Underwater photo test of the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra. AquaExposure score: 3.6/5. Features a 200MP HDR sensor, IP48 rating (not IP68), and no underwater housing available yet.
Underwater photography with smartphones has long suffered from a problem that is rarely discussed: you can't see what you're framing. Behind a mask, with a already limited field of vision and a six-inch screen only ten inches from your face, framing often relies on intuition.
The foldable phone changes this. On August 6, 2026, Samsung launched the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, the first Fold to receive the "Ultra" label from the brand, featuring an eight-inch main screen and a 200-megapixel sensor.
The question isn't whether this phone takes good photos, it takes very good photos. The question is whether a device with a hinge, only 4.1 millimeters thick when unfolded, and costing over two thousand euros, has a place fifteen meters below the surface.
| Overall Score: 3.6/5 | Criterion | Score | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Optics and sensor | 3.3/5 | A bright 200-megapixel sensor, but incomplete manufacturer data on macro and burst shooting. | |
| RAW and color | 4.3/5 | Native RAW support, Kelvin white balance, Blackmagic Camera support. | |
| Storage | 3.8/5 | Minimum 256 GB, USB-C 3.2, no memory card slot. | |
| Thermal management | 2.3/5 | Conductive aluminum, and especially a misleading IP48 rating. | |
| Battery | 4.8/5 | 5000 mAh silicon-carbon battery with 1200 documented cycles, the best in the comparison. | |
| Autofocus | 4.5/5 | Multi-directional PDAF on all three modules, focus peaking available. | |
| Housing | 0/5 | No housing available, and 0.1 mm too large for a universal housing. |
This camera is for: the photographer who wants the best possible viewfinder and is willing to wait for a housing.
This camera is not ideal for: those who want to dive immediately, or who frequent beaches with fine sand.
The main 200-megapixel sensor, with a 1/1.3-inch size, has an aperture of f/1.7. The novelty isn't the resolution, which the Fold 7 already offered, but the fact that HDR now works in native 200-megapixel mode.Underwater, precision is more critical than anywhere else. A reef scene with a brightly lit surface at the top of the frame and a dark drop-off at the bottom is a classic example of impossible dynamic range, and full-resolution HDR avoids having to choose between a blown-out sky and a blocked-up foreground.
The real progress lies elsewhere. The ultra-wide-angle lens now boasts 50 megapixels, up from 12, and has an aperture of f/1.9, which, according to Samsung, provides 34% more light. It also offers macro capabilities. For a diver, this is the most frequently used module, and it finally stops being the neglected stepchild of the system.
The 10-megapixel telephoto lens with a 1/3.94-inch sensor and an aperture of f/2.4, on the other hand, is relatively modest. It's the weakest module in this comparison, and it won't be much help when photographing distant subjects in murky water.
[!NOTE] For more details Main sensor: 200 MP Samsung ISOCELL HP2, 1/1.3 inch, f/1.7, 0.6-micron pixels, Quad Pixel AF, optical stabilization. Ultra-wide-angle: 50 MP ISOCELL JN3, 1/2.5 inch, f/1.9, 120 degrees, Quad Pixel AF. Telephoto: 10 MP S5K3K1, 1/3.94 inch, f/2.4, 3x optical zoom. Video: 8K at 30 frames per second on the main and ultra-wide-angle sensors. Processor: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy. B1 score: 3.3. As with the Pixel, four criteria are not documented by the manufacturer: native ISO range, minimum macro focus distance, burst mode and RAW buffer depth, and shutter lag. These receive a neutral score of 3.
Expert RAW is native, free, and offers manual white balance adjustment in Kelvin, which can be locked, including for video. For a device intended to film a reef panorama, this feature is what separates a usable sequence from one that fluctuates between blue and green.
Samsung is one of only two Android brands explicitly supported by Blackmagic Camera, along with Google. This means the application chain is complete, which is not the case for the Chinese devices in this comparison.
In addition, there's the Ocean mode, originally developed for monitoring coral reefs. We detailed its operation and limitations in our article on Ocean Mode.
However, there's a drawback: the ProVisual Engine image processor is proprietary and lacks optical partnerships with brands like Zeiss, Leica, or Hasselblad. The color rendition is good, but it is not certified by an optical specialist.
[!NOTE] For more details Native RAW via Expert RAW: score 5. Bit depth is not formally documented by Samsung, but is estimated to be 12 bits and scored 4, pending confirmation. Lockable Kelvin white balance in video, native and stable: score 5. Maximum codec: H.265 10-bit HDR10+: score 4. Blackmagic Camera is available and stable: score 5. Proprietary ISP color rendition without partnerships: score 3. Score B2: 4.3.
The Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra is certified IP48. Almost everyone reads this as an IP68 and moves on. They are not the same thing.
In an IP rating, the first number refers to protection against solids, and the second number refers to protection against liquids. The "8" in the second position does indicate immersion, specifically 1.5 meters for 30 minutes in freshwater. However, the "4" in the first position means protection against solids only slightly larger than 1 millimeter.
An IP68 rating means the device is dustproof. An IP48 rating does not. Fine sand on a beach, dust in a boat, suspended particles from a disturbed seabed: all of this can pass through the barrier of the first number. On a device with a hinge and a folding mechanism certified for 200,000 cycles, this is not a theoretical detail.
And let's remember what applies to all devices: an IP rating is measured in freshwater, in a laboratory, on a brand new device. It says nothing about saltwater, salt content, or pressure beyond 1.5 meters. No IP rating, regardless of the number, allows for diving. We detail this point in our guide on using a smartphone underwater.
No underwater housing currently accepts the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra. DiveVolk has not released any adapters, and the release date remains unknown.The critical issue concerns universal compatibility. When folded, the device measures 158.4 x 72.8 x 8.9 mm. The Kraken KRH08 V2 accepts dimensions up to 174.4 x 81.3 x 8.8 mm. It's missing a tenth of a millimeter in thickness. This is absurd and prevents compatibility.
However, the previous model remains encouraging, and it's important to mention that. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is listed as compatible with the SeaTouch 4 Max Platinum. And in August 2026, DiveVolk released a Platinum V2 version specifically for a foldable phone, the vivo X Fold6, which was used for a film shot at the Great Blue Hole in Belize. We covered this release in our article on the first foldable smartphone for diving.
Therefore, foldable phones are no longer a dead end for DiveVolk. It's a matter of adapter availability, not feasibility.
Available Housings. None. Neither DiveVolk, nor Kraken, nor Seafrogs offer them. Expect a wait of four to eight weeks.
Field Workflow. A minimum of 256 GB is required, up to 1 TB without an SD card. 8K video recording on two modules consumes a lot of space, and three dives can easily exceed 100 GB if you're filming seriously. USB-C 3.2 allows you to offload footage to an SSD between dives, and this is essential for the 256 GB model.Important Considerations. The IP48 rating mentioned earlier. The hinge, which represents an additional mechanical component compared to a standard phone. And the 10-megapixel telephoto lens, which is frankly underwhelming.
Pricing. Manufacturer's suggested retail price announced on July 22, 2026: €2199 for the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra with 256 GB of storage, €2399 with 512 GB, and €2799 with 1 TB.
Availability. Not applicable, as the device has been on sale since August 7, 2026. And at this price point, for use exclusively underwater without a dedicated housing available, the question of purchase doesn't really arise.
I am genuinely excited about what the foldable design brings to underwater photography. Eight inches of viewfinder behind a mask is a fundamental change, not just a marginal improvement. The footage from Belize proved that better than any argument could.
However, I cannot recommend purchasing this device for diving today. Not because the device is bad, it isn't, its RAW performance is the best in this comparison. Simply because there is no way to safely use it underwater, and spending €2199 on a device that sits on a shelf waiting for an adapter is not advice I would give.
If you want a foldable phone for underwater use right now, the vivo X Fold6 with the SeaTouch 4 Max Platinum V2 is the only combination that works. If you want this particular model, keep an eye out for DiveVolk announcements this fall.
Is the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra waterproof? It is IP48 rated, not IP68. It can withstand immersion in fresh water at a depth of 1.5 meters for 30 minutes, but it only offers protection against solids larger than 1 millimeter. Fine sand can still get in.
What housing is available for the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra? None are currently available. When folded, it is 8.9 mm thick, which is only 0.1 mm more than the limit of the Kraken KRH08 V2 housing.
Does the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra have Samsung's Ocean Mode? It is not currently documented. Ocean Mode is confirmed for the S24, S25, and S26 Ultra, as well as the Z Fold 7. The Fold8 Ultra is listed in the Expert RAW feature list, which makes it likely, although not definitively proven.
Is there any real benefit to using a foldable smartphone for diving? Yes, the unfolded viewing area is unmatched compared to looking through a diving mask, where peripheral vision is already limited.
A large screen cannot replace the ability to read animal behavior, and that is what makes the difference between a photograph and a meaningful encounter. This is what we teach in our AquaExposure training.
It receives a rating of 3.6/5 according to the AquaExposure scale. Its main 200-megapixel sensor with native HDR and its 50-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens, which also functions as a macro lens, form a very effective combination for reef photography. However, there are drawbacks: no underwater housings are currently available for it, and its water resistance is lower than one might expect.
It is certified IP48, not IP68. The "8" indicates that it can withstand submersion in freshwater at a depth of 1.5 meters for 30 minutes. The "4," on the other hand, means it is only protected against solid particles larger than one millimeter. Fine sand grains can pass through. This is a relevant consideration on a beach, but it has nothing to do with diving.
Currently, there are none. DiveVolk has not released an adapter for this model. When folded, the device is 8.9 mm thick, which is 0.1 mm thicker than the 8.8 mm limit of the universal Kraken KRH08 V2 housing. However, the situation remains promising, as the Z Fold 7 is listed as compatible with SeaTouch products, and the vivo X Fold6 has a dedicated Platinum V2 adapter available.
As of the date of this test, this feature is not documented. "Ocean Mode" has been confirmed on the Galaxy S24 Ultra, S25 Ultra, S26 Ultra, and the Z Fold 7. The Fold8 Ultra is released with One UI 9 in its stable version and is listed as compatible with Expert RAW, which makes this feature likely, although not definitively proven.
Yes, and it's a tangible benefit- the unfolded 8-inch screen provides a viewing area unlike anything else seen behind a dive mask, where peripheral vision is already limited. This was precisely demonstrated in the film shot at the Great Blue Hole in Belize, using a vivo X Fold6 in a SeaTouch Platinum V2 housing.
