Holding the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 in my hands, I realize it is the closest device to what the iPhone Ultra will be, Apple's foldable we will see on September 9. The question is not only whether the iPhone Ultra will be good enough to revive the entire foldable category, but whether it can surpass the level set by Samsung and other competitors. Apple enters this market years late, allowing Samsung, Google, Huawei, Motorola, and Oppo to perfect their technologies, creating thin, light, and powerful devices with excellent screens, long battery life, and high-quality cameras.
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 is not the best in its category: it is not the thinnest, does not have the longest battery life, and only has two rear cameras. However, its passport-like shape when closed makes it unique and appealing. When opened, it offers a screen almost as large as those on other foldables, but with an unusual 4:3 aspect ratio. This design is intentional: Samsung wants to bridge the gap between its more fashionable Galaxy Z Flip and the more powerful, productivity-focused Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra.
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Samsung's Sales Remain a Niche in the Foldable Market
Despite the excitement, foldable sales are still a drop in the ocean compared to traditional smartphones. Estimates suggest the entire Z8 line from Samsung (Fold, Flip, and Ultra) could sell between 4 and 5 million units. These numbers pale in comparison to the 37 million iPhone 16 pre-orders in 2024 or the 77 million iPhones sold in December of that year alone. The industry hopes that the arrival of the iPhone Ultra will open the floodgates of the foldable market to millions of users who have been waiting for Apple. But this hope relies on the assumption that the iPhone Ultra will be significantly better than Samsung's products, which it probably will not be.
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The iPhone Ultra is likely to be an excellent smartphone, but Samsung has almost perfected the art of the fold. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra unfolds flat, has a nearly creaseless screen, and is as light and thin as a traditional flagship, while offering twice the utility. Apple, according to rumors, will produce a foldable very similar in shape to the Z Fold 8, with two rear cameras and no telephoto lens. This is not surprising, as Apple is rumored to use Samsung Display's foldable screens. Specs include a 5.5-inch cover display and 7.8-inch inner display, an aluminum and titanium frame, and a thickness of 4.5 mm, identical to the Z Fold 8. The main difference could be the use of a liquid metal hinge to eliminate the crease entirely, although the Z Fold 8 Ultra has already made it nearly invisible.
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The Real Weapon of the iPhone Ultra Might Be the A20 Chip and Apple Ecosystem
The iPhone Ultra's edge could be performance: the A20 chip with 12GB of RAM and Apple's own C2 modem. This could make it the fastest foldable, though the average user might not notice the difference. Some analysts believe Apple does not need to create the best foldable; it simply needs to deliver it to a willing market. How many people have delayed buying a foldable because Apple did not offer one? Potentially millions, and if so, Apple's brand appeal could grow the foldable phone market to unprecedented levels.
In this context, it is interesting to note how other tech giants are facing similar challenges. For instance, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang recently interrupted an all-hands meeting for a call with President Trump, an episode showing how politics can influence tech companies. Additionally, Apple launched the new Mac mini with the M6 chip but skipped the Pro and Max variants to accelerate the M7 arrival, a strategy reminiscent of Apple's own product plans. These events, though different, show how companies balance innovation and time-to-market. For more insights, you can read about how Nvidia handled a similar situation or how Apple is accelerating its chip development. Also, if you are interested in how foldables could revolutionize the market, check out our article on how X dismantled a Chinese bot farm pushing anti-AI content, an example of how technological challenges intersect with cybersecurity.
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