The Minimal Phone 2 swaps the original’s E Ink panel for a 3.92-inch 90Hz AMOLED display.
You still get the physical keyboard, now upgraded with backlighting, remappable shortcuts, and metal dome switches.
A curved aluminum body replaces the original’s boxy shell, while the front camera moves above the display.
The company that built a phone around making screens deliberately boring just gave its sequel a gorgeous OLED panel. Yes, the Minimal Phone 2 has ditched the E Ink display that made the original what it was and replaced it with a 3.92-inch 90Hz AMOLED screen.
Why the sudden U-turn? Because the original model with an E Ink panel, while great for reducing distractions, was genuinely painful to use. Owners complained of ghosting, sluggish animations, and a display that made anything but reading text a chore.
The Minimal Company seems to have decided that this intentional friction doesn’t have to mean unusable. Founder Armen Youssefian had posted the first renders of the sequel on X, which already hinted at a full visual overhaul.
Thank goodness, the physical QWERTY keyboard survives the transition, but now it sports backlit keys and remappable shortcuts and employs metal dome switches. The design language also changed from a blocky, sharp-edged shell to a curved aluminum body in black or silver. The front-facing camera was finally moved to a sensible place above the display, rather than hiding near the Alt key.
(Image credit: The Minimal Company)
Under the hood, the phone is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 8300 with 8GB RAM and up to 512GB storage, per the company’s Kickstarter listing. You also get a physical mute switch, NFC, and, surprisingly, a 3.5mm headphone jack. But this old-school charm comes in a noticeably smaller footprint than its predecessor.
There is a lot we still do not understand. Questions remain about pricing and launch date. The company first opened a waitlist for early-bird access, but the phone has since moved to crowdfunding, giving potential buyers a more clear-cut way to back it.
The Kickstarter campaign has already exceeded its goal, raising more than $650,000 from over 1,000 backers. So, this thing is happening. The big question is: Does an AMOLED screen on a "minimal" phone defeat the entire purpose or finally make the QWERTY-powered experience actually usable daily? We’ll see when it releases to consumers, but if you’ve been itching for a modern BlackBerry-esque device without the E Ink compromise, this could be your play.
Usually, when a new smartphone model is about to come out, our advice is simple: wait. Either you end up liking the new one or get a sweet discount on the old one. Thanks to the AI boom, that isn't a cardinal rule anymore. Older models aren't seeing the drastic price decreases we're used to, and new models are more likely to launch with higher prices than ever before. So, if you're in the market for a new Pixel phone, should you wait or buy now?
Google is set to launch the Pixel 11 this week, but there's a case for buying your next Pixel phone right now. We've seen recent discounts on every mainline Pixel 10 phone, and there's one attractive Pixel model with a price that could make you forget about the Pixel 11 series entirely. That said, if you don't want to miss out on your chance to score the latest and greatest Pixel, the Pixel 11 might be worth the wait. As you can see, there's a lot to consider, so let's break down the cases for buying a Pixel now or waiting for the Pixel 11.
The case for buying a Google Pixel 10 now
(Image credit: Nandika Ravi/Android Central)
If you like the Pixel 10 series as-is and want to avoid a potential price hike, there's certainly a reason to buy one of Google's phones now. Since the Pixel 11 series is expected to shed the 128GB model and make the 256GB configuration the default, some phones will cost more. According to pricing leaks, the Pixel 11 will start at $899, the Pixel 11 Pro will cost $1,099, and the Pixel 11 Pro XL will cost $1,299. That's quite the jump — $100 more for every non-foldable phone.
This puts the Pixel 11 Pro XL in the same tier as the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, which costs $1,299 as well. Of course, we'll have to see what the Pixel 11 Pro XL holds, but that might give prospective buyers pause. Samsung flagships typically offer better performance with fast Snapdragon chips that trounce Google's Tensor chips in benchmarks. If you have $1,299 to spend, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is often the default pick, and Google will have to prove the Pixel 11 Pro XL belongs in that conversation.
(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)
Those that aren't eager to spend $100 more for the Pixel 11 series might be better off buying a Pixel 10 phone now. The Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL are both slightly discounted on Amazon currently, but the deal looks better when you consider the impending possibility of a Pixel 11 price hike. The Pixel 10 isn't seeing major discounts at the moment. I see the case for buying a Pixel 10 now, but it would sting knowing we just saw major Pixel 10 deals during Prime Day.
The Pixel 10 series' price history makes me less inclined to buy the three mainline models now. The budget Pixel 10a is a different story, though. It's discounted to just $424 at the Google Store right now. This is the best bang-for-your-buck Android phone on the market, and it's a breath of fresh air at a time when flagship prices keep rising. If you think the Pixel 10a's budget hardware would meet your needs, I think it's worth buying now instead of waiting for the Pixel 11.
The case for waiting for the Google Pixel 11
(Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)
We're always looking toward the next best thing, and the Pixel 11 appears to be just that. Leaks and rumors paint an early picture of what the Google Pixel 11 might look like, and how it would improve on the Pixel 10 series. It's a good bet that the Pixel 11 will be powered by the Tensor G6 chipset, which could be built on a 2nm process to improve processing power and efficiency. The design looks similar to the Pixel 10, according to renders, but we're on the lookout for potential display, battery, and camera upgrades.
(Image credit: Android Headlines)
The question you should ask yourself is: what does the Pixel 11 series have to upgrade to make it worth the rumored $100 price hike? If your wishlist includes super-fast charging or Snapdragon-like performance, you might be underwhelmed. In that case, you may be better off buying a Pixel 10 or Galaxy S26 series phone instead. But if you have more modest aspirations, like better optimizations and slightly improved hardware, the Pixel 11 could be worth the wait.
One neat Pixel 11 rumor is that the phone could sport a glow light on the back, possibly called Pixel Glow or Pixel HiLight. It'd be a novelty similar to that of Nothing's Glyph Interface. For those tired of iPhones, Pixels, and Galaxys all looking mostly the same, a quirk like this could make the Pixel 11 worth waiting for.
Specs and rumors aside, you should wait for the Pixel 11 if you want to take advantage of carrier promotions, trade-in deals, or pre-order deals. There are pros and cons to carrier promos and trade-ins — you enter a restrictive carrier contract and/or give up your old device in exchange for massive savings on a new one. Not everyone should enter into a carrier contract to get the Pixel 11.
However, if you're willing to make that decision, you will likely get the Pixel 11 for cheaper than a Pixel 10 currently costs at full price.
How I'd spend my money
(Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)
If I were in the market for a new phone, I'd take a long look at whether the Google Pixel 10a could meet my needs. I tested that phone for weeks this year, and it offers long battery life, decent performance, and solid hardware for a fraction of the price of new flagships. You can get one brand-new from Google for about a third of what the flagship Pixel 11 Pro XL will likely cost. To me, it's a no-brainer if you can live with the device's few compromises.
If you're more interested in the mainline Pixel 10 or Pixel 11 models, waiting is probably your best strategy. The Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, and Pixel 10 Pro XL all saw major and enticing discounts over the summer, but the current deals are uninspiring by comparison. Instead of taking a small discount and getting a last-gen device, it's worth waiting for the Pixel 11.
There is a chance the Pixel 10 goes on sale again, especially as we approach Black Friday season. Or, you could be impressed by what Google has to offer and snag a Pixel 11 when it's available.
Made by Google 2026 is almost here — this is where the Pixel 11 will be officially revealed. Stay tuned for our coverage leading up to, throughout, and following the event, which begins Wednesday, Aug. 12 at 3 p.m. PT / 6 p.m. EDT.
Google
Pixel 10
The current contender
The Google Pixel 10 is soon to be replaced by the Pixel 11, but it'll remain an Android fixture for years to come. It is covered by Android OS upgrades for six more years, and still has decent hardware. However, some will prefer to wait and see what the Pixel 11 holds.
Samsung's newest smartwatches finally hit store shelves last week, but if you weren't being vigilant, you could've completely missed that one of the best Galaxy Watch 9 deals is still going strong at T-Mobile.
That's a whopping $430 in savings on the 40mm version of the watch. Need something bigger? You can apply the same discount to the 44mm version or even the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 if you need a bit more power. The choice is yours.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 is here, and T-Mobile will already give you the flagship wearable for free when you add a line with Watch Plan Plus 2.0 on the carrier's website. You'll still have to pay the $35 activation fee, but you're looking at $430 in savings on a device that's sure to rank among the best Android smartwatches released this year. No trade-in required. View Deal
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 takes the foundation of its excellent predecessor and adds a new Snapdragon processor and a larger battery without increasing the size or weight. The result is a sleek, lightweight smartwatch that doesn't skimp on premium specs and innovative Galaxy AI software features.
Just like the Galaxy Watch 8, the new model still features a vibrant AMOLED display with 32GB of onboard storage, plus you get dual-band GPS tracking, IP68 with 5ATM water resistance, and a powerful BioActive sensor with ultra-accurate health and fitness tracking capabilities.
So what's the catch? Well, as I mentioned above, you'll need to pay the $35 activation fee and sign up for the Watch Plan Plus 2.0 plan to enjoy the $430 discount. This plan costs just $15 per month and gives you unlimited talk, text, and data directly from your smartwatch, in addition to unlimited texting and 5GB of data in over 215 countries worldwide (15GB of data in Mexico and Canada).
Hands-on images show the matte black model and "Dune" retail box for the Pixel 11 Pro XL.
The images were apparently sourced from carrier demo units arriving in the US ahead of the August 12 launch.
A larger LED module on the camera bar dubbed "HiLight" could act as an RGB notification light, even when the phone is face down.
Google usually tries to keep its flagship hardware under wraps until launch day, but carrier store inventory has spoiled the surprise yet again. Just days before the official Made by Google event, hands-on images of the Pixel 11 Pro XL have emerged online, giving us a look at the real-world design of Google’s upcoming flagship phone.
Images posted by @PixelNewsHub on X reveal what are claimed to be carrier demo units on their way to US stores. The images give us a crisp look at an all-matte black model, as well as retail packaging for a fresh colorway rumored to be either “Dune” or “Canyon.”
@PixelNewsHub / X@PixelNewsHub / X
The design is very similar to last year’s, but upon closer inspection, there are some hardware updates. The lenses on the camera bar look to protrude a lot more this time around. Then there’s the larger LED module, which Google apparently calls "HiLight."
Previous leaks hint that the HiLight LED is an RGB notification light that sits on the camera bar and keeps lighting up even when your phone is face down. Gemini is also supposed to give visual alerts for certain contacts or pulse when you message it.
Of course, no Pixel launch would be complete without a little bit of drama. Reports from Turkey say that black market copies of the boxed Pixel 11 Pro XL are already available for $1,700, a bit above the rumored starting price of $1,299.
That said, it appears that Google is sticking with the familiar Pixel silhouette, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. But with the Tensor G6 chipset, a rumored $899 base model price (and no more 128GB option), and this mysterious HiLight feature, the Pixel 11 series has some questions to answer. We will know all for sure on August 12.
Google is back this year with its Made by Google event, and we’re expecting a lot of Pixel news. Of course, Google is set to launch the Pixel 11 series, which will likely include several different smartphones as well as a new foldable. In addition, Google is expected to launch the Pixel Watch 5, and there could be some additional devices in the mix.
We hope you’re as excited to learn about Google’s latest smartphones as we are! Last year’s launch was filled with celebrities and internet personalities, and this year looks to be no different, with Stephen Curry, Shubman Gill, Ayami Nakajo, and more, with Trevor Noah hosting.
Over the next few days, we’ll be going over what you can expect and covering the event live as it happens so you don’t have to miss a thing! Scroll down for all the details!
When and what time is Made by Google?
The event is Wednesday, August 12, and it starts at 3 p.m. PT / 6 p.m. EDT.
How to watch the Made by Google event?
Google will stream the event on its official Made by Google YouTube Channel. You can also watch it live at the Google Store website. Click the Notify Me button below so you don’t miss a thing!
Google has been low-key hyping up its Pixel 11 series for some time, although we just didn’t know it. Earlier this year, the company gave us a glimpse of new features arriving with Android 17, and while the update is already out, there are still some features that haven’t arrived yet, and likely more that Google hasn’t even teased. What are you looking forward to the most?
(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)
One feature I can’t wait to get my hands on is Pause Point. It’s supposed to remind you to take a break from distracting apps with things like timers, breathing exercises, and even suggestions for less-distracting apps to use. Because we all need a reminder to take a break from social media, right? It’s actually a pretty thoughtful feature, one I never expected from Google.
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 surprised me. As someone who has not been a big fan of book-style foldables and generally prefers flip phones, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 seems to flip everything on its head. In fact, given its small stature, it sits somewhere in the Goldilocks zone between both types of foldables.
I think this is why I like the Galaxy Z Fold 8 so much. I was ready to dismiss the new design when I saw leaks of the phone, but as soon as I put it in my hand, something clicked, and in my two weeks of testing, the phone has been a joy to use. Between the pocketability, the performance, and the price, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 might be the ideal foldable phone for most buyers, although you'll have to deal with a few compromises.
It's a little strange that Samsung popularized the current foldable design, only to shift to a form factor that few others have tried and abandoned. That said, Samsung's iteration seems to take the design a bit further by incorporating a shorter chassis and wider displays.
The result is a phone that feels admittedly very different from what we're used to, especially following the advent of taller smartphone displays. But holding the phone sort of puts the whole thing into perspective; it's thin and light, and nearly the entire phone fits in the palm of my hand. That's important for reachability, something that taller smartphones seem to have forgotten is still important.
It's literally the size of my passport, and it fits in my pocket better than any other smartphone I've used in recent years, including flip phones like the Motorola Razr Ultra.
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Part of my original concern was how apps would scale to this odd 16:10 aspect ratio on the external display, and my concerns were mostly unfounded, although not completely.
Vertical videos are still watchable on the external display, and while the minimum black bars on the sides may annoy some, I don't mind them. I actually like that the app’s UI elements are pushed away from the video. Watching longer-form videos like movies, TV shows, and YouTube also feels pretty natural on the external display.
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The downside of having such a short, wide external display is that app content is a bit condensed, and there are times when I find myself scrolling more than I normally would because of the lack of vertical real estate.
This can be addressed somewhat when you open the Galaxy Z Fold 8 to reveal the surprisingly seamless and tablet-like display.
(Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)
The wider aspect ratio reminds me of how I felt when I first saw the Galaxy Z TriFold: this is exactly how a foldable phone should feel, like a phone when closed and a tablet when open. It also helps that the new Titanium Flex display makes for a barely noticeable crease. If Apple's been waiting to get rid of the crease for its eventual foldable, now is definitely the time.
Videos are also a joy to watch on the larger display, and there are fewer black bars on the top and bottom, at least compared to the Ultra.
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The Galaxy Z Fold 8 also acts like a tablet when it's open. That means apps like Gmail, YouTube Music, and Chrome open in tablet mode, and you can pull up a taskbar of apps at the bottom from just about any screen.
Oddly enough, there's no support for the Flex Mode panel, which is on both the Fold 8 Ultra and Flip 8. That's because the hinge can't really be freely adjusted to stay at different angles, especially beyond 90 degrees. It's a bit of a missed opportunity for viewing content.
But the wider display means better multitasking. One thing I love about the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is that you can use three apps side by side, instead of having one app take up a full side and two apps split in half on the other. And of course you can drag and drop content between apps and resize them to your liking.
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Another benefit the Galaxy Z Fold 8 has over the more square Ultra is that the wider display gives you more options for app layouts. Sure, I can use apps like Instagram or read ebooks in a horizontal orientation, but I can turn the phone and use the app vertically so that certain content fits the screen better.
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The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy and base 12GB of RAM help the Fold 8 perform just as well as you'd expect, with no hiccups. That said, I notice that the phone gets pretty warm, mostly when gaming, and I imagine it's due to the phone's small stature.
The small chassis also means there's not much room for a huge battery. The 4,800mAh battery should get you through most of the day, although now that Samsung is using silicone carbon batteries, I feel that the company could have squeezed in its larger-capacity unit. After all, the smaller Razr Ultra 2026 squeezed in a 5,000mAh battery with much faster charging.
(Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)
There are plenty of AI features scattered throughout One UI 9, although admittedly they're the least interesting thing about the Galaxy Z Fold 8. If you can stand using Samsung Keyboard, which is still pretty bad, you'll get access to many of Samsung's Galaxy AI features like writing tools, translation, and Gemini Intelligence.
When I receive a message, for instance, the AI will suggest responses based on the conversation, and even gave me prompts in German when a friend of mine texted “Danke," which I found pretty fun. It also suggests certain actions, like opening my calendar when my friend asked if I was back in town after a long trip, or sending my location when another friend asked how my trip was going.
And of course, with Gemini intelligence, you can have it perform actions on your behalf, and it supports even more apps than before.
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One of the highlight features on the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is My FanCam, which can pinpoint a person in a video and focus on them, allowing you to crop out the rest of the video so that it's social media-ready. It's actually quite ingenious, and the result is often better than I expect.
The phone does a good job keeping up with the subject, wherever they happen to be in the video, although the camera movements can be a bit wobbly when tracking subjects. Still, it saves me a ton of time having to edit the videos manually.
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As for the cameras, the dual 50MP sensors on the back can capture decent images, and you can see my Galaxy Z Fold 8 camera review/comparison for more on that. There is no telephoto sensor, which is also likely due to the phone's limited space. On the plus side, Samsung included new video capture features the creators will love, such as the ability to capture LOG video or add LUTs to give your videos a dramatic look.
This is one of the things I loved about using LG smartphones like the V30, so I'm glad to see it here.
Should you buy the Galaxy Z Fold 8?
(Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)
Th writing has been on the wall for some time that the era of modern flip phones may be coming to an end. Samsung hasn't said anything about it, but reports have pointed to the rising popularity of book-style foldables, so much so that even Motorola has joined the party.
If there's one phone that I can see killing the flip phone and taking foldables truly mainstream, it's the Galaxy Z Fold 8. It may not have all the Ultra features of its sibling, but it brings much of that added utility of a larger foldable to a smaller, more pocketable, and much more affordable form factor. And it's a damn joy to use.
Samsung makes some of the best camera phones in the ever-shrinking North American market. With the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Fold 8 Ultra hitting the market, I decided to take their cameras for a spin, taking 1,000 photos between both phones to get a good idea of how they perform.
Beyond just testing the cameras of Samsung's newest foldables, I also took the time to compare the camera performance to two of my favorite foldables: the Motorola Razr Ultra 2026 and Razr Fold. Motorola has come a long way, and the Fold has proven that the company knows how to make a good camera.
How I tested them
(Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)
I've been testing the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Fold 8 Ultra since their launch on July 22. I captured photos in various scenarios and environments, using both devices alongside the Razr Ultra 2026 and Razr Fold.
I didn't fiddle with any settings or tap a subject in the viewfinder to adjust the exposure; all of these were just point-and-shoot.
(Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)
Juggling four phones isn't easy, and it isn't the most scientific method, but I tried to keep things as fair as possible. I made sure to capture photos with the same or similar composition across devices. Still, there may be some slight differences between photos.
Also, for the sake of my sanity (and your time), I'm not uploading all 1,000 photos I captured with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 series. However, I have selected a number of images that I think best represent the capabilities of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 series in different situations.
Note: Click the expand button in the corner for a better view of the images.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra
(Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)
Between the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Fold 8 Ultra, the hardware differences are quite massive. The former sticks to two 50MP cameras, while the latter has a massive 200MP primary sensor and a third telephoto camera. The result is noticeably more detail in the Fold 8 Ultra's images, while the Fold 8 tends to lean a bit softer.
That goes for color as well; images from the Fold 8 Ultra tend to be punchier, while the Fold 8 tends to appear a bit muted. I find I prefer the Ultra's images, although it can go a bit overboard with saturation, especially when it comes to the color red.
This is the complete opposite for the ultrawide sensor, which is punchier on the Fold 8, and I tend to prefer these images over the Fold 8 Ultra's ultrawide.
Both phones do relatively okay when it comes to selfies and portrait images, although I still feel like they lack proper tuning for skin tones like mine.
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The Ultra clearly has the upper hand with zoom. The Fold 8 can take 2x shots at optical quality, but anything beyond that and you'll see the quality drop. In most cases, images for the Ultra appear much cleaner, while the Fold 8 can sometimes struggle to produce the necessary detail.
Sometimes the Fold 8 gets it right, and while the AI is clearly putting in some work to make up for the lack of a telephoto camera, things like text can appear sharper on the Fold 8 compared to the more natural processing from the Ultra's optical sensor. Still, the Fold 8 isn't as consistent with zoom shots, and your best bet is to stick with 2x.
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Both phones do a decent job with challenging lighting, but I wouldn't say either excels. Photos are often a tad noisy, though this is more of an issue with the base Fold 8 than the Fold 8 Ultra, which often delivers cleaner, more detailed shots.
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Overall, both phones have their strengths, and Samsung seems to have improved how its phones capture movement. I really like the ultrawide shots on the Fold 8, but the Fold 8 Ultra unsurprisingly comes out on top, with the 200MP primary camera bringing more vibrancy and detail to images, while the telephoto camera keeps zoom shots relatively clean.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Motorola Razr Ultra 2026
(Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)
Both the Galaxy Fold 8 and Razr Ultra 2026 have dual 50MP cameras for wide and ultrawide shots. However, both phones handle color and lighting a bit differently. Regarding color reproduction, the Razr Ultra 2026 does a better job of staying true to the scene, while elements (like the sky) can be a bit more dramatic due to the added contrast and detail. The Fold 8 again feels a bit more muted in many scenes, but still does a decent job.
The Razr Ultra 2026 also handles trickier lighting situations a bit better, brightening subjects without adding a ton of noise in the process. However, the caveat is that while it does better with things like neon signs, my unit doesn't seem to like bright street lamps very much, as they can flare up and ruin a scene.
I also tend to prefer selfies on the Galaxy Z Fold 8's external front-facing camera, as the Razr Ultra tends to do some weird overprocessing. However, I find the Razr is better at portrait mode photos.
Galaxy Z Fold 8Derrek Lee / Android CentralRazr Ultra 2026Derrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8Derrek Lee / Android CentralRazr Ultra 2026Derrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8Derrek Lee / Android CentralRazr Ultra 2026Derrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8Derrek Lee / Android CentralRazr Ultra 2026Derrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8Derrek Lee / Android CentralRazr Ultra 2026Derrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8Derrek Lee / Android CentralRazr Ultra 2026Derrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8Derrek Lee / Android CentralRazr Ultra 2026Derrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8Derrek Lee / Android CentralRazr Ultra 2026Derrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8Derrek Lee / Android CentralRazr Ultra 2026Derrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8Derrek Lee / Android CentralRazr Ultra 2026Derrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8Derrek Lee / Android CentralRazr Ultra 2026Derrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8Derrek Lee / Android CentralRazr Ultra 2026Derrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8Derrek Lee / Android CentralRazr Ultra 2026Derrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8Derrek Lee / Android CentralRazr Ultra 2026Derrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8Derrek Lee / Android CentralRazr Ultra 2026Derrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8Derrek Lee / Android CentralRazr Ultra 2026Derrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8Derrek Lee / Android CentralRazr Ultra 2026Derrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8Derrek Lee / Android CentralRazr Ultra 2026Derrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8Derrek Lee / Android CentralRazr Ultra 2026Derrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8Derrek Lee / Android CentralRazr Ultra 2026Derrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8Derrek Lee / Android CentralRazr Ultra 2026Derrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8Derrek Lee / Android CentralRazr Ultra 2026Derrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8Derrek Lee / Android CentralRazr Ultra 2026Derrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8Derrek Lee / Android CentralRazr Ultra 2026Derrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8Derrek Lee / Android CentralRazr Ultra 2026Derrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8Derrek Lee / Android CentralRazr Ultra 2026Derrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8Derrek Lee / Android CentralRazr Ultra 2026Derrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8Derrek Lee / Android CentralRazr Ultra 2026Derrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8Derrek Lee / Android CentralRazr Ultra 2026Derrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8Derrek Lee / Android CentralRazr Ultra 2026Derrek Lee / Android Central
When it comes to zoom, neither phone excels here, and they tend to trade blows in detail, lighting, and color. Sometimes, I prefer the Galaxy Z Fold 8, and other times the Razr comes out on top. Either way, I don't think there's a winner here, as neither is particularly good beyond 2x zoom.
Galaxy Z Fold 8 (2x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralDerrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8 (2x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralDerrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8 (2x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralDerrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8 (2x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralRazr Ultra 2026 (2x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8 (2x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralRazr Ultra 2026 (2x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8 (2x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralRazr Ultra 2026 (2x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8 (2x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralRazr Ultra 2026 (2x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8 (10x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralRazr Ultra 2026 (10x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8 (3x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralRazr Ultra 2026 (3x)Derrek Lee / Android Central
Overall, I think the Razr Ultra 2026 has the upper hand when it comes to just the point-and-shoot camera experience. That's not to say the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is bad, but there's a general lack of pop in its images. I think the camera could use some additional tuning, perhaps with future updates (which Samsung is good about).
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and Motorola Razr Fold
(Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)
The Fold 8 Ultra's 200MP camera should theoretically come out on top compared to the Razr Fold's 50MP sensor, right? Well, surprisingly, Motorola holds its own. Both phones bring plenty of detail to their images, and while photos from the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra can appear more vibrant, such as when taking photos of the sky or of water, the Razr Fold handles low-light situations better.
As you can see from the photo of the door or the floating planets, the Razr Fold's camera brings more light into a scene while keeping noise levels low. The alleyway also shows how the Razr Fold handles tricky lighting better, as you can see much more clearly into the distance than in the Fold 8 Ultra's photo. And I don't even know what happened with the Carnegie Library; the Fold 8's color is way off.
That said, the Fold 8 handles moving objects better than Motorola's, as the Razr Fold's post-processing can often result in a missed moment or a blurry subject. The Fold 8 Ultra also handles selfies better with its external front camera.
Galaxy Z Fold 8 UltraDerrek Lee / Android CentralRazr FoldDerrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8 UltraDerrek Lee / Android CentralRazr FoldDerrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8 UltraDerrek Lee / Android CentralRazr FoldDerrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8 UltraDerrek Lee / Android CentralRazr FoldDerrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8 UltraDerrek Lee / Android CentralRazr FoldDerrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8 UltraDerrek Lee / Android CentralRazr FoldDerrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8 UltraDerrek Lee / Android CentralRazr FoldDerrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8 UltraDerrek Lee / Android CentralRazr FoldDerrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8 UltraDerrek Lee / Android CentralRazr FoldDerrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8 UltraDerrek Lee / Android CentralRazr FoldDerrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8 UltraDerrek Lee / Android CentralRazr FoldDerrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8 UltraDerrek Lee / Android CentralRazr FoldDerrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8 UltraDerrek Lee / Android CentralRazr FoldDerrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8 UltraDerrek Lee / Android CentralRazr FoldDerrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8 UltraDerrek Lee / Android CentralRazr FoldDerrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8 UltraDerrek Lee / Android CentralRazr FoldDerrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8 UltraDerrek Lee / Android CentralRazr FoldDerrek Lee / Android Central
But what I was really curious about was how both phones handle zoom. This was a big highlight of my Motorola Razr Fold camera review, so I wanted to see if the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra was up to the challenge. Shockingly, that doesn't seem to be the case.
At 3x zoom, both phones are neck-and-neck, and unless you need to go any further than this, you should be fine with images from either phone. If you go beyond this point, however, Motorola's AI kicks in and handles a lot of the work, and it does a bang-up job doing it in most cases. Lines are cleaner, text is more legible, and you can see clearer figures of people from off at a distance of even 30x zoom.
That 30x zoom happens to be the limit of the Fold 8 Ultra's zoom capabilities, but perhaps Samsung should have limited it even further, because images at this level are not very usable. You can probably get away with decent 10x zoom photos, but more often than not, the Razr Fold will produce the better photo, regardless of the lighting (although there are some exceptions).
Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra (3x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralRazr Fold (3x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra (3x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralRazr Fold (3x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra (3x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralRazr Fold (3x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra (10x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralRazr Fold (10x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra (3x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralRazr Fold (3x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra (3x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralRazr Fold (3x)Razr Fold (3x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra (10x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralRazr Fold (10x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra (3x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralRazr Fold (3x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra (30x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralRazr Fold (30x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra (3x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralRazr Fold (3x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra (3x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralRazr Fold (3x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra (10x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralRazr Fold (10x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra (3x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralRazr Fold (3x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra (3x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralRazr Fold (3x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra (3x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralRazr Fold (3x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra (3x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralRazr Fold (3x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra (3x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralRazr Fold (3x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra (3x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralRazr Fold (3x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra (10x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralRazr Fold (10x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra (30x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralRazr Fold (30x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra (10x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralRazr Fold (10x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra (3x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralRazr Fold (3x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra (3x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralRazr Fold (3x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra (3x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralRazr Fold (3x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra (3x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralRazr Fold (3x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra (10x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralRazr Fold (10x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra (3x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralRazr Fold (3x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralGalaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra (30x)Derrek Lee / Android CentralRazr Fold (30x)Derrek Lee / Android Central
Verdict
Samsung doesn't make bad cameras, but it doesn't make the best cameras either. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Fold 8 Ultra hold their own, and I don't think anyone would be particularly disappointed with either phone's camera.
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 is clearly not as good as its Ultra sibling, and it even falls behind Motorola's Razr Ultra 2026 in some areas. However, unless you're trying to zoom in really close or take photos in the dark, I think it's more than adequate.
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is the better of Samsung's latest foldables, and produces great images with vibrant colors and plenty of detail. However, its zoom capabilities leave a lot to be desired, especially compared to the Razr Fold, and I'm hoping Samsung can address this in future updates.
