I'm sitting here writing this, constantly glancing over at the new Galaxy Z Fold8. I've only had it for a few hours, really, so I haven't had enough time to form a proper opinion on it.
But first impressions matter with this type of thing. And my first impressions say that the Fold8 is interesting. It's not just another device cut from the same cloth. It's different, with its passport-style design, and in this industry, difference can be exciting.
But just because it's different doesn't mean it's good. I think it will be good, but as I said, I haven't had enough time to cement that opinion. The wider body is a bit awkward to hold one-handed. But open it up, and the new aspect ratio works in both portrait and landscape modes. Watching a YouTube video and scrolling Instagram hits different depending on how you hold the phone.
But there are challenges, too. One of the first things I did today was plug it in to the BackBone Pro to see how it handled games. But the USB-C placement at the bottom of the phone meant it only fits in portrait mode. Fortnite wouldn't even rotate the screen to let me play properly.
The next couple of weeks are going to be filled with these discoveries. I can't wait.
Until next week
Nick @ BTTR
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This week's news
- Ecovacs just built a robot army for your backyard » I've reviewed a bunch of Ecovacs robot vacuums, and the W2 window cleaner was amazing, but I am more excited by not having to manually mow my lawns than you would believe. This is an exciting launch.
- Reolink's new doorbell is playing the long game » The company is claiming 10 months of battery life from a single charge, even without the solar panel accessory. Coupled with local storage and no mandatory subscription, this could be your Ring replacement.
- Midea's new aircon wants to fix your winter power bill anxiety » It's so cold here today I haven't turned the air conditioner off. I really don't want to look at my next electricity bill. Midea is trying to solve that from the aircon side with the Athena lineup.
- The OPPO Bubble wants to fix your worst rear-camera selfies » This is a cool little accessory for OPPO phones that lets you frame your selfies. It's so cute!
- The Sony FX5 packs a Hollywood sensor into a body small enough to run with » This is probably a bit more camera than I can handle, but if the guy who made Rogue One likes it, then it must be good!
- Samsung's new Galaxy Watch Ultra2 wants to be your dive buddy and your PT » Samsung's new smart watches are a big boost over the previous generation, particularly those looking for an extreme device in the Watch Ultra2.
- Fold8, Fold8 Ultra, Flip8: Samsung's most complete foldable lineup lands in Australia » Foldables are having a moment, and Samsung has been championing the format for years. The Fold8's new form factor is definitely interesting!
- Amazfit's Australian debut is all about training smarter, not harder » Amazfit is one of those brands that I never really paid attention to because it didn't have an Aussie presence. Now it does, so I'm going to start testing its stuff.
New reviews
- Laser 14-inch portable monitor review: this $149 screen punches above its price » It would have been even more attractive at its $99 launch price, but this budget monitor makes a solid argument for not spending a lot of money.
- Oura Ring 5 review: Small ring, big subscription » The biggest catch with this otherwise exceptional piece of hardware is that you will end up on the hook for a subscription to use it, even after spending hundreds on the ring itself. It's a good thing it's actually really polished and does a great job, then.
New guides
Looking for deeper analysis of technology and how to get more from it? I've got you covered this week.
- Robot vacuums explained: breaking down suction, mapping and mopping tech
- TV size guide: how to match your screen size to your room
- Phone camera specs: Megapixels, sensors, and computational photography explained
Best deals this week
Here's a taste of this week's top deals. There are 93 total this week.
- Save $1,200 on Roborock Qrevo Master at Roborock - Was $2,699, now $1,499
- Save $800 on LG gram Pro 2in1 16", Windows 11 Home, gram AI, Ultra-lightweight, Intel Coreᵀᴹ Ultra 7 processor 255H, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD - 16T90TP-G. AA75A at LG - Was $3,499, now $2,699
- Save $700 on $700 OFF* HP OmniBook 3 14" Copilot+ Snapdragon x 16GB 512GB Laptop (D5CT0PA) - $1,099 at The Good Guys - Was $1,799, now $1,099
- Save $700 on Google Pixel 9 Pro 5G (Dual Sim, 128GB/16GB, 6.3'') - Obsidian at Mobileciti - Was $1,699, now $999
- Save $480 on Celestron Labs CB2000C Compound Binocular Microscope Universal at Camera House - Was $1,279, now $799
- Save $290 on Predator Helios Neo 16 16" WUXGA 165Hz Gaming Laptop i7-13700HX 16GB 512GB RTX4060 W11H Black (Refurbished) - 512GB Obsidian Black Excellent at Green Gadgets - Was $1,579, now $1,289
- Save $46.73 on Black Stable Shift Case & Corning Glass for Apple iPad Air 13" M4 | ESR at ESR Tech - Was $181.5, now $134.77
- Save $20 on Costway 70cm Electric Griddle Extra Large Teppanyaki Grill with Adjustable Temperature at Costway - Was $75.95, now $55.95