Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8, Z Fold8 Ultra and Z Flip8 battery evolution: Every generation compared

Battery life on Samsung’s foldable phones has improved over several generations, and bigger batteries haven’t been the only reason. Recent Galaxy Z Folds gained longer rated video playback without increasing capacity, while the Flip line moved to larger batteries in stages.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 and Fold8 Ultra now add bigger batteries without weighing more than the Fold7. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8 keeps the Flip7’s capacity and playback rating in a thinner, lighter body. All three use silicon-carbon batteries, and the new Folds also offer faster charging (wired and wireless).

Battery and charging at a glance:

The Galaxy Z Fold4, Fold5, Fold6 and Fold7 all used 4,400 mAh batteries, yet rated video playback rose from up to 20 hours on the Fold4 to up to 24 hours on the Fold7. That is four additional hours, or 20% longer rated playback, without an increase in battery capacity.

With the Galaxy Z Fold8 and Fold8 Ultra, capacity increases too. The Fold8 has 4,800 mAh, 400 mAh more than the Fold7, while the Fold8 Ultra has 5,000 mAh, an extra 600 mAh. Their video playback ratings rise to up to 26 and 27 hours, respectively — two and three additional hours over the Fold7.

The larger batteries haven’t made the new Folds heavier than the Fold7. The Fold8 Ultra keeps the same 215 g weight and is slightly thinner when unfolded, while the Fold8 weighs 201 g, 14 g less. Both also support faster wired charging than the Fold7.

Galaxy Z Flip battery capacity has changed more than Galaxy Z Fold capacity over the same period.

The Galaxy Z Flip4 and Flip5 had 3,700 mAh batteries. Capacity increased to 4,000 mAh with the Flip6 and then to 4,300 mAh with the Flip7. The Galaxy Z Flip8 keeps that 4,300 mAh capacity.

Rated video playback has gone from 19 hours on the Galaxy Z Flip4 to 31 hours on the Flip8.

The biggest jump came between the Flip6 and Flip7. Battery capacity increased by 300 mAh, from 4,000 mAh to 4,300 mAh, while rated video playback went from 23 hours to 31 hours.

The Galaxy Z Flip8 keeps the same 4,300 mAh battery and 31-hour video playback rating as the Flip7 while becoming thinner and 8 g lighter. It measures 13.1 mm when folded and weighs 180 g, compared to 13.7 mm and 188 g for the Flip7.

In practical terms, the battery life of the previous generation has been preserved while making the phone easier to carry, with the Galaxy Z Flip8 being Samsung’s thinnest and lightest Flip yet.

The Galaxy Z Fold8 and Fold8 Ultra support 45W wired charging, up from 25W on the Fold4 to Fold7. The Galaxy Z Flip8 supports up to 25W.

For a top-up before heading out, 30 minutes of charging can take the Fold8 Ultra to 67%, the Fold8 to 63% and the Flip8 to around 55%. That gives all three a useful amount of charge while you’re getting ready.

For wireless charging, the Fold8 and Fold8 Ultra support up to 20W, while the Flip8 supports up to 15W.

Wireless PowerShare is available on all three phones as well. It lets you place compatible earbuds, a smartwatch, or another Qi-compatible device on the back of the phone and use its battery to charge them.

You probably aren't going to spend an entire day continuously playing a downloaded video, but Samsung's video playback figures are still useful for comparing battery performance from one generation to the next.

The test continuously plays a 720p video stored on the device using the main display. Bluetooth earphones are connected, LTE is enabled, and the phone runs at its default settings.

Of course, how long your phone lasts will depend on screen brightness, mobile signal strength, the apps you use and how much time you spend on the larger folding display, among other factors.

What the figures do give us is a consistent comparison. On that basis, Galaxy Z Fold video playback has increased from 20 hours on the Fold4 to as much as 27 hours on the Fold8 Ultra. Galaxy Z Flip has gone from 19 hours on the Flip4 to 31 hours on the Flip8.

The Galaxy Z Fold8, Fold8 Ultra, and Flip8 all use silicon-carbon batteries. For users, the important part isn't the battery chemistry itself. It's what that technology allows Samsung to fit inside these phones.

The Fold8 Ultra is a good example. It has a 5,000 mAh battery, 600 mAh more than the Galaxy Z Fold7, while weighing exactly the same 215 g. It is also slightly thinner when unfolded, at 4.1 mm compared to 4.2 mm for the Fold7.

At 201 g, the Galaxy Z Fold8 is the world's lightest book-style foldable phone, and it manages that while carrying 400 mAh more battery than the Galaxy Z Fold7 at 14 g less weight.

The Galaxy Z Flip8 doesn't increase capacity over the Flip7, but it keeps the same 4,300 mAh battery and 31-hour video playback rating while reducing folded thickness from 13.7 mm to 13.1 mm and weight from 188 g to 180 g.

So the latest generation isn't simply about putting larger batteries inside the phones. The Fold models gain battery capacity without becoming heavier, while the Flip8 keeps the same battery capacity in a thinner and lighter body.

The Galaxy Z Fold8 and Fold8 Ultra offer up to 26 and 27 hours of rated video playback, respectively, compared to 20 hours on the Fold4. Both combine larger batteries with 45W wired charging without becoming heavier than the Fold7.

The Ultra has the largest battery at 5,000 mAh, while the 4,800 mAh Fold8 is only 200 mAh and one hour of rated playback behind it.

The Galaxy Z Flip8 has the highest rated video playback time of the three at up to 31 hours, compared to 19 hours on the Flip4. It retains the Flip7’s capacity and playback rating in a thinner, lighter body, making it easier to carry without giving up the previous generation’s battery capacity.

^{[1] Typical value tested under third party laboratory conditions. Rated minimum capacity of the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra is 4,854 mAh.}

^{[2] Typical value tested under third party laboratory conditions. Rated minimum capacity of the Galaxy Z Fold8 is 4,660 mAh.}

^{[3] Typical value tested under third party laboratory conditions. Rated minimum capacity of the Galaxy Z Flip8 is 4,174 mAh.}

^{[4] Based on Samsung internal lab test conditions with the pre-release version of a given model connected to earphones via Bluetooth under default settings over LTE. Estimated against battery capacity and measured current over battery power consumption during video playback (video file resolution 720p, saved on device) on the main screen. Actual video playback time may vary by network connection, settings, video file format, screen brightness, battery condition and many other factors.}

^{[5] 45W charger sold separately.}

^{[6] 20W wireless charger sold separately.}

^{[7] 25W charger sold separately.}

^{[8] 15W wireless charger sold separately.}

^{[9] Wireless PowerShare: Works with most Qi-compatible devices. Different devices may charge at different speeds. Need minimum of 30% to use.}