Samsung Electronics introduced its next generation of foldable smartphones on July 22 at the Galaxy Unpacked event held at Old Billingsgate in London. The company unveiled the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold8, and Galaxy Z Flip8, all featuring “agentic AI” designed to move technology from a passive tool to an active assistant.
New Hardware and Pricing
The new lineup expands the foldable category by offering different tiers based on performance and portability. The Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra serves as the top-tier model, featuring a larger screen and a 200-megapixel main camera with a focus on productivity. The Galaxy Z Flip8 remains the compact option in the series. According to Roh Tae-moon, Samsung Electronics co-CEO and head of the Device eXperience division, the three models were developed to meet varying consumer expectations regarding battery life, cameras, performance, and display size.
In the United States, the devices carry the following starting list prices:
- Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra: $2,099.99
- Galaxy Z Fold8: $1,899.99
- Galaxy Z Flip8: $1,199.99
Storage options for the Fold models reach up to 1 TB, while the Flip8 offers up to 512 GB. In Korea, Samsung is offering more competitive pricing to support the local consumers who Roh described as an important foundation for Galaxy’s global competitiveness.
For example, the 256-gigabyte Galaxy Z Fold8 is priced at 2.28 million won (approximately $1,550) in Korea, which is about 19 percent lower than the U.S. list price. The Fold8 Ultra and Flip8 start at 2.58 million won and 1.68 million won, respectively.
Agentic AI and Gemini Integration
A central feature of the new devices is the integration of Google’s agentic tools. Preinstalled on all three models is Gemini Notebook (formerly NotebookLM), a deep research workspace. On the main displays of the Fold8 series, users can drag voice recordings, documents, whiteboard images, and photos into a side-by-side layout. The AI can then synthesize these sources into podcasts, quizzes, videos, flash cards, or slide decks.
To encourage the use of these high-end features, Samsung is providing a six-month trial of Google AI Pro with every new device. In the U.S., this trial is valued at a $19.99 monthly plan and includes 5 TB of cloud storage.
Ecosystem Expansion and Market Strategy
Beyond smartphones, Samsung introduced the Galaxy Watch Ultra2 and Galaxy Watch9, which include advanced health features. The Galaxy Watch 9 allows users to activate Gemini by raising their wrist without needing a wake word. Samsung also revealed intelligent eyewear developed with Warby Parker and Gentle Monster, targeting a fall launch. These glasses will be compatible with Wear OS watches that support gesture control.
The company is also streamlining the transition from competing platforms. The new Z series will be the first to ship with a native iPhone migration path in Android 17, allowing users to move eSIM data, passwords, Wi-Fi credentials, Google Accounts, messages, contacts, videos, and photos without a separate transfer app.
Availability
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