Samsung has officially unveiled its latest flagship foldable smartphone, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, during its recent Unpacked event. This new device, alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Flip 8, represents a significant leap forward in foldable technology, aiming to solidify Samsung's position at the forefront of the market. The Ultra model is presented as the true successor to last year's Galaxy Z Fold 7, addressing previous criticisms by offering substantial upgrades in design, battery performance, camera technology, and artificial intelligence integration. It stands as Samsung's most premium foldable offering, designed for users seeking the ultimate mobile experience.
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra introduces a refined design that emphasizes both aesthetics and durability. Building upon the slim profile of its predecessor, the device measures a mere 4.1mm when unfolded, making it even thinner while maintaining an 8.9mm folded thickness. Despite its advanced features, it retains a manageable weight of 215g. A key improvement is the new Armor Flex Hinge, which boasts a 20% wider opening gap and a subtle lip for easier grip, directly addressing user feedback regarding the difficulty of unfolding previous models. Furthermore, the innovative Flex Titanium display structure, featuring an ultra-thin titanium alloy film and support plate, significantly reduces the visual crease and enhances the screen's resilience. The phone is available in a variety of sophisticated colors, including Violet Shadow, Graphite, Cream, and an exclusive Green Shadow for online purchases.
A major enhancement in the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is its significantly improved battery performance. Moving away from the 4,400mAh battery and 25W charging of older models, the Ultra now features a robust 5,000mAh battery complemented by faster 45W wired charging, capable of reaching 65% charge in just 30 minutes. This upgrade translates to an impressive 14% longer battery life compared to the Galaxy Z Fold 6, with up to 27 hours of video playback. Notably, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, along with its siblings, is among the first Samsung phones to incorporate silicon-carbon batteries, marking a pivotal advancement in power technology. Powering this device is the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy processor, supported by options of 12GB or 16GB RAM and storage capacities ranging from 256GB to 1TB, depending on the region.
The display technology in the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra also sees considerable improvements. The 8-inch inner OLED panel now achieves an astounding 3,000-nit peak brightness and a pixel density of 442 ppi, delivering vibrant and sharp visuals. An anti-reflective coating on the inner screen minimizes glare, although the 6.5-inch cover display does not share this enhancement. Samsung highlights that the unfolded display offers a workspace equivalent to two 6.5-inch phones side-by-side, underscoring its multitasking capabilities. However, users anticipating S Pen compatibility may be disappointed, as this feature remains absent from the new model.
Photography enthusiasts will appreciate the substantial camera upgrades in the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra. Samsung has equipped this model with the same rear camera sensors found in the Galaxy S26 Ultra, featuring a powerful 200MP main camera, a 50MP ultrawide sensor, and a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. For selfies and video calls, there's a 10MP camera on both the main and cover displays. Beyond the hardware, new software features like Nightography Video, Super Steady with Horizontal Lock, APV codec support, Cine LUT presets for Pro Video mode, 8K recording and editing, and My FanCam for automatic subject tracking enhance the video experience. The redesigned camera island now mirrors the aesthetic of the Galaxy S26 Ultra, giving it a premium look.
Samsung continues to position its foldable devices as a prime platform for Galaxy AI. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra integrates advanced AI functionalities, including Now Nudge with Multi-Window, which intelligently suggests opening relevant apps based on user activity, such as displaying a calendar when a time-related message is received. The device also features Gemini Intelligence for task automation, capable of executing over 40 actions across various applications without manual switching, making it one of the first phones to launch with this capability. Additionally, Gemini Notebook, previously known as NotebookLM, comes pre-installed, offering enhanced note-taking and organization. These AI features are designed to streamline workflows and enhance productivity on the large foldable screen.
For those considering the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, it's important to understand how it differentiates itself from the standard Galaxy Z Fold 8, which was also launched. While both are book-style foldables, the Ultra is specifically designed as the premium, no-compromise option. The standard Galaxy Z Fold 8 is wider and lighter at 201g, with a 5.5-inch cover display optimized for short-form content and a 7.6-inch internal display. It features a smaller 4,800mAh battery and a dual 50MP rear camera setup, in contrast to the Ultra's advanced 200MP system. Both models share the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, 45W charging, and Galaxy AI features, but the Ultra clearly takes the lead in camera prowess, battery capacity, and overall premium hardware, catering to users who demand the very best from their foldable device.
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is priced starting at $2,099.99 for the 12GB/256GB model in the US, marking a $100 increase from its predecessor. The Galaxy Z Fold 8, positioned as a more accessible alternative, begins at $1,899.99. Both phones are available for preorder in a range of colors, with the Ultra offered in Violet Shadow, Graphite, Cream, and an online-exclusive Green Shadow. Early buyers can benefit from several promotions, including six months of the Google AI Pro plan with preorders of either new foldable, as well as trade-in offers and other regional deals. For instance, in the US, Samsung is offering up to $1,200 in savings with an eligible trade-in or up to $200 without a trade-in for preorders on Samsung.com, making the latest foldable technology more attainable for interested consumers.
