Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra vs. Motorola Razr Ultra: How Samsung fares against its foldable rival

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Samsung has just launched its new foldable flagship, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra in Galaxy Unpacked 2026, and the brand’s first foldable ‘Ultra’ after eight generations.

It builds on the previous model, boasting a new Qualcomm processor, a larger battery, a lighter design, and an 8-inch internal display that provides ample room for multitasking, entertainment, and productivity. In any other year, this would be the best foldable out there, but it comes at a time when the market is more competitive than ever… and it’s not slowing down anytime soon.

Also: Everything announced at Samsung Unpacked 2026: New phones, smartwatches, and more

One of its biggest competitors is 2026 Motorola Razr Ultra. While it’s not a book-style foldable, the Razr Ultra is still a compelling option. The flagship device features a compact design with high-end hardware, vibrant displays, and a 4-inch open cover screen.

Both devices cater to different audiences. Both are strong, but which one stands out? I compared the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and the Razr Ultra in several categories. My goal here is to highlight the key areas where each device excels, so you can choose the phone that best suits your needs.

Details

You should buy the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra if you…

1. You want a bigger display

The hinge on the Z Fold 8 Ultra turns the phone into a compact tablet. All that extra space comes in handy when you’re multitasking, editing documents, and running multiple apps side-by-side, not to mention watching movies or scrolling through YouTube. You may also notice that the Fold 8 Ultra has a wider aspect ratio than most other folders, allowing for a better working environment.

Also: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra vs. Z Fold 7: After a year of using it, I’m ready to upgrade

Samsung has made a logical improvement to its folding this time. Its new display structure, “Flex Titanium” combines a titanium-alloy film with an advanced titanium support plate, which improves durability and reduces the appearance of the crease that goes down the middle.

I don’t forget to mention the bright AMOLED panels that make up the cover and the internal screens. Colors are vibrant, contrast is deep, and the panels achieve high brightness levels to ensure visibility even on bright days.

2. You want better cameras

Simply put, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra has a better camera system, which includes a 200MP main camera, a 50MP ultrawide lens, and a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. This combination gives you a ton of flexibility in all different shooting situations.

Also: I tested 100x zoom cameras for Samsung, Google, and Motorola phones – this model wins

You can fit multiple subjects into one shot with an ultrawide lens. The telephoto option is fantastic for taking sharp pictures of distant subjects. Users also benefit from Samsung’s years of refining its mobile photography systems. Advanced image processing and AI enhancements work together to improve image quality and color accuracy.

Plus, you have the benefit of an internal display, which provides a large canvas for reviewing and editing photos. Motorola’s Razr Ultra has one notable advantage: its selfie camera. The Razr Ultra has a 50MP front-facing lens, while the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra has two 10MP selfie cameras. Despite that advantage, the Samsung model has a better overall package.

3. You want better performance

In terms of performance, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra has the edge. It is powered by Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, Qualcomm’s flagship mobile chipset specially designed for heavy workloads. It features a third-generation Oryon CPU with a clock speed of up to 4.74GHz, an Adreno GPU for high graphics performance, and an advanced Hexagon NPU designed to accelerate AI tasks.

Also: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 vs. Z Flip 8: Is a foldable or flip option the best?

For everyday use, that chip platform gives the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra plenty of room to play mobile games, edit high-resolution videos on the internal screen, and manage multiple apps at once. Additionally, Samsung offers users more storage flexibility. The foldable is available in 12GB of RAM and 256GB SSD, 12GB of RAM and 512GB SSD, and 16GB of RAM and 1TB SSD. Motorola’s Razr Ultra comes in one configuration: 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.

You should buy the 2026 Motorola Razr Ultra if…

1. You want a flip style phone

One of the main advantages of a flip phone is its portability. When folded, a device like this is half its original size. And, at just 199 grams, it’s lighter than other foldables, making it easy to carry. I once carried the Razr Ultra and Razr Plus in my jeans pocket at a concert, and never once felt uncomfortable.

The 4-inch cover screen also provides quick access to notifications, media controls, text messages, and other daily functions. You don’t need to unlock the phone to do the basics. The biggest strength of this phone is that it brings the best of both worlds. That alone makes it one of the most compelling mobile devices on the market.

Also: I tested Motorola’s $1,500 Razr Ultra, and it’s very close to being my dream flip phone.

2. You are looking for a better value option

Motorola’s Razr Ultra undercuts the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra by hundreds of dollars. It is usually expensive $1,500. The good thing is that at the time of writing this, if you buy it from Motorola’s site, you will get the Moto Buds Loop earbuds and the Moto Watch.

And it looks good for the price. The open 7 inch Extreme AMOLED screen is Pantone certified and supports HDR10+. Colors are more accurate to their real-world counterparts, and image quality is excellent. I also can’t forget the sound system. The speakers are well tuned by Dolby Atmos and it supports Spatial Audio for immersive sound. I feel like a phone like this should be expensive — thankfully, it isn’t.

Also: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 vs Motorola Razr Ultra: I’ve used both, and this phone is my pick

You get a lot for your money with this. The overall value becomes clear when you look at the specifications of the Razr Ultra. True to its name, the Razr Ultra is a high-end device. It runs on a Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage.

Author’s choice

After comparing the specs and features of both the phones, I will buy the Motorola Razr Ultra with its more portable design, strong performance, and very low price. The device may not perform as well as advanced technology in Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultrabut it still has a solid suspension that can handle almost anything you throw at it.

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is a better choice for power users (or anyone willing to drop a bunch of cash) who prioritize multitasking, cameras, and high-end performance for their mobile device. I admit, I’m biased here. It’s entirely possible that I might change my mind once I get my hands on the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra. Stay tuned for our reviews, and subscribe to our newsletter to receive notifications when they are published.