Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra Review: The Classic Fold Refined, Not Reinvented

Verdict: A Superb Foldable Phone That Now Has Tougher Competition

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is Samsung’s premium foldable phone that keeps the classic tall-and-slim Fold shape while adding a stronger hinge, brighter displays, and better durability for people who want a phone-tablet hybrid with few performance compromises.

Bottom line: the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is still one of the best large book-style foldables you can buy, but it is no longer the obvious choice. It shares the same anti-reflective inner display, titanium hinge, and premium structural materials as the cheaper Z Fold 8, yet starts at USD 2,099.99 (approx. RM9,700). You pay more mainly to keep the older, narrower Samsung foldable design rather than to gain many exclusive features. If you like the phone-like feel of past Folds and want the most polished big-screen experience, this Ultra delivers. If you are value-conscious or tempted by the wider new Z Fold 8, the standard model offers most of the magic for less.

Design and Durability: Classic Shape, Modern Reinforcement

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra sticks to the tall-and-skinny silhouette of previous Folds, while the standard Galaxy Z Fold 8 pivots to a shorter, wider “passport” style. That means the Ultra still feels like a slim phone when closed and an 8-inch tablet when opened, which many long-time Fold users prefer for one-handed use. Samsung reinforces this familiar shell with an Advanced Armor Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Ceramic 3 on the front, and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the rear.

The hinge is where the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra meaningfully moves forward. A new titanium hinge system lets the device unfold with a more satisfying snap and reduces the depth and visibility of the crease on the inner display. Combined with a dual-layer Flex Titanium structure under the panel, the crease shifts from "glaring trench" to subtle seam. However, “a week in, that crease doesn't seem quite as stealthy as it did out of the box,” raising reasonable questions about long-term wear. You also get IP48 resistance, which protects against immersion and larger dust particles but still demands care around sand.

Displays and Everyday Experience: Ultra Screens, Divisive Shapes

Any foldable phone review lives or dies by its screens, and the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra excels here. The cover display is a 6.5-inch 120Hz AMOLED at full HD resolution, fast and responsive enough to be a primary screen rather than a compromise. Inside, an 8.0-inch AMOLED with 2504 x 2256 resolution and 120Hz refresh offers tablet-class space for multi-window work, gaming, and long reading sessions. Both panels can hit 3,000 nits, and Samsung gives you granular controls for color modes, brightness, and how apps move between screens.

The new anti-reflective coating on the inner display is a major refinement; paired with the updated hinge, it cuts glare and makes the crease less intrusive in daily swipes. Yet the Ultra’s tall aspect ratio still differs from the standard Z Fold 8’s 4:3 style, which “is better suited for video playback than the tall-and-skinny design.” Some reviewers dispute Samsung’s claim that the wider cover screen is ideal for social feeds, but there is no question it changes how apps fit and how easily the device slips into pockets. By contrast, the Ultra’s narrower front screen feels more like a familiar phone, even if it is less cinematic for media.

Performance, Battery, and the Z Fold 8 Comparison

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 line shares a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 platform that borders on overkill. On the standard Z Fold 8, it posts Geekbench 6 scores of 3,136 (single-core) and 8,975 (multi-core), and it maxes out the 3DMark Wild Life Extreme test, which declares, “Your device is too powerful for this test.” The Ultra rides that same wave of headroom, giving you ample power for multi-window work, console-level mobile games, and intensive AI features without visible slowdown.

Battery behavior is similarly close. The Z Fold 8 carries a 4,800mAh silicon-carbon pack, lasting 16 hours and 3 minutes in a 1080p Wi‑Fi streaming test at max brightness. The Ultra bumps capacity to 5,000mAh, which should translate into slightly better endurance in like-for-like use, especially with that 8-inch panel. Storage and RAM tiers underline the price spread: the Z Fold 8 starts at USD 1,899.99 (approx. RM8,800) with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage, stepping up to USD 2,099.99 (approx. RM9,700) for 512GB and USD 2,499.99 (approx. RM11,600) for 16GB/1TB. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, meanwhile, starts at USD 2,099.99 (approx. RM9,700). You are paying a clear premium over the base Fold 8 for shape preference and a slightly larger battery, not radically different specs.

Buy if / Skip if

• Buy the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra if you prefer the classic tall-and-narrow Samsung foldable design and want it paired with Samsung’s latest hinge and display tech.
• Skip the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra if you want the most media-friendly aspect ratio and easier pocketability, since the wider Z Fold 8’s 4:3 style better suits video and some apps.
• Buy the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra if you are a power user who will use the 8-inch inner screen for serious multitasking, gaming, and AI features on a daily basis.
• Skip the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra if you care about Flex Mode; the new hinge no longer holds at all angles, so angled tabletop use is limited.
• Buy the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra if you value durability upgrades like the titanium hinge, anti-reflective coating, and reinforced frame, and you are willing to pay for the most premium foldable phone feel.
• Skip the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra if you are price-sensitive, because the Z Fold 8 offers nearly the same core hardware and structural design for less money.