Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra: What I Love Coming From the Fold 8

Quick summary: The Galaxy Z Fold 8 is in my hand almost all day, every day, but I keep switching to the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra for videos or just to use it. Here’s what stands out about the Ultra when I do, and almost all of it is positive.

It feels incredibly thin

You can feel it closed, and especially open and flat. It’s even thinner than last year’s model. If the cover screen were as wide as a traditional phone like an S26 Ultra, more like a Pixel Fold, I honestly don’t know if I would have switched to the Fold 8.

The display just feels better

The two phones have close resolutions and the same refresh rate, and the Ultra has an anti-reflective coating. With both set up the same way, the Ultra’s display still feels more vibrant and saturated to me. It could be placebo, or just that everything is bigger. Have you noticed it too?

I miss the zoom

Up to 30x zoom really brings the camera system together. The Fold 8’s 10x is somewhat great, and day-to-day photos and videos look basically the same, but I hope the Fold 8 gets a telephoto next year.

My finger doesn’t block the camera

On the Fold 8, depending on how I hold it, my finger sometimes ends up in the shot. That probably explains why it has no telephoto, and it’s one more reason I expect horizontal cameras next year. I don’t remember it happening on the taller Ultra.

Easier one-handed typing on the cover screen

As much as I dislike how narrow the Ultra’s cover screen is, I can reach across the keyboard with one hand, especially with my OhSnap grip. On the wider Fold 8, it’s a stretch for my small hands even with a grip.

Apps are better optimized

Videos are better on the Fold 8’s inner display, because they fit without rotating, while the Ultra needs a rotate or shows bigger black bars. But many apps, especially social apps like Instagram, feel better optimized on the Ultra’s inner and outer displays, where you can even see into the next post. The Fold 8 may catch up.

Bottom line

The Ultra feels like home. I’ve used this form factor since the Galaxy Z Fold 2, and my daily apps work great on it. The case on it is the new Benks case, which has no adhesive. If Samsung makes the Ultra’s cover screen wider next year, I’d probably come back to it, and I might switch back later this year anyway. I love both phones.

• Buy the Galaxy Z Fold 8 or 8 Ultra from Samsung
• Benks Crystal case for the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, code GREGGLESTV
• Benks Crystal case for the Galaxy Z Fold 8, code GREGGLESTV
• OhSnap SnapGrip Stand
• dbrand Grip case