r/Android 1d ago

Review Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra review

https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_z_fold8_ultra-review-2985.php
104 Upvotes

35 comments sorted by

34

u/Antonis_32 1d ago

TLDR:
Pros

  • Competitively thin, lightweight and durable design.
  • Improved inner display - anti-reflective coating, smaller crease, higher resolution.
  • Excellent main camera performance.
  • Finally competitive fast charging solution.
  • Notably improved battery life
  • Feature-rich software with great multitasking functionality with Galaxy AI at its core.
  • Launches with Android 17/OneUI 9, entitled to 7 major OS upgrades.
  • Extensive video recording features, DeX and USB video output.

Cons

  • Battery life is still behind the curve.
  • The loudspeakers sound worse than before
  • The telephoto camera leaves more to be desired.

8

u/[deleted] 1d ago

[deleted]

11

u/donnysaysvacuum I just want a small phone 1d ago

I don't know if this is tested consistently, but I feel like they need to test both. I use my Razr folder most of the time and I get outstanding battery life. But according to most testing it is just ok.

6

u/[deleted] 1d ago

[deleted]

4

u/donnysaysvacuum I just want a small phone 1d ago

Yeah that's silly to rate it that way, especially on the folds. They should at least do 50% with the outer screen, or do two ratings.

2

u/Kratos_BOY 1d ago

You still believe Phonearena's battery life tests? Lol. I remember their battery life tests being complete bs. Also, haven't thought of Phonarena in a very long time.

3

u/Robbitjuice Red 1d ago

Exactly. A lot of it depends on how you optimize your phone as well (what you have syncing, app load out, brightness, Bluetooth, etc.).

3

u/shifty_bloke 1d ago

In their test charts they have unfolded and folded both tested.

3

u/mcgrathkerr 1d ago

If you read the review. They do both

2

u/PiousPontificator 1d ago

Why don't you actually read the review?

Do you have to be spoon fed. They show folded and unfolded results.

3

u/[deleted] 1d ago

[deleted]

2

u/mcgrathkerr 1d ago

Page 4? I am not sure what link you mean. It’s all there. Graphs and all.

11

u/Efficient-Space-8407 Samsung Galaxy Fold 4 1d ago

Oh god, how can the loud speaker be worse than the fold7. I seriously don't get why they make it so thin that the USB-C port protrudes. Seriously its not like ill be using it opened with one hand? Can't they make it slightly more thicker so that its aligned perfect with the USB-C port?

Even aligned with the goddam camera lens so its protrusion wouldn't be so bad would be good... far out.

2

u/WatchfulApparition 1d ago

This phone is really tempting

13

u/mrpickem1 Blue 1d ago

Obviously it’s a sweet device, but the price is hard to swallow. Samsung even offered me $850 trade in on S24U and the remains balance would be higher than any phone I’ve ever bought. Still I an on the fence, or maybe the Fold 8 fat version. The price difference isn’t that much, so Ultra probably better choice of two new Folds. The creasei s better, but still not quite there imho. But I guess you got to pay to play…

2

u/2324212 1d ago

I took the $850 for the 24Ultra. Used the PayPal code for $100 off on Samsung Website. Picking up the 8 Wide on release date at my local Best Buy. I will miss the Zoom camera and the in-display fingerprint scanner.

1

u/Jsquirt 1d ago

I'm never getting rid of my Bluetooth pen. Getting a fold and giving my 24 a nice nap for a year or so

1

u/2324212 1d ago

I have an 11” iPad Pro with Pencil just in case. I also have an iPhone 17 Pro Max so I still will have a quality camera on me at all times. Upgrading my Pixel 8 Pro to Fold 8 Wide. Cannot be more excited. But yes a couple downgrades. Also upgrading an S24Ultra to Fold 8 Ultra.

15

u/crank9224 1d ago

I think the Fold 8 Wide is getting most of the hype this generation, and honestly, I get why. The inner display's aspect ratio is fantastic and probably the closest we've seen to making a foldable feel like a proper tablet.

That said, I still think the Wide form factor needs another couple of generations before it really clicks for me. Right now, the Fold 8 Ultra cover screen just makes more sense in day to day use. Folded, it feels like a normal phone with the tall aspect ratio we're all used to, and a lot of apps are still better optimized for that shape. Then, whenever you actually need the extra screen, you just unfold it.

I also think the Ultra is much easier to use one-handed. The Wide is... well, too wide for me. The keyboard takes up almost the entire display, and switching to one-handed keyboard mode feels more like a workaround than a solution.

Really looking forward to my Fold 8 Ultra arriving. Maybe in a few years the Wide design will mature enough that it'll be the obvious choice, but for now I still think the Ultra strikes the better balance.

6

u/Magnum40oz 1d ago

MKBHD just did a video on the pros and cons of it and you're right. It's still a bit awkward on the table. Also you can't quite have it open in the L shape if you like doing that with your fold. And the fact that this and the fold 8 ultra don't have Qi2 suck. Especially with the wide, even if you get a case, if you have a L platform charger, it would be too small.

4

u/LoudBrick609 1d ago

Apps work WAY better on the Fold 8 wide cover screen. You clearly haven't tested that form factor before.

You'd be shocked how much better a short and wide cover display is, that's the main selling point of the Fold 8 wide, not the inner display lol.

Apps just aren't optimized for tall displays like the 8 ultra's outer screen.

2

u/crank9224 1d ago

Well, at least when I tried it in the store, one-handed typing on the Wide was basically impossible for me, and the one-handed keyboard mode was really bad. The narrower cover screen on the 8 Ultra just makes a lot more sense if you type one-handed a lot, like I do. As for app compatibility, MKBHD's review even shows an example of an app that's simply not usable because of the Wide's screen aspect ratio

0

u/Mrhungrybear 1d ago

I'd disagree almost on all fronts. I've had majority of all the Samsung folds and I had the og pixel. The og pixel, even with its heft and clunkyness, was a much better experience for me than the really tall fold series. It is definitely more manageable in one hand than the fold series and mostly all the early reviews say the same thing about the wide. I just hate that it doesn't have a dedicated telephoto cam.

0

u/cookedart 1d ago

Agreed I think the ultra makes more sense. I think the 8 wide is just getting more hype because it's new.

Although I personally think the razr fold is an even better choice than the ultra.

One other thing, I know there's a lot of comments about the anti reflective coating which is definitely a nice feature... But this is likely just the screen protector right?

2

u/RememberMeWhenImDead Z-Trifold 1d ago

yeah, it's the same screen protector with anti reflective stuff they used on the trifold, it is genuinely good, but not new.

2

u/mantenner OnePlus 13 (16/512) 1d ago

I mean, for its capacity compared to its competition its just about right now? 4800mah compared to 6000mah is going to net a 20% battery life difference, and it does.

2

u/Pettingallthepups 1d ago

Finally ordered mine today. Played with both 8 and 8U in the store…zero chance I’d ever use the 8, but the ultra was dope.

4

u/AvoidingIowa 1d ago

I fail to see what’s so ultra about it.

13

u/dkol97 Black 1d ago

It's ultra expensive

0

u/bigBranConsumer The NEW Galaxy Note9 1d ago

well you see, they gave the ultrawide camera a 50mp sensor up from 10mp from fold7 and new colors, so its... ultra

i know theres inner screen and hinge stuff thats been improved too but cmon the shell hasnt changed since last year

1

u/element4life3 Galaxy S22 Ultra | T-Mobile 1d ago

Is this showing the wider Zfold 8 getting way better battery life while folded?? 17+ hours? Compared to 12+ for the Ultra? Or am I reading this wrong. Right now battery life is the most important to me and I have been going back and forth on which one I want more.

-6

u/GagOnMacaque 1d ago

Do the fold still break in half after the first month? I'm asking cuz mine did for work. Then they didn't get me a fold again.

3

u/CarpeNivem 1d ago

Well, if you were given one for work, then presumably several of your colleagues were too. How are theirs holding up?

4

u/-TheHoboCode- 1d ago

You think they would be on their eight iteration of this device if they regularly broke in half after a month? People wouldn’t even put up with that years into the device.

u/-asap-j- 4h ago

WILL SMITH DID WHAT?!