What the reviewers said
Tech Advisor UK
3.5/5Aug 31, 2026A small but meaningful upgrade over the Z Fold 7 and arguably the best book-style foldable, but the cheaper wide Fold 8 is the better buy for most people.
- Titanium hinge reduces crease visibility and adds impact resistance
- Excellent, bright displays with fast 120Hz refresh
- Superb performance for multitasking and gaming
- Dedicated stereo speakers sound punchy
- Seven years of OS and security updates
- Boxy 10:9 inner display poor for video
- Only IP48 rating; vulnerable to fine sand
- No 5x telephoto camera
- No built-in Qi2 or secure 3D face unlock
- Very expensive; wide Fold 8 is better value
Android Central US
3.75/5Aug 22, 2026Looks identical to the Z Fold 7 but gains a bigger battery, flatter hinge and brighter screens. Camera wobble, weak telephoto and a higher price make it a hard recommendation.
- Just as thin and light as predecessor
- Good performance
- Bigger battery lasts longer
- Bright AMOLED panels inside and out
- Crease less visible than before
- Telephoto lens is average at best
- Rear camera module wobbles on a desk
- No Qi 2 magnets
- Costlier than Z Fold 7
- IP48 rating, no IP68
Android Police US
8.5/10Aug 15, 2026A highly capable, refined big-screen foldable, but it looks like a Galaxy Z Fold 7 successor and is overshadowed by the smaller, more enjoyable Z Fold 8.
- Almost flat inner screen with effective anti-reflective coating
- Immensely powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 performance
- Software is easy to use for multitasking
- Long battery life
- Hinge is smooth and quiet
- Telephoto camera disappoints
- Galaxy AI features are still niche
- No Qi2 wireless charging built in
- Tall, thin folded shape feels awkward
- Very expensive at $2,100 starting price
The Verge US
8/10Aug 7, 2026A solid, incremental upgrade over the Z Fold 7, with a much bigger battery and a useful telephoto camera. Its tall form factor suits productivity, though the price rise and…
- Much larger 5,000mAh silicon-carbon battery lasts a full day
- Faster 45W wired and 20W wireless charging
- Brighter 3,000-nit displays with less visible crease
- Added 10MP 3x telephoto alongside strong 200MP main camera
- Thin, lightweight design with tall cover screen
- Only IP48 dust and water resistance
- No S Pen support
- No Privacy Display
- Costs $100 more than the Z Fold 7
- Not Qi2 magnets built in; needs case for fast wireless
TechRadar UK
4.75/5Aug 5, 2026Despite being less exciting than the smaller Z Fold 8, the Z Fold 8 Ultra is still the top foldable thanks to a flatter, lighter body, better battery and cameras,…
- Flatter unfolded design with a much less visible crease
- Latest Snapdragon chip gives strong performance
- Upgraded cameras with a 50MP ultra-wide
- Bigger battery enabled by new tech
- Useful AI features like Photo Assist and Now Brief
- Camera bump stops tablet from lying flat
- Expensive starting price
- No digitizer layer for S Pen
- Telephoto only 3x optical zoom
Engadget US
8.8/10Aug 3, 2026A refined foldable with brighter screens, stronger performance and much longer battery life, but upgrades are too modest to justify the 'ultra' label or an upgrade from the Fold 7.
- Brighter inner and cover displays, peak 3,000 nits
- Class-leading performance with Snapdragon chip
- Three rear cameras including true 3x telephoto
- Much longer battery life in video rundown test
- Faster 45W wired and 25W wireless charging
- Expensive, starting at $2,100
- Design largely unchanged from previous model
- No built-in magnetic ring for Qi2 accessories
- Letterboxing on movies due to near-square inner screen
- Upgrade case is weak for Fold 7 owners
Tom's Guide US
4.5/5Jul 30, 2026A major upgrade for Samsung's foldable line, with big gains in battery, performance and screen brightness. Weighed down by weak telephoto camera, no S Pen and a higher price.
- Brighter, anti-reflective display
- Excellent battery life for a foldable
- Strong cameras overall
- Flagship-level performance from custom Snapdragon chip
- Helpful new AI features
- No S Pen support
- Weak telephoto camera quality
- $100 price hike for the third year running
- Minimal design changes from predecessor
Verdicts, pros and cons are short summaries in our words of each publisher's review; scores are as the publisher gave them. Specs are taken from the reviews' spec boxes — where they differ, we show the value most of them give; price is the US launch price of the base model. Read the originals for the full picture.
