Samsung rolls out AI‑driven video focus on the Galaxy Z Fold8
Samsung’s latest flagship, the Galaxy Z Fold8, arrives with a suite of camera upgrades, the most headline‑grabbing being My FanCam. Marketed as a “must‑have” for K‑pop enthusiasts, the tool lets users pick a person in a clip and have the phone automatically keep that individual centred as the scene moves. The feature is also pitched as a handy way to spotlight friends, family, or even yourself in everyday recordings.
How the idea was born
In an interview with Samsung Newsroom, members of the Visual Technology team at Samsung Research and the Multimedia Development Group (MX Business) said the concept grew out of a simple question: how can we make it easier for people to create videos that focus on the person they care about? The rise of fan‑cam footage on platforms like TikTok and Instagram – where users splice together concert clips of their favourite idols – highlighted a gap in mobile video editing tools. Samsung responded by building a feature that can be activated with just a few taps, turning any raw footage into a subject‑centric clip.
The AI that keeps the subject in frame
At the heart of My FanCam is a bespoke AI model trained to recognise individual faces and body shapes across a sequence of frames. According to Hwangpil Park, visual‑technology lead, the model “identifies and remembers each person’s location and visual characteristics, allowing it to recognise the same person throughout the video.”
The AI runs entirely on‑device, meaning no data is sent to the cloud – a crucial consideration for privacy‑conscious users and for reducing latency. Samsung’s engineers had to shrink the model enough to fit within the Fold8’s processing budget while still delivering the split‑second tracking required for smooth playback.
Speeding up the editing workflow
One of the biggest friction points in mobile video editing is the wait time while the software analyses footage. Sunghwan Kim from MX Business explained that the team designed My FanCam to analyse multiple people in a single pass. After the initial scan, users can toggle between subjects instantly, without re‑running the AI each time. The result is a near‑real‑time editing experience that feels more like a creative toy than a labour‑intensive workflow.
From research lab to the Fold8 UI
The collaboration between Samsung Research and the MX Business team was described as a daily sprint. Early prototypes were tested with a wide variety of source material – from college dance‑club videos to climbing footage – to expose the AI to challenging scenarios such as fast motion, overlapping bodies, and low‑light conditions. When the model behaved differently on real‑world clips compared with lab data, the teams iterated quickly, refining both the AI and the surrounding video‑pipeline to keep power consumption and heat generation in check.
Overcoming on‑device processing limits
Processing a full‑HD or 4K video entirely on a smartphone is no small feat. The biggest technical hurdle, according to Kim, was balancing speed, battery draw, and thermal output. Samsung’s solution involved trimming the AI’s computational load and streamlining the video‑decoding and data‑transfer stages. The end result is a feature that works on the Fold8 without noticeably draining the battery or causing the device to overheat.
Practical tips for UK users
For Android‑phone buyers in the UK who are keen to experiment with My FanCam, the interview team offered a few practical pointers:
- Shoot in the highest resolution available – the AI has more detail to work with, which improves tracking accuracy.
- Leave some breathing room around the subject – a wider frame reduces the chance of the person being occluded by others.
- Choose a clear, unobstructed frame for the initial selection – the AI struggles when faces are heavily overlapped or turned away.
- Feel free to use existing footage – My FanCam works with videos captured on any device, so you can revive old concert recordings or family holidays.
- Use a tripod for steady shots – while the AI can handle movement, a stable base makes the final output look more professional.
Why it matters for contract‑deal shoppers
For readers who are comparing contract deals, the Fold8’s My FanCam adds genuine value beyond raw specs. Many carriers bundle the device with data‑heavy plans, which can be attractive for users who plan to upload edited clips to social media. The on‑device AI means you won’t need a constant 5G connection to process videos, potentially saving on data usage.
When weighing offers from EE, Vodafone, or Three, consider the total cost of ownership – a phone that lets you create polished fan‑cam videos without third‑party apps could reduce the need for additional subscriptions to video‑editing services.
Looking ahead
The interview hinted at a second part of the series, where Samsung will discuss a large‑aperture lens‑emulation technology that aims to bring DSLR‑style depth of field to the Fold8’s cameras. Combined with My FanCam, this could position the Fold8 as a serious contender for creators who want a portable, all‑in‑one video studio.
My FanCam automatically tracks a selected subject and reframes footage into a preferred aspect ratio, turning dynamic scenes into social‑ready videos with less manual editing. – Samsung Newsroom
For UK Android fans, the feature underscores Samsung’s push to differentiate its foldable line with AI‑driven software that feels native rather than bolted on. Whether you’re a K‑pop aficionado, a parent documenting a school play, or a casual vlogger, the Fold8’s My FanCam promises to make the editing process a lot less fiddly – and that could be the extra incentive you need when choosing your next contract‑bound smartphone.
