Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra: In summary
- Samsung’s upcoming book-style foldable smartphone
- Tipped to arrive 22 July at London Unpacked event
- Could get a price rise in the UK
- Follow up to the Z Fold 7, tipped to get ‘Ultra’ moniker
- Upgrades tipped to include a larger battery, a thinner build and improved ultra-wide camera
We’re just about due for a refresh to Samsung’s line-up of foldable phones, but as with most phones that Samsung has launched in the last couple of years, so much has leaked about these devices that there will be very little in the way of a surprise once they’re actually unveiled. If you’re curious to see all the info that has dropped, then you’re in the right place.
If you’re a Samsung fan, then you’ll know that the company has two big events throughout the year to launch new generations of its various phones, smartwatches are other accessories. We’ve already had one event in the form of the February Samsung Unpacked, which unveiled the Galaxy S26 series of phones as we expected, although a successor to the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge was noticeably absent following poor sales.
Now that we’re at the mid-way point through the year, we’re ready for another round of refreshes as all signs point towards the Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 making an appearance as well as the long-awaited successor to the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra. We may also get a closer look at the Samsung Smart Glasses which already made a brief appearance during the Google I/O event earlier in the year.
What really has our attention however is what Samsung plans to do with its foldable line-up in 2026. Given that this is the year when Apple is expected to finally debut its first foldable device in the iPhone Ultra, Samsung needs to pull out the big guns and set itself for competition than it’s ever had to deal with in this space.
To see what Samsung has in store for the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, keep on reading. Alternatively, the similarly rumoured Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide could look to shake things up with a more squat design that more closely embodies a typical tablet when unfolded.
A potential name change
Just when we thought we were starting to get a solid idea of what the Galaxy Z Fold 8 has in store, it now seems as if Samsung is looking to shake things up with a new naming convention that has us scratching our heads.
We already knew, given the tons of rumours currently flying around, that there will be two book-style foldable phones from Samsung this year, the more traditional tall phone that would serve as a direct successor to the Galaxy Z Fold 7, and a squatter alternative that opens up to more closely resemble a tablet, mimicking the supposed design of the upcoming iPhone Ultra.
Until recently, we’ve referred to these devices as the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and the Galaxy Z Fold Wide, but if the latest bit of news is to be believed, then this is not what they’ll be called at launch.
Instead, the iPhone-competing wider handset will actually get the regular Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 moniker, while the traditional successor will be referred to as the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra. It now seems to be confirmed by way of a Bluetooth SIG database listing for the phone.
This is about as confusing a strategy as one can achieve, not just because it muddies all of the work that Samsung has put in thus far to separate the Z Fold range from the Z Flip, but it also doesn’t accurately communicate what these phones offer.
From what we’ve seen so far, this ‘Z Fold 8 Ultra’ is going to be a modest update at best, while the wider phone will be a slight downgrade on the Z Fold 7 (not exactly what you want in a successor) as it may feature just two rear-facing cameras instead of three.
When will the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra be released?
In summary
- Expected to launch on 22 July
- Unpacked event tipped for this date in London
- No staggered launch expected between the regular Fold 8 and the Fold Wide
In what is easily becoming the worst-kept secret in tech, it appears that we’ll finally get to feast our eyes on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra come 22 July.
The idea of a July-based Samsung Unpacked event was rumoured to be the case as far back as April, and since then we’ve only had more corroborations from other sources to suggest that the 22nd is locked in. As if that wasn’t enough to confirm our suspicions, Samsung itself has let the game slip.
Samsung Malaysia has unveiled a discount (which comes out to roughly £130/$170) on the brand’s next foldable phone. This isn’t too surprising given that Samsung regularly throws out early incentives to tempt day-one adopters of the company’s latest tech, but what’s telling is that the fine print mentions this deal as only being available to those who use the Samsung Members app, starting from 22 July.
That’s as close as we’ve had so far to an official confirmation as to when Samsung plans on unveiling this phone and the various other devices it has coming out.
For context, here are the reveal dates for previous Galaxy Z Fold handsets:
- Samsung Galaxy Fold – September 2019
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 – September 2020
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 – August 2021
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 – August 2022
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 – August 2023
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 – July 2024
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 – July 2025
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Sources: ET News | Korea Economic TV | Seoul Economic Daily
How much will the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra cost?
In summary
- Pricing is hard to predict
- Recent price rises to the Z Fold 7 have muddied the waters
- Z Fold Wide is likely to be cheaper
This is a tricky one as the current state of the global economy seems to be constantly in flux, and there is a precedent here for a potential price increase thanks to the Z Fold 7.
Although Samsung fans in the UK were able to buy the Z Fold 7 for £1,799 at launch (the same as the Z Fold 6), consumers in the US and Europe weren’t so lucky, with these territories seeing a $100 and €100 price bump, respectively.
To make matters worse, Samsung recently implemented a smattering of price increases across a staggering number of products, including the majority of its tablet range and, most crucially to this discussion, the Galaxy Z Fold 7.
In the US, the 1TB Galaxy Z Fold 7 now has a price tag of $2499.99 after previously going for $2,419.99. Although this price increase does thankfully overlook the entry-level storage options for the Z Fold 7, the whole thing doesn’t exactly bode well for the upcoming Z Fold 8 Ultra, especially when you factor in the Z Fold Wide.
With just two rear-facing cameras, and the main sensor being a less capable 50Mp lens, the Z Fold 8 (Wide) is almost guaranteed to be cheaper than the Z Fold 8 Ultra, but whether it adopts the original price of the Z Fold 7 remains to be seen.
For context, here’s a quick look at the starting price history for the range:
- Samsung Galaxy Fold – £1,900/$1,980
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 – £1,799/$1,999
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 – £1,599/$1,799
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 – £1,649/$1,799
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 – £1,749/$1,799
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 – £1,799/$1,899
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 – £1,799/$1,999
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
What specs and features will the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra have?
In summary
- A larger 5000mAh battery is tipped, alongside faster 45W charging
- An upgraded 50Mp ultra-wide camera is rumoured for the Z Fold 8 Ultra
- A less visible crease, once again
- The build could be lighter and thinner when opened
- A Z Fold 8 FE might be on the way, too
A bigger battery and faster charging
One of the most notable Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra upgrade rumours is to the battery.
One of the very first rumours to appear for the Z Fold 8 involved a potential battery update, with a Korean publication noting that a 5000mAh battery could be added to the Z Fold 8, which would trump the fairly small 4400mAh battery of the Z Fold 7.
This rumour is starting to gain more traction as it’s been repeated by a prolific tipster on X, noting that the wired charging speed will also get a boost, jumping from 25W to 45W. With Samsung having recently provided the S26 Ultra with a much-needed boost in charging speed, it would make sense for the brand to want to keep that momentum going on its flagship foldable.
These have both since been backed up by tipster Ice Universe.
Given that the Honor Magic V5 was able to cram in a 5820mAh cell, this feels like an essential upgrade to prevent Samsung from being completely outdone on battery life.
Sources: Dealsite | TheGalox | Ice Universe
A less noticeable crease and better durability
The visible crease of the inner display has long been a sticking point for the Z Fold range and for anyone who’s tempted by the foldable form factor but not completely ready to take the plunge, and it seems as though Samsung is looking to rectify things for the Fold 8’s arrival.
One rumour now points towards the brand using Ultra Thin Glass (UTG) as a means of reducing the visibility of the crease by about 20%, and then utilising a laser-drilled metal support plate to ensure that the overall durability of the display isn’t negatively affected by the change.
Mattias Inghe
Of course, it’s difficult to quantify such a change until you actually get the device in your hands and compare it to what we’ve seen before, but any attempt to further hide the crease is much appreciated, not in the least because it’ll help with overall usability, especially for when apps take up the entirety of the display.
It’s worth mentioning that during CES 2026, Samsung briefly showcased a foldable display that had no visible crease whatsoever. Before you get too excited, there’s a chance that such a premium panel might be destined for the upcoming iPhone Ultra as opposed to the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, but it does at least make Samsung’s plans to diminish the crease more believable.
Anyone hoping that the Z Fold 8 Ultra might get the impressive new Privacy Display found on the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra should temper their expectations. From what we’ve heard so far, the feature will remain exclusive to the Ultra range for now, so the Z Fold 8 Ultra, nor the wide model, will make use of it.
Sources: Dealsite | TheGalox | Ice Universe
A big upgrade for just one camera
Samsung has been known for being fairly iterative over the last few smartphone generations with regard to camera upgrades, and that’s largely the same with the Z Fold 8 Ultra.
From what we can gather, the newer phone will still have the same 200Mp main camera of its predecessor, as well as the familiar 3x 10Mp telephoto. What will be new for 2026 is an updated ultra-wide camera.
Luke Baker
Unlike the Z Fold 7 which had a fairly lacklustre 12Mp ultra-wide camera for such an expensive device, the Fold 8 could be packing a much improved 50Mp equivalent. Although it’s true that megapixel counts don’t automatically translate into great pictures, it is nice to see Samsung make an effort to more closely align the specs of its Z Fold range with those of the Galaxy Ultra series.
Sources: TheGalox
Debate over the weight
Adding fuel to the idea that the Z Fold 8 Ultra is a more refined version of the Fold 7, rather than a massive upgrade, rumour has it that Samsung will be looking to make the newer foldable feel just a tad less cumbersome by shaving off a few millimetres and grams from the device.
Word on the street has the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra as being just 4.1mm thin when unfolded, which would bring the device in line with the Honor Magic V5 and be just a tad thinner than the Oppo Find N6.
In terms of weight, the Fold 8 may just clock in at roughly 210g which is a fraction lighter than the 215g Z Fold 7. Of course, it’s such a minute difference that it might even be hard to recognise when holding both phones side by side, but it’s a welcome change nonetheless.
However, a more recent rumour from Ice Universe says the phone will weigh the same as its predecessor at 215g.
Sources: Techmaniacs | Ice Universe
New colourways but the same design
If there’s one thing that seems to be staying almost exactly the same as what we’ve seen before, it’s the design. Recent renders of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra sporting official cases show that the raised camera bump of the Fold 7 is set to reappear, which makes sense given that it’s also been adopted by the entire Galaxy S26 range, so the only thing that seems to be different this time around is the available colourways.
Credit: Android Headlines
Thanks to another leak, we now know that the Z Fold 8 Ultra is set to debut in a total of four colour options:
- Cream
- Graphite
- Green Shadow
- Violet Shadow
The last of those options, Violet Shadow, features quite prominently in the renders to the point where we wouldn’t be surprised if it ended up being the centre of attention in Samsung’s marketing, much like the Blue Shadow variant of the Z Fold 7.
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 (wide) and the Galaxy Z Flip 8 will both reportedly come in Cream and Graphite, with the other two colourways for each being exclusive to that phone.
Sources: Smartprix
The next generation of Snapdragon
An upgrade that should come as no surprise to anyone but welcome nonetheless is the leap forward to using the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy chipset.
Chris Martin / Foundry
We’ve already seen this CPU appear in the Samsung Galaxy S26 range and, as expected, it is a processing marvel that can zip through pretty heavy-duty tasks with ease.
When you throw in all of the added multitasking capabilities of the Z Fold range, having that bit of extra oomph in the tank will certainly go a long way, and overall performance will no doubt be a key factor in helping to future-proof the Z Fold 8 Ultra against the impending iPhone Fold, if it does launch this year. There’s also word of a vapour chamber for enhanced cooling which should help with more intensive apps.
Source: TheGalox
That’s all we know about the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra at the moment, but we’ll be updating this article over the coming weeks and months up to its official launch.
