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

July 26, 2026 TH Author

Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra vs Razr Ultra — Samsung/Motorola/ZDNET

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Samsung just unveiled its newest flagship foldable, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra at Galaxy Unpacked 2026, and the brand’s first ‘Ultra’ foldable after eight generations.

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

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

One of its biggest rivals is the 2026 Motorola Razr Ultra. While it isn’t a book-style foldable, the Razr Ultra is still a compelling alternative. The flagship device combines a compact design with high-end hardware, vibrant displays, and a spacious 4-inch cover screen.

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

Specifications

	Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra	Motorola Razr Ultra (2026)
Display	6.5-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X (2520 x 1080), 120Hz / 8-inch QXGA+ AMOLED (2504 x 2256), 120Hz	4-inch Extreme AMOLED (1272 x 1080), 165Hz / 7-inch Extreme AMOLED (2992 x 1224), 165Hz
Weight	215g	199g
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite
RAM/Storage	12GB / 256GB, 12GB / 512GB \| 16GB / 1TB	16GB / 512GB
Battery	5,000mAh	4,700mAh
Rear cameras	200MP main, 50MP ultrawide, 10MP telephoto (3x optical zoom)	50MP wide, 50MP ultrawide
Front cameras	10MP (cover and main)	50MP
Connectivity	5G	5G
Price	Starting at $2,099	Starting at $1,500

You should buy the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra if…

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra — Kerry Wan/ZDNET

1. You want the big display

The hinge on the Z Fold 8 Ultra transforms the phone into what is essentially a compact tablet. All that extra space comes in handy while 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 foldables, enabling a better workspace.

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

Samsung made meaningful improvements to its foldable in this respect. Its new display structure material, “Flex Titanium” combines a titanium-alloy film with an enhanced titanium support plate, improving durability and reducing the visibility of the crease running down the middle.

I can’t forget to mention the vibrant AMOLED panels that make up the cover and inner screens. Colors are vibrant, contrast is deep, and the panels reach 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, consisting of 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 across different shooting scenarios.

Also: I tested the 100x zoom cameras of Samsung, Google, and Motorola phones – this model won

You can fit a lot of subjects into a single shot with an ultrawide lens. The telephoto option is awesome at taking sharp photographs of subjects from a distance. Users also benefit from Samsung’s years of refining its mobile photography systems. Advanced image processing and AI enhancers work together to improve image quality and color accuracy.

Plus, you have the benefit of the inner display, which provides a large canvas for reviewing and editing images. Motorola’s Razr Ultra does have one notable advantage: its selfie camera. The Razr Ultra features 50MP front-facing lenses, whereas the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra has two 10MP selfie cameras. Despite that advantage, Samsung’s 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 the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, Qualcomm’s flagship mobile chipset specially built for demanding workloads. It features a third-generation Oryon CPU with clock speeds of up to 4.74GHz, an Adreno GPU for high graphical performance, and an upgraded Hexagon NPU designed to accelerate AI tasks.

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

For everyday use, that chip platform gives the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra plenty of headroom for playing mobile games, editing high-resolution videos on the inner screen, and managing multiple apps at once. Additionally, Samsung gives users plenty of storage flexibility. The foldable is available in 12GB of RAM with a 256GB SSD, 12GB of RAM with a 512GB SSD, and 16GB of RAM with a 1TB SSD. Motorola’s Razr Ultra comes in a single 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 benefits of a flip phone is its portability. When folded, a device like this becomes half its original size. Plus, at just 199 grams, it is lighter than other foldables, making it more comfortable to carry around. I once carried the Razr Ultra and Razr Plus in my jeans pocket at a concert, and I never once felt uncomfortable.

The 4-inch cover screen also provides quick access to notifications, media controls, text messages, and other everyday functions. You don’t have to open the phone to do the basics. This phone’s biggest strength is that it delivers 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 so close to being my dream flip phone

2. You want the better value option

Motorola’s Razr Ultra undercuts the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra by hundreds of dollars. It normally costs $1,500. What’s great is that at the time of this writing, if you buy it from Motorola’s site, you’ll receive the Moto Buds Loop earbuds and a Moto Watch.

motorola-razr-ultra-2026-image-6 — Cesar Cadenas/ZDNET

And it looks great for the price. The spacious 7-inch Extreme AMOLED screen is Pantone-validated and supports HDR10+. The colors are highly accurate to their real-world counterparts, and image quality is excellent. I also can’t forget the audio system. The speakers have been fine-tuned by Dolby Atmos and support Spatial Audio for immersive sound. I feel like a phone like this should cost way more — thankfully, it doesn’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 of bang for your buck with this. The overall value becomes clearer when looking at the Razr Ultra’s specs. Befitting its name, the Razr Ultra is a top-notch device. It runs on a Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage.

Writer’s choice

After comparing the specs and features of both phones, I would buy the Motorola Razr Ultra for its more portable design, strong performance, and significantly lower price. The device may not perform as well as the cutting-edge tech in the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, but it still has a solid configuration that can handle just about everything you throw at it.

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is the better choice for power users (or anyone willing to drop a fat stack of cash) who prioritize multitasking, cameras, and a top-notch performance for their mobile device. Admittedly, I am biased here. It’s entirely possible that I could change my mind once I get my hands on the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra. Stay tuned for our review, and subscribe to our newsletter to receive notifications when it’s published.