Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra Review: Iteration or Ideal Foldable?

Verdict: A Better Fold for Power Users, Not a Must-Upgrade for Everyone

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is a large book-style foldable phone that combines a 6.5‑inch outer screen, an 8‑inch inner display, a flagship Snapdragon chipset, and a 5,000mAh battery into a thin, premium device aimed at people who want both a phone and tablet in one. In real use, it feels like the Fold that finally makes the “Ultra” label make sense: brighter, easier to open, and with the kind of battery and camera refinements power users have been asking for. It raises the bar for foldable phone performance, but it does so in measured steps rather than dramatic leaps. If you already own the Z Fold 7, this is a tempting but not essential upgrade; if you are coming from older foldables or a flat flagship, it is one of the most convincing premium foldables you can buy at its price.

Design and Hinge: Subtle Changes, Big Difference in Hand

On paper, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra looks nearly identical to the Fold 7: 158.4 x 143.2 x 4.1mm unfolded, 158.4 x 72.8 x 8.9mm folded, and 215g. The frame is Advanced Armor Aluminum with Gorilla Glass Ceramic 3 on the front and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the back, plus IP48 protection against dust and water. Those numbers hide the practical changes. Edges are softened along the frame so the phone no longer feels sharp or “knife‑like” in the hand, making long sessions more comfortable. Samsung’s new Flex Titanium hinge uses a titanium‑alloy film and reinforced plate with a revised Flex‑in arm. The result is a smoother, more dampened fold action that needs less effort to open and close, and magnets that require about half the force compared to the Fold 7. Day to day, that means fewer awkward two‑handed opens and a more natural flip between phone and tablet modes.

Display and Performance: The First Fold That Feels Ultra

Both displays are clear upgrades over earlier models. The 6.5‑inch outer Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel runs at FHD+ with a 1–120Hz adaptive refresh rate, while the 8.0‑inch inner Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel offers QXGA+ resolution, 422ppi, and the same 1–120Hz refresh range. Crucially, both can now hit up to 3,000 nits, beating the Fold 7 and even the S26 Ultra’s 2,600‑nit panel, and a new low‑reflection finish helps keep glare under control. In bright lighting, text stays legible where older foldables start to wash out. Under the hood, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy claims gains of 21% in AI, 15% in GPU, and 16% in CPU performance over the Fold 7’s chip, and hands‑on navigation of One UI 9 on Android 17 feels as fast as any non‑folding flagship. Heavy multitasking, split‑screen use, and quick app switching play to this foldable phone’s performance strengths.

Battery, Charging, and Cameras: Real Gains with Some Persistent Weak Spots

The Z Fold 8 Ultra steps up to a 5,000mAh battery, the first time a Samsung foldable has crossed that mark, and moves from lithium‑ion to a silicon‑carbon pack for better efficiency and longevity. Charging jumps to 45W wired with a new dual‑path system and 20W wireless (with a special case needed for magnetic Qi2), addressing a long‑standing complaint about foldable endurance and refill times. The rear camera array keeps the 200MP main sensor but adds HDR in 200MP mode, upgrades the ultra‑wide to 50MP, and retains a 10MP 3x telephoto with 30x Space Zoom plus 8K30 video recording. In practice, the ultra‑wide now feels like a match for the main camera instead of an afterthought, but the 10MP telephoto remains the weak link when you push zoom, and Samsung still starts most variants at 12GB of RAM when some enthusiasts would prefer more for heavy multitasking.

Value and Ultra Strategy: Who the Fold 8 Ultra Is Really For

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra starts at USD 2,099.99 (approx. RM9,650) for 12GB RAM and 256GB storage, with 512GB and 1TB options above that. In other markets it’s listed from €2,199.00 and £1,899.00, and the full range tops out with a 16GB RAM, 1TB model. This is the clearest expression of Samsung’s Ultra strategy on a foldable: compared with the Fold 7, you are paying more for a brighter, sharper display, a larger and more advanced battery, quicker charging, and a meaningfully better ultra‑wide camera. According to one early hands‑on, “the Z Fold 8 Ultra feels like the most convincing case yet for calling a foldable an ‘Ultra’ phone without the word feeling like a marketing stretch.” The catch is that the telephoto remains average, the crease—though shallower—is still there, and the RAM ceiling only rises to 16GB on the most expensive model, which will limit its appeal for some productivity die‑hards.

• Buy the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra if you want the brightest, most legible foldable screen Samsung offers and often use your phone outdoors.
• Skip the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra if you already own a Galaxy Z Fold 7 and are not bothered by its battery life, charging speed, or ultra‑wide camera.
• Buy the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra if you multitask heavily and want a tablet‑like canvas with flagship Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy performance.
• Skip the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra if long‑range zoom quality matters more to you than having a folding tablet, since the 10MP telephoto remains the weak point.
• Buy the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra if you are coming from an older foldable or a flat flagship and want a fold that finally feels premium without feeling bulky.
• Skip the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra if you are price‑sensitive; even the base 256GB model is priced as a top‑tier flagship and the 1TB option is higher still.