Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5

Our Verdict: The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra looks better suited to broader contract availability, whereas the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 leans into a lower current starting price, about £480 versus £899. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 is currently cheaper to buy outright by roughly £419. The screen sizes are 6.9 inches for Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and 7.6 inches for Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5. The better buy is the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 for keeping the upfront or SIM-free spend lower; the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is the better match if its extra hardware advantages line up with how you use your phone.

Over a full contract, the S26 Ultra works out around £956 all-in, about £1519 less than the Z Fold5 5G.

Expert Rating
4.4
12 reviews
4.0
12 reviews
Screen
6.9" 7.6"
Display
Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X Foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X
Resolution
1440 x 3120 1812 x 2176
Pixels Per Inch
498 373
Rear Camera
200 Megapixels 50 Megapixels
Front Camera
12 Megapixels 4 Megapixels
Chipset
Qualcomm SM8850-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3 nm) Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm)
Battery
5,000 mAh 4,400 mAh
Storage
256GB, 512GB, 1TB 256GB, 512GB
OS
Android Android
SIM Type
nano-SIM and e-SIM Nano SIM
Connectivity
Up to 5G Up to 5G
Wi-Fi
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7
Bluetooth
5.4, A2DP, LE 5.2 with A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Dimensions
163.6 x 78.1 x 7.9 mm 158.5 x 67.5 x 14.5 mm
Weight
214 grams 275 grams
Water Resistance
IP68 dust tight and water resistant (immersible up to 1.5m for 30 min) IPX8 - water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins)
Contracts
£15.00/mo (£585.00 upfront) £38.94/mo (£970.00 upfront)
SIM-free
£899.00 £399.99

Prices updated 12 July 2026

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5
Expert Rating 4.4
12 reviews
4.0
12 reviews
Screen 6.9" 7.6"
Display Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X Foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X
Resolution 1440 x 3120 1812 x 2176
Pixels Per Inch 498 373
Rear Camera 200 Megapixels 50 Megapixels
Front Camera 12 Megapixels 4 Megapixels
Chipset Qualcomm SM8850-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3 nm) Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm)
Battery 5,000 mAh 4,400 mAh
Storage 256GB, 512GB, 1TB 256GB, 512GB
OS Android Android
SIM Type nano-SIM and e-SIM Nano SIM
Connectivity Up to 5G Up to 5G
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7
Bluetooth 5.4, A2DP, LE 5.2 with A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Dimensions 163.6 x 78.1 x 7.9 mm 158.5 x 67.5 x 14.5 mm
Weight 214 grams 275 grams
Water Resistance IP68 dust tight and water resistant (immersible up to 1.5m for 30 min) IPX8 - water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins)
Contracts £15.00/mo
£585.00 upfront
£38.94/mo
£970.00 upfront
SIM-free £899.00 £399.99
Prices updated 12 July 2026
Deals Deals

Cheapest Deals

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

24 Months

256GB

Black

300GB

Data

£15 per month, £585 upfront.

Use code: 30JNOFF (£30)

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5

36 Months

512GB

Icy Blue

150GB

Data

Exclusive Deal Details

£38.94 per month, £970 upfront.

Deal not available directly from Three's website

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra or Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 cheaper on contract?

Based on total cost of ownership, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is cheaper on contract at £956.40 over the life of the deal from £15.00 per month with £585.00 upfront.

Which has the better screen, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra or Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5?

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 has the bigger screen at 7.6" compared to the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra's 6.9", the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra has the sharper display at 498 pixels per inch versus 373, and the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra uses a Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X panel while the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 has a Foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X.

Which has the better camera, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra or Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5?

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra features a 200 Megapixels rear camera, while the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 has a 50 Megapixels rear camera. Both devices also have front-facing cameras for selfies and video calls.

Which is cheaper to buy SIM-free, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra or Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5?

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 is cheaper SIM-free, starting from £399.99.

What storage options are available for the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5?

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is available in 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, while the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 comes in 256GB, 512GB.

What processors do the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 use?

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is powered by the Qualcomm SM8850-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3 nm), while the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 uses the Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm).

Which is easier to carry and hold, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra or Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5?

It's a trade-off: the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is lighter but the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 is more compact. It's 61g lighter at 214 grams, though the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 is actually the more compact phone at 158.5 x 67.5 x 14.5 mm, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is slimmer at 7.9mm thick.

Which is more water resistant, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra or Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5?

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is rated IP68 dust tight and water resistant (immersible up to 1.5m for 30 min), while the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 is rated IPX8 - water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins).

What operating system do the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 run?

Both phones run Android.