Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra Review: An Upgrade with Minor Improvements
The new foldable phone retains its design while offering enhancements in battery and display technology.
1No Major Design Changes
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra features nearly identical design to its predecessor, maintaining the same thickness, weight, and feel. Expected rounded-edge design didn't materialize, keeping the classic form factor. However, the new hinge system allows the device to open completely flat, offering improved usability over previous models.
2Battery Technology Advancements
Utilizing silicon-carbon battery tech, the Z Fold 8 Ultra packs a larger 5,000mAh battery in the same chassis size. The addition of 45W fast charging improves daily usage. While these are notable improvements, they may not fully justify the $2,099 price tag for many consumers considering the minimal external changes.
3Display Quality Enhancements
While maintaining 6.5-inch outer and 8.0-inch inner display sizes, Samsung increased brightness levels. The inner display now features anti-reflective coating and higher resolution (2504 x 2256), significantly improving outdoor visibility. The crease is less noticeable than previous models, though still not completely invisible like some competitors.
4Hardware Performance
Equipped with the latest Qualcomm chipset, 12GB RAM, and 256GB storage, the device delivers strong performance. However, the foldable form factor introduces thermal constraints leading to throttling during extended gaming sessions. This thermal limitation is common across all foldables, not unique to Samsung's implementation.
5Camera System Shortcomings
While featuring a 200MP main camera and new 50MP wide-angle lens, the 10MP telephoto lens remains unchanged since Galaxy S21 days. The device shows noticeable detail loss at 3x zoom and beyond, falling behind competitors like Vivo X Fold 5 and Find N6. The outdated telephoto lens particularly affects portrait photography quality.
6Design Flaw: Wobble Issue
The left-aligned camera module causes persistent wobble when using the device on flat surfaces. While competitors have switched to center-aligned cameras, Samsung persists with this unpopular design choice. The IP48 rating for dust/water resistance also lags behind the IP68 standard offered by rivals.
7Single SIM Support
The Z Fold 8 Ultra includes only one physical SIM slot, requiring eSIM for secondary lines. While connectivity performance remains solid, the single SIM design may limit some users. The decision to maintain 256GB as base storage instead of downgrading to 128GB is a positive for potential buyers.
8Position in Competitive Market
Samsung's slower adoption of certain technologies compared to Chinese competitors is noticeable. Features like advanced hinge mechanisms that took Samsung 8 years to develop have been surpassed by rivals in 3-4 years. The price-to-performance ratio raises questions about the device's competitiveness in today's foldable market.
9Verdict: Evolutionary Upgrade
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra delivers noticeable but incremental improvements over its predecessor. However, these enhancements don't fully justify the premium price point. Samsung will need more radical innovations to maintain its foldable market leadership. For current Z Fold 7 owners, this doesn't represent a must-have upgrade.