GoKawiilPaul Jones / Android Authority
Last year’s Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 was a remarkably well-built phone, with the lack of S Pen support perhaps being the only blemish on a notably upgraded hardware package. Still, spec enthusiasts were perhaps left wondering whether the $2,000 asking price was too steep, given that the less expensive Galaxy S25 Ultra and now the Galaxy S26 Ultra offer faster charging, longer battery life, and superior camera specs.
Samsung appears to have heard the call. For those clamoring for even more hardware, we now have two booklet Samsung foldables to pick from — the Z Fold 8 and Z Fold 8 Ultra. Perhaps the only drawback is that this means the regular Z Fold 8 missed out on a few series staples (like the telephoto camera), and the price of the Ultra has gone up, making Samsung’s best hardware even more expensive.
Let’s dig into the differences to see which of the two new Folds is the better buy. For an overview, I’ve included a full specs table of the Galaxy Z Fold 7, Z Fold 8, and Z Fold 8 Ultra. Model Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra Galaxy Z Fold 8 Galaxy Z Fold 7 Display Size 8.0 inches, QHD+ 7.6 inches, QHD+ 8.0 inches Display Brightness 3000 nits (peak) 3000 nits (peak) 2600 nits (peak) Front Display 6.5 inches, QHD+ 5.5 inches, QHD+ 6.5 inches, QHD+ SoC Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy RAM 12 GB (up to 16 GB on 512GB/1TB) 12 GB 12 GB (up to 16 GB on 1TB) Storage 256 / 512 GB, 1TB 256 / 512 GB, 1TB 256 / 512 GB, 1TB Main Camera 200 MP, f/1.7, 24mm, 1/1.3-inch 50 MP, f/1.9 200 MP, f/1.7, 24mm, 1/1.3-inch Ultrawide Camera 50 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 1/2.5-inch 50 MP, f/1.8 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 1/2.55-inch Telephoto Camera 10 MP, f/2.4, 67mm, 1/3.94-inch (3x zoom) N/A 10 MP, f/2.4, 67mm, 1/3.94-inch (3x zoom) Battery 5,000 mAh 4,800 mAh 4,400 mAh Charging Power 45W (65% in 30 min) 45W (65% in 30 min) 25W (50% in 30 min) S Pen No No No Weight 215 g 201 g 215 g
Are the camera upgrades worth it?
Paul Jones / Android Authority
During our Galaxy Z Fold 8 briefing, Samsung was keen to point out that the Ultra model now uses the same sensors as the Galaxy S26 Ultra, hinting at truly game-changing photography capabilities.
In truth, the Z Fold 7 already shared a good deal of its mainstream flagship’s best camera features — namely, the 200MP primary sensor and the 10MP 3x telephoto lens. This year’s big upgrade, then, is in the ultrawide package, which jumps from 12MP to 50MP, though you’ll still get 12MP snaps.
It’s worth noting that the sensor size isn’t really any larger, and the lens apertures remain the same. The new ultrawide sensor might improve performance through newer HDR techniques and improved manufacturing, but I’d lean towards incremental rather than a massive overhaul.
While snapping better ultrawide pics is obviously a nice win, I would have preferred to see a more meaningful upgrade to the comparatively tiny 1/3.94-inch telephoto camera. Even in the Galaxy S26 Ultra, the small sensor has several limitations compared to the larger, 200MP sensors that have proven their performance in China’s best Ultra flagships. Perhaps Samsung never intended to introduce a brand new sensor for the Fold series, but this is an area I think the brand needs to seriously look into to improve its flagship photography versatility.
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