These are the first 5 apps I'd install on the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra

Jul 26, 2026 — 7:00 AM ET

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 was officially unveiled this week, and its highlight feature is the massive unfolded 8-inch display. It can serve as a proper productivity machine or just as a much better entertainment device compared to standard bar phones.

That got me thinking about which apps I’d download first on a device like this, and I’ve come up with a list. While there are a lot of apps that take advantage of the massive display of the device or the split screen feature, these are the five I’d install on day one.

Which app category benefits most from a foldable's big screen?

Obsidian

Obsidian is the one app that keeps me on top of the important things in life. I use it for work to keep track of all the projects I’m working on, store ideas, and even write articles. I also use it for personal matters, tracking my fitness journey, jotting down my thoughts, and more.

The experience on a standard phone isn’t bad, but it really levels up on a device like the Fold 8 Ultra. On the large inner screen, Obsidian stops feeling like a mobile app and starts feeling like the desktop version. There’s just so much more real estate, which comes in handy for viewing notes, especially those that include tables, as there’s less — or zero — sideways scrolling needed.

Obsidian is the very first app I'd download on the phone.

Then there’s the layout itself. I can keep the side menu with quick access to all my files and folders permanently docked, with the notes themselves showing up on the right side of the display, just like on a PC. It saves me time and multiple swipes and taps I’d like to avoid as much as possible. I can even split the editor and keep a research note open right next to the article I’m drafting. With all that in mind, Obsidian is the very first app I’d download on the phone, and one I’d use daily.

Inoreader

Inoreader is a fantastic RSS reader. It saves me from visiting multiple news websites by showing me everything I’m interested in one place, and it’s packed with features that make the experience seamless. It also looks great.

Using it on a device like the Fold 8 Ultra makes the experience that much better. The increased real estate makes reading articles a lot friendlier on my eyes, especially after prolonged use. But then there’s the dual-pane support that splits the display in half: a list of posts on one side, and when I tap on one, it shows up on the other. The magazine view also spreads into a proper multi-column grid, so I’m skimming twice as many headlines per screen before deciding what’s worth my time.

It’s basically the desktop version of Inoreader on mobile. On my current phone, whenever I tap on an article, it opens in a new window. When I read it, I have to tap back to return to the main feed — and this goes on and on and on. It’s not the most annoying thing in the world once you get used to it, but as soon as you switch to a device like the Z Fold 8 Ultra, you immediately notice the difference, making it hard to go back.

YouTube

Maybe I’m cheating here a bit, since this is one of the apps that comes pre-installed on every Android phone, so I won’t even need to download it. However, it would be among my most used ones, since the Z Fold 8 Ultra absolutely elevates the YouTube experience.

Screen size is obviously the main reason why the app excels on the Fold 8 Ultra. It’s easier to browse through videos and find the one I want to watch, and when I do, the display offers a much better experience than a standard bar phone. My eyes aren’t too happy after watching YouTube for an hour and a half on a phone like the Pixel 10a, but there’s not much to complain about when switching to Samsung’s latest foldable.

I can watch a video while scrolling through the comments at the same time.

The big screen is just half the story, though. The dual-pane view comes in handy as well, as I can watch a video while scrolling through the comments. Granted, I can do that on a non-foldable phone too, but the video ends up so small that it’s hardly usable — at least for me.

There’s also Flex Mode, which turns the Fold 8 Ultra into its own kickstand. I can fold the phone halfway, place it on a desk or a kitchen counter, and watch with the video on the top half of the screen and the controls on the bottom. No case with a stand, no propping the phone against a coffee mug — it’s the one trick no bar phone or tablet can pull off.

Kindle

I have a Kindle Paperwhite, but since I don’t always carry it around with me, I often read via the Kindle app on my Android phone when I’m on the go. The experience is subpar compared to my Kindle, since an E-Ink display is just better at this task, and it gets even worse due to the smaller display of my phone.

The Z Fold 8 Ultra won’t solve all of these issues — it’s still not as easy on the eyes as E-Ink — but the large display improves the reading experience quite a bit compared to a standard phone. Whenever I get into a book I really like, I can read for hours on end, and the strain on my eyes is substantially reduced on a screen this size. That alone makes the Kindle app one of the first I’d download on the device.

I also really like how I can see two pages on the display at once, side by side. Sure, the text can get a bit smaller, but it makes me feel like I’m actually holding a real book. So with a device like the Z Fold 8 Ultra, I’d actually think twice about bringing my Kindle on vacation, as the foldable could replace it when I’m away from home with ease.

Kamoot

I love nature, and since it’s all around me in my part of the world, I take advantage of it. I love hiking, trail running, and even mountain biking to a point. However, it’s easy to get lost in the forest, especially when heading toward a new location.

I tried using Google Maps to plan my hikes and other adventures, and it didn’t go to plan, to say the least. This is where Komoot comes in: an app built for finding and planning routes, and sticking to them. I really like how each route provides details on length, elevation gain, duration, and difficulty.

Using Kamoot on the latest Ultra means I have to zoom in and out of the map far less.

It’s a good app to use on any phone, but it’s that much better on a foldable like the Fold 8 Ultra, since it takes advantage of the big screen. That’s useful when looking at a map, as I have to zoom in and out far less — I can see the whole route and everything around it at once, with the elevation profile sitting right under the map, so I know exactly what kind of climb I’m signing up for while I’m still adjusting the route. Although it’s true that I’d sometimes just use the smaller cover screen while on the go, as it’s easier to hold in one hand and glance at when hiking up a steep hill. But in the planning phase, and whenever I stop to take a break, the unfolded display is the star of the show.

Do keep in mind that while planning routes is free anywhere in the world, navigation only works in one free region of your choice — going beyond that now requires an extra purchase.

These are the first five apps I’d download on the Galaxy Fold 8 Ultra, and now I want to hear your picks. Let me know the details below.