Samsung has put three eighth-generation Galaxy Z foldables up for preorder, and the odd one is the new Galaxy Z Fold8: a wider, shorter book-style phone that sits between the $2,100 Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra and the $1,200 Galaxy Z Flip8. WIRED reports that the Fold8 Ultra succeeds last year’s Fold7, while the Flip8 replaces the Flip7.
The practical choice here depends less on raw silicon than on shape. Samsung gave all three phones Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, 12 GB of RAM, and either 256 GB or 512 GB of storage, according to WIRED. The two Fold models can also be configured with 16 GB of RAM and 1 TB of storage. So the buy-or-skip math is mostly about screen geometry, cameras, battery, and whether your pocket can tolerate Samsung’s folding tablet ambitions.
What the three phones share
All three models use Samsung’s Dynamic AMOLED 2X displays with 120-Hz refresh rates, HDR support, and peak brightness rated up to 3,000 nits, WIRED reports. Samsung also includes blue-light filtering features intended to reduce eye strain.
The Fold8 Ultra and Fold8 add what Samsung calls a Flex Titanium layer. According to WIRED, the titanium-alloy film is meant to make the foldable display flatter, reduce the visible crease, add strength, and provide an anti-reflective finish. That is the kind of durability claim buyers should still treat as a long-term test, not a victory lap on preorder day.
Each phone carries an IP48 rating for water and dust resistance, Samsung’s Advanced Armor Aluminum frame, Wi-Fi 7, and Wireless PowerShare for charging earbuds or other accessories from the phone. The Fold8 Ultra and Fold8 include Ultra Wideband; the Flip8 does not list UWB in WIRED’s spec table.
The Fold8 Ultra is the big-screen flagship
The $2,100 Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra has an 8-inch inner display and a 6.5-inch cover screen. It measures 158.4 x 143.2 x 4.1 mm when open and 158.4 x 72.8 x 8.9 mm when closed, and weighs 215 grams, according to WIRED.
It also gets the strongest camera stack of the three: a 200-megapixel main camera, 50-megapixel ultrawide, 10-megapixel telephoto with 3X optical zoom, plus two 10-megapixel front-facing cameras. WIRED says the main and ultrawide cameras can record 8K video. The battery is 5,000 mAh, with 45-watt wired charging and 20-watt wireless charging. WIRED notes that magnetic Qi2 support is absent.
The new Fold8 changes the shape
The $1,900 Galaxy Z Fold8 is shorter and wider than the Ultra. WIRED lists it at 123.9 x 161.4 x 4.5 mm unfolded and 123.9 x 81.9 x 9.7 mm folded, with a weight of 201 grams. Its main display is 7.6 inches, paired with a 5.5-inch cover screen.
The trade-off is the camera system. The Fold8 has a 50-megapixel main camera and 50-megapixel ultrawide, with no telephoto lens. WIRED says it still offers 10X digital zoom and 8K recording, plus video tools including dual recording and FanCam, which can reframe a subject after recording. Its battery is 4,800 mAh, with the same 45-watt wired and 20-watt wireless charging ratings as the Ultra.
The Flip8 is the compact option
The $1,200 Galaxy Z Flip8 folds into the smallest package. It has a 6.9-inch main display and a 4.1-inch cover screen, weighs 180 grams, and measures 85.7 x 75.4 x 13.1 mm when folded, according to WIRED.
Its camera hardware is more modest: a 50-megapixel main camera, 12-megapixel ultrawide, and 10-megapixel front-facing camera. Video tops out at 4K, WIRED reports. The Flip8 has a 4,300-mAh battery, 25-watt wired charging, and 15-watt wireless charging.
Samsung is also introducing the Galaxy Watch Ultra2 and Watch9 alongside the phones, according to WIRED, though the available rundown focuses mainly on the foldables. For buyers, the clean split is obvious enough: Ultra for screen and cameras, Fold8 for the new wide form factor, Flip8 for portability and the least painful price.
This story draws on original reporting from WIRED.
