Apple iPhone Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide: Which foldable flagship looks more promising?

Foldable smartphones are expected to take centre stage this year as Apple is widely tipped to enter the segment for the first time, while Samsung prepares to introduce the next generation of its Galaxy Z Fold lineup. Although neither company has officially confirmed the devices, a growing number of leaks have painted a clearer picture of what buyers can expect.

Apple's debut foldable is rumoured to carry the iPhone Ultra branding and is likely to launch alongside the iPhone 18 Pro series in September. Samsung, meanwhile, is expected to unveil the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide later this month, with reports suggesting the company is reworking its foldable strategy to better compete with Apple's anticipated arrival.

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Here's how the two premium foldables compare based on the latest reports.

iPhone Ultra vs Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide: Design and display

Apple appears to be taking a different approach to foldable design. Dummy units recently shared by leaker Jam Online suggest the iPhone Ultra will feature a noticeably wider profile when unfolded, giving it an experience closer to using an iPad mini in portrait orientation rather than a traditional smartphone.

The renders also indicate a relatively slim chassis, reportedly comparable to the Galaxy Z Fold 7. Apple is expected to include a Camera Control button below the power key, a USB Type-C port, stereo speakers and two front-facing cameras, one on the outer display and another embedded within the foldable screen. On the rear, the phone is shown with a horizontally aligned dual-camera module.

Samsung, on the other hand, is reportedly redesigning the standard Galaxy Z Fold 8 with a wider and shorter form factor. According to tipster Tarun Vats, the device could feature a 7.6-inch Quad HD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X inner display with a 4:3 aspect ratio, paired with a 5.5-inch cover screen using a 16:10 aspect ratio. Both panels are expected to support refresh rates of up to 120Hz.

On the other hand, iPhone Ultra is tipped to include a 5.3-inch outer display and a 7.8-inch foldable inner panel, offering a compact footprint when closed while expanding into a tablet-sized workspace when opened.

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide is also tipped to measure just 9.7mm when folded and 4.5mm when opened, while weighing approximately 200g, making it one of Samsung's lightest foldables to date.

iPhone Ultra vs Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide: Processor

Apple is expected to power the iPhone Ultra with its upcoming A20 Pro chipset. The foldable is also rumoured to feature 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and Apple's in-house C2 modem, continuing the company's efforts to reduce reliance on third-party connectivity solutions.

Samsung is expected to equip the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, the same processor reportedly set to power the Galaxy S26 Ultra. Like Apple's foldable, Samsung's device is also expected to ship with 12GB of RAM, while storage options could go up to 1TB.

On paper, both smartphones appear positioned at the very top of their respective ecosystems, although real-world performance comparisons will only be possible after launch.

iPhone Ultra vs Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide: Camera

Photography is expected to remain a key differentiator.

Leaks suggest Apple will opt for a dual rear-camera setup consisting of two 48-megapixel sensors. The company is also expected to place dedicated selfie cameras on both the cover display and the inner folding screen, allowing users to take video calls and selfies regardless of how the device is being used.

Samsung is tipped to take a slightly different route by combining a 50-megapixel primary camera with a 50-megapixel ultra-wide sensor. Both the external and internal selfie cameras are expected to use 10-megapixel sensors.

While Samsung appears to offer an ultra-wide camera with higher resolution, Apple's computational photography capabilities could continue to play a significant role once the device becomes official.

iPhone Ultra vs Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide: Battery

Battery capacity is another area where Samsung currently appears to hold an advantage.

According to recent leaks, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide may pack a 4,800mAh battery, representing an upgrade over previous Galaxy Z Fold models. It is also expected to support Samsung's Super Fast Charging 2.0, although charging speeds have yet to be disclosed.

Apple has not yet been linked to a specific battery capacity for the iPhone Ultra. As a result, it remains difficult to compare endurance directly. However, Apple's tight hardware and software integration has historically helped its devices deliver competitive battery life despite using comparatively smaller batteries.

With both devices still awaiting official announcements, many details remain subject to change. Even so, the leaks suggest the battle between Apple's first foldable and Samsung's latest Galaxy Z Fold Wide could become one of the most closely watched smartphone rivalries of the year, bringing two distinct approaches to premium foldable design to the market.