Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 and Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra Review: The Right Shape

Shape Shift

The new Galaxy Z Fold8 uses new proportions that feel just right and purpose-built. The device is shorter and wider than Folds past, and yet when you open it up, it feels even more tablet-like than Folds that came before. The Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, however, is closer to the taller and slimmer shape most of us are familiar with on Samsung’s book-style foldables.

I've spent several weeks using both the Fold8 and the Ultra, and my hands are always reaching for the former, despite the Ultra packing the better camera. The Ultra’s taller display makes it harder to reach parts of the screen without shimmying your grip, and more importantly, the Fold8's hinge is easier to open. That's a big deal because so often with the Ultra you get used to the narrow, tall cover screen, since it resembles a standard phone, and the extra effort needed to open the device is enough friction that—and maybe this is just me—I forget to do it.

Performance

There's a $200 difference between these two very expensive folding phones, a difference that doesn’t sting as much when you're dropping two grand. But if you opt for the cheaper Fold8, you will be making some sacrifices from a pure spec-to-spec comparison. Thankfully, there is no sacrifice in performance; the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip is the same on both and delivers a buttery-smooth experience in every app and game.

Cameras

The Fold8 has a 50-megapixel primary sensor and a 50-megapixel ultrawide, with two 10-megapixel selfie cameras on the outer and inner screens, respectively. The Fold8 Ultra's 200-megapixel main sensor is stronger overall in a variety of lighting conditions, but it's the fact that you have access to the 10-megapixel 3X optical zoom that gives it a leg up. I wish Samsung offered a greater zoom option like the 5X optical on the Pixel.