Category: Reviews

On paper, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 shouldn’t be the phone in the pocket every day.

The Motorola Razr Fold has better cameras and a bigger battery. The Oppo Find N6 has the best software and multitasking of any foldable out there. The tall Z Fold 7 has a 200MP main camera and a telephoto lens.

All of them are sitting right here. All of them are excellent.

And yet, three months later, the hand keeps reaching for the Z Fold 8.

Now that Apple’s iPhone Duo has arrived with the same wide, “passport” shape, the timing couldn’t be better to ask the real question: is the Z Fold 8 still worth buying? And why is the “lesser” phone so hard to put down?

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The Better Phone Isn’t Always the Right Phone

Let’s get the obvious out of the way. The Z Fold 8 is not the best foldable on spec sheets.

The Razr Fold’s triple 50MP camera system and 6,000mAh battery beat it outright. It’s also quicker at a lot of tasks… and not because of raw horsepower. The Fold 8’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 can run into thermal issues, while the Razr’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 stays cooler, making it the more consistent, smoother performer day to day. It’s still the favorite tall fold to date, and it still rides along as a secondary phone for exactly those reasons: cameras and battery life.

The Z Fold 7 has that 3x telephoto too… but it’s only a 10MP sensor. Crop in on the Fold 8’s 50MP main camera and you get a result that’s honestly better than the Fold 7’s zoom lens.

That’s not a typo.

So the tall, narrow Z Fold design? After three months with the Fold 8, there’s just not much use for it anymore.

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Light, Balanced, and Easy to Live With

The first thing you notice is how it feels in the hand.

At 201 grams, the Z Fold 8 is Samsung’s lightest Fold yet. It’s small, it fits the hand, and it never feels like it’s about to tip over.

Pick up the Razr Fold right after, and the difference is not subtle. That massive camera bump makes it top-heavy, and it’s one of the heavier folds around. For good reason, sure… it’s carrying the better camera system. But you feel it every single time.

That’s the trade-off in a nutshell. And after three months, it’s really hard to pick anything else up.

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The Crease: Still the One to Beat

Run a finger across the inner screen after three months of daily use. It’s still flat. You can hardly feel it.

A nearly invisible crease is one of the big selling points of the iPhone Duo. Before that, the Oppo Find N6 set the bar with its flat display. But the Fold 8’s crease is even harder to feel than the Find N6’s.

The iPhone Duo might have a small edge thanks to its anti-glare nano-texture finish, which helps hide the crease. Over time, though, that crease will likely show more.

On the Fold 8, even at an angle with the screen off, you’ll spot fingerprints before you spot a crease. To date, it’s the most creaseless foldable out there.

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Daily Use: Where This Phone Wins

Let’s be real for a moment.

Daily use is browsing the web in the evening, answering emails, texting family and friends, and watching videos. Cameras matter on a photo shoot or a trip, and when that happens, a phone with better cameras comes along. For everyday photos, the Fold 8’s cameras are just fine.

So why not carry the phone that’s more comfortable and fits daily life better?

Even the cover screen makes the case. It’s noticeably wider than the tall folds, so texting is easier and everything feels less cramped. That narrow cover screen is exactly why the tall Z Folds have lost their appeal. Most messages get dictated anyway, so the “keyboard eats half the screen” complaint doesn’t really apply.

Open it up and there’s plenty of room to text, watch, and read.

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A Warning for iPhone and S26 Ultra Users

Everything that makes the Z Fold 8 great applies to the iPhone Duo too.

So here’s the warning: once you go wide, you won’t want to go back.

Plenty of people buy the iPhone Pro Max for one reason… they want the biggest screen. A wide foldable is smaller in the pocket, but open it in landscape and you’ve got about 50% more screen than the Max. That’s exactly why people are trading their Max for an iPhone Duo. My younger brother, Tim, is making that exact switch.

The same logic hits the Galaxy S26 Ultra. It’s the “biggest phone”… until the Fold 8 opens up. And the Fold 8 is lighter, too.

The one thing the S26 Ultra still has going for it? The S Pen.

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The Problems: What’s Missing

Is it perfect? No.

No telephoto camera. The Fold 8 runs a dual 50MP setup with no zoom lens. But on a daily basis, most people simply don’t use a telephoto.

No built-in magnets. There’s no MagSafe-style Qi2 magnets out of the box. Easy fix: a MagSafe case. With one on, the Fold 8 sits open on a magnetic car mount, running Google Maps while the music plays, and it doesn’t pivot or sag. The tall Z Folds never managed that, even in a strong MagSafe case. The same test with an iPhone Duo in a MagSafe case held just as solid.

No S Pen. This one stings. That smooth, nearly creaseless inner screen is the perfect surface for a stylus… and Samsung took it away. Apple is about to jump ahead here, since the iPhone Duo works with the USB-C Apple Pencil. At launch that support is limited to the iOS beta, but it’s coming.

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DeX and Battery: Two Quiet Wins

Samsung DeX is still something nobody else does as well. Plug the Fold 8 into a monitor or TV (wired or wireless) and it becomes a desktop computer. It works the same on the foldable as it does on Samsung’s top bar phones.

Then there’s battery life, and this is where things get interesting.

Usually, the phone with the biggest battery lasts longest. The Fold 8’s 4,800mAh cell is smaller than the Z Fold 8 Ultra’s 5,000mAh. And yet, in real-world use, the Fold 8 actually outlasts the Ultra.

The likely reason? Screen use. With a usable cover screen, it’s roughly a 50/50 split between the outside and the inside display. All the quick communication happens on the front, so the big inner screen isn’t lit up all day.

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So… Should You Still Buy the Z Fold 8?

This wide format is the real deal. Oppo, Honor, and Motorola are all coming with their own takes on it, and the iPhone Duo will get its own daily-driver test soon. The Fold 8 may not stay on top forever.

But right now?

If you’re on Samsung or Android and want a passport-style foldable, there aren’t many choices. The Z Fold 8 is the one to get, and you can buy it today.

If you’re an iPhone user who wants a foldable, the iPhone Duo is the one for you. Just know that deliveries are pushed out to late January. And please don’t pay an eBay scalper two or three times the price. Don’t reward that.

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The Z Fold 8 isn’t the best foldable on paper.

It’s just the one that fits real life best.

And after three months, that’s what matters.

If you’ve followed my channel for any length of time, you already know where I stand on smartphones: bar phones bore me. I moved on from them a long time ago and went all-in on foldables. Book-style folds became my daily drivers, and honestly, I never looked back. Somewhere along the way, though, I developed a blind spot — flip phones.

I’ll admit it upfront: I dismissed them as gimmicks. Nostalgia devices. A modern take on the old Razr flip phones many of us carried years ago. I owned one back then and loved it — but in my mind, the modern flip felt like a step backward. Two cameras instead of three. Limited screen space. Less “serious” than a book-style fold. So I ignored them completely.

That turned out to be a mistake.

Why I Finally Gave the Flip a Chance

The turning point came when rumors started circulating about Motorola entering the book-style foldable market. That immediately caught my attention. If Motorola was serious enough to challenge Samsung and others in the book-fold space, I needed to understand what their software experience was really like — not just rely on comments claiming “Motorola software is junk.”

Instead of speculating, I did what I usually do: I tested it myself.

I picked up a Motorola Razr flip (2025 model) — the standard version — and went in expecting compromises. What I found instead was a surprisingly refined, well-thought-out device that completely changed my perspective on flip phones.

Flip Phones vs Foldables: The Reality Check

Let’s get one thing straight: foldables still represent a tiny slice of the smartphone market. In 2024, traditional bar phones accounted for roughly 98.5% of sales, while all foldables — including flips — made up just 1.5%. In 2025, that number barely moved.

But here’s the interesting part: within the foldable category, flip phones have consistently outsold book-style folds.

In 2024, flip phones held roughly 67% of foldable sales, compared to 33% for book-style folds. Even in 2025, after devices like the Z Fold 7 boosted book-fold adoption, flips still held a strong presence. That explains why Motorola stayed focused on flips for so long — and why my own move from a book fold back to a flip suddenly made sense.

First Impressions: This Doesn’t Feel Cheap

The moment I took the Razr out of the box, my assumptions fell apart. This phone doesn’t feel cheap. At all.

The hinge is solid. The screen opens flat — no bowing, no flex. The crease is minimal to the point where you barely notice it unless the light hits at just the right angle. It snaps open with confidence and closes with a satisfying click that reminds you why flip phones were fun in the first place.

And yes — hanging up a call by snapping the phone shut still feels great.

The Cover Screen Changed Everything

The real revelation is the external display. This isn’t a novelty screen anymore — it’s functional.

You can:

• Run full apps
• Read and respond to messages
• View emails
• Use face unlock or fingerprint unlock
• Take selfies with the main camera
• Even prop the phone up and watch videos

Is watching YouTube on the cover screen ideal? Not really. But having the option matters — and for quick interactions, it’s incredibly convenient.

This is where the flip starts to make sense. You don’t need to open the phone for everything. And when you do open it, you’re greeted with a 6.9-inch internal display that’s taller than even phones like the Galaxy S25 Ultra.

Big Screen When You Need It, Tiny When You Don’t

Here’s the magic of the flip: when it’s open, it’s a large phone. When it’s closed, it’s shockingly portable.

Compared to slab phones — and especially large devices like the S25 Ultra — the difference in pocket comfort is huge. It doesn’t fill your pocket. It doesn’t feel awkward when you sit down. And that portability alone explains why flip phones have remained popular.

I finally get it.

Cameras: Not the Point — And That’s Okay

Yes, this model only has two rear cameras:

• 50MP main
• Basic secondary lens
• 32MP internal selfie camera

These aren’t flagship photography tools — and that’s fine. Flip phones aren’t bought to replace pro camera systems. They’re lifestyle devices. For video calls, casual photos, vlogging, and daily use, they’re more than capable.

If you want top-tier cameras, Motorola offers the Razr Ultra with higher-end specs. The base model is about balance, not excess.

Performance, Charging, and Practicality

The base Razr uses a MediaTek chip, optimized for AI and multitasking rather than raw power. It’s smooth, responsive, and perfectly suited for this form factor. You also get:

• 30W wired charging
• 15W wireless charging
• Reliable day-to-day performance

And yes — wireless charging on a flip phone still feels like a win.

My Final Take: I Was Wrong

I’ll say it clearly: I was wrong about flip phones.

They’re not gimmicks anymore. They’re not cheap-feeling compromises. They solve real problems — portability, convenience, and usability — in ways book-style folds and slab phones simply don’t.

I’m not giving up my book fold. But I finally understand why flip phones continue to thrive — and why so many people swear by them.

Now I want to hear from you.

Are you using a flip phone today? Did you come from a fold — or a slab phone? And if you’re a Motorola Razr user, does the upcoming Motorola book fold interest you at all?

When the OnePlus Open launched in 2023, it instantly changed how I looked at foldable phones. Up to that point, my main daily driver was the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4, and while it was impressive, it always felt a bit narrow and awkward to use closed. Then came the OnePlus Open — a breath of fresh air with its wider outer display, sleek hinge design, and cameras that could finally compete with traditional flagships.

It wasn’t just another foldable; it was the foldable I’d been waiting for.

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The OnePlus Open Was Ahead of Its Time

Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, the OnePlus Open delivered some of the smoothest performance I’d ever experienced on a foldable. Even in 2025, it still feels quick — snappy multitasking, fluid animations, and excellent thermal control.

What really set it apart, though, was its 6.3-inch outer display. It was refreshingly usable compared to the narrow front screen on the Fold 4 and even today’s Z Fold 7. The Open struck that perfect balance between compact and functional, something Samsung still hasn’t quite nailed.

And let’s not forget those cameras. With a 64 MP telephoto, 48 MP main, and 48 MP ultra-wide, it punched above its weight. Even in 2025, those specs rival many flagships. Add to that the nearly crease-less inner display, and you had a foldable that looked futuristic and refined from every angle.

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The Letdown: No Sequel… Yet

Toward the end of 2024, rumors began circulating that OnePlus wouldn’t release an Open 2 — at least not anytime soon. Instead, Oppo, the parent company, shifted focus toward the Find N5, leaving global users wondering if OnePlus had quietly exited the foldable race.

It was disappointing, especially since the OnePlus Open was a global release with U.S. availability — something Oppo’s phones still lack. The Open also had an advantage in repairability and support, with legitimate U.S. service options, unlike imported Chinese models.

If you’re still rocking the original Open, you know it’s aged remarkably well. But for fans hoping for a 2025 or 2026 sequel, things started to feel uncertain.

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Oppo Find N5: A Step Backward for Many

Then came the Oppo Find N5 — essentially the OnePlus Open’s spiritual successor in Asia — and the excitement turned into frustration. Oppo slimmed down the body but at the cost of major camera compromises.

They dropped to an 8 MP ultra-wide and 8 MP selfie camera, keeping only the main sensor at flagship quality. That’s a big step backward for photography lovers. Even die-hard Oppo fans admitted it felt like a downgrade.

The Find N5’s taller, narrower form also didn’t help. It reminded me too much of Samsung’s old Fold design — elegant, yes, but awkward for typing or watching videos.

So for me, the OnePlus Open still holds the crown. It found that perfect blend of design, camera power, and usability that others have struggled to match.

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A Look Back: OnePlus Open vs Honor Magic V2

To understand where the next OnePlus Open could go, it helps to look at what its closest competitor was doing around the same time. The Honor Magic V2 came out just months after the Open, pushing the limits of thinness and refinement. Both phones were remarkable, but they took slightly different paths.

Here’s a quick comparison of the two:

Category	OnePlus Open	Honor Magic V2
Launch (Global)	Oct 2023	Sept 2023
Chipset / GPU	Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 / Adreno 740	Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 / Adreno 740
Software at Launch	Android 13, OxygenOS Fold	Android 13, MagicOS 7.2
Dimensions (Folded)	153.4 × 73.3 × 11.7 mm	156.7 × 74.0 × 9.9 mm
Thickness (Unfolded)	5.8 mm	4.7 mm
Weight	239 g	231 g
Outer Display	6.3″ LTPO OLED (2484 × 1116, 120 Hz)	6.43″ LTPO OLED (2376 × 1060, 120 Hz)
Inner Display	7.82″ LTPO OLED (2440 × 2268, 120 Hz)	7.92″ LTPO OLED (2344 × 2156, 120 Hz)
Peak Brightness	2800 nits	2500 nits
Rear Cameras	48 MP main + 64 MP telephoto + 48 MP ultra-wide	50 MP main + 20 MP telephoto + 50 MP ultra-wide
Front Camera	20 MP	16 MP
Battery	4805 mAh (Li-Poly)	5000 mAh (Si-Carbon)
Charging	67 W wired	66 W wired / 50 W wireless
Build	Aluminum frame + vegan leather back	Magnesium alloy + titanium hinge
Fold Crease	Nearly invisible	Very light
Price (Launch)	~$1,699 USD	~$1,200 USD (China)

While the Magic V2 was thinner and lighter, the OnePlus Open still felt more balanced overall, especially in camera performance and display usability. The V2 pushed boundaries in engineering, but the Open offered the kind of polish that made it feel complete right out of the box.

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What Could the OnePlus Open 2 (or Oppo Find N6) Bring?

If Oppo does release a Find N6, or if OnePlus resurrects the “Open” brand, we can expect a few things based on leaks and the direction of the market:

• Thinner design: Honor and Vivo have already proven that foldables can be razor-thin, and Oppo can follow suit.
• Improved cameras: Oppo reportedly learned from the N5’s mistakes and plans to boost image quality — particularly with larger sensors and higher-resolution ultra-wide and zoom lenses.
• Larger battery: Rumors suggest a slight bump beyond 5,000 mAh, possibly with 100 W charging to rival Honor’s V-series.
• Wider aspect ratio: The N6 may shift closer to the original Open’s proportions, which would be a welcome return.

The big question is whether OnePlus will return as Oppo’s global counterpart, as they did before. If so, we could finally see a new OnePlus Open 2 make its way to international markets — complete with updated specs, refined software, and that beloved multitasking interface that allows three apps at once on the big screen.

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My Take — and What I’m Hoping For

If Oppo and OnePlus truly want to capture global attention again, they’ll need to go back to what made the first Open great — no compromises. The wide form factor, top-tier cameras, global launch, and premium build made it special.

Foldables are finally maturing, and as the Honor Magic V5 and Vivo X Fold 5 prove, there’s no excuse for weak cameras or limited regions anymore. The demand is there.

If the OnePlus Open 2 becomes real, even as a rebranded Find N6, I’ll be first in line to test it. And if not? Well, the original Open remains one of the most balanced foldables ever made — and a reminder that OnePlus once built something truly ahead of its time.

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Would you buy a OnePlus Open 2 if it launched next year? Or has the brand already lost your trust after skipping 2025 entirely? Let me know your thoughts — and check out my full comparison video where I dive deeper into what makes the Open still one of the most satisfying foldables to use daily.

Last time I unboxed the Honor Magic V5 and gave you my first impressions. This time, I’m diving deeper. We’re moving past looks and thickness and getting into the real meat of the phone — its software, multitasking, cameras, and how it compares with today’s best foldables: the Samsung Z Fold 7, Vivo X Fold 5, OnePlus Open, and even the Honor Magic V3.

And let me tell you — this round of testing brought some surprises.

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Brightness & Reflection: Don’t Believe the Numbers

On paper, the Honor Magic V5 boasts a massive 5,000 nits of brightness on the external screen. Sounds unbeatable, right? So, I lined it up outdoors next to the Z Fold 7, Vivo X Fold 5, and the Magic V3. Guess what? They all looked pretty much the same. So you can’s always believe the SPECS.

But here’s where Honor earns points — the anti-reflective coating on the inner display. While the others bounced light like mirrors, the V5 stayed darker, cleaner, and easier to see. Lesson learned: sometimes spec sheets don’t tell the full story.

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Multitasking Showdown: Honor Steps It Up

One of the biggest reasons people buy foldables is multitasking, so I tested them all side by side.

• Z Fold 7: Still requires gestures and sidebars, but you’re limited to two apps plus a floater. Yes, you can split a third app on half the screen, but is it really usable?
• Vivo X Fold 5: Great “workbench mode” with up to five small windows, but it never feels like true full-screen multitasking.
• Honor Magic V5: This is where it shines. The V5 lets you run three full apps side-by-side, each of which can be tapped into full screen instantly. It’s smooth, intuitive, and very reminiscent of the OnePlus Open’s multitasking — but executed even better.

That alone makes the V5 a serious productivity tool.

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Stylus Support: Honor’s Secret Weapon

Here’s something Samsung fans will want to hear: unlike the Z Fold 7, the Honor Magic V5 supports an S-Pen-style stylus on both the outer and inner screens. It feels natural, responsive, and it’s a huge plus for note-takers, editors, or anyone who sketches on the go. None of the other foldables in this lineup offer that.

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Camera Tests: Specs vs Reality

On paper, the V5 looks stacked: a 50MP main, 50MP ultra-wide, and a 64MP telephoto. Samsung flexes with a 200MP main sensor, while Vivo goes with 50MP across the board.

Here’s what I found in real shooting:

• Z Fold 7: Unless you force 200MP mode, photos often come out soft because of heavy pixel-binning.
• Vivo X Fold 5: Surprisingly crisp results, especially at higher zoom. Its telephoto lens is sharp and consistent.
• Honor Magic V5: Daylight shots are colorful and clean, but I noticed some overexposure and processing quirks at times. In zoom comparisons, the V5 often held its own — and sometimes beat Samsung — but Vivo consistently edged it out at the very high zoom levels.

The good news? Honor’s anti-reflective screen makes shooting and previewing photos much easier in harsh light.

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Battery Life & Performance

I’ll save the full drain test for another video, but so far, the V5’s battery life is the best of the bunch in my daily work use. And with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite under the hood, performance is on par with the Z Fold 7. For day-to-day apps, you won’t notice a difference.

Carrier support in the U.S. is still limited to T-Mobile and its MVNO partners, so Verizon and AT&T users are out of luck. But internationally, coverage may vary.

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Final Thoughts: A Foldable to Watch

The Honor Magic V5 proves it’s not just about slim design — the software experience, multitasking flexibility, stylus support, and battery life all raise the bar for what a foldable can do. Its cameras are good (though not flawless), and its real-world usability feels like it’s pushing the foldable space forward in meaningful ways.

Is it perfect? No. But if Samsung doesn’t keep innovating, phones like the V5 and Vivo X Fold 5 might just steal the spotlight.

Stay tuned, because I’ll be doing full one-on-one comparisons with every foldable on my desk — and that’s when we’ll see exactly where the V5 lands in the rankings.

by Mark Shephard

Foldable fans, it’s finally here — I just unboxed the brand-new Honor Magic V5, and if first impressions mean anything, Samsung and Vivo may want to start sweating.

This is not a full review yet. Think of this as a hands-on first-look — feel, build, design tweaks, and how it stacks up physically against the Galaxy Z Fold 7, Honor Magic V3, and yes… even the Vivo X Fold 5.

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Unboxing – Honor Still Gives You the Kitchen Sink

Unlike Samsung (who now gives you little more than a cable and a wink), Honor continues to ship a premium unboxing experience — including:

• 66W fast-charging power brick
• USB-A to USB-C cable
• SIM tool, documentation
• Matching kickstand protective case (gold, in my model)

It’s honestly refreshing to get accessories in the box in 2025.

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First Look – The Gold V5 is Gorgeous… and Thin

Sliding the phone out of its wrapper, two things hit me instantly:

1. This gold finish looks stunning in-hand
2. It’s shockingly thin and light

Honor claims 8.9 mm folded (global version). It feels even slimmer thanks to its more curved edges compared to the boxier Z Fold 7. When placed next to:

Phone	Folded Thickness	First-Look Feel
Z Fold 7	~8.9 mm	Slightly thinner on paper, boxy
Magic V5 (global)	~9.0 mm	Feels slimmer in-hand due to curves
Magic V3	~9.1 mm	Slightly thicker, heavier
Vivo X Fold 5	~9.2 mm	Noticeably chunkier

I even used my signature “bubble level slide test” — and while not exactly NASA science, it proved the Z Fold still wins on pure measurements… but the Magic V5 genuinely feels thinnest, which matters way more in actual use.

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Anti-Reflective Inside Display = Chef’s Kiss 👌

One unexpected surprise: when placed next to the Z Fold 7, my face practically reflected off Samsung’s inner screen — but the V5 appeared matte, thanks to Honor’s new anti-reflective inner screen coating.

• Inner display on V5 → practically no glare
• Outer screen → still glossy (similar to others)

Samsung – take notes.

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Hardware Tweaks I Noticed Immediately

• Volume rocker placement changed – now on the same side as the power button (unlike the V3). I actually prefer the old V3 layout for on-desk use with the kickstand… may take getting used to.
• Camera bump redesigned – bigger than the V3’s module, thinner than Vivo’s.
• Feels slightly lighter than my V3 — though Honor hasn’t published exact global weight yet (~217 g rumored).

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So… First-Impression Verdict?

The Magic V5 instantly feels like the most polished and premium foldable Honor has ever made. Whether it beats the Vivo X Fold 5 in cameras — or the Z Fold 7 in performance — is what I’ll be testing next.

But on pure in-hand feel, thinness, and design refinement, it’s already giving Samsung and Vivo a serious run for their money.

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What’s Next?

This was just the appetizer. Coming up next on the channel:

• V5 vs V3 vs Z Fold 7 – SPEED TEST
• V5 vs Vivo X Fold 5 – CAMERA BATTLE
• MagicOS 8.0 – What changed from the V3?

👉 Tell me in the comments below exactly which comparison YOU want to see first:
Magic V5 vs Pixel Fold 9 Pro?
Battery drain test?
Low-light camera sample battle?

Your request = my next video.
Until next time — thank you for reading, God bless, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next showdown!