Samsung’s More Expensive Z Fold 8 Ultra Fails Durability Test While Cheaper Model Survives

Samsung's more expensive Z Fold 8 Ultra has failed durability testing conducted by JerryRigEverything, while its cheaper counterpart, the Galaxy Z Fold 8, managed to pass the same rigorous examination. The Z Fold 8 Ultra's inner display suffered permanent damage during a reverse bend, rendering the phone unusable. Previous large-screen foldable models, including the original Galaxy Fold, completed similar tests without any major damage or loss of functionality. This marks the first large foldable to fail JerryRigEverything's popular durability test.

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra retails for $2,099 and includes several durability-focused "upgrades." Despite these enhancements, the phone's inner display broke during the second, more strenuous bend in the test, turning completely black and becoming unusable. The phone's body also exhibited noticeable flex when bent backward, raising questions about the device's structural integrity under extreme stress.

The exact cause of the failure remains unclear, but possible explanations include damage to the display flex cable, the fold-detection sensor, or internal pressure exerted by the hinge against the ultra-thin folding display.

At just 4.1mm thick when unfolded, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra appears to be testing the boundaries of how thin a device can be while maintaining structural strength under immense force. Conversely, the regular Galaxy Z Fold 8 successfully withstood similar backward bending while keeping its chassis and display functional, demonstrating that durability can vary even between devices from the same generation.

Repairing the inner display module for the Z Fold 8 Ultra is a costly endeavor, with Samsung charging $639 in the US. In comparison, replacing the outer display is significantly more affordable at $149. Samsung also provides one free inner screen protector replacement during the first 12 months of ownership, after which a replacement costs around $19.