Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra Review: specs and features, camera quality test, gaming benchmark, user opinions and photos

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra – Technology that Comes at a High Price

The Korean company Samsung remains a leader in electronics development. Millions of people vote with their wallets for the brand's new smartphones. Signature style, high-quality build quality, and a good price-to-performance ratio are still characteristic of virtually every Samsung product. However, despite its technological advancements, today's review subject is overly expensive and, in some places, unbalanced. Yet, for some reason, the desire to purchase it doesn't diminish.

The new device's appearance is extremely attractive. Firstly, it's a striking example of the clamshell form factor, and secondly, the metal and tempered glass body, when unfolded, reaches an incredibly modest thickness of 4.1 mm. The understated colors of the matte back panels, the vertical photo module array, the side-mounted fingerprint scanner, and the partial but effective IP48 water resistance only enhance the exterior's appeal. The secondary 6.5-inch (2520x1080 pixels) and primary 8-inch (2504x2256 pixels) AMOLED displays boast crisp images and impressively smooth 120Hz refresh rates. Peak brightness slightly exceeds 4000 nits, making viewing comfortable in direct sunlight. Color reproduction is excellent, as is the effectiveness of the oleophobic layer. However, it remains a mystery when the manufacturer will address the PWM effect.

The technical specifications include last year's flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, 12GB of RAM, and an Adreno 840 GPU. The chipset delivers incredible performance, making the user experience with the updated Android 16 operating system brilliant. Gamers will enjoy playing their favorite resource-intensive games like Honkai: Star Rail on such a huge display, with maximum graphics settings and a frame rate of 90-100 frames per second. However, after an hour or two, throttling sets in, with the FPS dropping to 50-60. Battery life is rather a weakness, as the 5000 mAh battery barely lasts a day of active use. The 25W wireless and 60W wired charging are mediocre compared to more powerful competitors, but with the small battery, you won't be spending long near a power outlet or power bank. Storage options include 256GB or 512GB.

Photo capabilities are more impressive than those of the standard Fold. The main 200-megapixel sensor and 10-megapixel telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, featuring hybrid stabilization, are capable of handling evening photography with dynamic subjects. However, they're far from the level of camera phones, as evidenced by noise in dark areas and a slight loss of detail. The 50-megapixel wide-angle lens is noticeably less powerful, though it's capable of capturing artistic images during the day. Stereo sound is rich and loud, comparable to that of inexpensive Bluetooth speakers. NFC contactless payments, eSIM support, and 5G network support are also advantages. Ultimately, this is a questionable, but definitely relevant device, not lacking in ergonomics, power, functionality, and charm. However, it's difficult to recommend it definitively given its hefty price tag.