The second half of 2026 is going to be packed with major foldable announcements. The real excitement this year lies in the wider form factor, championed by both the forthcoming Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 and the rumored Apple iPhone Ultra. One of them will feel a lot nicer in your hands than the other, according to noted leaker Ice Universe.
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 will be more compact
An iPhone Ultra dummy. | Image by Ice Universe
Samsung has apparently created a new, wider book-style foldable called the Galaxy Z Fold 8. The standard design we are used to seeing from the company will reportedly be rebranded as the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra.
While both the Fold 8 and iPhone Ultra will strive for portability, Apple might lose this round.
Ice Universe recently posted a photo of what looks like an iPhone Ultra mockup unit and believes it's going to be bulkier than the Fold 8.
iPhone Ultra will still get more love
Per previous rumors, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 will measure 123.9 mm tall, spanning 81.9 mm when folded and 161.4 mm when unfurled. Its folded thickness sits at 9.7 mm, dropping to 4.5 mm when unfolded.
For comparison, the iPhone Ultra reportedly comes in at 120.6 x 83.8 x 9.6 mm folded, and 120.6 x 167.6 x 4.8 mm opened.
So, even though the iPhone Ultra will be slightly shorter, it's going to be a little wider and a smidge thicker.
Those minute differences won't drive people away, though, with Ice predicting that the iPhone Ultra will outsell its Samsung-made rival.
What would make you pick the Fold 8 over the iPhone Ultra?
A leaner and lighter design.
28.06%
If Apple made it.
35.41%
Better specs.
36.53%
980 Votes
Why the iPhone Ultra might edge out the Fold 8
The Fold 8 won't be Samsung's marquee product. That distinction belongs to the Fold 8 Ultra.
The iPhone Ultra, on the other hand, will be Apple's sole flagship foldable. Apple isn't going to cut corners just so that a better foldable could shine. Besides, while Samsung foldable sales will be split between the Fold 8 and Fold 8 Ultra, there will only be one option for iOS buyers.
Pent-up demand
As Apple's first-ever foldable, the iPhone Ultra will be an instant buy for iOS loyalists who have been waiting seven years for a folding screen. That said, if the Fold 8 turns out to be drastically more ergonomic, some loyalties might be tested.
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Anam Hamid is a computer scientist turned tech journalist who has a keen interest in the tech world, with a particular focus on smartphones and tablets. She has previously written for Android Headlines and has also been a ghostwriter for several tech and car publications. Anam is not a tech hoarder and believes in using her gadgets for as long as possible. She is concerned about smartphone addiction and its impact on future generations, but she also appreciates the convenience that phones have brought into our lives. Anam is excited about technological advancements like folding screens and under-display sensors, and she often wonders about the future of technology. She values the overall experience of a device more than its individual specs and admires companies that deliver durable, high-quality products. In her free time, Anam enjoys reading, scrolling through Reddit and Instagram, and occasionally refreshing her programming skills through tutorials.
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