The new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is here and it promises to raise the bar for foldable smartphones. After testing it for several days, we can confirm it's a significant upgrade over the Galaxy Z Fold 7, though not without some drawbacks. With an 8-inch display peaking at 2,687 nits, a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy chip, and a 5,000 mAh battery, Samsung has gone all-out on Ultra specs. However, the price starts at $2,099 and S Pen support is still missing. Here's the full review.
5,000 mAh battery: a game-changer for Samsung foldables
One of the historical issues with Samsung foldables has been battery life, but the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra changes that dramatically. The 5,000 mAh battery, same as the Galaxy S26 Ultra, delivered 14 hours and 33 minutes in our web surfing test over 5G at 150 nits brightness. That's nearly four hours more than the Z Fold 7 and over two hours more than the Z Fold 8. The 45W fast charging reached 76% in 30 minutes, beating Samsung's 70% claim. Qi2.2 wireless charging now supports up to 20W. This improvement is crucial for all-day use. For context, we also tested Starlink 4G satellite connectivity on a phone in a dead zone, showing how infrastructure is evolving.
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Top-tier performance: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy shines
For the first time, Samsung has installed the custom "for Galaxy" chip in a foldable, and the results are impressive. In Geekbench 6, the Z Fold 8 Ultra scored 3,733 single-core and 11,457 multi-core, easily beating the Z Fold 7 (3,052 and 9,735). Graphics performance on 3DMark Solar Bay Unlimited hit 12,950 points at 49.24 fps, compared to 10,812 on the Z Fold 7. Playing PUBG Mobile at max settings was smooth and the phone stayed cool. AI performance improved 17% over the Z Fold 7. The Galaxy S26 Ultra is still slightly faster, but for a foldable the gap is minimal.
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2,687 nit display: the brightest we have ever tested
The 8-inch AMOLED main display with 2184x1968 resolution and 1-120Hz adaptive refresh rate is simply the best on the market. We measured a peak brightness of 2,687 nits, surpassing the Google Pixel 10 Pro XL (2,555 nits) and becoming the brightest phone we have ever tested. The anti-reflective coating improves outdoor visibility: we used the phone in direct sunlight and with sunglasses without issues. The crease is reduced, though not eliminated. The difference from the Z Fold 7 (2,245 nits) and iPhone 17 Pro Max (1,281 nits) is staggering.
Cameras: excellent 200MP main sensor, but telephoto disappoints
The camera setup includes a 200MP main sensor, 50MP ultrawide, and 10MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom. Daylight photos are sharp and well-exposed with natural colors. However, the telephoto struggles in low light and the lack of a periscope zoom is noticeable against competitors. The 10MP front camera and 10MP internal camera are fine for video calls. Overall, cameras are good but not Ultra-level. For those considering alternatives, we explained why you should not buy a Google Pixel right now due to imminent Pixel 11 launch.
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Design and build: IP48 and premium materials, but no S Pen
Visually, the Z Fold 8 Ultra closely resembles the Z Fold 7, with nearly identical dimensions: folded 158.4 x 72.8 x 8.9 mm, unfolded 143.2 x 158.4 x 4.2 mm, weight 215 grams. IP48 rating offers dust and water resistance up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes. Materials are premium with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and aluminum frame. However, S Pen support is absent, a feature many expected from an Ultra device. Moreover, the price increased by $100 over the Z Fold 7, marking the third consecutive price hike.
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Price and availability: $2,099 starting August 7, 2026
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra will be available from August 7, 2026, starting at $2,099 ( £1,899, AU$2,999) for the 256GB/12GB RAM model. 512GB and 1TB (with 16GB RAM) variants are also available. Colors include Violet Shadow, Cream, Graphite, and Violet Green (online exclusive). The high price makes it a niche product, but for those seeking the best foldable, this is the one to get.
For more details, visit Samsung's official page or read our related reviews on Starlink 4G and Pixel 11 launch.
Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/phones/samsung-phones/samsung-galaxy-z-fold-8-ultra-review
