Samsung gave us the opportunity to test its new Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra a few days before its official release in Canada. After spending our first weekend testing its photo and video capabilities, one thing is already clear: this foldable phone is about much more than its large display. Its light weight, camera system and impressive speed genuinely change the way it can be used.
It is still too early to deliver a final verdict. We still need to explore its battery life, productivity features and long-term experience in greater detail. Nevertheless, here is what stood out the most after three days.
The Feeling of Having Three Screens in One Phone
The first surprise is its weight. Compared with the Google Pixel 9 Pro I use every day, the Fold8 Ultra feels surprisingly light, especially considering the size of its inner display.
Officially, it has a cover screen and one large foldable inner display. In practice, however, it almost feels like three different spaces. The cover screen is ideal for quickly searching for information, checking a message or using the phone more discreetly in public.
Then, when more space is needed, you simply unfold it. Websites benefit from the much larger surface, with more menus visible and navigation that feels closer to using a small tablet. Moving from a quick interaction to a more complete experience feels completely natural.
The crease remains visible when looking at the display from an angle. However, when facing the phone normally, it completely disappears.
A Spectacular Inner Display
The quality of the inner display is probably one of the Fold8 Ultra’s most impressive features. Its colours, sharpness and size make viewing photos and videos particularly enjoyable.
Taking a photo and immediately reviewing it on such a large screen also makes it easier to judge focus, details and composition. The display is therefore not limited to consuming content. It becomes an important part of the creative process.
Performance follows the same philosophy. Apps open almost instantly and transitions are extremely fast. Tap a command and the result appears immediately, almost as if the phone had anticipated the action. This responsiveness is noticeable during everyday navigation, gaming and video playback.
The speakers are slightly less impressive. They are perfectly acceptable for quickly watching a video, but they do not quite match the quality of the display. Headphones remain preferable for fully enjoying a movie or music production.
A True Content-Creation Machine
The Fold8 Ultra probably reveals its full potential through photography and video. We recorded hummingbirds in slow motion, as well as moving trains and subway cars. The image precision and slow-motion quality were remarkable.
The zoom available during video recording is also highly impressive. It makes it possible to adjust the framing quickly while maintaining a detailed image. The phone can record in up to 8K and offers several modes for more advanced users, including Pro Photo, Pro Video, RAW, Slow Motion, Hyperlapse, Panorama, Food and Portrait Video.
The Pro settings provide control over features such as shutter speed. Meanwhile, the Portrait modes automatically identify the subject and apply background blur. The results are accessible to casual users without preventing more experienced creators from making manual adjustments.
To put our impressions to the test, we handed the phone to a documentary filmmaker. He was completely “blown away” by the image quality and creative possibilities.
The Fold8 Ultra is therefore not designed exclusively for influencers or social media creators. People producing short documentaries, wildlife footage or independent films could find real value in its camera system. Our complete galleries will soon be published on Reddit, where readers will be able to examine the results in higher resolution.
Switching From a Pixel to the Fold8 Ultra in Under an Hour
Migrating from a Google Pixel proved surprisingly simple. Apps, contacts, text message history and a large portion of the phone’s data were transferred quickly.
In less than an hour, the Fold8 Ultra already felt like an upgraded version of the previous phone. The similarities between the two Android environments obviously make the transition easier, but the overall process remains remarkably smooth.
Some apps still require users to sign in again manually. Once the Google account is configured, these sign-ins generally take only a few clicks. After that, inserting the SIM card is essentially all that is required to resume normal use.
Flex Mode Is About More Than Folding the Phone
Some apps adapt their interface when the Fold8 Ultra is partially folded. The phone can then be placed on a table without an additional stand, with each half of the display serving a different purpose.
Samsung Health offers a good example. During certain workout classes, the video demonstrating the movements appears on the upper half, while the controls and workout data remain accessible on the lower half.
Not every app necessarily takes advantage of this format in the same way, and we still need to test several more. However, it already suggests interesting possibilities for video calls, content creation, workouts and certain productivity tasks.
Encouraging Early Battery Life
Our battery observations remain preliminary. After a full charge and with moderate use combining the cover screen and inner display, the Fold8 Ultra can approach two days of battery life.
Heavy use of the large display, cameras or video features will naturally reduce that result. More structured testing will be required before reaching a final conclusion.
The Galaxy Watch9 paired with the phone requires more attention. When continuous heart-rate monitoring and other health features are enabled, battery life is closer to one day or a day and a half.
However, activity detection is particularly responsive. During a kayaking trip, the watch quickly recognized the paddling motion. It later detected a swimming session automatically. The data is transferred to Samsung Health, making it possible to track activities, steps and workouts from the phone.
The Watch9 can also remotely trigger the Fold8 Ultra’s camera. It does not completely reinvent the smartwatch, but its features feel faster, more precise and naturally integrated into the Samsung ecosystem.
A Very Promising First Experience
After three days, the Fold8 Ultra’s photo and video capabilities, inner display quality and light weight clearly stand out. This is not simply a spectacular phone to unfold in front of other people. Its design is already beginning to change certain everyday habits.
The next question is how far it can go toward replacing a computer for writing, editing, multitasking and mobile work. Our complete review will be added soon, along with a YouTube video, more precise battery measurements and links to our higher-resolution photo galleries.
Sources and More
Samsung Canada / Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra
PlanHub / Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Fold8 and Flip8: Canadian Pricing and Specifications
