Samsung has officially unveiled its 2025 foldable smartphone lineup — the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, and Galaxy Z Flip 8. Each device pushes the boundaries of what foldable hardware can do, with meaningful upgrades to display brightness, hinge durability, camera systems, and AI-powered features. If you are trying to decide which Samsung foldable is right for you, this is everything you need to know.
Galaxy Z Fold 8 — The Refined Flagship
The Z Fold 8 is Samsung's core book-style foldable. It is thinner, lighter, and more capable than its predecessor while keeping the same fundamental form factor that made the Fold series popular.
- Display: 7.7-inch inner Dynamic AMOLED 2X (2208 × 1768, 120Hz adaptive) / 6.3-inch outer cover display (2376 × 904, 120Hz)
- Processor: Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy — the same chip powering the S25 Ultra
- RAM & Storage: 12GB RAM with 256GB or 512GB storage options
- Camera: 200MP main sensor, 12MP ultrawide, 10x optical zoom telephoto; 10MP selfie on cover, 4MP under-display camera inside
- Battery: 4,400mAh with 25W wired and 15W wireless charging
- Hinge: Reinforced Flex Hinge with IPX8 water resistance
- Build: Titanium frame, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 3 on both displays
At 239g, the Z Fold 8 is the lightest book-style foldable Samsung has made. The gap between the halves when folded is nearly eliminated — it now feels remarkably close to a conventional slab phone when closed.
Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra — The Pro Powerhouse
The Z Fold 8 Ultra is Samsung's first "Ultra" foldable, and it is designed for users who want absolute top-tier specifications without compromise. Think of it as the S25 Ultra experience in a foldable body.
- Display: 8.0-inch inner Dynamic AMOLED 2X (2480 × 1860, 1–120Hz adaptive, 2,600 nits peak) / 6.5-inch cover display (2520 × 1080, 120Hz)
- Processor: Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy
- RAM & Storage: 16GB RAM with 512GB or 1TB storage
- Camera: 200MP main with advanced multi-frame processing, 50MP ultrawide, 5x and 10x dual telephoto system; 12MP cover selfie, 4MP under-display inner camera
- Battery: 5,000mAh with 45W wired, 15W wireless, and 4.5W reverse wireless charging
- S Pen: S Pen slot built directly into the body — no separate case required
- Build: Titanium frame with an aerospace-grade reinforced spine; Armor Aluminum inner structure
The built-in S Pen is the headline feature here. Previous Fold S Pen accessories required a separate case or were an add-on purchase. The Ultra integrates it natively, making the device a legitimate productivity powerhouse for note-takers, creatives, and professionals who rely on stylus input.
The 5,000mAh battery is a significant jump over the standard Fold 8 and addresses one of the most consistent complaints about the Fold series — that the large inner display drains battery too quickly.
Galaxy Z Flip 8 — The Style-Forward Clamshell
The Z Flip 8 continues Samsung's clamshell foldable line with a dramatically expanded cover screen and meaningful performance upgrades.
- Inner Display: 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X (2640 × 1080, 1–120Hz, 2,200 nits peak)
- Cover Display: 4.0-inch Super AMOLED (748 × 748) — significantly larger than the Flip 6's 3.4-inch panel
- Processor: Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy
- RAM & Storage: 12GB RAM with 256GB or 512GB
- Camera: 50MP main, 12MP ultrawide; 10MP inner selfie camera
- Battery: 3,700mAh with 25W wired and 15W wireless charging
- Build: New Armor Flex Glass on the inner display; lighter hinge mechanism at 187g total
The expanded cover screen now runs a proper app launcher — you can use select apps, reply to messages, check navigation, and interact with Galaxy AI features without ever opening the phone. This makes the Flip 8 far more practical as a "closed" device than any previous Flip model.
The Flex Window improvements also bring a new camera interface: you can shoot full-resolution photos using the rear cameras while the cover screen acts as a viewfinder, which is ideal for selfies and group shots with the main sensor quality.
Galaxy AI Features Across All Three
All three devices ship with Samsung's Galaxy AI suite, now expanded for the foldable form factor:
- Live Translate: Real-time call translation for over 20 languages, now with improved latency
- Note Assist: AI-powered summarization and formatting directly in Samsung Notes — particularly useful on the Fold 8 Ultra with S Pen
- Sketch to Image: Draw a rough sketch and Galaxy AI generates a polished image — works with S Pen on the Fold 8 Ultra
- Transcript Assist: Auto-transcribes voice recordings and organizes them into searchable notes
- ProVisual Engine: Enhanced AI processing for the camera system across all devices, including Generative Edit in Gallery
Samsung has also expanded on-device AI processing so more Galaxy AI tasks run locally without sending data to the cloud — a welcome privacy improvement.
How They Compare: Quick Breakdown
| Feature | Z Fold 8 | Z Fold 8 Ultra | Z Flip 8 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inner Display | 7.7" | 8.0" | 6.7" |
| Battery | 4,400mAh | 5,000mAh | 3,700mAh |
| S Pen | No | Built-in | No |
| RAM | 12GB | 16GB | 12GB |
| Weight | 239g | 258g | 187g |
| Starting Price | ~$1,799 | ~$2,199 | ~$1,099 |
Which One Should You Buy?
- Z Flip 8: Best for users who want a compact, stylish foldable that fits in small pockets. The clamshell design and large cover screen make it the most pocketable and social-media-friendly of the three.
- Z Fold 8: The all-around pick for productivity users, tablet-phone multitaskers, and anyone who wants a big inner screen without the Ultra price tag.
- Z Fold 8 Ultra: The right choice if you use a stylus, need maximum battery life, or want the most powerful foldable available regardless of price. The built-in S Pen alone makes it the definitive productivity device in Samsung's lineup.
Availability and Pricing
All three devices are available for pre-order now and shipping from August 28, 2025. Pre-order bonuses include storage upgrades and Samsung Care+ discounts depending on retailer.
- Galaxy Z Flip 8: Starting at $1,099 (256GB)
- Galaxy Z Fold 8: Starting at $1,799 (256GB)
- Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra: Starting at $2,199 (512GB)
Trade-in deals are currently offering up to $900 off for eligible Galaxy devices, which makes the Flip 8 particularly accessible if you are upgrading from an older Samsung flagship.
Final Verdict
Samsung's 2025 foldable lineup is its most mature yet. The Z Fold 8 Ultra finally answers the long-standing request for a built-in S Pen on a foldable. The Z Fold 8 becomes the most refined version of the book-style form factor. And the Z Flip 8 evolves the clamshell into a genuinely useful device even when closed.
If Samsung can maintain these hardware improvements and continue expanding Galaxy AI capabilities over time, the foldable category is closer than ever to replacing conventional flagship phones for everyday users.
