Galaxy Z Fold8 Camera: Fold8 vs Fold8 Ultra Settings (2026)

Samsung’s cameras are very different on this year’s Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra and wider Galaxy Z Fold8. The bigger Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra sports a 200MP main camera alongside a 3x telephoto camera and, new this year, a 50MP ultrawide camera. The wider Galaxy Z Fold8 only sports two 50MP cameras with no telephoto option.

We don’t have either device in hand to test the cameras just yet, so these tips are mostly based on what Samsung has published about the hardware as well as our knowledge of how the camera app in One UI 9 behaves on both phones. Any comments we make on image quality are based on reviews by SamMobile and/or GSMArena, which we’ll link to when relevant.

Fold8 Ultra and Fold8 camera specs side by side

The selfie cameras are identical on both phones and so is the spec of the ultrawide (which according to SamMobile is the same as the one in the S26 Ultra). According to GSMArena, the main camera of the Fold8 uses the same 1/1.56-inch Samsung ISOCELL GN3 sensor as the one in the regular Galaxy S26.

The 200MP main camera on the Fold8 Ultra hasn’t changed in terms of specs (at least the ones that have been made public) from last year’s Galaxy Z Fold7, although Samsung has now brought HDR support to shooting in full 200MP resolution.

What changed from the Fold7

According to GSMArena, the Fold8 Ultra closely resembles its predecessor, the Fold7. The camera and battery changes are these.

• The main camera has the same published specs as the Fold7’s: a 200MP f/1.7 sensor.
• The 3x telephoto’s published specs also don’t change: it’s a 10MP f/2.4 sensor.
• The ultrawide does change though: it goes from a 12MP f/2.2 sensor on the Fold7 to a 50MP f/1.9 sensor on the Fold8 Ultra. That should help with close-up shots and capturing detailed interiors.
• HDR also now works on 200MP images, meaning that you’ll be able to retain highlights in high-contrast scenes when shooting at full resolution.
• For video, 8K video recording with the APV codec and Cine LUT colour presets are new. These are features that are targeted towards people who edit and grade their own videos.
• The battery capacity is going from 4,400mAh to 5,000mAh. Weight remains the same at 215 g.

One area where Samsung’s new, wider 4:3 ratio Fold8 has cut corners (and saved some weight and money) is the camera setup. Its vertical camera island is carried over from the unrelated, narrower Galaxy Z Fold7. That means a camera island design that sticks out enough that the Galaxy Z Fold8 will rock back and forth on a desk, according to SamMobile’s editor.

On the smaller Galaxy Z Fold8, this vertical camera island design also means that it’s easier to cover up the flash with your finger when shooting in landscape, potentially casting an unwanted red hue on a corner of your shots.

Starting settings by situation

Unless noted, the following tips assume you're using Photo mode.

Two of the tips below depend on a One UI 9 change. We explain it below the table.

In One UI 9, Samsung has consolidated Night mode into Photo mode. When the ambient light level drops, a new moon icon appears in Photo mode to activate enhanced low-light photography.

There’s no dedicated Night mode on the Fold8’s camera app, GSMArena points out, but you can add it along with the Single Take and Dual Rec shooting modes, which are also missing, using the Camera Assistant app from the Galaxy Store. Once it’s installed, tap the Quick controls icon in the camera app, go to Settings → Camera Assistant and turn on Night under Additional modes.

The Ultra’s 200MP mode produces huge image files and works best when the scene is still, so try to use it when the lighting is good and you’re shooting something like architecture or landscapes. Otherwise, keep the Ultra camera set to 12MP.

Using the cover screen as a viewfinder

Unfolded, the cover screen on both Fold8 models can point in the same direction as the cameras on the back. That means you can take selfies with the better cameras on the back. GSMArena got its best results using the 1x camera and found that selfies taken with the ultrawide ended up including the photographer’s arm. On the Fold8 Ultra, you’ll be able to point either the 200MP camera or the 3x telephoto at yourself for selfies.

There’s also a feature called Cover Screen Preview which, according to Samsung’s support page, is listed next to a similar option called Dual Screen (which shows what you’re capturing on both displays at once). Using Cover Screen Preview, you can show what you’re capturing on the main display to the subject of your photo so they can get themselves looking their best (e.g. fixing their hair, moving themselves into better lighting, etc.) before you take the shot. This is a great way of capturing flattering and relaxed-looking portraits of people who hate having their photo taken.

For selfies on the folded phone, the 10MP cover camera should suffice, and GSMArena was quite pleased with the results. One gripe it had: the shutter button on the cover screen obscures the viewfinder and interferes with tap-to-focus, so use a volume button to snap pics instead.

Flex mode on the Fold8 Ultra, and what to do on the Fold8

The Fold8 Ultra turns itself into a camera tripod when folded in half and placed upright on a flat surface (perfect for taking group photos with a timer or shooting photos with longer exposures at night). When the phone detects that it’s propped up like this, the camera app will display the photo preview in the top half of the screen and camera controls in the bottom half.

Pair it with Camera → Settings → Shooting methods, where you can enable Show palm to start a photo timer with just a raised hand, or take photos hands-free by saying “Cheese” or “Smile”.

The timer multi-photo option in Samsung’s Camera Assistant is also a nice find for those looking to avoid a group photo plagued by closed eyes. Enabling this feature means that several pictures will be taken for each countdown, increasing the likelihood that at least one image will have everyone’s eyes open.

Note that while SamMobile discovered that the Galaxy Z Fold8’s hinge can support the phone standing at an angle without support (effectively turning it into a tent), Flex mode and its associated settings and features aren’t present on the Galaxy Z Fold8. However, you should still be able to lean the Galaxy Z Fold8 against something stable and take advantage of the 3s or 10s countdown timers.

Which Fold8 should a photographer buy?

If you’re keen on taking pictures of people from afar, you’ll love the 3x telephoto camera, which the Fold8 doesn’t have. That extra camera alone separates it from the Fold8, and if you’re looking for a phone to take on travels or want to shoot video that you can colour grade, the Fold8 Ultra is about $200 pricier and well worth it.

Flex mode is also handy for taking pictures at night or group pictures without a tripod.

For lighter use like media consumption and reading, the Fold8 is the lightest of the bunch. If you shoot most of your pictures either at 1x or on the ultrawide, it’s a good pick too. GSMArena found the former to be solid midrange hardware that isn’t flagship-grade in low light, and called out the latter as a highlight. Expect good images during the day and grainier ones at night.

If you don’t take advantage of the 50MP ultrawide and HDR picture taking at 200MP and 8K APV video recording, the Fold7’s camera system is good enough and you can continue using it. Upgrading from a Fold6 or an even older Galaxy Z Fold will mean a significant upgrade in the main camera since it’ll be getting a 200MP shooter. The Fold6 can still do a lot right though, and you can see our thoughts on it in our Galaxy Z Fold 6 camera review and check its settings page for some starting numbers. The Galaxy S26 Ultra also features a brighter f/1.4 main camera and a 5x telephoto, neither of which can be found on a Fold phone, in case photography ranks higher on your list of priorities. Our Galaxy Z Flip8 camera guide goes over taking selfies with the Flip if that’s the kind of camera you’re interested in.

Frequently asked questions