Samsung’s Z Fold 8 Ultra: Familiar Features, Enhanced Experience

What sets the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra apart? Unlike what you might expect from a device sporting the Ultra name, this isn’t just a beefed-up version of the standard Fold 8. While the Z Fold 8 is more compact and wide, the Fold 8 Ultra keeps the sleek outer display and square inner screen design of its predecessors. It does come with a significantly improved triple rear camera setup and a slightly larger battery. However, it lacks S Pen support and the Privacy Display feature, which means it doesn’t quite match the Ultra status of the Galaxy S26 Ultra.

When you stack it against last year’s Z Fold 7, the enhancements become more apparent. Samsung has made strides in display quality, battery life, charging speed, camera capabilities, chipset performance, and even the crease design. Most of these upgrades are incremental, but collectively, they create a compelling package.

Is it truly Ultra? That’s up for debate, but what’s clear is that this phone is a notable upgrade from last year’s model, albeit at a $100 higher price point, and it offers a different experience compared to its wider counterpart. Samsung will be hoping this is enough to compete with the anticipated foldable iPhone from Apple.

When closed, the Z Fold 8 Ultra features a 6.5-inch cover screen that’s taller and slimmer than most smartphones. Open it up, and you’re greeted with an 8-inch flexible display that has a nearly square aspect ratio. At first glance, distinguishing it from the Z Fold 7 might be tricky; it shares the same dimensions, shape, and weight, with only a slight reduction in thickness to 4.1mm when open. The camera placements are identical, and the new color options—dark grey, cream, purple, and green—are the main visual differentiators between the two generations.

Samsung claims that while the Z Fold 8 is tailored for content consumption, the taller Ultra model is better suited for productivity. The added vertical space is beneficial for multitasking, like cross-referencing documents or managing multiple inboxes. Personally, I find the larger inner display more appealing for video watching, so I’d lean towards the Z Fold 8, but I can appreciate the advantages of the extra screen real estate. I managed to write two articles for my food newsletter during flights using the Z Fold 8 Ultra’s on-screen keyboard—something I wouldn’t attempt with a standard phone or even the smaller Z Fold 8.

Both displays are brighter than their predecessors, now reaching a peak brightness of 3,000 nits, making outdoor use much easier. The inner screen also benefits from a new anti-reflective coating and a resolution bump to 2256 x 2504.

Samsung has also revamped the main screen’s internals, incorporating a new titanium alloy film and a flexible titanium plate. These changes make the foldable screen thinner and more durable, and combined with the anti-reflective coating, they help minimize the visibility and feel of the crease. When viewed head-on, it’s nearly invisible, although it can still catch the light at certain angles. While Oppo’s approach in the Find N6, which uses 3D printing to fill gaps in the hinge, seems more effective at eliminating the crease, most users likely won’t find this version particularly bothersome.

The standout upgrade this year is the battery. For the first time, Samsung has implemented silicon-carbon battery technology, allowing for a higher-capacity battery in the same space. The Z Fold 8 Ultra now boasts a 5,000mAh battery, up from 4,400mAh last year, all while being slightly thinner. It easily lasts a full day, even with several hours of use on the inner screen, often leaving me with 30 to 40 percent battery by bedtime.

The larger battery is complemented by faster charging options—45W wired and 20W wireless—though it remains only Qi2 Ready, meaning it lacks built-in charging magnets and requires a Qi2 case for optimal wireless charging speeds. This design choice helps maintain its slim profile, which could be a worthwhile trade-off.

An IP68 rating is another notable absence; the Z Fold 8 Ultra has an IP48 rating, providing decent water resistance but limited dust protection. S Pen support was dropped in last year’s Z Fold 7, and it remains absent here. Additionally, there’s no sign of the impressive Privacy Display technology introduced in the S26 Ultra.

The camera setup is where the Z Fold 8 Ultra really distinguishes itself from the standard Z Fold 8. Aside from the shared 50-megapixel, f/1.9 ultrawide lens, the Ultra features a superior 200-megapixel main camera that excels in detail and light capture. The addition of a 10-megapixel, 3x telephoto lens adds versatility that the regular Fold 8 lacks. While it may not compete with the best telephoto lenses from brands like Vivo and Xiaomi, having that option makes the camera system more flexible. However, I wouldn’t recommend pushing the zoom much beyond its 3x optical range, as noise becomes noticeable beyond 6x.

There’s a commendable consistency across the three lenses in most conditions, although the ultrawide can sometimes produce slightly different results—often more muted, though occasionally it delivers the most vibrant shot. Low-light performance is generally good across all lenses, but they tend to overexpose the night sky and create flare around bright lights.

Samsung’s software updates this year are relatively minor. There’s a new feature called My FanCam, which uses AI to crop videos around a specific person. Google’s Gemini Intelligence for task automation is supported but not yet available in all regions, limiting my ability to test it. The Nudge feature, Samsung’s version of Pixel Magic Cue, has been updated to suggest helpful actions in split-screen mode, but I didn’t encounter it during my week of use, even while using Samsung Keyboard, which some reports suggest is necessary for it to activate.

Overall, I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the Z Fold 8 Ultra. I expected it to struggle against the recent strong offerings from competitors, but it holds its own—especially since it’s available in the US. While its cameras may not quite match those of Oppo and Honor, and the absence of S Pen support and Privacy Display raises questions about its Ultra designation, for fans of the tall, square foldable design, this is a solid successor to the Z Fold 7. The significantly larger battery alone justifies the $100 price increase.

As for which of Samsung’s two Z Fold 8 models I’d choose this year, I’m torn—I’d love to see the Z Fold 8’s form factor combined with the Ultra’s camera capabilities. But that indecision speaks to the fact that either choice is a strong one.