We have another foldable device in our hands, and this time, it’s Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra.
We’ve been using the device as our daily driver, and here are our thoughts after spending some time with it.
Let’s start with the design. Compared to its predecessor, the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra doesn’t bring many major design changes, but it still looks sleek and premium.
Despite its size, the device remains fairly handy. It isn’t particularly bulky when folded, making it easy to slip into a pocket. The camera module does protrude from the back, so the device doesn’t sit completely flat on a table. However, since you’ll mostly be holding the device, this isn’t much of an issue.
When it comes to durability, however, the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra only has an IP48 rating. It still offers water protection, but it isn’t as durable as devices with higher IP ratings.
When you flip the device open, the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra features a 6.5-inch LTPO AMOLED 2X cover display with FHD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate.
Unfolding the device reveals a larger 8-inch LTPO AMOLED 2X display with a 2K resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+, and a peak brightness of 3,000 nits.
In terms of display quality, the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra offers a great viewing experience. Colors pop, while visuals remain sharp and clear.
Outdoor visibility is also excellent thanks to its high brightness levels. Even under direct sunlight, the display remains visible.
For everyday use, we found the cover screen more than capable of handling most of a casual users needs.
As for the cameras, the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra features a triple rear camera setup consisting of a 200MP main camera, a 10MP telephoto camera, and a 50MP ultrawide camera. For selfies, it comes with a 10MP ultrawide camera and a 10MP wide camera.
For daylight photography, the phone produces good-quality images with a wide dynamic range, plenty of detail, and good sharpness. However, we noticed that the images tend to have deep blacks and shadows.
Another thing we noticed is that even when taking photos on a sunny day, some of the shots can come out looking somewhat gloomy. This may not appeal to everyone, especially those who prefer brighter and more vibrant-looking photos.
For low-light photography, the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra does a good job of brightening scenes and bringing out details.
However, the lighting can sometimes look unbalanced. Light sources can also produce noticeable streaks, which may be distracting in certain shots.
For selfies, the camera produces natural-looking images with realistic skin tones and visible facial features. Although, the overall output can sometimes look a little dull, which may make some shots less flattering.
For video recording, the rear cameras can shoot up to 8K at 30fps, while the selfie cameras can record up to 4K at 60fps.
Under the hood, the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra is powered by a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. Our review unit comes with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.
Given the chipset, performance is more than enough for pretty much everything I do on a mobile device. It handles light tasks with ease, including social media browsing, 4K video editing, and heavy multitasking.
We also tried playing graphically demanding games, and even with the settings maxed out, the device showed no noticeable slowdowns.
Benchmark Result
The Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra is equipped with a 5,000mAh battery paired with 45W wired and 20W wireless charging.
Considering its price, the battery capacity is somewhat disappointing, especially when compared to other flagship smartphones.
We also tracked the battery throughout the day. The device was at 100% at around 10:28 AM, and by 4:43 PM, it had dropped to 63%.
Despite its size and the demands of its large display, I think the battery performance was quite good. During this period, the phone was mostly used for taking photos, handling light tasks, and watching YouTube videos.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra is priced at PHP 123,990 for the 12GB + 256GB configuration, while the 16GB + 1TB variant costs PHP 165,990.
Overall, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra is a great foldable device. However, its high price makes it difficult to recommend, especially for users considering the higher-storage variants.
That said, it offers a capable camera system, excellent displays, and top-notch day-to-day performance. If you’re already invested in Samsung’s ecosystem and the 256GB storage option is enough for you, the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra can be a good choice.
That’s our experience with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra. What are your thoughts on the device? Let us know in the comments below.
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