Samsung didn’t just tease the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra this time. At Galaxy Unpacked on July 22 in London, the company made it official, along with two other foldables that reshape its entire lineup.
For years, Samsung sold one book-style foldable. Now it sells three, each built for a different kind of buyer. There’s a new wide-format Fold, a slimmed-down flip phone, and the Fold 8 Ultra, the first “Ultra” branded foldable Samsung has ever made.
Here’s everything that got confirmed, what it costs, and whether it’s actually worth your money.
What Happened
Samsung held its summer Unpacked event in London on July 22, its first UK event in 14 years. The company confirmed the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, and Galaxy Z Flip 8, alongside the Galaxy Watch 9, Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, and a first look at Galaxy smart eyewear.
Pre-orders opened the same day. General availability starts August 7, 2026, through Samsung, US carriers, and major retailers.
Key Details: Three Foldables, Three Different Buyers
Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is the headline device. It’s the successor to the Z Fold 7 and now carries the “Ultra” name for the first time in Samsung’s foldable line. It’s built for people who want the biggest screen and the best camera Samsung offers on a foldable.
Galaxy Z Fold 8 is a completely new shape. Instead of a tall, narrow foldable, it opens into a wider 4:3 display, better suited for watching video, reading, or browsing. Samsung is calling it the lightest Fold it has ever made.
Galaxy Z Flip 8 sticks with the flip form factor but gets a thinner body, a tougher hinge, and a much more useful cover screen.
Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra
- Display: 8-inch main foldable screen, Flex Titanium hinge for a less visible crease
- Thickness: 4.1mm unfolded — the thinnest Fold Samsung has made
- Weight: 215 grams
- Chip: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy
- RAM/Storage: 12GB RAM, starting at 256GB, up to 1TB
- Battery: 5,000mAh
- Cameras: 200MP main, 50MP ultra-wide, plus telephoto
- Software: Android 17, One UI 9, Gemini-powered Galaxy AI
- Colors: Cream, Graphite, Green Shadow, Violet Shadow
Galaxy Z Fold 8 (Wide)
- Display: 5.5-inch cover screen, 7.6-inch main display, switches between 4:3 and 3:4 aspect ratios
- Weight: 201 grams — Samsung’s lightest Fold to date
- Battery: 4,800mAh, rated for 26+ hours of video playback
- Colors: Cream, Graphite, Lavender, Pistachio
- Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
Galaxy Z Flip 8:
- Display: 6.9-inch main folding screen, 4.1-inch FlexWindow cover display
- Thickness: 6.1mm unfolded
- Weight: 180 grams
- Camera: 50MP main, 12MP ultra-wide, 10MP selfie
- Battery: 4,300mAh
- Charging: 25W wired (adapter sold separately)
- Storage: 256GB or 512GB only
Prices and Availability
| Model | Storage | Price |
| Galaxy Z Flip 8 | 256GB | $1,199 |
| Galaxy Z Flip 8 | 512GB | $1,399 |
| Galaxy Z Fold 8 | 256GB | starts at $1,900 |
| Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra | 256GB | starts at $2,099–$2,100 |
Every model is up for pre-order now, with shipping starting August 7. Samsung is offering trade-in credit worth up to $1,200 toward the Fold 8 Ultra, plus a $30 reservation bonus for early sign-ups. Each phone also includes a six-month Google AI Pro trial with 5TB of cloud storage, which renews at $19.99/month unless cancelled.
Why It Matters
Samsung splitting its Fold line into three tiers is a big shift. Instead of one “do everything” foldable, buyers now pick based on what they actually want: portability (Flip 8), a genuinely new form factor built for content (Fold 8), or maximum performance and camera power (Fold 8 Ultra).
It’s also Samsung’s answer to rising competition. Apple’s rumored iPhone Fold is expected in September, and this launch positions Samsung’s best hardware, the “Ultra,” right ahead of it.
Read Also: Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2026: Full Leak Roundup & Launch Guide
Pricing tells its own story too. The Fold 8 Ultra costs $100–$150 more than last year’s Fold 7 at launch, in line with what leaks predicted for months given rising component and memory costs across the industry.
Official Statements
Samsung’s own announcement describes the Fold 8 Ultra as offering “ultra-level performance with an expansive foldable display to elevate productivity through AI-powered multitasking.” The company is leaning heavily on agentic AI features, including tools like Now Nudge, which automatically suggests opening a second app when it detects a task like scheduling.
Industry Impact
This launch confirms what leakers were reporting for weeks, but it also settles a few debates. The “Ultra” branding is now permanent for Samsung’s top foldable, not just a rumor. And Samsung choosing silicon-based battery tech across the lineup shows the company catching up to what Chinese foldable makers have offered for a couple of years already.
For app developers and accessory makers, three distinct foldable shapes now need to be supported instead of one, which could shape how software and cases are designed going forward.
