Galaxy Z Fold 8: Everything You Need to Know
The Galaxy Z Fold8 Unpacked event just wrapped up, and we watched it live right here with almost 3,000 of you in the stream. Massive thank you to everyone who showed up. Samsung gave us a ton to digest, so let's break down the most important details you need to know about the Galaxy Z Fold8 and the Z Fold8 Ultra.
Meet the Ultra
Samsung started the presentation with the Ultra version, and honestly, it looks a lot like the sequel to the Z Fold7. The nomenclature is a little confusing, but the Z Fold8 Ultra is the device carrying forward that familiar 21:9 cover screen and the nearly square 20:8 inner canvas.
Samsung managed to shave some weight and thickness off this iteration, bringing the Ultra down to 215 grams and just 4.1 mm thick when open.
Better Durability and Brighter Screens
| Category | Galaxy Z Fold8 | Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Marketing Designation | World's lightest fold | Our slimmest fold yet |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy | |
| Memory & Storage Configurations | 16GB RAM + 1TB storage, 12GB RAM + 512GB storage, 12GB RAM + 256GB storage | |
| Main Display Size | 7.6 inches | 8.0 inches |
| Main Display Aspect Ratio | 4:3 | 20:18 |
| Cover Display Size | 5.5 inches (5.4 inches accounting for rounded corners) | 6.5 inches |
| Cover Display Aspect Ratio | 10:16 | 21:9 |
| Display Technologies | Low-reflection finish, Peak brightness 3000 nits, Up to 120Hz refresh rate | |
| Chassis Thickness (Open) | 4.5 mm | 4.1 mm |
| Chassis Thickness (Closed) | 9.7 mm | 8.9 mm |
| Weight | 201 g | 215 g |
| Build Materials & Hinge | Flex Titanium architecture, Armor FlexHinge | |
| Durability Rating | IP48 dust and water resistance | |
| Rear Primary Camera | 50MP Wide with 2x optical quality zoom | 200MP Wide with 2x optical quality zoom |
| Rear Ultra-Wide Camera | 50MP Ultra Wide | |
| Rear Telephoto Camera | Not present | 10MP Telephoto with 3x optical zoom |
| Front & Inner Cameras | 10MP Cover Screen camera, 10MP Main Screen camera | |
| Battery Capacity | 4800 mAh (Up to 26 hours of video playback) | 5000 mAh (Up to 27 hours of video playback) |
The big structural news for both devices centers on "Flex Titanium." There is a titanium plate underneath the display and an incredibly thin titanium layer integrated directly into the screen stack. This addition aims to improve overall screen durability and significantly reduce the visibility of the crease. Combined with the new Armor Flex Hinge, early hands-on footage shows a crease that is a massive improvement over the previous generation. While it might not quite reach the seamlessness of an Oppo Find N6, it is a very impressive step forward. A reduced crease signals less wear and tear over time, which means better longevity.
Samsung is also finally introducing a low-reflection finish on the inner displays, which now reach a peak brightness of 3,000 nits. Foldable inner screens have historically been insanely reflective, so adding an anti-reflective treatment to the built-in screen protector is a massive win for usability.
Under the hood, both versions run the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, starting with a base configuration of 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.
The Ultra gets a battery bump to 5,000 mAh, featuring 45W wired charging and 20W wireless charging. On the camera side, the Ultra brings a 50MP ultrawide, a 200MP primary sensor, and a 10MP 3x telephoto lens.
The zoom capability remains a weak point. Competitors like Motorola, Honor, and Oppo are outclassing Samsung when it comes to telephoto hardware. The 1x and 2x shots will look great thanks to the Advanced Pro Visual Engine, but the lack of a heavier zoom lens holds the camera array back.
The Passport-Style Z Fold8
If you prefer a shorter, wider, and genuinely one-handable device, the base Galaxy Z Fold8 is the passport-style foldable you have been waiting for. It features a wider 10:16 cover display and a 4:3 inner screen. Weighing in at just 201 grams and measuring 4.5 mm thick when unfolded, it feels incredibly light in the pocket.
The battery is a 4,800 mAh cell that utilizes silicon-carbon chemistry. Samsung is dipping its toe into the water here, using just enough silicon to safely maximize capacity within a thin chassis without going completely overboard.
The base model drops the 200MP sensor for a 50MP primary shooter alongside a 50MP ultrawide. While a 50MP sensor is perfectly fine for standard day-to-day photos, the lack of a dedicated telephoto lens means that 3x and 4x digital zoom shots will degrade quickly. This is simply not the device to buy if you prioritize zoom photography.
Software and Multitasking
Both phones are launching with Android 17 and One UI 9. Deeply integrated Gemini Intelligence is a major focus this year. The software can handle complex tasks, like jumping into an app to grab movie tickets for you and waiting for your final confirmation click. Features like Now Nudge and Now Brief return to scan text messages and automatically suggest calendar entries, though you can easily turn these automation tools off if you prefer.
The multitasking capabilities on the base model’s 4:3 inner screen look fantastic, heavily reminiscent of the Surface Duo. Early software previews show that you can drag a third app onto the screen to line up three applications side-by-side in vertical windows, mimicking traditional cover screen aspect ratios.
Pricing and Availability
Devices are scheduled to ship on August 7th. The base Z Fold8 hits the market at $1899, while the Z Fold8 Ultra lands at $2099.
