Samsung has launched two distinct folding phones in July 2026: the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra and the Galaxy Z Fold8. Both devices share the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy processor, improved ultrawide cameras, brighter displays with a less pronounced crease, larger silicon‑carbon batteries, and faster charging technology.
Despite these shared improvements, the two phones represent radically different designs. The Z Fold8 Ultra is an evolutionary update that maintains a design virtually identical to the Z Fold7, featuring the same weight of 215g and similar dimensions. While it is a hair thinner when opened (4.1mm vs 4.2mm), Samsung achieved this by increasing the gap between the two halves when closed, which reportedly makes the phone easier to open. The hinge feels more refined, and the device retains Flex Mode, allowing it to open at almost any angle. Both the inner and outer screens of the Ultra remain consistent with the Z Fold7, featuring an 8‑inch 1:1 inner display and a 6.5‑inch 21:9 outer screen.
The Galaxy Z Fold8, conversely, adopts an entirely new aesthetic. It features a wide, squat, passport‑style form factor. This design includes a 5.5‑inch 16:10 outer display and a 7.6‑inch 4:3 inner screen. Weighing just 201g, it is stated to be the lightest book‑style folding phone available. With a thickness of 4.5mm when open and 9.7mm when closed, coupled with Samsung’s angular design language, the phone is described as a game changer. The Z Fold8 is noted for being more pocketable than even bar-style phones when closed and provides a wider, more comfortable keyboard experience. When opened, the 4:3 aspect ratio is beneficial for watching widescreen videos and multitasking, and it is ideal for social media and e‑book reading in portrait mode.
However, the Z Fold8 does include certain compromises compared to its Ultra counterpart. Its battery is smaller at 4,800mAh, and it features fewer, lower-resolution cameras, and it lacks a telephoto lens. Furthermore, the Z Fold8’s hinge snaps fully open past 90 degrees, eliminating Flex Mode. Both devices maintain premium build materials, including Advanced Armor Aluminum, Gorilla Glass Victus 2, and Gorilla Glass Ceramic 3, and share an IP48 rating for water and dust resistance. Neither phone supports active S Pen functionality, a feature that has been absent since the Z Fold7.
The displays on both models are praised for their vibrant colors, deep blacks, and excellent viewing angles. They reach a peak brightness of 3,000 nits and benefit from a new antireflective coating that reduces glare. Samsung’s new Flex Titanium technology significantly reduces the crease and also improves impact resistance.
Regarding the cameras, the Z Fold8 Ultra inherits the 200MP main shooter and 10MP 3x telephoto from the Z Fold7. Crucially, its 12MP ultrawide is upgraded to a 50MP sensor, leveraging technology from the Galaxy S26 Ultra. In contrast, the Z Fold8 utilizes a 50MP main camera and the same 50MP ultrawide sensor but entirely lacks any telephoto lens. The reviewer pointed out that both phones struggle with zooming beyond certain magnifications, with the Ultra struggling beyond 10x and the Z Fold8 topping out at about 4x before image quality degrades. Overall, while the Z Fold8 Ultra offers meaningful but incremental updates, the Z Fold8’s innovative design and form factor are highlighted as setting it apart.
Source: HotHardware