Apple iPhone Air vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8

Our Verdict: Comparing Apple iPhone Air and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8, the choice mostly comes down to display quality versus portability. The Samsung gives you a larger 7.6-inch screen, its LTPO AMOLED 2X panel, and a larger 4,800 mAh battery, while the iPhone is more appealing for its LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED panel, a higher-resolution 18MP front camera, and a lighter 165g body. A bigger mAh figure is useful context, but real battery life still depends on software and chipset efficiency. Software may decide it too: the iPhone keeps you in Apple's iOS ecosystem, while the Samsung is the Android choice. Choose the Samsung for display quality; choose the iPhone if portability matters more.

The iPhone Air is the cheaper one to own: around £816 over a typical contract, £559 less than the Galaxy Z Fold8.

Expert Rating
3.9
12 reviews
4.4
10 reviews
Screen
6.5" 7.6"
Display
LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED LTPO AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2
Resolution
1206 x 2622 1828 x 2584
Pixels Per Inch
444 416
Rear Camera
48 Megapixels 50 Megapixels
Front Camera
18 Megapixels 10 Megapixels
Chipset
Apple A19 Pro (3 nm) Qualcomm SM8750-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm)
Battery
3,149 mAh 4,800 mAh
Storage
256GB, 512GB, 1TB 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
OS
Apple iOS Android
SIM Type
e- SIM nano-SIM and e-SIM
Connectivity
Up to 5G Up to 5G
Wi-Fi
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7
Bluetooth
6.0, A2DP, LE 5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Dimensions
156.2 x 74.7 x 5.6 mm 161.4 x 123.9 x 4.9 mm
Weight
165 grams 199 grams
Water Resistance
IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins) IP48 dust and water resistant (dust > 1mm; immersible up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Contracts
£31.99/mo (£19.00 upfront) £20.00/mo (£875.00 upfront)
SIM-free
£599.99 £1389.00
Apple iPhone Air Apple iPhone Air Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8
Expert Rating 3.9
12 reviews
4.4
10 reviews
Screen 6.5" 7.6"
Display LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED LTPO AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2
Resolution 1206 x 2622 1828 x 2584
Pixels Per Inch 444 416
Rear Camera 48 Megapixels 50 Megapixels
Front Camera 18 Megapixels 10 Megapixels
Chipset Apple A19 Pro (3 nm) Qualcomm SM8750-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm)
Battery 3,149 mAh 4,800 mAh
Storage 256GB, 512GB, 1TB 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
OS Apple iOS Android
SIM Type e- SIM nano-SIM and e-SIM
Connectivity Up to 5G Up to 5G
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7
Bluetooth 6.0, A2DP, LE 5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Dimensions 156.2 x 74.7 x 5.6 mm 161.4 x 123.9 x 4.9 mm
Weight 165 grams 199 grams
Water Resistance IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins) IP48 dust and water resistant (dust > 1mm; immersible up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Contracts £31.99/mo
£19.00 upfront
£20.00/mo
£875.00 upfront
SIM-free £599.99 £1389.00
Deals Deals

Cheapest Deals

Apple iPhone Air
Apple iPhone Air

24 Months

256GB

Sky Blue

Refurbished

200GB

Data

Unlimited

Unlimited

£31.99 a month, £19 upfront.

Use code: SUMMER10 (£10 off)

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8

24 Months

256GB

Cream

100GB

Data

Unlimited

Unlimited

£20 a month, £875 upfront.

Use code: 30JNOFF (£30 off)

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Apple iPhone Air or Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 cheaper on contract?

Based on total cost of ownership, the Apple iPhone Air is cheaper on contract at £816.36 over the life of the deal from £31.99 per month with £19.00 upfront.

Which has the better screen, the Apple iPhone Air or Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8?

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 has the bigger screen at 7.6" compared to the Apple iPhone Air's 6.5", the Apple iPhone Air has the sharper display at 444 pixels per inch versus 416, and the Apple iPhone Air uses a LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED panel while the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 has a LTPO AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2.

Which has the better camera, the Apple iPhone Air or Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8?

The Apple iPhone Air features a 48 Megapixels rear camera, while the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 has a 50 Megapixels rear camera. Both devices also have front-facing cameras for selfies and video calls.

Which is cheaper to buy SIM-free, the Apple iPhone Air or Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8?

The Apple iPhone Air is cheaper SIM-free, starting from £599.99.

What storage options are available for the Apple iPhone Air and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8?

The Apple iPhone Air is available in 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, while the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 comes in 256GB, 512GB, 1TB.

What processors do the Apple iPhone Air and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 use?

The Apple iPhone Air is powered by the Apple A19 Pro (3 nm), while the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 uses the Qualcomm SM8750-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm).

Which is easier to carry and hold, the Apple iPhone Air or Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8?

The Apple iPhone Air is the more portable of the two: it's 34g lighter at 165 grams, it's also the more compact phone at 156.2 x 74.7 x 5.6 mm, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 is slimmer at 4.9mm thick.

Which is more water resistant, the Apple iPhone Air or Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8?

The Apple iPhone Air is rated IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins), while the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 is rated IP48 dust and water resistant (dust > 1mm; immersible up to 1.5m for 30 min).

What operating system do the Apple iPhone Air and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 run?

The Apple iPhone Air runs Apple iOS and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 runs Android. This is one of the biggest factors when choosing between the two, as each ecosystem has its own apps, services and features.