Meet Samsung’s 3 Very Different New Galaxy Z Foldable Phones

Samsung has regularly improved its foldablesbut the eighth annual update includes a new face, the Z Fold8which features the long-rumored wide form factor. It sits between the flagship Z Fold8 Ultra, which is the successor to last year’s Fold7and the smaller Flip8, which succeeds the Flip7. Is the newcomer an awkward middle child or the glue that holds Samsung’s folding family together? Samsung also has a few new smartwatches, the Galaxy Watch Ultra2 and Watch9.

The new phones are available for pre-order, but before you get yours, let’s take a look at the details to help you decide which of Samsung’s foldable phones to buy. I’ll break down the main differences and similarities so you can make an informed choice. And remember, Samsung sells plenty of other smartphones, and we highlight the ones worth looking at in our Guide to the best Samsung phones.

Which Samsung Galaxy Z is best for you?

Let’s take a quick look at what the eighth-generation Samsung Galaxy Z foldables have in common this year.

Although Samsung’s foldable devices all feature completely different sized exterior and foldout screens, they all feature Samsung’s Dynamic AMOLED 2X technology, so you get a 120Hz refresh rateHDR support and higher peak brightness than ever before (up to 3,000 nits), making your screen easier to read, even in direct sunlight. They also have features designed to filter blue light and reduce eye strain.

The Fold8 Ultra and Fold8 have a special Flex Titanium layer that reduces visible crease and provides more strength, flexibility and resilience. The titanium alloy film should help the screens last longer, but also means they are flatter and smoother than before, with an anti-glare finish that reduces glare.

All three phones feature Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, with 12GB of RAM and 256GB or 512GB of storage. You can also get the Fold8 Ultra and Fold8 with 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. They’re all IP48 water and dust resistant and feature Samsung’s Advanced Armor aluminum frame, which is scratch-resistant and durable enough to survive minor drops. The Fold8 Ultra and Fold8 support fast charging at up to 45 watts and wireless fast charging at 20 watts; the Flip8 is slightly slower for both. All three support Wireless PowerShare for charging wireless headphones and other devices. Connectivity includes Wi-Fi 7 and Ultra Wideband (UWB).

Besides sizes, camera systems are very different, but here are all the specs so you can see exactly where they diverge.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra is the biggest and best foldable offered by Samsung. If you crave the biggest screen available but want to fold it up and have something that looks like a regular smartphone when closed, this is what you need. The 6.5-inch cover screen and slim design are sleek but won’t turn heads. Open it up and you get a massive 8-inch screen that looks like two 6.5-inch screens side by side.

Everything feels smoother and more solid, with Samsung’s usual round of annual refinements. Both displays feature Samsung’s latest technology and a silky smooth adaptive refresh rate that also saves power. Speaking of which, the battery is significantly bigger than the Fold7 at 5,000 mAh, and it supports faster wired and wireless charging than its predecessor. The only slight disappointment is the lack of magnetic Qi2, which is a very handy feature for easy connection and perfect alignment of wireless charging.

What really makes the Fold8 Ultra “ultra” is the camera system. This is a high-level combination consisting of a 200-megapixel main shooter, a 50-megapixel ultra-wide, and a 10-megapixel telephoto lens with support for 3X optical zoom. Both the main and ultra-wide can shoot 8K video, and you’ll find plenty of AI assistance in your photo and video editing options.

Who is it for: The flagship fan who wants the best of the best and doesn’t hesitate to spend to get it.

The Samsung Galaxy Fold8 is where things get interesting. So far, the best foldable phones have all been either book-style like the Fold8 Ultra or much smaller flip phones like the Flip8 below, but the Fold8 makes for an interesting happy medium. It’s much shorter than the Fold8 Ultra at 124mm versus 158mm, but it’s also wider at 161mm versus 143mm unfolded (82 to 73mm when folded).

This form factor gives you a 7.6-inch interior display with an aspect ratio of 4:3 (landscape) or 3:4 (portrait), a more natural format for certain media. While the unfolded screen isn’t miles off the Ultra’s, using the Fold8 when it’s closed will take some getting used to; even though it’s only a few millimeters difference, it looks short and stubby. It’s also a bit more user-friendly, and at 201 grams, it’s the lightest foldable big screen on the market.

Performance, display technology, and most of the rest of the spec sheet match the Fold8 Ultra, although the battery is slightly smaller at 4,800 mAh. The glaring difference is in the camera system, which consists of a pair of 50-megapixel lenses (wide and ultra-wide) and removes the telephoto lens completely, although it still offers 10X digital zoom. It can still record at 8K, and Samsung has included features like dual recording and my FanCam, a post-video editing feature where you can tap into a subject in a sequence and generate a cropped clip that keeps it centered for social media-ready content without the need for manual cropping.

Who is it for: Fun, adventurous people looking for something a little different.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8 is the lightest and thinnest flip phone in the world thanks to its redesigned chassis. It’s the perfect option for those who miss smaller phones, as it closes to easily fit into any pocket or bag. You get a 4.1-inch cover screen, but it opens up to turn into a 6.9-inch candy bar, and the main screen has Samsung’s best display technology.

It’s tougher and more durable than ever, and it has the same great chipset and high-end performance as its two big brothers. The smaller 4,300 mAh battery is probably enough for similar endurance, since the screens are much smaller, although wired and wireless charging are a bit slower. You also get a more basic camera system, including a 50-megapixel main shooter backed by a 12-megapixel ultra-wide, and video recording tops out at 4K, although that’s enough for most people.

Who is it for: People who value portability, but still want a fun, flip-up design that’s satisfying to close.

How to unlock Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Fold8 and Flip8

Life is easier when you buy your new unlocked phone because you can change carriers to find better deals and easily switch to international eSIMs when you travel. Galaxy Z phones sold on Samsung’s website are always unlocked.

The best place to buy a Galaxy Z phone is Samsung.comespecially since certain colors are exclusive to the showcase. Always check promotions to make sure you land deals, and consider trading in your old model for a decent discount. You get a six-month trial of Google AI Pro with these phones.

• THE Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra starts at $2,100 for 256GB.
• THE Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 starts at $1,900 for 256 GB.
• THE SamsungGalaxy Z Flip8 starts at $1,200 for 256 GB.

Whichever Samsung Galaxy Z foldable you choose, you may want to buy it with the Galaxy Mapas you can earn 5% cash back rewards on all in-store or online purchases made directly from Samsung in the United States. Other benefits include 3% cash rewards on purchases made with Samsung Wallet, 2% cash rewards on streaming service subscriptions, and 1% cash rewards on everything else with the physical card.

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra2 and Watch9

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra2 succeeds the Samsung Ultra Watch and promises to be more precise, faster and smoother, thanks to the Snapdragon Wear Elite chipset inside. It also has the brightest screen on a smartwatch, up to 5,000 nits. It’s still titanium, but the watch case and bracelet are thinner and lighter. Under the hood there’s specialized professional-level sports tracking, hydration advice and depth measurement for divers.

The Watch9 has the same chipset, a 3,000 nit display, and a 20% battery increase over the Watch8 at 390 mAh. It tracks your vital signs, alerts you of any deviations from your usual baseline, and gives you a personalized fitness score and recommendations for improving your health.

• THE SamsungGalaxy Watch Ultra2 costs $700.
• THE SamsungGalaxy Watch9 starts at $380 for the Bluetooth model.