Samsung · Reviewed by Marques Brownlee · Published 2026-07-22
Based on a review by Marques Brownlee (accessed 2026-07-22).
Based on this review alone: buy it if you care about smaller and lighter form factor (201g) — just accept less ideal for heavy multitasking compared to the ultra.
The reviewer was surprisingly impressed by the smaller, passport-style Z Fold 8 (Wide), stating, "I'm really impressed by how much I like the smaller fold and I can really see myself dailying it. I didn't think that coming in." He found it well-suited for media consumption despite being 'less phone' than the Ultra.
This review provides a first look and hands-on impressions of three new Samsung folding phones: the Z Flip 8, Z Fold 8 Ultra, and the new, wider Z Fold 8. The reviewer covers design changes, performance updates, camera improvements, display enhancements, battery specifications, and pricing for each model.
The new smaller Z Fold 8 is surprisingly appealing, offering a compact and lightweight foldable experience optimized for media consumption. It features a titanium flex hinge that significantly reduces the display crease to an 8 or 8.5 out of 10 level compared to last year's 5, complemented by a bright 3,000 nits anti-reflective screen. Despite its 201-gram weight, similar to a regular Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus, it includes two displays and a 4500 mAh battery, though it has fewer cameras and smaller screens than the Ultra variant. If you prioritize a compact, lightweight foldable for media viewing and photography over heavy multitasking, this phone is a strong contender. However, if you require the largest screen for productivity or the most advanced camera array, the Z Fold 8 Ultra would be a better choice.
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The new Z Flip 8 looks a lot like the Flip 7, but it's noted to be a bit thinner and lighter. The reviewer states it's 8 grams lighter and half a millimeter thinner.
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The Z Flip 8 is equipped with the new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, matching the S26 series in performance.
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Samsung made a big step in getting rid of the crease with a new titanium alloy film and backplate. The reviewer rates it 8-8.5 out of 10 compared to Oppo's 10/10, a significant improvement from last year's 5.
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The Z Fold 8 Ultra features a new anti-reflective coating and a maximum brightness of 3,000 nits, making the crease barely visible when the display is on.
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The Z Fold 8 Ultra now has the biggest battery ever in a Samsung Fold, measuring 5,000 mAh, and incorporates silicon in its battery technology.
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The Z Fold 8 Ultra now offers updated charging speeds, from 25W to 45W wired and from 15W to 20W wireless.
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Samsung has introduced a new passport-shaped foldable, the Z Fold 8 (Wide), positioning it beneath their traditional candy bar style Fold (now Ultra).
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The Z Fold 8 (Wide) is described as very thin and really light, weighing exactly 201 grams.
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Despite its lighter weight (similar to an S26 Plus), the Z Fold 8 (Wide) features two displays (outside and inner folding) and a 4500 mAh battery.
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The Z Fold 8 (Wide) features a 5.5-inch outer screen with a 10x16 aspect ratio and a 7.6-inch inner screen with a 4x3 aspect ratio, compared to the Ultra's 8-inch inner screen.
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The Z Fold 8 (Wide) is better suited for media, with the camera viewfinder filling the screen more when closed, and 4x3 photos displaying perfectly full screen when viewed open.
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The Z Fold 8 (Wide) has one less camera than the Ultra, featuring a primary and an ultrawide, with a 50-megapixel primary camera instead of the Ultra's 200-megapixel.
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The Samsung Z Flip 8 starts at a price of $1,200 for the 256GB model.
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The smaller Z Fold 8 (Wide) starts at a price of $1,900 for the 256GB model.
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The Z Fold 8 Ultra starts at over $2,000 for the 256GB model, which is $100 more than last year's model.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra boasts a new Snapdragon chip, is slightly thinner and lighter, and has an updated 50-megapixel ultrawide camera capable of 8K video. The biggest improvements are in the hinge and interior display, which have significantly reduced the visible crease to an 8 or 8.5 out of 10, alongside a new anti-reflective coating and 3,000 nits max brightness. It also includes the largest 5000 mAh battery in a Samsung Fold, with faster 45W wired and 20W wireless charging.
Samsung has made a significant stride in reducing the crease with a new titanium alloy film and backplate. The reviewer rates it an 8 or 8.5 out of 10, a considerable improvement from last year's 5, though it still falls short of Oppo's virtually eliminated crease (rated 10/10). With the display on and a new anti-reflective coating and 3,000 nits brightness, the crease is barely noticeable.
The Z Fold 8 (Wide) is a new addition to Samsung's lineup, featuring a passport-style aspect ratio. It shares core technologies like the titanium flex hinge, minimal crease, anti-reflective coating, and silicon in the battery with the Ultra. However, it's a smaller phone overall, weighing 201 grams with a 5.5-inch outer screen and a 7.6-inch inner screen (compared to the Ultra's 8-inch). It also has a smaller 4500 mAh battery and one less camera (50MP primary vs. 200MP on Ultra).
The reviewer believes the Z Fold 8 (Wide) is legitimately better suited for media activities than multitasking. The camera viewfinder fills the screen more when closed, and 4x3 photos appear perfectly full screen when viewed open. Its lightweight design also makes it "awesome for an e-reader experience." While widescreen videos will still have black bars, the overall form factor is comfortable for media.
All new Samsung foldables start at 256 gigs of storage and are more expensive this year. The Z Flip 8 now starts at $1,200. The smaller Z Fold 8 (Wide) starts at $1,900, and the Z Fold 8 Ultra starts at over $2,000, which is about $100 more than last year's top model.
Despite initial reservations, the reviewer was "really impressed by how much I like the smaller fold and I can really see myself dailying it." He highlights its thin, light design, and its strengths for media consumption, making it a surprisingly appealing option for daily use.
100/100 source quality
Marques Brownlee reviews Samsung's new lineup of folding phones, including the Z Flip 8, Z Fold 8 Ultra, and the all-new Z Fold 8. The Z Flip 8 receives incremental updates like a new chip and improved cover screen. The Z Fold 8 Ultra sees significant improvements to its hinge, reducing the screen crease, and boasts a larger 5000 mAh battery with faster charging. The standout is the new Z Fold 8, a smaller, passport-style fold with a lightweight design and optimized experience for media, which the reviewer unexpectedly finds himself drawn to.
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