Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra Hands-On: Incremental Upgrades at a $2,100 Premium

Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra arrives with a $2,100 price tag and familiar form factor. After 48 hours of testing in London, CNET editor Andrew Lanxon reached a clear verdict: "I'm confident that those of you with a Z Fold 7 already do not need to upgrade."

Hardware Refinements, Not Revolution

The Z Fold 8 Ultra measures 4.1mm at its slimmest point—just 0.1mm thinner than its predecessor. The most noticeable physical change: a beveled edge along the inner display. "It's such a minor change and not one I would have thought would really have much impact but it's surprising how much difference it makes," Lanxon said, noting significantly easier one-handed opening compared to the Z Fold 7.

The hinge redesign reduces screen crease visibility, aided by a new anti-reflective coating. While the book-style folding design remains unchanged, these tweaks improve daily usability without altering the core experience.

Battery and Charging Get the Upgrade

Samsung invested more substantially in power. The Z Fold 8 Ultra packs a 5,000mAh battery and supports 45W fast charging, doubling the 25W rate of the previous model. For users relying on their foldable through a full day of heavy use, this represents the most tangible quality-of-life improvement.

Camera and AI Additions

The camera system sees a meaningful spec bump: the ultrawide sensor jumps from 12 megapixels to 50 megapixels, while the main 200-megapixel camera carries over unchanged. New AI-driven features include "My FanCam," which auto-crops video to track a specific subject, and "Super Steady Horizontal Lock" for improved stabilization during horizontal recording.

These tools align with Samsung's broader push to differentiate flagships through software intelligence rather than hardware leaps. Their practical value depends on individual workflows and whether users find the AI cropping and stabilization compelling enough to justify the premium.

The Ultra Question

Samsung expanded its foldable lineup to three models: the Z Flip 8, Z Fold 8, and the high-end Z Fold 8 Ultra. The "Ultra" branding aims to justify the $2,100 starting price through enhanced battery capacity, faster charging, and AI utility. Yet minimal physical and performance differences from the Z Fold 7 suggest foldable hardware evolution has reached a plateau.

For new buyers entering the foldable market, the Z Fold 8 Ultra offers a polished, refined experience with better endurance. For existing Z Fold 7 owners, the upgrade path looks increasingly difficult to recommend.