Samsung tests new shapes and materials for a more durable and immersive Galaxy Z Fold 8 line-up
Samsung has revealed three new foldable models, including the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, and an all-new shape for the standard Z Fold 8.
The Galaxy Unpacked launch, which also included a new Flip 8, included many new features, such as a new durable titanium structure and more on-device AI tools and capabilities.
Of the three new models, the Z Fold 8 Ultra is the biggest and highest-spec’d. Folded, it looks like a standard phone thanks to an ever-decreasing thickness (5.9mm folded, 4.1 mm unfolded).
It has a 6.5in cover display and opens up to an 8in main display, which is essentially two 6.5in screens side by side.
On first impression, the Z Fold 8 Ultra is better in every way than before. It’s slightly thinner and somehow stronger.
This is thanks to a new titanium structure beneath the display that includes a panel and plate that reinforce the folding mechanisms and make it stronger and more durable than before, while maintaining its thin, streamlined look.
Beneath those titanium additions is a 5000mAh battery that promises 27 hours of video playback and 45w fast charge with 67% in just 30 minutes.
You get five camera lenses on the 8 Ultra, with a 10MP selfie lens on the cover display, a 10MP lens on the main display, and then three cameras on the rear of the device: A 200MP wide lens, a 50MP ultrawide one, and a 10MP telephoto lens.
From our brief experience ahead of its launch, we found the camera setup on the Fold 8 Ultra to be very crisp and dynamic.
Powering all of this is the Qualcomm Snapdragon Elite 8 chip (CPU, NPU, GPU), and that is the case for all three new models. It’s also been customised for Samsung’s OS to provide more on-device AI tools, like the new ‘Now Nudge’ feature, which is like an information overlay that was launched in beta on the S26.
It takes contextual information from apps and offers suggestions via the keyboard – similar to predictive text. It can appear across multiple parts of the screen or in a more subtle way called ‘Ambient Nudge ‘ or simply ‘Notification Nudge’.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Flip 8
(Image credit: Future)
Now Nudge is also on the new Z Fold 8, which comes in a distinctive new shape. It’s a slightly wider, more square design compared to the Ultra. Similar to Huawei’s Pura X smartphone, but much bigger.
When unfolded, it has a 4:3 aspect ratio (3:4 in portrait), which is more suited to the types of content we consume, according to Samsung. So reels and scrolling video content can be viewed in their entirety.
Folded, the 8 has a 10.16in cover display and looks very square. And it unfolds to a 7.6in main display – almost an inch smaller than the Ultra, but arguably a more content-friendly size.
The other differences from the Ultra are a slightly smaller battery at 4,800mAh, and no telephoto lens. Instead, you have a pair of 50MP lenses, one wide and the other ultrawide. It still promises 26 hours of video playback.
As with the most recent Galaxy S26, video stabilization is a big feature on the Z Fold 8. This is best used in the My Fan Cam feature, which allows for instant cropping of video.
You can select a subject from a 16×9 video and have it cut to a vertical shot – you can even select an object or person, regardless of where they are in the frame, and have them as the main focus within a crop.
(Image credit: Future)
There is also a new Flip 8, though this is of the least business interest. It’s lighter than before and thinner too (180g, 6.1mm thick, when folded).
You have a 50MP main camera and an intuitive Flex Window on the cover display that offers suggestions and automations for you to operate the phone quickly without opening it up every time.
