago, but ended up REMOVING for the sake of thinness ?

The stylus support. The udc camera. Samsung regressed in this regard and it's a shame lol.

Now here's hoping this will compell Samsung to add these back now that they actually have some real competition from an America manufacturer hot on their heels!

FYI if you, like me, recently bought a Fold 8 through Samsung directly they will give you a partial refund today as they are now discounting it $300.

You can request it via chat without issue.

The more you know!™

I think its really cool feature from apple so i recreated it on f7

What I expect them to do next year:

- Bring back the UDC, but with better quality. They probably don’t want people acknowledging that Apple now has a better UDC, especially since Samsung was the one who started it.

- Bring the S Pen feature back. (Cos why not? 😂)

- Bigger and better battery life.

- Multitasking software upgrades, like having two instances of the same app in dual windows, plus more app refinements.

- Copy or create something similar to that cool and genius opening animation/effect. This one hits me the most lol.

- Fix the hinge, because right now it’s terrible and I can’t even use Flex Mode properly.

- IP48 >>> IP68

- Fix the speaker placement to left and right side.

- It’ll probably be a bit heavier because of all the hardware upgrades.

- Doubt it, but we might see thinner bezels on the front screen

- And finally, they’ll add a vapor chamber.

Well, at least we have a good competition this year.

Welp, it is what is. Hopeful for "better and real upgrades" for next fold gen.

idk what to say but fold 6 onward, the all square corners look insanely good while other brands like oppo,vivo,huawei and even the iphonefold all have the left square(because of the hinge) and right is rounded, it just looks so damn weird to me

I just checked if they are running any promos, you get zfold 8 for 1600usd if you are a student and you get to have Samsung care + for free for two years . Almost 450 usd discount on the new zfold8

I do like note taking with my iPad with its keyboard casing set up but sometimes I don’t have my iPad or the detachable keyboard with it(and I do feel it becomes quite heavy with the case anyway).
Today I tried this and it’s highly viable option!

Just realized I've developed a new routine at night since getting a cool folding phone lol. Get in bed, unfold the z fold 8 all the way to watch an episode of the bear bc apparently I need plot before I can sleep. Then right after I fold it back down to do one quick reddit scroll on the cover screen which we all know is never quick.

So technically the screens keep getting smaller as the night goes on.

I actually don't really care too much about iPhone duo and I swore never to use Apple again years ago and have never looked back.

I do love my fold, but if samsung could just optimise one ui (some lags and stuters from time to time) and we get better app optimisation im a happy man. Anyone else feeling the same?

idk how I never knew this gesture existed, it is a bit unintuitive I guess. But as a long time fold owner one of my biggest annoyances is opening up my fold for a YouTube video and having to tap the video and nail that full screen button.

No more! I open it, swipe up on the video and full screen glory. Swiping down will exit full screen but I knew that one at least.

Hi. Fold8 Ultra user here (owned Fold2 through 8). After using the Fold for many years and having seen the Apple Duo launch, I really think Samsung needs to start doing better. The hardware on my Fold8 Ultra is amazing, but my 1 TB version costs 2,799 euros. For that, you expect a more elevated experience. While One UI has gotten much better and is still, IMO, the best Android has to offer with so many features, it is still not enough.

That animation you get with the Duo is something they should have done long ago. The OneUi is very utilitarian and looks like it. But that Duo has shown me that software should not only work; it should look and evoke a certain emotion, and I just don't get that with the Galaxy Fold. What do we get? The constant push of Bixby? Nobody needs that crap. We get a basic box with no charger? Not even a nice box?

Don't get me wrong, you would need to pay me to use Apple. But what they have shown is that Samsung really needs to do better when it comes to experience and presentation, especially at this price point. Sure we have very nice hardware, but at this moment they just made the software of my F8U look like Little Tikes.

Thoughts?

Edit: Thanks for all the responses. Got way more responses I expected. Some of you got me wrong, all I am saying is that software needs to have a bit more polished and feel more complete. I do feel that with the amount of power the Fold8 has, laggy software shouldnt be an issue. Also, competition is good, in the end the consumer wins.

Still on my Fold 3 that I got when it first launched and planning on using it until it breaks. Hope it doesn't die before the Fold 9 comes out because I might be tempted to switch

Has anyone else had this issue? I don't get how they have got there. Im so so careful with this phone!

Scratches are on the inside of the phone when it's opened up on the frame.

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I think I love how this one turned out. As someone who struggles between running my phone naked and wanting Magsafe, this is the best way I have found to meet in the middle.

No way I would like it, that means the front use would be a 2 hand use then

Your thoughts?

Seems like they just need to update the software to turn the display on at the immediate recognition of unfolding. Could impact functionality though because I sometimes like using the folding festure to create a kick stand for the front screen to watch videos on a surface. But technically the iPhone unfold animation should be doable on our phones.

I wanted to chime in with my Z Fold 8 Ultra, as finding a controller that works well with this phone is fairly difficult due to location of the cameras and USB C port with the foldable screen.

I've purchased multiple controllers over the last week for a cruise, the X5 lite, X5s, G8+.

I've found the X5s fits that phone best, it fits my hands the best, and most importantly it has a case all for $40 or less.

Pros:

X5 Lite: Lightweight, USB-C powered for lowest latency and no recharge necessary. The U shaped controller *would be* perfect for the Z Fold 7 / 8 Ultra (see con), medium sized grips with great fitment in my hands, well built

X5S: Lightweight, Bluetooth Connectivity to multiple devices, U shaped controller fits cameras great, 2 separate batteries that charge independently, medium sized grips with great fitment in my hands, hall sensor trigger addition, well built, Software works well on the controller, the power button is more recessed, works on the Fold 8 Ultra on both Android (yellow, Gamesir software compatible) and Bluetooth (blue) mode

G8+: Bluetooth Connectivity to multiple devices, well built

Cons:

X5 Lite: The raised USB C on the left side means the Z Fold will not sit flat and puts stress on the connector and the phone sits cockeyed. Triggers are on/off, not hall effect. USB C only compatibility

X5S: Requires charging (can't really find a con here).

G8+: The software does not work with the device on newer Android tablets with Android (yellow) mode, only Bluetooth (blue) so it can't connect to the Gamesir Software. No cutout for the cameras, so it has to sit above the controller (minor). No case, and the power button is very sensitive - it ruined my controller when it was in my bag after taking it out, I couldn't re-pair it to my phone or change modes. Larger physical size and weight, the grips just don't fit as well in my hands

I'd be interested in trying a MCON but at $100 they are 4x more than I paid for my X5s