Samsung has split its flagship foldable phone series into two devices for the first time. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 and the new Z Fold 8 Ultra both launched in 2026. Each offers notable upgrades in design, display, performance, cameras, and battery life.
The Z Fold 8 Ultra keeps much of the same build as its predecessor but adds key tweaks. When open flat, it measures just 4.1mm thick, making it the thinnest foldable Samsung has ever made. Closed, it is 8.9mm thick and weighs 7.58 ounces. A titanium alloy layer beneath the flexible screen adds extra rigidity. This gives the phone a solid, premium feel without adding bulk.
Its display setup is impressive. The Ultra has two AMOLED panels: a 6.5-inch cover screen and a larger 8-inch main screen. The main screen resolution jumped from 1,968 x 2,184 to 2,256 x 2,504 pixels. Both screens run at a smooth 120Hz refresh rate and can reach a peak brightness of 3,000 nits, making them bright and vibrant in any lighting.
Performance is powered by the Snapdragon Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy chip. It supports up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. This setup delivers class-leading speed for multitasking and gaming. The Ultra handles demanding apps without breaking a sweat.
Camera-wise, the Z Fold 8 Ultra has a 50-megapixel main sensor and a 50MP ultra-wide camera. Neither model includes a telephoto lens, which may disappoint those who want more zoom options. Still, the cameras perform well in good lighting, offering vivid colors and solid HDR processing.
Battery life improves too. The Ultra packs a 5,000mAh battery that lasted over 32 hours in a video rundown test. The base Z Fold 8 has a smaller 4,800mAh battery but still lasted 28 hours and 14 minutes in the same test. Both phones support 45-watt wired and 20-watt wireless charging.
The Base Galaxy Z Fold 8’s Fresh New Design
Samsung’s base Z Fold 8 takes a different approach. It is shorter and wider than previous models, with a thickness of 9.7mm when folded and a weight of 201 grams. The design resembles a passport in size. This makes it comfortable to hold and surprisingly lightweight.
The Z Fold 8 features a 5.5-inch cover display with a 10:16 aspect ratio and a 7.6-inch inner display with a 4:3 aspect ratio. Both have the same 120Hz refresh rate and 3,000 nits peak brightness as the Ultra. The cover screen also includes an anti-reflective coating, improving outdoor visibility.
Its build includes titanium layers, an armor aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the cover, and Gorilla Glass Ceramic 3 on the main screen. The hinge now clicks into place at 180 degrees but cannot be used in Flex Mode, limiting some folding angles.
The cameras mirror the Ultra’s setup with a 50MP main sensor and a 50MP ultra-wide. The lack of a dedicated zoom camera affects zoom quality, especially at 5x and 10x, making it a compromise for the price. Still, the cameras capture vivid colors and deliver good results in bright conditions.
What Reviewers Say
Sam Rutherford praised the new design, calling it “a big win.” He highlighted the “wider, more usable cover display” and described the Z Fold 8 as “unexpectedly comfortable to use when shut.” He also noted the “impressive battery life” and called this model “the lightest Z Fold yet.”
However, Rutherford said about the Ultra: “A new processor, brighter screens and chassis tweaks are nice, but the updates don’t do enough to earn the ‘ultra’ tag.” This suggests that while the Ultra pushes boundaries on paper, its real-world improvements feel modest.
Overall, Samsung’s fresh approach to foldables offers options for different users. The base Z Fold 8 focuses on comfort and usability with a wider design. The Ultra targets performance and display quality with a thinner, more rigid body. Both push foldable tech forward, even if the “Ultra” name feels a bit optimistic.
At $1,900, the base Z Fold 8 sits at a premium price point. The Ultra commands a higher price but promises top-tier specs and battery life. If you like cutting-edge tech that folds, Samsung’s new foldables offer serious choices in 2026.
Based on
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra review: Nice upgrades, but not quite ultra — engadget.com
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Review: Wider Really Is Better — engadget.com
- A week with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 changed my mind about foldables | The Independent — independent.co.uk
- Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 feels like the future | The Verge — theverge.com
