⏰ 7 min read | 19 August 2026
iPhone Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 is shaping up to be one of the most talked-about foldable showdowns of the year, and honestly, it’s about time. Samsung has just pulled the wraps off its Galaxy Z Fold 8, and word is that Apple’s own foldable – the iPhone Ultra – is landing next month with a strikingly similar look. Both phones are chasing the same “passport-style” design: short, wide, and boxy when folded, more like a little travel booklet than a regular smartphone. If you’ve been holding off on upgrading because you wanted to see what the foldable future actually looks like, this comparison is for you. Let’s break down what we know, what’s rumoured, and how these two devices stack up against each other.
What Is the Passport-Style Foldable Design?
If you’ve never heard the term “passport-style” foldable before, don’t worry – it’s a fairly new way of describing a shape that’s becoming the industry standard. Instead of the tall, skinny book-fold phones we saw in earlier generations, this new design is shorter and wider when closed, so it looks a lot like an actual passport booklet sitting in your palm. The idea is simple: make the outer screen wide enough to use comfortably like a normal phone, while the inner screen unfolds into something close to a small tablet.
Samsung has fully committed to this shape with the Galaxy Z Fold 8, and it looks like Apple is following the exact same playbook for its debut foldable. That’s not really a surprise – both companies clearly agree this is the most practical shape for everyday use, rather than a phone that feels awkward and narrow when folded shut.
Did You Know? The 4:3 aspect ratio on the Galaxy Z Fold 8’s inner screen is the same ratio used by old-school photographs and many tablets, which is why unfolded foldables suddenly feel so much more like a mini tablet than a stretched-out phone.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8: Specs and Features
Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 is already out in the market, and it brings some solid upgrades over its predecessor. The cover display now measures 5.5 inches, which is noticeably wider than earlier Fold models, making it far more comfortable to use one-handed when the phone is closed. Once you unfold it, you get a spacious 7.6-inch inner display with a 4:3 aspect ratio – perfect for multitasking, watching videos, or splitting the screen between two apps.
The whole design leans into that passport-like footprint we talked about above, and it seems to be Samsung’s answer to years of feedback that older folds felt too cramped when closed. For anyone who has used a Z Fold before, this generation should feel like a genuine quality-of-life improvement rather than just a spec bump.
Apple iPhone Ultra: What to Expect
Apple hasn’t officially confirmed pricing or a launch date beyond “next month,” but leaks are pointing to the iPhone Ultra as the company’s first real entry into the foldable game. And by the sound of it, Apple isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel here – it’s expected to adopt a very similar passport-style design to go head-to-head with Samsung’s latest foldable.
The most interesting rumour so far is around screen size. The iPhone Ultra is tipped to feature a 5.5-inch outer display, matching the Galaxy Z Fold 8 almost exactly, but its inner display is rumoured to stretch to 7.8 inches – a touch bigger than Samsung’s 7.6-inch panel. If that holds true, Apple could be positioning its debut foldable as the roomier option for people who want more screen real estate for reading, editing, or watching content.
iPhone Ultra vs Galaxy Z Fold 8: Key Differences
Since Apple’s phone hasn’t launched yet, this comparison is really about what’s confirmed versus what’s rumoured. Here’s the honest breakdown: both phones share the same general design philosophy and a nearly identical 5.5-inch cover screen, so the day-to-day “closed phone” experience should feel quite similar. The real difference shows up once you unfold them – Apple is rumoured to go slightly bigger on the inner display, which could matter a lot if you’re someone who uses your foldable for reading, spreadsheets, or note-taking.
Beyond screen size, Samsung has the advantage of being first to market and already available for people to buy and try today, while Apple is still an unknown quantity until its next-month unveiling confirms actual specs, software features, and pricing. Until then, everything about the iPhone Ultra remains an educated guess based on leaks.
Which Foldable Should You Wait For?
If you need a foldable right now and don’t want to wait, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is already sitting on shelves with a proven passport-style design and a genuinely large inner display. But if you’re an Apple loyalist, or you simply want to see how the company’s first foldable turns out, holding off one more month to see the iPhone Ultra in person is a completely reasonable move – especially with rumours pointing to an even bigger unfolded screen.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Design | Passport-style foldable on both phones |
| Cover/Outer Display | 5.5-inch on Galaxy Z Fold 8; 5.5-inch expected on iPhone Ultra |
| Inner Display | 7.6-inch on Galaxy Z Fold 8; 7.8-inch expected on iPhone Ultra |
| Inner Display Aspect Ratio | 4:3 on Galaxy Z Fold 8; not yet confirmed for iPhone Ultra |
| Availability | Galaxy Z Fold 8 already launched; iPhone Ultra expected next month |
| Brand | Samsung (Galaxy Z Fold 8) vs Apple (iPhone Ultra, first foldable) |
| Price & Availability | Details |
|---|---|
| Original Price | Not officially announced for either phone yet |
| Current Price | Galaxy Z Fold 8 pricing to be confirmed by Samsung; iPhone Ultra pricing expected at next month’s launch |
| Bank Card Offer | To be confirmed at official launch |
| EMI | Expected to be available through retailers once pricing is confirmed |
| Exchange | Exchange offers likely once both phones are widely available |
Frequently Asked Questions
It’s a shorter, wider foldable shape that looks more like a passport booklet when closed, instead of the tall, narrow shape older foldables used. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 has adopted this look, and the iPhone Ultra is expected to follow.
Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone Ultra, its first foldable iPhone, next month, shortly after Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 has already hit the market.
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 has a 5.5-inch cover display for everyday use and a 7.6-inch inner display with a 4:3 aspect ratio when unfolded.
Rumours suggest the iPhone Ultra could pack a slightly larger 7.8-inch inner display compared to the Galaxy Z Fold 8’s 7.6-inch panel, while both share a similar 5.5-inch outer screen size.
Yes, the iPhone Ultra is expected to be Apple’s first-ever foldable smartphone, marking its entry into a category Samsung has led for years.
Verdict: Who Wins the Foldable Race?
Right now, it’s honestly too early to crown a winner. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 is real, available, and already delivering on Samsung’s passport-style redesign with a genuinely large 7.6-inch inner screen. The iPhone Ultra, on the other hand, is still a month away from being official, but the early word is that Apple could edge ahead on inner display size while matching Samsung on the outer screen. If screen real estate and a slightly bigger canvas matter most to you, it might be worth the wait to see Apple’s first foldable in the flesh. Either way, foldables are clearly no longer a niche experiment – they’re becoming a genuine flagship category, and that’s good news for anyone shopping in 2026. Want more breakdowns like this before you decide what to buy? Head over to JatinTechTalks for the latest smartphone news, comparisons, and buying guides.
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