Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra vs Fold 8: 5 Features That Stand Out

Quick summary: After using the Galaxy Z Fold 8 a lot, I picked the Fold 8 Ultra back up, and a few things jumped out right away: how massive and tall it feels, how thin it is, a more premium feel, the 30x zoom, and how familiar it is if you’ve used past Folds.

1. Size

The Fold 8 Ultra, which is the same size as the Fold 7, just feels like a massive phone. Not thick or heavy, but the display feels huge. Turn the Fold 8 sideways and the two get close, but the Ultra still feels much bigger. Closed, the Ultra is also much taller. Its cover screen is narrow, and honestly I almost never live on it. I like the Fold 8’s cover display better.

2. Thinness

The Ultra is 4.1mm unfolded versus 4.2mm last year, and the Fold 8 is 4.5mm, so you really notice it. I’m using Latercase cases, which now have magnets built in for magnetic wireless charging and OhSnap grips. They cover the front and back and are incredibly thin.

3. It feels more premium

I can’t pin down why, and it has nothing to do with the name. Maybe it’s the size and thinness combined. The inner display also looks a little crisper to me. The PPIs are slightly different, but not enough that the Fold 8 looks bad.

4. 30x zoom

The Ultra zooms up to 30x. The Fold 8 tops out at 10x because it only has two rear cameras and no telephoto. For me it’s more about curiosity, seeing what’s out in the distance, than taking 30x photos.

5. Familiarity

Some apps feel small on the Fold 8 because they aren’t optimized for its display, so I keep changing the aspect ratio in settings. The Ultra feels like home after using the Fold 2 through 7. I originally thought my wife would want the Fold 8, but now I think she’ll like the Ultra better.

Should you upgrade from the Fold 7?

In light use I don’t notice much difference beyond the Ultra being thinner. But you do get higher-resolution displays, 45W wired and 20W wireless charging, a 5,000mAh battery instead of 4,400mAh, and the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy. The bigger battery and faster charging are the biggest reasons.

• Order the Galaxy Z Fold 8 from Samsung
• Latercase with magnets
• OhSnap grip at Best Buy