Apple iPhone Ultra vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8: It could just come down to one thing

A bold new entrant The iPhone Ultra is set to usher in the age of the foldable iPhone, and leaks point to a device that has the potential to be truly noteworthy. Short and sweetThe Z Fold 8 is uniquely interesting, and while it may not have the best cameras, it makes foldable fun to use. Apple iPhone Ultra vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8: Pricing and availability (Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)The iPhone Ultra is slated to make its debut at Apple's launch event on September 9, 2026. The foldable could cost anywhere between $2,000 to $2,500, and we'll have to wait until the event to know the official pricing. But with Apple hiking prices on most of its products in the last two months, it's a given that this year's iPhones will see price increases across the board.Even if the iPhone Ultra is unveiled alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, it may not actually show up at the same time — the latest leaks point to general availability later in the year. Again, that's something we will know definitely on September 9. Given the cost, it is projected that the foldable will be available in limited quantities — much like the Galaxy Z TriFold — and it remains to be seen if it will be sold in all regions simultaneously.Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Z Fold 8 on July 22, 2026, and the foldable retails at $1,899. This is the base model with 256GB of storage, and there's also a 512GB edition that costs $2,099 in the U.S., and a 1TB model that is $2,499.Apple iPhone Ultra vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8: Design (Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)The iPhone Ultra will be different to every other iPhone thus far, with the foldable design ushering in an entirely new form factor for iOS. Leaks point to the iPhone Ultra having a similar wide-and-short configuration as the Galaxy Z Fold 8, and the passport-style design is definitely intriguing — there's no wonder that other Android manufacturers are emulating a similar style.Leaks point to a 5.5-inch cover panel and a 7.8-inch inner panel, and the iPhone Ultra could be as thin as 4.5mm while unfolded, bringing it in line with the Z Fold 8 and other Android foldables. The design looks a lot like the Pixel 11 Pro Fold, with rounded edges and a flatter profile along the hinge. While Apple introduced a bright orange color with the iPhone 17 Pro, the iPhone Ultra is said to be available in muted colors, including white and black.Just like Android foldables, the iPhone Ultra may see Touch ID housed within the power button as the standard mode of authentication instead of Face ID. The Z Fold 8 gets a 5.5-inch cover panel and a 7.6-inch inner screen, and Samsung managed to deliver IP48 dust and water resistance.Interestingly, one of the biggest selling points of the iPhone Ultra could be a display without anu visible crease. The Find N6 and Vivo X Fold 5 do a fabulous job in this regard — they're better than the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Fold 8 Ultra — and with the iPhone Ultra touted to use two layers of ultra-thin glass and a liquid-metal hinge, it is entirely possible that Apple's foldable will debut with a creaseless design, outshining Samsung's Z Fold 8 in this key area.Get the latest news from Android Central, your trusted companion in the world of AndroidApple iPhone Ultra vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8: Hardware (Image credit: Apple / Android Central)The iPhone Ultra will see the biggest battery of any iPhone, and that in itself is exciting. Leaks point to a 4,883mAh battery, and that's similar to what's available on the Z Fold 8. That said, iOS has much better efficiency in general, so the iPhone Ultra should have better battery life, and with Apple touted to switch to a 2nm node, battery life could get an additional boost. Swipe to scroll horizontally Category Apple iPhone Ultra (based on leaks) Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Display Outer: 5.5-inch ProMotion LTPO OLED, 2088 x 1422Inner: 7.8-inch ProMotion LTPO OLED Outer: 5.5-inch 120Hz LTPO AMOLED, 1972 x 1248Inner: 7.6-inch 120Hz LTPO AMOLED, 2448 x 1848 Operating System iOS 27, at least seven updates One UI 9 (Android 17), seven updates Chipset Apple A20, 2nm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, 3nm RAM 12GB 12GB/16GB Storage 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB 256GB, 512GB, 1TB Rear cameras Main: 48MP f/1.8, sensor-shift OISWide-angle: 48MP f/2.2 Main: 50MP f/1.8, OISWide-angle: 50MP f/1.9 Front camera 24MP 10MP (internal), 10MP (external) Battery 4,883mAh 4,800mAh (dual 2,400mAh cells) Charging 40W iPhone 17 Pro, 25W MagSafe/Qi 2 45W wired, 20W wireless Dimensions Folded: 120.6 x 83.8 x 9.2mmUnfolded: 120.6 x 167.6 x 4.5mm Folded: 123.9 x 81.9 x 9.7mmUnfolded: 123.9 x 161.4 x 4.5mm Wide foldables are smaller than book-style devices like the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, and as a result, Samsung just went with two cameras on the Galaxy Z Fold 8: a 50MP main camera and 50MP wide-angle lens.The iPhone Ultra is likely to use a similar arrangement, and leaks point to two 48MP cameras, without a dedicated tele lens. We'll need to wait and see if that pans out, but as someone who uses the telephoto lens constantly, I would like to see this on the foldable.Apple iPhone Ultra vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8: Software (Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)Software makes a big difference on a foldable, with the added real estate ideal to multitask. This is a priority in iOS 27, and there's no doubt that the iPhone Ultra will get a lot of the same features that we've seen on Android foldables over the last two years, including a task bar, floating windows, and multitasking features.Samsung does a good job in this area with the Galaxy Z Fold 8, and I'm interested in seeing how the iPhone Ultra will hold up against Samsung's foldable.Apple iPhone Ultra vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8: Which should you buy? (Image credit: AppleTrack)While foldables have been around for the better part of a decade now, they're still pretty niche. That will change with the introduction of the iPhone Ultra; say what you will about Apple, but the brand has an unmatched ability to grab attention, and interest in foldables will skyrocket following the iPhone Ultra launch.Now, whether this will translate to sales is another thing entirely, but if you're an iPhone user and wanted to switch to a foldable, you don't need to wait long to get one running iOS. While Samsung got a lot right with the Z Fold 8, it doesn't do nearly enough to convince iOS users to move to Android in any meaningful numbers. A bold new entrant The iPhone Ultra is set to launch soon, and with a similar design as the Z Fold 8 but with iOS, it could just be the device that convinces iPhone users to switch to a foldable. Short and sweetSamsung nailed the brief with the Galaxy Z Fold 8, and the unique size of the foldable makes it stand out. Harish Jonnalagadda is Android Central's Senior Editor overseeing mobile coverage. In his current role, he leads the site's coverage of Chinese phone brands, networking products, and AV gear. He has been testing phones for over a decade, and has extensive experience in mobile hardware and the global semiconductor industry. Contact him on Twitter at @chunkynerd.