Earlier this month, the regular Galaxy Z Fold 8 came out of JerryRigEverything’s tough durability tests looking pretty solid. It handled reverse bends, grit, and the usual stress tests surprisingly well. All previous large-screen Galaxy foldables, including the first-generation Galaxy Fold, also survived the test without any major damage or loss of functionality.
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, though, didn’t have the same luck when Zack Nelson put the $2,099 flagship through the exact same gauntlet.
Samsung has been talking up the Ultra’s durability upgrades: an Armor Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Ceramic 3 on the cover display, a redesigned Armor FlexHinge, and dual titanium layers (FlexTitanium) under the folding panel. They’re marketing it as having “lasting durability.”
In the test, the first reverse bend while open went fine. The second, harder bend was a different story. The main inner display took permanent damage: it flickered for a moment, then went completely dark and unusable. The phone also showed some noticeable flex when bent backward.
Possible reasons include damage to the display’s flex cable, a fold-detection sensor, or just internal stress from the hinge pressing against that ultra-thin folding panel. At only 4.1 mm thick when unfolded, the Ultra seems to be pushing how slim Samsung can go while still keeping the structure strong under extreme force. The regular Fold 8 had survived similar rearward bending with its chassis intact, which highlights how even phones in the same generation can behave differently.
Foldables are still more complex than regular phones: two displays, a hinge, and everything needing precise alignment. When the inner screen fails, repairs aren’t cheap: Samsung charges $639 in the US for a Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra inner display module replacement, while the outer display is a more reasonable $149. They do include one free inner screen protector replacement in the first 12 months (after that it’s about $19).
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