Hello, hi! I am Original Hehe, please follow me, more exciting content is waiting for you Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra long-term review

Although I come across many new phones regularly, I’m not the type of person who has to buy new technology the moment it’s released. Foldable screens are the most typical example.

But when it came to using one myself long-term, I never pulled the trigger. The issues with early foldable screens were too obvious. I’ve been waiting for over seven years. I’ve been following foldable screens for years, but it wasn’t until the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra actually landed in my hands that I seriously used a foldable screen as my daily phone for the first time.

Did the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra actually change my perspective on foldable screens? This time, from the perspective of someone using a large foldable long-term for the first time, I’ll talk about what it’s really like to use this phone.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra: What surprised me most was actually the hand feel.

Before I actually started using the Fold8 Ultra, my biggest concern was really just one thing: would it be too big? I’m used to supporting my phone with my pinky. Not to mention the Fold8 Ultra has an 8-inch foldable screen inside, so I was already prepared to use it with both hands.

The result when folded is completely different from what I expected. Its body width is only 72.8mm, making it even easier to handle in hand than many large-screen slab phones.

The weight surprised me even more. The Fold8 Ultra weighs 215g, and this feeling becomes even more pronounced when unfolded. With the weight distributed across both sides, holding it with both hands to browse the web, watch videos, or type doesn’t feel as heavy as I had previously imagined for a large foldable.

Another small detail I really like is the simplicity of the side buttons. There are just two: the volume key and the power key. No extra AI button has been crammed in, and the volume key is slightly more raised than the power key. When holding it with one hand, your fingers can basically tell which one you’re touching without having to look down.

This is also the first time the Fold8 Ultra has truly changed my impression of large foldables. In the past, the words “foldable screen” immediately made me think of thick, wide, and heavy. After actually using the Fold8 Ultra, at least the issue of it being “hard to hold” hasn’t happened to me.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra: It has multiple ways to be used

The Fold8 Ultra is the first truly long-term foldable phone I’ve used, but I’ve actually encountered the concept of “one device transforming into multiple forms” before.

When I’m out and about, I mostly use it in folded mode. It functions as a normal phone for replying to messages or browsing the web. I only unfold it when I encounter videos, photos, or content-heavy pages; the 8.0-inch inner screen instantly expands the viewing space.

The key is that switching is effortless. Sometimes when reading long articles, I don’t even lay it completely flat; instead, I keep a slight angle, holding it like a book. Once the sides are separated, my fingers have a place to brace themselves, making it quite comfortable for long reading sessions. The large screen also gives me more room to adjust the font and page display, a usage I hadn’t particularly considered before buying it.

Flex mode is a completely different scenario. After folding the phone halfway, you can just place it directly on the table, and it stands up on its own. I use this mode a lot while eating. I used to want to watch videos while eating, but I either had to prop it up against a cup or find a phone stand. Now, I just fold it to the right angle and place it on the table.

I usually forget the various forms of most devices after trying them once. But the Fold8 Ultra is different. I actually encounter all its states—folded, fully unfolded, and half-folded on the table—and after a few days, I basically don’t even have to think about when and how to use it.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra: Has the crease really disappeared?

After using a foldable screen, the crease is definitely still unavoidable. Especially since this is my first time using a large foldable for an extended period, when I first got the Fold8 Ultra, I instinctively looked for that line in the middle of the screen to see just how noticeable it actually was.

The answer is: it’s still there. When the screen is off, or if there’s strong light shining from the side, you can still see the crease in the middle. Running your finger horizontally across it, you can also feel a slight bump; it’s definitely not as perfectly flat as a regular straight screen.

But strangely enough, after actually using it for a few days, I rarely notice it anymore. When the screen is on, looking at webpages, photos, or videos, the crease is easily covered by the content. Unless I intentionally change the angle to look for it, my attention basically never lingers there. Compared to previous foldable phones where the center crease was immediately visible at a glance, the Fold8 Ultra is indeed much more subtle. So the crease hasn’t disappeared; it’s just not as much of a distraction to the user experience as I originally imagined.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra: Powerful Performance

At this price point for the Fold8 Ultra, I have no doubts about its performance. It features the Snapdragon 8 Elite (for Galaxy) and can be configured with up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. Having used it for a while, I haven’t encountered any daily applications that significantly strain it.

When it comes to gaming, the Fold8 Ultra runs everything effortlessly. Even with the 8-inch inner screen fully unfolded, the games themselves don’t experience any noticeable performance issues just because the screen is larger.

On the contrary, this large screen makes me even more inclined to play games on it. The maps, characters, and control interfaces that are usually a bit cramped on a regular phone suddenly feel much more spacious once unfolded. I didn’t really obsess over the performance benchmarks; by the time I got to this point, the changes brought by the large screen were far more intuitive than any benchmark score.

However, after prolonged use under continuous high load, the heat is quite noticeable. On my device, the area that heats up first is right next to the rear camera. It’s not as sensitive when using a case, but playing games for a long time without one makes the temperature rise noticeably when my fingers touch that spot, and after a while, it actually gets a bit too hot to hold.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra: The camera module is exaggerated, but I really like the photos

The camera module on the back of the Fold8 Ultra is even more prominent than I expected. It features a 200MP main camera, a 50MP ultra-wide lens, and a 10MP 3x telephoto lens. The specs look impressive, but in my actual usage, what I care about more is the color it produces. The Fold8 Ultra doesn’t over-saturate the colors.

When shooting skies, plants, or people, it feels closer to what I see with my naked eye. The contrast is boosted slightly, making the photos look more vibrant without making them feel overly “over-processed” at first glance.

This point really appeals to me. Some phones look incredibly vibrant at first glance and might get a lot of likes on social media, but they can actually get tiring to look at after a while. The photos from the Fold8 Ultra aren’t that flashy, but at least after I take them, I rarely need to readjust them because of the colors.

There are also some awkward moments. Unfolding it completely and holding it up to take photos in a crowded place makes you look exactly like someone recording a concert with a small tablet. Even I felt a bit self-conscious about it at first.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra: The battery life is more durable than I originally expected

Regarding the battery life of the Fold8 Ultra, I actually didn’t have very high expectations at first. With two screens, including an 8-inch inner display, I originally thought that if I used this phone even slightly heavily, I’d have to start looking for a charger by the afternoon.

The results on the first day were quite different from what I expected. During work, I mostly used it in a folded state to reply to messages, browse the web, and occasionally handle some tasks. After about eight hours, the battery only dropped by around 25%. Leaving home with a full charge in the morning, I still had three-quarters left by the time I finished work. For a large foldable phone, this performance is indeed much better than I anticipated.

However, the change in battery consumption is still noticeable after unfolding the phone. I watched videos continuously on the 8-inch inner screen for an hour, and the battery dropped by about 5%. I can accept this level of consumption, but the real difference is in gaming.

Charging is also more convenient than I expected. Starting from zero, it can basically reach over half charge in half an hour, and under good conditions, it can get close to two-thirds. For me, this speed is already enough, as I rarely actually sit there waiting for it to charge to 100%.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra: Is it worth buying?

Before using the Fold8 Ultra, I actually always felt that foldable screens were a bit out of reach for me. It wasn’t that I disliked the form factor, but rather that every time I saw a large foldable, I could quickly find several reasons to convince myself not to buy it. It was too thick, too heavy, had a crease in the middle, required careful handling of the inner screen, and the price was significantly higher than regular flagships.

But after using it for a while, I no longer feel like switching back to a candybar phone because of these issues. The 215g weight was indeed a surprise at first, but it wasn’t the weight that actually made me stay. More often than not, it was those features that seemed optional during the launch event that gradually became part of my daily habits.

I fold it when going out, unfolding it to read long articles or watch videos; I place it half-folded on the table while eating; and when playing games, I now naturally just open the inner screen.

This is also where my perspective on the Fold8 Ultra has changed the most. I used to think that foldable screens were just a series of compromises made for the sake of a large display, but after using it, I realized that as long as that large screen is actually put to use, many features are no longer just about being “foldable” for the sake of it.

But as for recommending it to everyone, I still wouldn’t. If your daily use is just chatting, scrolling through videos, and taking photos, and you rarely need a larger display, a regular flagship is simpler and cheaper. The Fold8 Ultra is truly meant for those who will actually unfold it frequently after buying it.

If you like this article, please consider tipping, and don’t forget to share, like, comment, and follow!