Samsung’s new Ultra foldable is impressive, but I’d pay close attention to this model

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ZDNET’s key takeaways

• Samsung launched three foldable phones at its Unpacked event in London.
• Its first ‘Ultra’ foldable, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, is an impressive device. 
• However, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 has a unique form factor that’s very compelling.

Now that Samsung Unpacked is over and all the phones have been announced, you may be clamoring to get your preorder in for the all-new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra. It is, after all, the first Samsung foldable to bear the “Ultra” moniker. 

Also: Everything announced at Samsung Unpacked 2026: New foldables, smartwatches, more

But you might want to hold on for a moment and check out the Samsung Galaxy Fold 8, too. Yes, the Fold 8 Ultra has a lot going for it, but the Fold 8 makes a strong argument for itself, as well. Part of that is because Samsung knows what’s coming down the pipeline: a foldable iPhone — a product that could disrupt the market its historically dominated. 

Because of that, Samsung gave the Z Fold 8 some particularly compelling design features. Here are some of the points you might want to consider before dropping a serious chunk of change on the Ultra model. 

The price is right

First and foremost, the Samsung Galaxy Fold 8 starts at $1,899, which is a full $200 less than its ultra sibling. The differences between the two include a missing 10MP telephoto camera, a smaller 50MP main camera, 200 mAh of battery capacity, and a smaller inner and cover screen. Of those compromises, I thought the reduced screen size would be the deal breaker, but after spending some time with the phone, I no longer think that’s the case.

We’re living in a time where smartphone prices are either going up, they’re staying the same with fewer meaningful upgrades, or both. Saving a couple of benjamins these days can go a long way toward preserving your already strained budget. 

Form meets function

One of my criticisms of book-style foldables is the fact that the square form factor isn’t great for things like content consumption. They can also be unwieldy to hold. The Fold 8 virtually eliminates that argument by turning itself into a 4:3 tablet when you open it. It’s a smaller tablet, for sure, but it’s an actual tablet form factor, not a rectangular peg shoved into a square hole.

Also: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra vs. Z Fold 7: After a year of usage, I’m ready to upgrade

On paper, this doesn’t sound like a big deal. But, once I got the phone in my hand, it clicked. The cover screen is nice because you can access much of it with just one hand. I’ve gotten used to the finger gymnastics necessary to navigate a taller phone with one hand, but the squat screen of the Galaxy 8 Fold changes all that.   

While the phone is shorter, it’s also wider which can also be better for reading; that is, after all much of what we do on our phones. It remains to be seen which apps respond to that 10:16 aspect ratio, however. The apps installed on the phones at the hands-on session all looked fine, but there are millions of others that may not; your mileage may vary. 

Only two cameras?

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 does not have a telephoto camera, which is a shame. Between an ultrawide camera and a telephoto, I would prefer a telephoto every time. As a parent, I like taking photos of my kids doing kid things, and sometimes those things are on a sports field or a stage, so I’d like to be able to zoom in more. 

Some quick testing of the 50-megapixel main camera suggests that even up to 10x, zoom is fine. I wasn’t able to vet those results on a larger computer screen, but at the very least, the photos are what I like to call “social media good” since that’s probably where they’ll end up anyway. 

Ultimiately, the missing telephoto lens is not really that much of an issue. I’ve tested the 10MP camera on the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and it definitely falls into the “okay, but not great” category. While it’s usually better to have it and not need it, the evidence suggests that not having it will be okay. 

Also: I tried Samsung’s new wide Galaxy Z Fold 8, and it’s my favorite product of Unpacked 2026

It would have been nice if Samsung packed in the 200-megapixel shooter from the Ultra into this phone, but then again, this phone is not an Ultra. Perhaps Samsung sees the 200-megapixel sensor as an ultra feature. But when all is said and done, I suspect it’ll be okay to live without the camera entirely.

The bottom line: it’s the better buy

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 sparks a genuine curiosity in me that, I’ll be honest, a lot of phones do not summon. The form factor feels very retro in a way that’s hard to put my finger on. 

What I can say is that if this phone did not unfold, it would be a completely different story; the cover screen is too squat for me to use full time. It’s not lost on me that one of the criteria I use to judge a foldable is how much I can or want to use it when it’s closed. That’s a little concerning to me and only a proper review period will demonstrate whether that opinion holds up.

What I can say for now is that the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 is a lovely phone, and it’s the one I’m most eager to test out. But in the meantime, I think that this phone is the sleeper hit that Samsung produced and I really hope that it succeeds, despite not being “Ultra.”