We’ve seen Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 series receive official certification from regulatory authorities, alongside leaked display and battery upgrades.
Now, a new report and size comparison gives us a closer look at the actual design of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, with the former clocking in at a much squatter shape than expected.
Read on for more and don’t forget to subscribe to my free newsletter for instant deal alerts and the latest Samsung news.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide Vs. Galaxy S26 Ultra
A true-to-scale size comparison from tipster Ice Universe, based on leaked renders from Android Headlines, puts the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide next to the Galaxy S26 Ultra, and the Fold 8 looks nothing like the foldable people are picturing.
It’s noticeably more compact than the bulky tablet reputation foldables like this usually carry. Ice Universe, and other leakers, have claimed that the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide will sport a 5.4-inch cover display, which is much more compact than most flagship smartphones, even the smallest ones.
It’s such an unusual size that you’d have to go back to devices like the iPhone 13 Mini, Sony Xperia Compact series, or the Google Pixel 4a to find something similar. Small phones were the norm and, ironically, Samsung played a big role in phasing them out with its Note range. They’re niche enough to warrant their own hobbyist Reddit sub: r/smallphones.
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide, if that screen size is accurate and the size comparison holds true, brings back a ditched design. Of course, the phone isn’t actually small, it folds out into a large screen tablet.
But it does something very interesting, which is that it satisfies those who were never onboard with large one-handed displays. At the same the inner foldable screen provides a vastly superior viewing experience because of its wider tablet-like aspect ratio, which is better for watching widescreen videos.
Considering Apple held on for so long with smaller phones (the Mini and SE series), I wouldn’t be surprised if the iPhone Fold’s similarly squat design was influenced by this.
A Clear Galaxy Z Fold 8 Design Split
As I mentioned, Android Headlines published what looks like leaked case renders for the Z Fold 8 Wide, the Z Fold 8 Ultra, and the Z Flip 8. The Ultra, positioned as the flagship successor to the Z Fold 7, gets aramid fiber case options in black, red, and blue, each with a built-in kickstand.
The standard Wide model gets its own case lineup shaped specifically for its different proportions, including clear shells with artist collaborations from Esther Kim, Joker, and Kakao Corp.
Both lines support magnetic wireless charging through their silicone cases, which lines up with the Wireless Power Consortium filings that already confirmed Qi2 charging across the range. But the case shapes alone tell you Samsung isn’t treating the Wide as a stretched version of the Ultra. They’re shaped, sized, and accessorized as genuinely different products.
That difference is most obvious int the cameras. According to recent leaks, the Ultra is getting a proper triple sensor system, a 200MP main, a 50MP ultrawide (up from the Z Fold 7’s 12MP), and a 10MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom, the closest the Fold line has ever come to matching the Galaxy S Ultra’s camera hardware.
The Wide drops the telephoto entirely, running a dual 50MP main and 50MP ultrawide setup instead. Battery sizes tell a similar story, the Ultra carries a 5,000mAh cell, while the Wide has a smaller 4,800mAh battery. The Wide also weighs less overall at 201g versus the Ultra’s 215g.
Even the glass is different. ZDNet Korea reports the Wide uses 60μm ultra-thin glass on its inner display, 30% thicker than the 45μm panel on the Ultra, which should mean a more durable screen the cost of a few extra grams.
It looks like the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide is the entry level foldable with a cheaper price, while the Ultra will be Samsung’s most expensive phone and on-par with the Galaxy S26 Ultra in terms of specs. However, that upgrade for the latter may also come with a price hike, too. We’ll know more at Samsung Unpacked.
