Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra: 3 reasons to buy or upgrade in 2026

Samsung's Ultra family of devices is growing. Last week, the company unveiled the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra at Unpacked in London, and it looks every bit as compelling as the Fold 7 did last year.

Despite the Ultra name, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is the direct successor to last year's Fold 7 and shares much of its overall design. If you are thinking about switching to a foldable or upgrading your current one, you might be wondering if the Fold 8 Ultra is worth it.

As the old adage goes, looks can be deceiving. And in the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra's case, the similarities only tell part of the story. Here are our three biggest reasons to buy the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, plus a bonus fourth.

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra improves its foldable display in several meaningful ways.

Foldable display brightness

Capable of topping 3,000 nits of peak brightness, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra's upgraded 8-inch foldable display is the brightest Samsung has used on a Fold. The 2025 model peaked at 2,600 nits.

The extra brightness makes the large 8-inch display easier to see outdoors and more comfortable to use in direct sunlight.

Foldable display anti-reflection coating

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is the first Fold in the series to feature an anti-reflection coating on its foldable display.

Combined with the panel's 3,000-nit peak brightness, the new coating further improves outdoor visibility by reducing glare and reflections. Whether you're reading, browsing, or watching videos in direct sunlight, the display remains easier to see.

Foldable display durability and crease (in)visibility

The Fold 7 introduced a titanium plate beneath the foldable display for added rigidity. In 2026, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra builds on that foundation with another titanium layer.

This time it's called Flex Titanium and consists of an ultra-thin titanium sheet embedded in the foldable display itself.

The biggest visible improvement is the crease. It's nearly invisible, or at the very least, noticeably less pronounced than on the Fold 7.

The titanium layer should also help the crease remain less noticeable and the foldable display in better condition over time.

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra represents the Fold series' biggest battery upgrade since it began in 2019.

It's all thanks to a new battery technology based on Lithium-Ion and an anode that contains Silicon-Carbon. The payoff:

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is the thinnest mainline Fold Samsung has ever manufactured. When unfolded, it's 0.1mm thinner than the Fold 7, according to Samsung. Folded, it measures the same 8.9mm as its predecessor.

That may not sound like much, and on its own, it isn't. But considering Samsung also managed to fit a significantly better battery inside the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, it's kind of a miracle that the phone ended up even thinner, if only by 0.1mm.

This won't be the biggest reason to get the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra for most prospective buyers, but if you're a fan of design refinements that go hand in hand with hardware improvements, this is a perfect example.

If the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra has already made your shortlist, it's worth taking advantage of Samsung's pre-order offers while they're still available.

In the United States, you can use the code PAYPAL100 and save $100. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra starts at $2,099, and Samsung offers trade-in discounts of up to $1,200.

Assuming you don't have a device you can trade in, you get a $200 Samsung Credit you can spend on accessories and wearables before checkout.

The pre-order period ends on August 7.