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There were still a few lingering flaws about the Galaxy Z Fold 7 that held me back, but Samsung has the perfect opportunity to fix them with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra. Give me a foldable worthy of the “Ultra” name, and I’m back in. But given the rising cost of smartphones across the board, I can’t justify spending upwards of $2,000 on the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra if it doesn’t offer these specific improvements.
Brady Snyder / Android AuthorityOlder Galaxy foldables look ancient in 2026, with the Galaxy Z Fold 4 appearing sorely out of place compared to the Galaxy Z Fold 7. The boxy design felt modern yet functional on the Galaxy Z Fold 6. The extra thickness and weight compared to newer models gave it a substantial feeling as I held it. The latest Galaxy Z Fold 7 kept the same general design language as the Fold 6, but cut about three millimeters off its thickness and 24 grams off its weight.
That completely changed the look and feel of the Galaxy Z Fold 7’s chassis, and the rectangular shape became more difficult to maneuver. It handled like a smaller Galaxy S26 Ultra when closed, and an ultra-thin tablet when opened. The problem was getting from one form factor to the other. The thin side rails on each half of the device, paired with the boxy characteristics, made it tricky to open up.
At 8.9mm thick and weighing 215 grams, I don’t think Galaxy foldables have a size problem anymore. I’d take a thinner or lighter Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, but focusing on the dimensions alone would be a mistake. Instead, I’d like to see Samsung reimagine the Galaxy Z Fold 8’s design to align with the much thinner and lighter profile. We’re still using foldables with Galaxy Z Fold 6 design elements, and subtle tweaks to accommodate the new dimensions would go a long way toward making the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra easier to use.
Ryan Haines / Android AuthoritySamsung foldables still use tried-and-true lithium-ion batteries, and it’d be easy for me to demand that the company get with the times and upgrade to silicon-carbon lithium-ion batteries. With a silicon-carbon composite instead of graphite, these batteries are much denser than traditional lithium-ion equivalents. This makes perfect sense for foldables, which are already working with limited internal space. We’ve seen the Motorola Razr Fold debut a 6,000mAh silicon-carbon battery that trounces the 4,400mAh lithium-ion battery in the Galaxy Z Fold 7, and more examples overseas.
My ask for the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is simpler — give me longer battery life. I need to be able to use the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra for a full day, even when nearly all my screen-on time is spent on the main screen. Using the Galaxy Z Fold 7’s folding display quickly drains my battery, and I have to carry a power bank on travel days when I know I’ll be using the inner screen for everything. With the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, that should change.
Switching to a silicon-carbon battery is one way to improve battery life, but it’s not the only way. I fully expect Samsung to stick with lithium-ion batteries for the upcoming Galaxy foldables. It can still stretch battery life by adding larger lithium-ion batteries and making efficiency optimizations, and that’s what I’m looking for.
Brady Snyder / Android AuthorityI’ve used a handful of fast-charging phones over the years from brands like OnePlus and Motorola, and I always wonder why Samsung, Apple, and Google aren’t getting the hint. Charging speeds are arguably more important than battery capacities. If it only takes half an hour to give your phone a midday power boost, having to recharge it after lunch isn’t so frustrating.
The Galaxy Z Fold 7 can charge to 50% in 30 minutes over a cable, but that’s more a credit to its small 4,400mAh battery than to its fast-charging chops. It charges at just 25W over a cable and 15W wirelessly. Compared to Samsung’s stateside competitors, Galaxy foldables are quickly falling behind. The Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold’s 30W wired charging speeds are more respectable, and the Razr Fold’s 80W wired speeds are genuinely outstanding.
I don’t need Samsung to try to match Motorola’s outlandish charging speeds, especially if the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra sticks with traditional lithium-ion batteries that aren’t as big. However, it should beat the Pixel 10 Pro Fold’s 30W figure at least. That would give the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra room to (hopefully) add battery while keeping 50% charge times at 30 minutes.
Zac Kew-Denniss / Android AuthorityGoogle got a lot wrong with the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, but adding Qi2 magnets despite the thickness and weight ramifications was the right choice. Samsung bringing Qi2 support to the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra would be no small feat. At the very least, it’d have to find room for the magnetic ring inside and offset the added thickness and weight somehow. It could also involve Samsung redesigning the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra’s internal and external design, such as the pesky camera arrangement that often conflicts with Qi2 and MagSafe accessories.
It’s something that Samsung should do anyway. At this stage, Qi2 and MagSafe are quintessential smartphone features that every flagship model should support. The internal magnetic ring offers practical benefits, such as perfect wireless charging alignment and improved efficiency. It also adds native support for the largest phone accessory ecosystem on the planet. With Apple, Google, and a bunch of third-party brands making Qi2 accessories, there’s no shortage of options.
I love Samsung phones, but I’m tired of waiting for Qi2. I probably wouldn’t buy the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra without it, regardless of any other changes Samsung makes.
C. Scott Brown / Android AuthorityI didn’t expect glass to become one of my most important smartphone features, but here we are. The anti-glare Gorilla Armor 2 is outstanding on the Galaxy S26 Ultra, and the scratch-resistant Ceramic Shield 2 keeps my daily driver iPhone pristine. I don’t use screen protectors, and my Android phones always end up thrashed after a few weeks — Ceramic Shield 2 finally fixed that on my iPhone Air. Corning makes both Gorilla Armor 2 and Ceramic Shield 2, so there’s plenty for Samsung to tap into for the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra’s cover glass.
Cover glass is really important because you won’t want to bulk up a thin foldable by adding a protective case. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra cover screen will pick up its fair share of scratches as a result, but better glass can help. I get why Samsung keeps Gorilla Armor 2 on the Galaxy S26 Ultra, but it really should come to the brand’s “Ultra” foldable, too. If it can improve scratch resistance in the process, sign me up.
Ryan Haines / Android AuthorityThe Galaxy Z Fold 7’s 200MP main camera is superb for a foldable, but the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra needs to focus on the secondary sensors. A 10MP, 3x telephoto and a 12MP, 120-degree ultrawide lens simply isn’t cutting it. Motorola’s Razr Fold has a trio of 50MP sensors on the back, and it gives the Galaxy Z Fold 7 a run for its money.
It’s time for the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra to take these secondary cameras seriously. An optical zoom range of 3x to 5x will do just fine, but the telephoto should feature a higher-resolution sensor capable of snapping sharper shots. The ultrawide should be of higher quality, too. If these cameras aren’t good enough to make you choose them instead of the primary camera, they’re just taking up space on the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra.
Half of my Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra wish list concerns battery and charging improvements, so it’s clear to me where Samsung should focus its attention. With the Galaxy Z Fold 7, the middling battery life discouraged me from using the main display. Considering the larger, folding display is precisely the point of a foldable, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra needs to overhaul the battery and charging experience, empowering users to make the most of it.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7Thinnest, lightest Z Fold to date • More durable design • 200MP primary camera • Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy MSRP: $1,999.99Thin, light, high-powered, and it folds!The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 offers an 8-inch OLED screen, a 200MP camera, the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chipset, and a 4,400mAh battery. The Galaxy AI experience is baked in, offering tools across the camera, Circle to Search, and much more. Best of all, Samsung continues to evolve its foldable hinge assembly, promising reduced visibility of the crease.See price at AmazonSave $400.00FeaturesSamsungSamsung GalaxySamsung Galaxy Z Fold 7Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8FollowThank you for being part of our community. Read our Comment Policy before posting.
