Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra: Hands-On at Galaxy Unpacked

IGN went down to the recent Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event in London to get eyes and hands-on the new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Samsung’s latest Fold device. Naturally we had to use the big screen to play some games, and then spoke with Kadesh Beckford, Smartphone Specialist Product Manager, about the features that make the smartphone stand out. Sponsored by Samsung.

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Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra: Hands-On at Galaxy Unpacked

Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked event once again set the benchmark for what a premium foldable can be, and the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra sits at the center of that narrative. From the moment the device unfolds in your hand, the engineering precision is palpable, signaling a maturation of the form factor that began as a bold experiment and has since become a reliable daily companion for professionals and power users alike.

Design and Build: A Refined Icon The Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra continues Samsung’s philosophy of combining form with function. The device feels sturdier than its predecessors, thanks to a reinforced hinge mechanism and a chassis that balances weight and durability. The crease—long identified as a structural inevitability in foldables—has diminished in prominence, thanks to a combination of improved crease alignment and high-precision flex glass. The outer display presents vibrant color and clarity, while the inner 7.6-inch panel delivers immersive content without sacrificing responsiveness. The overall silhouette remains sleek, with a slightly more pronounced hinge camber that signals the device’s premium positioning without compromising pocketability.

Display and Visuals: Pixel-Perfect Versatility Samsung’s adaptive refresh technology continues to shine. The outer cover screen is bright and highly touch-responsive, ideal for quick notifications, messages, and quick taps on app icons. The inner display supports a variable refresh rate that scales smoothly from a static reading mode to a cinematic 120Hz, ensuring both productivity tasks and media consumption feel fluid. Color accuracy is consistent across both panels, which is essential for designers and creators who rely on faithful palettes when drafting presentations or editing imagery on the go.

Performance and Software: A Productivity Powerhouse Under the hood, the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra pairs top-tier silicon with ample RAM and storage options that cater to multitasking and heavy workloads. The software skin is refined to leverage the foldable form, offering multitasking layouts, task switching, and windowed apps that feel native rather than augmented. The multi-window experience is where the device truly shines: you can snap, drag, and resize apps with minimal latency, making it feasible to draft a document while reviewing data in a spreadsheet, all on a single device. Battery efficiency has been improved through smarter background task management and adaptive performance, which translates to longer productivity sessions between charges.

Camera System: Versatility in All Light Samsung’s camera array on the Fold8 Ultra emphasizes versatility, with sensors optimized for both compact snapshots and professional-like outputs. The main camera delivers detail-rich imagery with balanced dynamic range, while the ultra-wide and telephoto lenses offer compelling options for creative compositions and remote collaboration. In everyday use, the camera handles mixed lighting with commendable tone mapping, and the software provides a robust set of Pro-grade features without overwhelming new users. For video, the foldable form factor enables creative capture modes and on-device stabilization that keeps footage steady even when you’re moving between tasks.

Durability and Usage Scenarios: Built for Real Life The Fold8 Ultra is designed for real-world use, where quick notes, on-the-fly emails, and late-evening document reviews are part of the routine. The hinge mechanism has undergone refinements to reduce wobble, and the display protection layers have been engineered to resist minor scrapes and everyday wear. Samsung’s ecosystem integration continues to be a strength: seamless handoff between devices, secure cloud backups, and a robust set of productivity tools that are optimized for a dual-screen workflow. The device adapts gracefully to a wide range of environments, from corporate settings to creative studios, where the flexibility of a foldable form factor can unlock new approaches to work and collaboration.

Verdict: A Mature Foldable for Serious Use The Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra represents a mature evolution in Samsung’s foldable strategy. It balances the thrill of a new form factor with the reliability and polish expected from a flagship device. For professionals who demand a device capable of switching between phone and tablet modes without a compromise in performance or user experience, the Fold8 Ultra stands out as a practical, sophisticated choice. It’s not just about the novelty of folding; it’s about the convenience of a single device that can adapt to a workflow as fluid as the user’s day.