Around €30 for two pieces of film — that’s a statement for Samsung’s original Galaxy Z Fold 8 accessory. Anti-reflective coatings are currently the big selling point across a lot of brands, and I went into this test correspondingly sceptical. To get straight to it: with this product, the promise actually holds up.
- EXPERTLY FIT FOR SHEER VISIBILITY: Optimized for Galaxy, the Galaxy Z Fold8 Anti-reflecting Film helps minimize glare while maintaining a crisp, clear viewing experience — even in bright outdoor conditions.
- PROTECT YOUR SCREEN FROM THE ELEMENTS: Shield your screen from everyday wear like scratches, dust and fingerprints with the Galaxy Z Fold8 Anti-reflecting Film. It keeps your front screen clear with a protective layer that stays almost invisible while safeguarding your phone throughout the day.
What’s Included: The Weakest Point
For €30 you get two films, a positioning frame, a squeegee, a cleaning cloth and dust-removal stickers. Those stickers are the frustration here: they’re so small that you feel like you’re dabbing at the display twenty times over — and picking up new dust faster than you’re removing the old. I ended up using the sticker from the Spigen set instead, which is in a different league.
If you already own an original Samsung case, check it before buying: the same films are frequently included there. In that case you might be able to save the €30 entirely.
Installation: Easy, With One Caveat
The positioning frame sits on the device and can even be secured so nothing shifts during application. The film drops into place practically on its own — thanks to differently shaped cutouts, you can’t even fit it the wrong way round. From there you press it down section by section with the squeegee and peel away the carrier film.
There really isn’t much you can get wrong. Even so, my film ended up sitting slightly crooked — the gap to the edge is noticeably larger on one side than the other. That wasn’t down to handling, but apparently to the cut or the tolerance within the frame. Annoying on an original product at this price.
Lines and streaks visible immediately after application are normal, by the way, and disappear on their own after a short while. That’s typical for this type of film, not an installation error.
The Anti-Reflective Test: Where It Genuinely Delivers
For the decisive test I peeled off the second film and stuck it at an angle across part of the display, so covered and uncovered areas sat directly next to each other. Then I moved a bright lamp across it.
The difference is unmistakable. On the covered section the reflection is essentially swallowed, while it stays clearly visible right beside it. This isn’t an effect you have to imagine — you see it instantly. For comparison: with the Spigen tempered glass, which also advertises anti-reflective properties, the same test showed barely any difference at all.
So if you work in bright light or sunshine a lot and find reflections irritating, you genuinely get what you’re paying for here. Expensive for a piece of plastic, but it delivers on the claim.
The Downsides: Colours and No Drop Protection
Two points are worth knowing before you buy. First, the coating darkens colours slightly — white areas appear more greyish than before. It only stands out in a direct comparison, but it’s there.
Second, and more importantly: a film protects against scratches only. If the device hits asphalt, the display is gone regardless. Only tempered glass breaks in place of the display and offers real drop protection. So if your main concern is a fall, this film is the wrong choice.
One minor visual criticism on the side: the camera cutout stays visible and could probably have been handled more elegantly. Face recognition is unaffected by it — in fact it works marginally faster than with tempered glass applied.
Verdict
A product with a clear use case. If reflections genuinely bother you, this is the only solution in the test field whose glare reduction is visible in a direct comparison. If you’re looking for drop protection, tempered glass is the better call — and if you want to secure your inner display, you need a different product entirely.
Which option fits which need, and how the three tested products compare directly, is all in my overview: Z Fold 8 screen protection — film or tempered glass? also answers the question of how the foldable inner display can be protected at all.