Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra hands-on suggests "Ultra" might be going too far
The wide could be much more appealing than the Ultra
Quick Summary
First impressions suggest that Samsung's new wide folding phone is light in the hand and has a reduced crease.
This makes it more appealing than the Ultra phone that it's going to launch alongside.
First impressions of Samsung's forthcoming folding phones raise a question over the "Ultra" naming for one of the devices, while the new format device garners more excitement.
Samsung will launch two book-style folding phones soon. The first will be an update to the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and one will be a new wider model. However, the Ultra label that's been added to the replacement for the Galaxy Z Fold 7 – retaining the old style – isn't justified based on the first impressions from one leaker.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra appears to have got its name because it’s a superior device based on the spec sheet. But a familiar leaker – Lanzuk on Naver – says that the crease and the "display pixels" are better on the wider device.
If the display is better on the wide device, then it's going to be harder for the Ultra phone to earn its name.
Elsewhere, Lanzuk says that first impressions of the wide folding phone is how light it is, calling it "unbelievable", before going on to say "the overall perceived weight is really light".
This has been a focus for Samsung, with the Galaxy Z Fold 6 weighing 239g and the Galaxy Z Fold 7 weighing 215g. It's suggested that the wider Galaxy Z Fold 8 will weigh 200g, which is about the weight of a regular candybar phone.
More impressively, the leaker says it "feels like a new beginning".
While talking about the Ultra name, we get the impression that the wide model presents the display better than the updated legacy phone.
What else do we learn about the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra?
While the post gives us snippets of information, it's easy to get the sense that the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is going to be exciting, while the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra isn't.
As a new format device, the wider phone has an advantage, especially if it tackles the two areas of weight (or bulk) as well as the quality of the display and the crease. Those things might overrule the rest of the package and help it appeal to buyers.
From leaks, we've seen that the Galaxy Z Fold 8 will have two cameras, while the Ultra will have a third camera, likely the telephoto. That's probably the distinction that Samsung is drawing between these two phones, which are otherwise expected to have the same core power and offer the same overall experience.
What will really matter is pricing: the Ultra name might attract a higher price handing another advantage to the new device.
While specs and prices are important, Lanzuk nails a key point: first impressions will matter. Some will be drawn to Samsung's folding phones for the first time in 2026 – perhaps spurred on by Apple's forthcoming iPhone Ultra launch – and the lighter weight of the wider device could be what sells it.
