Samsung Electronics unveiled the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Z Fold 8 Ultra, and Z Flip 8 on July 22, 2026, at Galaxy Unpacked in London. The event introduced agentic AI integration, a redesigned shorter and wider
Fold chassis, and new health-focused wearables, including the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 and Galaxy Watch 9.
Samsung didn’t just iterate on its foldable hardware this year; it fundamentally shifted the geometry of its flagship. At the Old Billingsgate venue in London, the company debuted a redesigned Galaxy Z Fold 8 that abandons the traditional tall-and-slim profile for a shorter and wider chassis. This move signals a pivot toward a more usable aspect ratio, though it comes with a slight increase in thickness.
Galaxy Z Fold 8 and the New Ultra Tier
The standard Z Fold 8 features a 7.6-inch interior display and a 5.5-inch cover screen. While it utilizes new Flex Titanium display tech to make the internal crease less noticeable, it is slightly thicker than its predecessor, measuring 9.7mm folded. Performance is driven by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, supporting up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. Interestingly, the camera array on the base model is a step down from the Z Fold 7, moving to a dual 50MP wide and ultra-wide setup.
For those seeking the “true successor” to the Z Fold 7’s specs, Samsung introduced the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra. Unlike the base model, the Ultra retains the previous generation’s design and camera system, including a 200MP wide lens. It also addresses the biggest pain point of foldables: power. The Ultra packs a 5,000mAh battery—up from 4,400mAh in the Z Fold 7—and supports faster 45W wired charging.
| Feature | Galaxy Z Fold 8 | Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $1,899 | $2,099 |
| Battery | Not specified | 5,000mAh |
| Main Camera | Dual 50MP | 200MP Wide / 50MP Ultra Wide / 10MP Tele |
| Design | Shorter and wider | Z Fold 7 heritage design |
Galaxy Z Flip 8 and the Shift to Snapdragon
The Galaxy Z Flip 8 remains visually consistent with its predecessor, maintaining a 6.9-inch inner display and a 4.1-inch cover screen. However, the internals have seen a significant swap; Samsung replaced the Exynos 2500 chip from the Z Flip 7 with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5.
The device is slightly thinner, measuring 13.1mm folded, but costs $100 more than the Flip 7, starting at $1,199. The cover display has been updated with new gestures and an accessible app drawer to increase utility without unfolding the device.
Agentic AI and the Vision for Personal Entry Points
Hardware aside, the core of the London event was agentic AI. Samsung is moving toward a user-centered ecosystem where AI doesn’t just respond to prompts but adapts to the user’s specific needs across smartphones, tablets, and wearables.
This intelligence is being woven into the Galaxy AI platform to handle tasks like real-time translation and AI-assisted photo editing, with a heavy emphasis on processing these tasks on-device to preserve privacy.
Galaxy Watch 9 and Ultra 2 Health Metrics
The wearables lineup received a processor bump to the Snapdragon Wear Elite. The standard Galaxy Watch 9, now starting at $379, is available in 40mm and 44mm sizes.
The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is the standout for endurance, featuring an 800mAh battery—a significant jump from the 590mAh in the first Ultra. Despite the larger cell, the case is 12 percent thinner than the previous model, and the battery can last up to 60 hours with the always-on display enabled.
Market Position and the Apple Variable
The timing of this launch is strategic. According to Omdia data, Samsung held a 22 percent market share in Q2 2026, up from 20 percent in Q2 2025. By debuting these devices in July, Samsung secures a window of exclusivity before Apple’s rumored entry into the foldable market, which some reports suggest may happen in September.
Beyond the phones and watches, Samsung teased intelligent eyewear,
a project developed in partnership with Google and featuring design input from brands like Warby Parker and Gentle Monster. While the hardware is now public, the full integration of these glasses into the Galaxy AI ecosystem remains the next major milestone for the company.
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