• 4 min read
Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra adds battery and screen upgrades
Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra adds a 5,000-mAh battery, brighter anti-reflective display and 45W charging, but starts at $2,100.
Image: CNET
Samsung’s first Ultra foldable, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, keeps the book-style design of last year’s Galaxy Z Fold 7 while adding a larger battery, brighter display and faster charging. Samsung announced three new folding phones at its Galaxy Unpacked event; the standard Fold 8 uses an all-new wide-fold design, while the Ultra is the direct successor to the Fold 7.
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra succeeds the Galaxy Z Fold 7 with a thinner design when folded. Prakhar Khanna/CNET
The Fold 8 Ultra is roughly the same size and weight as the Fold 7, but it is 1 millimeter slimmer when unfolded. Its slightly slimmer sides leave a small gap when the phone is closed, making it easier to open than the Fold 7's flush, flat-sided design.
Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra display and design changes
Both phones have a 6.5-inch AMOLED cover screen and an 8-inch AMOLED folding display, each with a variable refresh rate of up to 120Hz. The Ultra’s inner display reaches 3,000 nits, compared with 2,600 nits on the Fold 7, and adds a matte finish with an anti-reflective coating.
Recommended reading
Xiaomi’s 67W power bank arrives in India
That coating makes a clear difference under direct indoor light, according to CNET’s hands-on testing. The Fold 7 was more affected by glare, while the Ultra remained easier to read outdoors and in harsh lighting.
Side by side of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra (left) and the Z Fold 7. Prakhar Khanna/CNET
Samsung has also reduced the visible crease. The company says a new display structure combines titanium-alloy film with an enhanced titanium plate to strengthen the panel and balance hinge mechanics, display tension and magnetic force.
“Hinge mechanics, display tension and magnetic force to make unfolding feel smoother, lighter and more natural.”
While closed, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and the Galaxy Z Fold 7 use their 6.5-inch displays. Prakhar Khanna/CNET
Both models carry an IP48 rating. That means they can survive being submerged in water for at least 30 minutes, but they are not dust-tight and do not protect against particles smaller than 1 millimeter. The Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold and Honor Magic V6 offer stronger dust protection.
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra uses an 8-inch screen when unfolded. Prakhar Khanna/CNET
Snapdragon chip and 5,000-mAh battery
The Ultra uses Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, replacing the Fold 7's Snapdragon 8 Elite. Both phones offer 256GB, 512GB and 1TB storage options. The 256GB and 512GB versions have 12GB of RAM, while the 1TB model has 16GB. Samsung says the Ultra has more internal space for heat dissipation and improved thermal management.
The bigger hardware change is the battery. Samsung is using silicon-carbon anode technology for the first time, increasing capacity from 4,400 mAh to 5,000 mAh. Wired charging also rises from 25 watts to 45 watts. Chinese competitors such as Oppo and Honor offer folding phones with batteries larger than 6,000 mAh, but the Ultra’s upgrade should make a full day more attainable.
Both phones support Qi wireless charging, but neither includes built-in magnets. A separate magnetic case is required for Qi2 chargers and other magnetic accessories.
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and Z Fold 7 both include a 200-megapixel wide camera. Prakhar Khanna/CNET
Cameras, software and pricing
The camera system is largely unchanged. Both phones feature a 200-megapixel main camera, a 10-megapixel telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom, and a 10-megapixel internal-screen camera. The Ultra upgrades the ultrawide sensor from 12 megapixels to 50 megapixels. Both models record 8K video at 30 frames per second.
The Ultra adds support for the APV codec and a Cine LUT, giving creators more control over cinematic color and tone during mobile editing and production.
The Fold 7 launched with Android 16, while the Fold 8 Ultra ships with Android 17 and One UI 9. Samsung will update the Fold 7 to Android 17 with One UI 9. Both support Samsung’s Galaxy AI features and Gemini, including AI Select, Gallery’s object eraser and Now Nudge, which can suggest actions from on-screen information. For example, an invitation in Messages can trigger a Calendar pop-up with the relevant date, time and address.
CNET found Samsung’s demonstrated agentic AI feature unreliable, including a Gemini workflow intended to book a hotel from an on-screen photo of the Eiffel Tower. The Ultra is promised seven years of software updates, while the Fold 7 has six more years remaining.
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra starts at $2,100 in the US for 256GB, rising to $2,300 for 512GB and $2,700 for 1TB. UK pricing starts at £1,899, while Australian pricing starts at AU$2,999. The Fold 7 remains a capable alternative, particularly when available at a rare discount.
Gadgets Editor
Eli is obsessed with the tangible future. He reviews phones, wearables, and everything with a battery. Known for his rigorous testing protocols and unabashed teardowns, Eli has broken more review units than he cares to admit, all in the name of discovering the truth about durability and repairability.
via CNET
