We Tracked Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra Leaks for Months: Here’s What Samsung Shipped and What it Didn’t

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After months of leaks and rumors, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is now official and days away from reaching consumers. While some leaks proved remarkably accurate, others never made it into the final product. Samsung delivered several long-requested hardware upgrades, but it also left behind a handful of features that many expected the “Ultra” branding would finally bring. Here’s a look at what made the cut, and what didn’t.

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Samsung delivered most of the major hardware upgrades

For the first time in years, Samsung didn’t simply refine the Fold formula. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra introduces meaningful hardware improvements across nearly every area. These aren’t the usual year-over-year spec bumps or minor upgrades, but genuine leaps that address many of the biggest complaints Fold users have had for generations.

A flagship ultrawide camera

One of the biggest upgrades is the new 50MP ultrawide camera, replacing the aging 12MP sensor used on previous Galaxy Z Fold models. It borrows the same high-resolution ultrawide camera found on the Galaxy S26 Ultra, giving Fold users a long-overdue imaging upgrade. While it isn’t a complete Ultra camera system, image quality should see a noticeable improvement, particularly in detail and low-light performance.

The crease is finally less distracting

Samsung has spent years refining its hinge technology, and the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra benefits from another noticeable reduction in crease visibility. The crease hasn’t disappeared completely, but it’s less noticeable during everyday use, making the large inner display feel closer to a traditional tablet. The company introduced what it calls the Flex Titanium Display to reduce crease and enhance the toughness of the screen.

Both displays are tougher

Speaking of display rigidity, both screens get some upgrades. While the inner folding display benefits from Samsung’s new Flex Titanium technology, the cover screen gets Corning’s Gorilla Glass Ceramic 3. Together, these upgrades should help the Fold 8 Ultra better survive daily wear and accidental drops and better withstand repeated opening and closing.

Better displays in every way

Samsung also upgraded both screens with higher brightness and improved sharpness. Moreover, for the first time on a Galaxy foldable, the main display features an anti-reflective coating. While the coating doesn’t appear to be at the same level as the Galaxy S25 Ultra and S26 Ultra, it does improve outdoor visibility. Reflections are less noticeable under bright lighting.

A much-needed battery upgrade

Battery life has long been one of the biggest compromises of owning a Fold. Samsung finally addressed that by increasing battery capacity from 4,400mAh to 5,000mAh, without making the phone larger or heavier. That’s arguably one of the most meaningful upgrades in the entire Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra package, all thanks to the new silicon-carbon architecture.

Charging finally catches up

Alongside the battery boost, Samsung also improved charging speeds. The Fold 8 Ultra now supports 45W wired charging (up from 25W) and 20W wireless charging (up from 15W). While still not industry-leading, it’s a welcome improvement over previous Fold generations.

New Galaxy AI features

As expected, Samsung also introduced new AI-powered software experiences alongside additional camera features that take advantage of the upgraded hardware. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra ships with Android 17-based One UI 9 and comes with additional optimizations for the bigger screen. These additions help differentiate the device beyond raw specifications.

Some highly anticipated features never arrived

Despite all the improvements, not every rumor came true. Several rumored or anticipated upgrades are still missing from Samsung’s most expensive foldable.

No true Ultra camera system

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra stops short of matching the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s complete camera setup. While it adds a 50MP ultrawide camera, there’s still no dedicated 5x periscope telephoto camera. Samsung continues to reserve its absolute best camera hardware for the Galaxy S Ultra lineup.

No upgraded selfie camera

The selfie camera also doesn’t match the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s 12MP lens. The Fold 8 Ultra sticks with the same 10MP front camera hardware as its predecessor (both outer and inner selfie shooters). That’s a missed opportunity for a device positioned as Samsung’s ultimate foldable, especially for users who frequently rely on video calls, selfies, and content creation.

S Pen support remains missing

Samsung dropped the S Pen last year, but there have been some rumors of the stylus returning with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, albeit with a different technology. The company has been working on a digitizer-free solution, but it isn’t here yet. Since productivity is one of the Fold’s biggest selling points, this is another missed opportunity.

No titanium frame

Samsung made a brief experiment with titanium frames on the Galaxy S25 Ultra and S24 Ultra before returning to Aluminum on the S26 Ultra. This already lowered the chances of the Fold 8 Ultra getting a titanium frame. However, there have been some early rumors that Samsung could adopt titanium to reduce weight while improving durability. That didn’t happen. The Fold 8 Ultra instead sticks with Armor Aluminum.

Privacy Display never arrived

Another rumored feature that failed to materialize is Privacy Display. Samsung introduced the technology on the Galaxy S26 Ultra, leading many to believe it would eventually expand to the Fold lineup. Privacy Display blocks side-angle viewing, protecting sensitive information from prying eyes when using the phone in public.

Charging still trails Samsung’s flagship slab phone

Although 45W charging is a welcome improvement, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra still doesn’t match the 60W charging available on the S26 Ultra. Considering the Fold’s premium pricing, some buyers were hoping Samsung would eliminate that gap. More so when the battery capacity now matches the S26 Ultra’s 5,000mAh cell.

16GB RAM isn’t standard

Memory is another area where Samsung made a compromise. The Fold 8 Ultra only offers 16GB of RAM with the 1TB storage configuration, while lower-capacity models (256GB and 512GB) continue to ship with 12GB memory. Many enthusiasts hoped every Ultra variant would receive 16GB by default.

Still no IP68 rating

Finally, Samsung’s foldable still falls short of mainstream flagship durability. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra doesn’t achieve a full IP68 rating like traditional Galaxy S phones, reminding buyers that foldable engineering still comes with certain limitations.

So, did the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra live up to the expectations?

After following every leak for months, it’s clear Samsung delivered more than many expected, but not everything. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra brings meaningful improvements where users have been asking the loudest: battery life, charging speeds, display quality, durability, and the ultrawide camera. These aren’t headline-grabbing gimmicks; they’re practical upgrades that improve the day-to-day experience.

At the same time, Samsung continues to draw a clear line between its foldable flagship and the Galaxy S Ultra series. Most notably, the Fold 8 Ultra still misses out on a true Ultra-grade camera system, Privacy Display, and a few other premium extras. None of these omissions are dealbreakers, but they prevent the Fold 8 Ultra from fully living up to its “Ultra” branding.

Nonetheless, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is arguably the biggest generational upgrade Samsung has delivered in years. Even if you are using a Fold 7, upgrading might be worth it, more so for users with a Fold 6 or older model. Pre-orders are now live.