Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra: The Best Update Isn't What I Expected

Key Points:

• Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra closely resembles last year’s Z Fold 7, with only incremental updates such as a slight lip between displays for easier unfolding, a more rounded design, and a redesigned hinge, resulting in a similar overall experience.
• The phone starts at $2,100, $100 more than its predecessor, with the 1TB storage model priced at $2,700, making it Samsung’s most expensive foldable outside of the Z TriFold.
• Key hardware improvements include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, a larger 5,000mAh battery with silicon-carbon technology, faster 45W charging, and an upgraded 50MP ultrawide camera, though battery life and camera performance remain only modestly improved.
• The inner 8-inch display features a new anti-reflective coating and a redesigned hinge to reduce the visibility of the crease, making it one of the least noticeable creases on a foldable phone, while the outer display remains unchanged.
• Running Android 17 with OneUI 9, the phone introduces new AI features such as My FanCam and generative AI image editing, though these tools have limited practical impact so far; overall, the Z Fold 8 Ultra is recommended mainly for users upgrading from older foldables rather than owners of the Z Fold 7.