SMARTPHONE OF THE YEAR 2026/2027: SAMSUNG GALAXY Z FOLD8

In collaboration with experts from the retail sector, the trade magazine Elektronikkbransjen has named the product of the year in 16 categories, with Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 taking the title of ‘Smartphone of the year 2026/2027’.

This is the 23rd consecutive year that the trade magazine has presented the awards, which also include the Christmas gift of the year. Dedicated expert juries have assessed the products’ features, whether they bring something new to the market, and their expected popularity among the Norwegian public. The criteria also require that the products must have gone on sale in Norway after 1 January 2026 and be available in shops in the run-up to Christmas.

The expert jury in this category consists of Thomas Korsnes (Power), Ida Hanto Haraldsen (Komplett/NetOnNet), Kreshnik Restelica (Elkjøp), Martin Winblad (Elon) and jury chair Stian Sønsteng (Elektronikkbransjen).

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8

A foldable mobile phone with a 7.6-inch main display and a 5.5-inch front display. The model weighs 201 grams and is powered by Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy. Its specifications include two 50 MP cameras, a 4,800 mAh battery and brightness of up to 3,000 nits. The phone has been developed for both entertainment and photography in a lightweight format. According to the expert jury, the form factor is an innovation, and the model is highlighted for its good battery capacity, fast charging and a good camera, while Samsung is praised for being an early player in the foldable phone market. NOK 24,000

Finalists:

Apple iPhone Duo

Apple's first foldable iPhone has a 7.6-inch inner display and a 5.4-inch outer display with the same aspect ratio for seamless content viewing. The model is powered by the A20 Pro chip and features an advanced cooling system with a specially developed vapour chamber. The displays support ProMotion, Always On and up to 3,000 nits of brightness. Battery life is up to 31 hours of video playback on the inner display, 44 hours on the outer display, or 24 hours combined. The expert jury highlights Apple's anticipated position in the foldable segment and that the pricing is perceived as reasonable compared with competitors. NOK 26,000

Google Pixel 11 Pro XL

The phone is designed to combine premium hardware with Gemini AI, and is intended to serve as an intuitive personal assistant for everyday tasks. It has a camera system designed to capture detail in different conditions, including a redesigned telephoto camera with up to 120x zoom and 8K Video Boost. The Super Actua display has a brightness of 3,600 nits, and the model is powered by a next-generation Tensor chip. In its justification, the expert jury says this is a large, feature-rich phone at a relatively reasonable price, with a seamless ecosystem highlighted as a clear strength. NOK from 16,500