Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Z Fold8, Z Fold8 Ultra, and Z Flip8 at its London Galaxy Unpacked event in July 2026. The new lineup introduces a wide-format Fold8 and a premium Ultra model, with pre-orders currently open and deliveries for most devices scheduled to begin August 3.
The new foldable strategy marks a departure from Samsung’s previous approach by splitting the book-style experience into two distinct categories. While the Galaxy Z Fold8 introduces a wide-screen form factor with a 4:3 ratio inner display, the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra serves as the direct successor to the Z Fold7, pushing the boundaries of thinness and camera hardware.
Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra: Record Thinness and Display Upgrades
The Z Fold8 Ultra is the thinnest foldable Samsung has produced to date, measuring just 4.1mm when unfolded, according to reporting from news.com.au. This profile is leaner than a standard USB port and thinner than the Galaxy S25 Edge.
Samsung has implemented a new display structure utilizing Flex Titanium technology, which combines a titanium-alloy film with an enhanced titanium plate. This hardware change aims to balance hinge mechanics and magnetic force to make the unfolding process feel smoother, lighter and more natural
, the company stated.
The Ultra model features an 8-inch AMOLED folding display with a 120Hz variable refresh rate and a peak brightness of 3,000 nits. CNET noted that the new model includes an anti-reflective coating and a matte finish, which significantly reduces glare compared to the Z Fold7.
The Wide Fold8 and Flip8 Specifications
The standard Galaxy Z Fold8 is designed for immersion, featuring a 7.6-inch AMOLED inner display and a 5.5-inch exterior cover screen. According to hands-on reporting from iphoneincanada.ca, the device weighs 201g, making it Samsung’s lightest Z Fold to date.
The Galaxy Z Flip8 remains the most compact option, weighing 180g with a thickness of 6.1mm. It features an updated FlexWindow that supports a wider variety of apps on the cover screen and is powered by an Exynos2600 processor, according to news.com.au.
| Feature | Z Fold8 Ultra | Z Fold8 (Wide) | Z Flip8 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Display | 8-inch AMOLED | 7.6-inch AMOLED | 6.9-inch AMOLED |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 | Exynos2600 |
| Battery | 5,000mAh | 4,800mAh | 4,300mAh |
| Weight | Same as Z Fold7 | 201g | 180g |
Silicon-Carbon Batteries and Longevity Trade-offs
Samsung has transitioned to silicon-carbon batteries across the Z Fold 8 series. While this allows for higher capacity without increasing device thickness, it comes with a reduction in long-term durability. EU regulatory documents cited by 9to5google show these batteries are rated for 1,200 charging cycles before hitting 80% capacity.
This is a notable drop from the 2,000 cycles rated for the Galaxy Z Fold7. However, 9to5google notes that this metric still exceeds the 1,000-cycle promise typically found in Google Pixel and iPhone devices.
Pre-Order Offers and Market Pricing
Pricing and promotions vary significantly by region and retailer.
In the UK, Sky Mobile is offering a free Galaxy Watch9 (valued at £349 or £379 depending on the model) when customers pre-order any of the new Z Series foldables. According to Mirror.co.uk, these contracts start at monthly prices of £38, £46, and £51 for the Flip8, Fold8, and Fold8 Ultra, respectively.
North American buyers may see different incentive structures. Yahoo News Canada reports that Samsung is offering a $30 reserve credit to those who registered interest, which is a decrease from the $50 credit offered for the Z Fold7.
Galaxy Watch9 and Wearable Integration
Alongside the phones, Samsung launched the Galaxy Watch9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra2. Both wearables utilize the Snapdragon SW6100 Wear chipset and feature Sapphire Crystal glass. The Watch9 is positioned as an everyday health companion
and will officially launch on August 7.
The Watch9 includes larger batteries and runs on Wear OS 7-based One UI Watch 9. Gsmarena reports that users can receive £30 off if they bundle these smartwatches with Galaxy Buds4 or Buds4 Pro TWS. The Galaxy Watch Ultra2 is specifically targeted at high performance seekers
, including divers and runners, according to news.com.au.
The overall foldable market continues to grow, with Nathan Rigger, Head of Product, Mobile experience at Samsung Electronics Australia, stating that 62 per cent of users were new to the foldable range in the past year.
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