[London (UK) = E-Daily Reporter Shin Yeong-bin ] SamsungElectronics(005930)created over 500 prototypes to determine the size and aspect ratio of its new foldable smartphone, the “Galaxy Z Fold 8.” Inspired by a passport—which fits in a jacket pocket and is easy to flip through with one hand—the company perfected a design that fits in one hand when folded and allows users to immerse themselves in content when unfolded.

Lee Il-hwan, Vice President and Head of the Design Team at SamsungElectronics’ MX Business Division, said at the Galaxy Design Briefing held in London, UK, on the 23rd (local time), “We don’t just design what meets the eye,” adding, “We believe in designing every moment people use our products.”

The core value of Galaxy design presented by Vice President Lee is “comfort.” He explained that the scope of design extends beyond numerical specifications such as product thickness and weight to include the moment of opening and closing the device, the sensation when holding it in one’s hand, and the experience of viewing the screen and the product’s exterior.

“Comfort is not something that can be measured numerically, like gigabytes or megapixels,” Vice President Lee emphasized, adding, “What matters is what the user feels when holding the product in their hands.”

SamsungElectronics’ decision to structure its foldable lineup this time around with three models—the Fold 8 Ultra, Fold 8, and Flip 8—stems from the assessment that usage patterns have become more diversified. The Fold 8 Ultra focuses on productivity and multitasking, while the Flip 8 emphasizes portability and self-expression. The newly added Fold 8 was designed with a form factor suitable for content consumption, such as watching videos and browsing the web.

The starting point for the Fold 8’s design was a passport. SamsungElectronics’ design team created more than 500 prototypes to find a size that would satisfy both one-handed usability and the screen experience when unfolded. They held the models in their hands and compared variations in size, thickness, aspect ratio, corner curvature, and the cross-section of the side frames.

Although they considered everything from compact to expansive forms, reducing the size too much would have overlapped with the Flip’s use case, while increasing the width would have compromised one-handed usability. The development and design teams collaborated to review mockups with various aspect ratios, ultimately finding the right balance between portability and a large display.

The design team focused on the fact that a passport is easy to slip in and out of a pocket, convenient to hold with one hand while turning pages, and has a ratio that allows users to check necessary information at a glance. Based on this, the Fold 8 features a 16:10 aspect ratio when folded and a 4:3 aspect ratio when unfolded.

When folded, it is easy to operate with one hand, and when unfolded, it offers a wide view for videos, reading, and web content. The team also emphasized the symmetry of the entire product, including the hinge, to ensure the left and right sides align neatly, much like a passport.

Vice President Lee explained, “The goal of the Fold 8 was to maximize portability at its smallest size while providing the most immersive viewing experience when unfolded,” adding, “It was important to strike a balance between these two different needs.”

The Fold 8 Ultra features an “Emotive Slim” design that takes into account both the actual thickness and the perceived thinness by the user. When unfolded, it measures 4.1 mm thick, making it the thinnest Samsung foldable to date.

SamsungElectronics also refined the side frame structure, recognizing that a thin device might be slippery or difficult to unfold. A gentle slope was applied to the surface where fingers rest, and a subtle gap was created along the edges to allow fingers to slide in. The outer curvature and the parallel sections on the sides were also adjusted to ensure a comfortable grip while making the device appear visually thinner.

The closing mechanism utilizes hinge tension. It is designed so that when the user folds the device to a certain angle, the remaining section closes naturally. Vice President Lee said, “The fact that it opens easily and closes on its own at a specific angle is an intentional design choice,” adding, “We expect it to become the benchmark for foldable usability.”

The rear camera was redesigned to maintain the Galaxy’s identity. While retaining the linear structure of two or three vertically arranged lenses, visual complexity was reduced by unifying the material finishes of the rear glass and the camera island.

Vice President Lee explained that achieving both high camera performance and a thin, lightweight device was one of the most challenging tasks in the design process. However, he noted that the linear camera array is a key design element that instantly identifies the device as a Galaxy product.

The color schemes also reflect the lifestyles of users for each product. For the Fold 8 Ultra, which targets users who prioritize productivity, “Violet Shadow” was selected as the signature color. Metallic particles were incorporated to create a color that shifts depending on light and the surrounding environment.

For the Fold 8, which targets young users who consume a lot of content, a muted lavender shade was applied. SamsungElectronics’ design team focused on expressing a calm and comfortable feeling—like a Saturday afternoon—through color. For the Flip 8, pink was chosen as the signature color to emphasize self-expression and vibrancy.

The principle of comfort was also carried over to the Galaxy Watch. SamsungElectronics applied an air-pocket structure and high-performance silicone to the watch strap, reducing its weight by 25% and improving breathability. Based on over 100 million wrist data points, the company conducted approximately 10,000 simulations to verify comfort across a variety of wrist shapes.

Vice President Lee expressed a special attachment to every product designed by SamsungElectronics and showed particular confidence in the Fold 8. “The Fold 8 is a versatile all-rounder that is aesthetically superior, easy to use, and offers durability, reliability, and display quality,” he said.