Samsung unveils Galaxy Z Fold8 and Ultra models

Samsung unveiled two new foldable smartphones, expanding its portfolio with the Galaxy Z Fold8 and the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra. Both devices build on the firm’s latest foldable technology, featuring the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy processor, Galaxy AI tools, and Android 17 with One UI 9, while offering distinct choices in size, camera setup, and price.

Design and display differences

The standard Fold8 weighs 201 grams and measures 4.5 mm thick when opened, making it the company’s lightest book‑style foldable to date. The larger Ultra model is slightly heavier at 215 grams and is 4.1 mm thick when unfolded. Both phones use the new Flex Titanium display structure, which combines a titanium alloy film with a reinforced titanium plate to improve rigidity and reduce crease visibility. The cover screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic 3, while the rear panel uses Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and an Advanced Armor Aluminum frame. An IP48 rating offers water‑resistance for each device.

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The Fold8’s inner screen measures 7.6 inches and runs a Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel with a 5.5‑inch cover display. Samsung says the revised aspect ratios make reading, video playback, and gaming feel more natural, with a 4:3 layout on the larger screen aimed at long‑form content. The Ultra version expands the main display to 8.0 inches while keeping a 6.5‑inch cover screen. Both screens support adaptive 120 Hz refresh rates, Vision Booster, low‑reflection coatings, and peak brightness up to 3,000 nits for outdoor use.

Camera and multimedia capabilities

On the rear, the Fold8 carries a dual‑camera system: a 50 MP wide sensor and a 50 MP ultra‑wide sensor. It omits a telephoto lens, which helps keep its starting price below $2,000. The Ultra model retains the flagship triple‑camera array, featuring a 200 MP primary sensor capable of HDR capture at full resolution, a new 50 MP ultra‑wide lens replacing the previous 12 MP unit, and a 10 MP telephoto lens with 3× optical zoom. Nightography performance has been enhanced, and the phone now supports 8K video recording using the APV codec, along with Cine LUT controls for color grading.

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Both devices include 10 MP cover and inner cameras for selfies and video calls. The company adds Dual Recording, which captures the subject and the user simultaneously, and the My FanCam feature that tracks a selected subject and reformats footage for various social‑media aspect ratios.

Creative Tools and AI

Galaxy AI features continue to expand across the lineup. New tools such as Now Brief, Now Nudge, deeper Gemini Intelligence integration, and Gemini Notebook help organize notes, recordings, and images into a single workspace. Users can drag and drop content in Split View to generate summaries, reports, infographics, or audio overviews. One UI 9 adds an AI Assistant Activity dashboard for a centralized view of AI‑generated actions, alongside updated privacy controls and Samsung Knox security.