Why the Galaxy Z Fold 8's wider design makes the Ultra feel outdated
After a month with the Galaxy Z Fold 8, the writer returned to the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra. The Ultra remains a premium foldable with strong screens, cameras, and software, but the wider Z Fold 8 form factor now feels like the better direction. The experience left the author less impressed by long, narrow foldables.
Samsung’s foldables have generally been tall and narrow since the original Galaxy Fold in 2019, and other brands followed. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 changed that with a wider shape, which drew praise. The writer used it for a month, switched to a regular phone, then later tried the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra.
The Ultra still offers premium screens, cameras, software, and a zoom lens that beats the standard Z Fold 8, and it is notably light. But its inner screen is nearly square at 10:9, versus the Z Fold 8’s wider 4:3 ratio. That affects movies, games, split-screen use, and apps like Maps, Spotify, and document viewers.
The shift toward wider foldables could reshape what consumers expect from premium phones, especially people who watch video, play games, or multitask. If wider inner screens prove more useful, Samsung and rival makers may adjust future designs, while app developers could optimize layouts for broader displays. Buyers of current narrow models may feel their devices age faster, though the Ultra’s camera and software strengths may still matter for some users.