Samsung preps a Galaxy Z Fold 8 app-level feature that's the icing on the cake

What you need to know

• A leaked One UI 9 feature suggests Samsung is working on an "App Screen Zoom" feature for the Galaxy Z Fold 8.
• The feature lets users alter the "screen zoom level for each app" with varying options from "Smallest" to "Largest," with the former displaying even more content.
• Recent reports claim the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is smashing Samsung's pre-order expectations, and some retailers are displaying delayed shipping dates.

It's been a week since Galaxy Unpacked revealed everything from foldables to watches. Samsung's wide Galaxy Z Fold 8 is here, but a tipster claims the company is working on an app option that takes its experience up a level.

This week, tipster Ice Universe on X discussed an "app-level display customization" option that Samsung is reportedly testing for the Galaxy Z Fold 8 in One UI 9 (via 9to5Google). The leak highlights an "App Screen Zoom" feature that might find its way into Samsung Labs, an environment for testing early content. The company's early description says this option lets users "set a separate screen zoom level for each app." In the tipster's report, YouTube is used as an example.

They state, "YouTube normally shows only two rows of video recommendations on the screen." However, this is using the "Small" app zoom-level option (the default). At one point, Ice Universe swaps this to "Smallest." While we instinctually think everything is tiny—thumbnails, text, etc.—the "Smallest" option isn't that bad. By default, YouTube on the Galaxy Z Fold 8 displays two large video thumbnails (long-form content) side by side.

When switched to the "Smallest" option, those thumbnails are slightly reduced to fit three videos in a row. Additionally, the tipster adds, "...it can show three rows of videos at the same time, allowing me to browse more content without constantly scrolling." The leak continues, stating App Screen Zoom offers Smallest, Small, Medium, Large, and Largest levels. Considering this is a leak, and since we don't even have the Galaxy Z Fold 8 yet, we might have to wait a while before this rolls out.

Making it better

How apps respond to the Galaxy Z Fold 8 was an area of concern when it debuted. My colleague Derrek Lee was curious about this, too, and his hands-on quickly abated his worries. In his experience, apps "resize well." When it comes to vertical videos, users might notice the black bars. However, another major plus about the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is its ability to host three apps on its internal screen. This could be boosted by this App Screen Zoom leak, since users can alter the zoom and potentially enhance the amount of content they see when multitasking.

On a related note, reports claim the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is incredibly popular, smashing Samsung's expectations in South Korea. Specific numbers weren't given; however, it was said that the Fold 8 is selling out in online and offline retailers, with some stores showing delayed shipment dates.

Android Central's Take

Am I turning into a foldable enjoyer? I remember how the Fold 7 almost got me to convert from a regular slab phone to that style of device. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 is an appealing phone. This device seems to tick some important boxes for app enjoyment. For scrolling and video watching. Apps resize well, which is a plus, and now Samsung is reportedly testing this zoom level feature. That means apps would (ideally) look even better in this wider format.