Samsung has confirmed that pre-orders for its new Galaxy Z8 series of foldables are breaking records, with the company reporting more than a 30% increase compared to last year's Galaxy Z Fold 7. According to Samsung, the redesigned, wider Galaxy Z Fold 8 accounts for nearly half of all pre-orders in the series, with the Lavender color already sold out and Graphite proving the most popular hue. Samsung also said three times as many Galaxy Z Flip users are switching to the bigger Fold this year compared to previous years. Per the Korean version of Samsung's website, the company received 1.44 million pre-orders between July 28 and August 3, which it says is a record for any Galaxy phone. The Z Fold 8, Z Flip 8, Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 and Galaxy Watch 9 are set to hit store shelves starting Friday, August 7.
Samsung reportedly redesigned the Z Fold 8 into a wider format specifically to compete with Apple's rumored passport-style foldable, known as the iPhone Ultra. Leaked dummy units and renders have shown Apple opting for a shorter, wider form factor than traditional book-style foldables like the Z Fold 8. Apple's foldable is expected to feature a 7.8-inch inner display — smaller than the iPad mini but larger than the Z Fold 8's 7.6-inch screen — giving it an aspect ratio close to 4:3, similar to the iPad and the Z Fold 8.
The iPhone Ultra is expected to launch alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max at Apple's fall event, likely in September, though some reports suggest production issues could delay its arrival later in the year, similar to the iPhone X in 2017. Rumored specs include an A20 chip, 12GB of RAM, dual 48MP rear cameras, Touch ID instead of Face ID, and a battery around 4,883 mAh — comparable to the Z Fold 8's 4,800 mAh. Apple is also said to be prioritizing a crease-free display through innovations like a liquid metal hinge and ultra-thin glass, though it's unclear whether this claim will hold up, since Samsung's own crease-free claims for the Z Fold 8 Ultra reportedly still show a faint crease.
Pricing could be a key differentiator between the two devices. Samsung's wider Z Fold 8 starts at $1,899 and is already proving popular despite the price. The iPhone Ultra was originally estimated to cost around $2,000, but more recent estimates have pushed that figure higher, to between $2,400 and $2,500, due to rising component costs. Given Apple's roughly 32% share of the global smartphone market, demand for the iPhone Ultra is expected to be strong, though its high price could give Samsung's lower-cost foldable an edge for some buyers.
Separately, a camera comparison between the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and the pricier $2,099 Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra examined whether the Ultra's dedicated 3x telephoto lens and 30x digital zoom are worth the extra cost over the standard Fold 8, which relies on digital zoom up to 10x. Testing found little difference at 4x zoom, with the standard Fold 8 sometimes producing comparably sharp or even preferred results. At 10x zoom, the Z Fold 8 Ultra generally produced sharper images, particularly in text and fine detail, and it pulled further ahead when zooming to 30x. The Fold 8 Ultra also has a slightly larger 8-inch display compared to the Fold 8's 7.6-inch screen and longer battery life, but the review concluded the zoom improvement alone wasn't a dealbreaker, noting some buyers may still prefer the wider, shorter and lighter Z Fold 8.