Samsung Electronics unveiled three new foldable smartphones at the Galaxy Unpacked event in London on July 22, 2026: the Galaxy Z Fold8, Z Fold8 Ultra, and Z Flip8. This is a bold move amid expectations of Apple's entry into the foldable device market. The company has raised prices on all models by $100 compared to their predecessors, citing rising memory chip costs—but analysts note that Samsung appears not to have fully passed on the cost increases to consumers, aiming to maintain competitiveness.
The Galaxy Z Fold8—the first wide-format version of the Fold—features a completely new design. The 5.5-inch external display with a 10:16 aspect ratio finally approaches the familiar smartphone format, convenient for messaging and content viewing. The main innovation is the 7.6-inch internal screen in a 4:3 aspect ratio, resembling a passport, created specifically for comfortable movie viewing and multitasking. Weighing 201 grams, it is the lightest Samsung foldable smartphone ever released. The device, 9.7 mm thick when folded and 4.5 mm when unfolded, contains a 4800 mAh battery. The main camera consists of two 50-megapixel modules (wide-angle and ultra-wide).
The Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra—the first model with the 'Ultra' prefix in the foldable smartphone lineup—aims to be the flagship for professionals. Its 8-inch internal screen in a standard aspect ratio (not square, as before) is ideal for productive work and multitasking. This time, the Ultra lives up to its name: a thickness of 4.1 mm when unfolded is a record for the Fold series, achieved through the new Flex Titanium technology. With a weight of 215 grams, the Ultra is capable of impressing anyone who thought foldable smartphones were inevitably heavy. The larger 5000 mAh battery promises a confident workday even with active use of both screens. The camera system here is more serious: a 200-megapixel main sensor, a 50-megapixel ultra-wide, and a 10-megapixel telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom.
The Z Flip8 follows the motifs of its predecessor but has become noticeably slimmer and lighter. A thickness of 6.1 mm when unfolded and a weight of 180 grams are the best figures in the Flip lineup. The hinge is reinforced with the same Flex Titanium technology, ensuring greater reliability. The 4300 mAh battery supports up to 31 hours of video playback—enough for a full day without recharging. The cameras have received an upgrade: a 50-megapixel main camera (instead of the previous 12 MP) and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide. All three devices run on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy processor and support Galaxy AI features powered by Google Gemini.
The price range starts at $1199 for the Z Flip8, $1899 for the Z Fold8, and $2099 for the Z Fold8 Ultra. Each model addresses different needs: the Flip for compactness and convenience, the Fold8 for media content and everyday work, and the Ultra for those who need maximum screen and performance. Samsung is clearly preparing for competition with the future foldable iPhone, positioning its devices as a mature, versatile alternative.
The main success of the 2026 generation is the resolution of long-standing user complaints. Narrow and inconvenient external screens, square internal displays, heavy bodies—all of this is becoming a thing of the past. Samsung has listened to the market and redesigned the geometry of its foldable smartphones to make them finally more practical for everyday use. This is not just a cosmetic update; it is a rethinking of the format itself.
