Safe Samsung upgrade
The Galaxy Z Flip 8 is expected to stick closely to Samsung’s current formula. Leaks point to a similarly-sized internal foldable display (but with the virtually crease-free screen) and an Exynos 2600 chip. It may bring small refinements like a thinner design, but battery and charging speeds are likely to remain unchanged.
Pros
- Rumored to feature a slimmer design
- Could feature full Qi2 support
- Will likely cost less than Moto Razr Ultra (2026)
- The latest Galaxy AI features and Gemini automation
- Might use a (virtually) crease-free display
Cons
- Might miss out on Snapdragon benefits
- Might have a smaller battery than the competition
- No new major upgrades versus the Galaxy Z Flip 7
All around upgrade
Motorola’s Razr Ultra (2026) pushes flip phones further with flagship hardware. It combines a large foldable display with a Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, 16GB RAM, and a 5,000mAh battery. Faster 68W charging and improved camera hardware make it a clear step up over previous Razr models.
Pros
- Much larger 5,000 mAh battery with fast 68W charging
- Flagship Snapdragon 8 Elite chip
- Improved camera hardware
- New materials for the rear design
- Improved durability materials
Cons
- Costs more than the predecessor
- No Qi2 charging support
- Still thicker than the competiton
That said, ahead of the Galaxy Z Flip 8 launch, plenty of leaks have already revealed what to expect from Samsung’s next flip-style foldable. So, here’s a closer look at which phone you should consider if you’re buying a flip phone in 2026.
Article continues below
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 vs. Motorola Razr Ultra 2026: Pricing and availability
Motorola unveiled its new Razr lineup on April 29, 2026. The new lineup includes the base Razr, the mid-tier Razr Plus, and the top-end Razr Ultra. Motorola has been increasing prices across its portfolio, and unfortunately, the Razr Ultra 2026 also sees a price bump compared to last year.
The Moto Razr Ultra 2026 starts at $1,500 and comes in a single variant, though thankfully, it has 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. Motorola is offering some interesting color options this year, including Pantone Orient Blue with an Alcantara finish and Pantone Cocoa with a wood finish.
The Razr Ultra is available for pre-order starting May 14, and it will go on sale starting May 21 through stores and carrier outlets.
The Galaxy Z Flip 8 isn’t here yet, but it’s expected to launch around the same time as the Galaxy Z Flip 7 did, sometime this summer. Reports suggest Samsung could host an event on July 22, 2026, in London, where it may unveil the Galaxy Z Flip 8 alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and the rumored Wide Fold.
We don’t know the pricing of the Galaxy Z Flip 8 just yet, but Samsung might raise the prices by $50 or $100 this year, considering the increasing memory and component costs. That said, when the Galaxy Z Flip 8 launches, it will likely still retail for less than the Moto Razr Ultra.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 vs. Motorola Razr Ultra 2026: Design and display
Motorola has always kept things fun with the Razr series design, using bold materials and colors, and this year is no different. With the Moto Razr Ultra 2026, you’re getting some interesting upgrades in terms of finish and overall look.
The Razr Ultra 2026 comes in two standout color options: a darker wood finish called Pantone Cocoa and a quilted Alcantara finish called Pantone Orient Blue. Unlike most flip phones, Motorola is clearly leaning into unique materials here, which makes the phone stand out instantly.
Other than that, the overall design remains familiar. You still get a full edge-to-edge cover display with two cutouts for the cameras and flash, slim bezels, and a vertically folding screen that opens up into a 7-inch display. On the back, there’s the Motorola logo with its signature dimple, along with Razr branding.
On the other hand, Samsung hasn’t changed the Galaxy Z Flip design much in recent years, and the Galaxy Z Flip 8 is expected to follow suit. You can expect a similar squared-off design, slim bezels, and a large cover display.
Samsung might make it slightly thinner this year (by 0.5mm), but there aren’t any major design changes expected.
What could be new this year is Qi2 support. A recent leak showing dummy units suggests circular cutouts on the back, which could indicate that Samsung is finally adding native Qi2 wireless charging to the Galaxy Z Flip series. If true, this would be one of the first Samsung phones to support it out of the box.
Coming to the display, the Razr Ultra 2026 features a large 4-inch cover display protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic 3. The inner display remains a 7-inch panel, but this time, Motorola is using an Extreme AMOLED panel for better colors. It also supports a 165Hz refresh rate on both the outer and inner displays, something most phones still don’t offer.
The Galaxy Z Flip 8, on the other hand, is expected to stick with a 4.1-inch cover display and a 6.9-inch inner display. There aren’t any major upgrades expected, but reports suggest Samsung could improve the crease, similar to what we’ve seen on devices like the Oppo Find N6.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 vs. Motorola Razr Ultra 2026: Hardware and specs
Samsung has traditionally used Snapdragon chipsets in its foldables, but the company switched to Exynos with last year’s Galaxy Z Flip 7, and the Galaxy Z Flip 8 is expected to continue with that. Rumors suggest it will be powered by the Exynos 2600, the same chip used in the international versions of the Galaxy S26 and Galaxy S26 Plus.
The Exynos 2600 is a capable chipset, but you still miss out on some of the advantages that come with Snapdragon. As for the rest of the hardware, the Galaxy Z Flip 8 is expected to stick with 12GB of RAM and offer 256GB and 512GB storage options.
The Moto Razr Ultra, on the other hand, comes with the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. It might not be Qualcomm’s absolute latest, but it’s still one of the most capable chips you’ll find on a phone right now. Motorola also makes up for the higher price by offering a single variant with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.
|
Category |
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 (Rumored) |
Motorola Razr Ultra 2026 |
|---|---|---|
|
Operating System |
One UI 9 (Android 16) |
Android 16 |
|
Display |
Inner: 6.9-inch LTPO AMOLED, 120Hz, crease-less; Outer: 4.1-inch, LTPO AMOLED, 120Hz |
Inner: 7-inch Extreme AMOLED, 165Hz, 1224 x 2992 pixels, 5000 nits (peak); Outer: 4-inch, AMOLED, Gorilla Glass Ceramic, 165Hz |
|
Processor |
Exynos 2600 |
Snapdragon 8 Elite |
|
RAM |
12GB |
16GB |
|
Storage |
256GB, 512GB |
512GB |
|
Rear cameras |
50MP wide camera, 12MP ultrawide |
50MP LOFIC camera, 50MP ultrawide |
|
Front camera |
N/A |
50MP |
|
Battery |
4,300mAh |
5,000mAh |
|
Charging |
25W wired |
68W wired, 30W wireless |
|
IP rating |
N/A |
IP48 |
|
Weight |
N/A |
199 grams |
|
Dimensions |
N/A |
Unfolded: 171.5 x 74 x 7.2 mm; Folded: 88.1 x 74 x 15.7 mm |
|
Colors |
N/A |
PANTONE Orient Blue (Alcantara), PANTONE Cocoa (wood) |
When it comes to battery and charging, though, the Razr Ultra clearly takes the lead this year. Motorola has moved to silicon-carbon battery tech, which means you’re getting a larger 5,000mAh cell, easily one of the biggest in any flip phone right now.
On top of that, the Razr Ultra supports 68W wired charging and 30W wireless charging, which is significantly faster than what Samsung is expected to offer.
The Galaxy Z Flip 8, on the other hand, is expected to stick with a 4,300mAh battery, similar to the Flip 7, with no real upgrades in capacity. Charging speeds are also likely to remain the same at 25W wired and 15W wireless.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 vs. Motorola Razr Ultra 2026: Software
Coming to the software, the Galaxy Z Flip 8 will most likely debut with Samsung’s One UI 9, but will still be based on Android 16. Even though Android 17 is expected to be finalized by mid-2026, it might be a bit too early for Samsung to ship it on its foldables right away.
The Moto Razr Ultra, on the other hand, runs Android 16 out of the box with a bunch of new features. Motorola has introduced something called Daily Drop, which is quite similar to Samsung’s Now Brief, offering a personalized feed of headlines, calendar updates, weather, and even Google Photos memories.
There’s also a feature called Wardrobe, which turns your photo library into a sort of digital closet and uses your gallery as a personal stylist.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 vs. Motorola Razr Ultra 2026: Cameras
A flip phone needs a great camera, and Motorola has upgraded the setup on the Razr Ultra this year. It now comes with a 50MP LOFIC sensor, which is designed to improve dynamic range and color reproduction from the main camera. This is paired with a 50MP ultra-wide sensor with a 122-degree field of view.
The selfie camera on the inner display is also a 50MP sensor. On the video side, Motorola has finally added support for 8K recording at up to 30fps, along with 4K at up to 120fps.
On the other hand, if you were expecting new camera hardware on the Galaxy Z Flip 8, that doesn’t seem to be the case this year. It’s expected to stick with a similar 50MP primary sensor and a 12MP ultra-wide. Samsung will likely bring its Photo Assist features to the device, but in terms of hardware, don’t expect major changes.
That said, it’s still a bit early to call this. I’ll be keeping a close eye on a proper camera comparison once the Galaxy Z Flip 8 launches later this summer.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 vs. Motorola Razr Ultra 2026: Which will be the best?
So, should you wait for the Galaxy Z Flip 8 or go ahead with the Razr Ultra 2026? I think it’s still too early to call a clear winner, especially since the Galaxy Z Flip 8 isn’t here yet. That said, it will likely launch at a lower price compared to the Razr Ultra, which comes in at a steep $1,500.
Sure, Motorola is offering some solid upgrades this year, better battery, faster charging, improved cameras, and more premium finishes, but $1,500 for a flip phone might still be a bit hard to justify for most people.
That said, we’re still in the process of reviewing the Razr Ultra, so it’s worth waiting for a full verdict before making a decision.
Big leap (and price)
Motorola’s Razr Ultra (2026) focuses on fixing the usual flip phone compromises. It combines a large foldable display with flagship performance, a significantly bigger 5,000mAh battery, and much faster 68W charging. There is also a new LOFIC 50MP primary camera for better dynamic range and color reproduction.
Familiar Samsung approach
The Galaxy Z Flip 8 looks set to stick closely to Samsung’s existing formula. Leaks point to a 6.9-inch foldable display, a 4.1-inch cover screen, and an Exynos 2600 chip. The focus appears to be on small refinements to design and a new no-crease display.