The big new from Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked 2026 event is a totally new form factor for the Galaxy Z Fold 8. If you love the previous form factor, don’t worry, the Galaxy Fold 8 Ultra still uses their normal book-style folding screen along with the more portrait oriented closed aspect ratio. The Galaxy Fold 8 though, has a wider more square like closed aspect ratio that opens to a really nice wide-screen aspect ratio.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 feels a lot like the old Microsoft Surface Duo with its more pocket notebook style form factor. The Z Fold 8 is certainly thinner and lighter though. We’ve got a nice dual camera array on the back with 50 megapixel wide and ultrawide angle cameras. The “Armor Aluminum”, flex titanium screen backing, and “Armor Flexhinge” make it all feel very strong and durable. Yet, it’s still very lightweight at only 201g.
Unfolded, the inner screen has a comfortable 4:3 aspect ratio, which again feels great. The crease in the middle of the folding screen is barely visible when opened. For some weird reason, the Android navigation buttons on the bottom right change positions depending on if you have an app in the foreground or the home screen. They move just a little bit vertically which is just enough to be annoying at the inconsistency.
The folding is super sturdy. Samsung has really perfected folding screens after 8 years or so.
The external display has a 10:16 aspect ratio which is pretty rare with Android phones, but I think I like it a lot.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra
Now, if you’re really a fan of the old Galaxy Z Fold form factor with its portrait-style external screen and more book-style internal folding screen, don’t worry. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is the one you’re looking for.
This is the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold form factor that we’re used to. The external screen hardly has any bezel these days, unlike the first generation of the Galaxy Z Fold. The Z Fold 8 Ultra is also a lot thinner now at only 4.1mm and it’s only 215g in weight just like the Z Fold 7.
The internal screen looks great. Even though the whole device is a little thinner than the previous generation, we do have a new larger capacity battery with 5000mAh instead of 4400mAh. That should provide about 27 hours of video playback instead of the Z Fold 7’s 24 hours.
The cameras have been nicely upgraded on the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra as well. The main wide angle camera has a 200Mp sensor. The ultra wide angle camera has a 50Mp sensor, and the 3x telephoto camera has a 10Mp sensor. The external display has a 10Mp camera in the punch hole, and the internal folding display has another 10Mp camera in the punch hole.
I didn’t have time to test these very extensively, but it looks like all of the rear cameras are able to output to RAW DNG formats, which is great. The portrait mode options looked a bit inaccurate though with the depth masking.
What do you think of Samsung’s new Galaxy Z Fold 8 series for 2026?