Big chaos at Samsung? The Galaxy Z Fold8 is not at all the phone you expect

Do you find the names of some smartphones confusing enough? According to two reliable foreign sources, Samsung could significantly shuffle the names of this year’s foldable phones. The wider Wide model, much discussed in recent weeks, could take the position of the basic Z Fold8, while the latter would reportedly carry the Ultra moniker. Why? Nobody knows exactly, although it could have its logic.

Names will swap places

The possible change was highlighted by SamMobile and popular leaker Ice Universe. According to them, the direct successor to last year’s Galaxy Z Fold7 will not arrive as the Galaxy Z Fold8, but rather as the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra. The name Galaxy Z Fold8 will then go to the wider phone, which has so far been speculated under the designation Z Fold8 Wide.

This reshuffle sounds confusing at first glance, but there is some logic to be found in it. The wider model is supposed to be the more modest of the two in terms of features, so the flagship “eight-series” name without a suffix would suit it better than the Ultra designation.

What we know about both models

Širší Galaxy Z Fold8 má být nižší a širší než Ultra, čímž se přibližuje očekávanému skládacímu iPhonu. Za tenhle tvar ale zaplatí kompromisem: podle úniků přijde o jeden ze zadních fotoaparátů a zůstane mu jen dvojice snímačů, podobně jako tomu bylo u Galaxy S25 Edge. Hovoří se rovněž o baterii s kapacitou 4 800 mAh.

On the other hand, the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra should retain a trio of rear cameras and offer a 5000mAh battery, 45W charging, and a 50Mpx ultrawide lens. These are welcome improvements over the Fold7, but it seems it won’t be enough for true “ultra” features.

Does the Z Fold8 deserve the Ultra moniker?

And this is where the problem might arise. Samsung has set a high bar for Ultra models in the Galaxy S series, where it includes an S Pen, a powerful telephoto lens with 5x zoom, or even 60W charging and a unique Private Display feature in this year’s model. However, according to available information, the foldable Fold8 Ultra is not expected to offer any of these.

The timing is also interesting. Apple is reportedly preparing its first foldable phone under the name iPhone Ultra, but it should be a wider format phone – thus competing with the Galaxy Z Fold8 Wide, or rather the Galaxy Z Fold8, if Samsung indeed changes the designation.

Whatever the names turn out to be, we should know soon. The entire Galaxy Z Fold8 series, along with the clamshell Galaxy Z Flip8, is set to be unveiled at the upcoming Unpacked conference on July 22.

Do you think it makes sense to put the Ultra name on a phone without an S Pen and top-tier zoom?

Sources: SamMobile, Ice Universe (Weibo), 9to5Google