Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra: A powerful foldable with a big problem

Two foldables, one big question

Big foldable phones have always asked you to accept a trade-off. You get a tablet-sized screen that fits in your pocket, but the phone itself is thick, heavy, and awkward to hold when closed. Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra follows that same well-known recipe. It is a powerful, refined machine with an almost flat inner display and a premium build. But this year, Samsung also sells the Galaxy Z Fold 8, a smaller and lighter foldable that costs less money and might be more pleasant to use every day.

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra starts at $2,100. That is a lot of cash for any phone. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 starts at $1,900. For the first time, the difference between a big-screen foldable and a more compact one is not just about size. It is about which phone feels right in your hand and which one fits your life without asking you to compromise.

Size and feel: The Ultra is familiar, the Fold 8 is fresh

What this means for Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra looks and feels identical to last year's Galaxy Z Fold 7. It is the same size, the same thickness, and the same weight. That is not a bad thing. The Z Fold 7 made real improvements over the Z Fold 6, making the phone better balanced and easier to grip. But if you tried the Z Fold 7 and still did not like the tall, thin shape, the Z Fold 8 Ultra will not change your mind.

When you hold the Z Fold 8 Ultra closed, it feels a bit awkward next to the smaller Z Fold 8. The big-screen foldable shape — shared by phones like the Oppo Find N6 and Honor Magic V6 — is the compromise you have had to accept in the past. The Galaxy Z Fold 8's shape means you do not have to compromise anymore. It is smaller, lighter, and more enjoyable to use. For the first time, there is a clear, impactful difference between the two folding phones Samsung sells.

The Z Fold 8 Ultra is refined, well-made, and durable. The Z Fold 8 is all those things too, but in a smaller, more manageable package.

Screens and hinge: Refined and ready for work

One of the best things about the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is its inner screen. Samsung uses something called Flex Titanium technology, which adds a titanium film into the display stack. This really minimizes the crease and makes the screen flatter than the competition. The anti-reflective coating is also effective. Together, these features make the inner screen a joy to look at and touch.

Put the Z Fold 8 Ultra next to the Motorola Razr Fold, and the Samsung looks considerably more modern. It is the one you would want to pick up and use. The hinge remains one of the best in the business. It makes no audible sound, has a wonderful motion, and small tweaks to the phone's shape make it easier to open and close.

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra has an 8-inch inner display when open and a 6.5-inch cover screen when closed. Both run at a 120Hz refresh rate. The inner screen resolution is 2256 x 2504, and the cover screen is 2520 x 1080.

Specs and cameras: Plenty of power, one weak point

Inside the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, you will find the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy chipset. That is the most powerful processor Samsung can put in a phone. You can choose between 12GB or 16GB of RAM, and storage options are 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB. The battery is 5,000mAh, and it supports 45W Super Fast Charging 2.0 as well as wireless charging.

The camera setup is serious. On the back, there is a 200MP main camera, a 50MP wide camera, and a 10MP 3x telephoto camera. On the front, you get a 10MP main selfie camera and a 10MP cover camera. The phone runs Android 17 with Samsung's One UI 9 on top.

Despite all this power, the phone weighs only 215 grams. It measures 158 x 143 x 4.1mm when open and 158 x 73 x 8.9mm when closed. It comes in Violet Shadow, Graphite, Cream, or an online-exclusive Green Shadow color. The frame is made of Armor Aluminum.

The problem: A smaller sibling steals the spotlight

Not everything about the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is perfect. The telephoto camera disappoints. Samsung's Galaxy AI features are still niche and not something most people will use every day. And the phone does not have built-in Qi2 wireless charging, which is a strange omission at this price.

The biggest issue, though, is the Galaxy Z Fold 8 itself. Sales numbers already show that the smaller Z Fold 8 has overshadowed the Ultra. People are choosing the lighter, more pocket-friendly phone over the bigger one. If you are spending $2,100 or more on a phone, you should be sure that the size works for you. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is a powerful flagship, but the Galaxy Z Fold 8 offers a similar experience in a package that is easier to live with.

If you are outside the US, you also have alternatives like the Oppo Find N6 and Honor Magic V6. Inside the US, the Motorola Razr Fold and the Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold are worth considering.

Which foldable should you buy

Deciding between the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and the Galaxy Z Fold 8 comes down to one thing: how you want to use a foldable phone. If you want the biggest screen possible, the most powerful processor, and the best camera hardware, the Ultra is the obvious choice. But if you want a foldable that feels natural in your hand, fits easily in your pocket, and costs $200 less, the standard Galaxy Z Fold 8 might be the better phone for you.

This is the first time Samsung has given buyers a real choice between two different foldable shapes. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is not a bad phone. It is refined, powerful, and well-made. But its biggest competitor is sitting right next to it on the store shelf. Before you spend $2,100, go to a store and hold both phones. Your hands will tell you which one is right.

For more help choosing your next phone, check out our best phones guide or use our phone finder tool. You can also compare models with our phone comparison tool.