• The Galaxy S26 FE leak reveals a familiar Samsung design with Blueberry, Graphite, and Pistachio colors.
• Samsung's Galaxy S26 FE could feature a 6.7-inch 120Hz display, Exynos 2500 chipset, and 4,900mAh battery.
• The Galaxy S26 FE is expected to feature a 50MP main camera, 12MP ultrawide, and 8MP telephoto camera.

Now that the flagship phone season, including the Pixel 11 and Galaxy S26 series, is mostly out of the way, it's time to turn our attention toward some new budget Android phones. And now, an extensive leak has revealed almost everything you need to know about the upcoming Galaxy S26 FE.

The leak, shared by Android Headlines, gives us an extensive look at not only the Galaxy S26 FE's design, but also its specs and marketing materials. The publication has shared a total of 28 marketing images, revealing pretty much every major detail about Samsung's upcoming FE phone.

Starting with the design, the Galaxy S26 FE will reportedly look similar to Samsung's other recent smartphones. Like the Galaxy S26 Ultra, the S26 FE appears to feature a vertical, pill-shaped camera module in the top-left corner of the rear panel.

In terms of colors, the phone is expected to be available in Blueberry, Graphite, and Pistachio. The Galaxy S26 FE will also reportedly carry an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance.

Coming to the specs, the Galaxy S26 FE is expected to feature a 6.7-inch Full HD+ display with support for up to a 120Hz refresh rate. Under the hood, the phone will reportedly be powered by Samsung's Exynos 2500 chipset, the same processor the company used in the Galaxy Z Flip 7 last year.

The phone is also expected to pack a 4,900mAh battery with support for 45W wired fast charging. If that sounds familiar, it's because those numbers are pretty similar to what Samsung offered with last year's Galaxy S25 FE.

In terms of software, the Galaxy S26 FE is expected to pick up the new My FanCam feature that debuted with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 lineup, alongside features like Horizontal Lock for video recording.

On the back, the Galaxy S26 FE will reportedly feature a triple-camera setup consisting of a 50MP primary camera, a 12MP ultrawide, and an 8MP telephoto camera. The phone is also expected to ship with Android 17 and One UI 9 out of the box, along with Samsung's usual promise of seven years of OS updates.

The leak doesn't reveal anything concrete about pricing just yet. However, with RAM and other component prices continuing to rise this year, it wouldn't be surprising to see the Galaxy S26 FE launch at a slightly higher price than its predecessor.

• Samsung's new Warranty and care menu in One UI 9 centralizes warranty tracking, diagnostics, repairs, and support inside Settings.
• See remaining warranty period and Samsung Care+ eligibility for your current device, plus coverage details for every Galaxy product linked to your Samsung account.
• Built-in Diagnostics tests battery, charging, sensors, touch response, and connectivity, then suggests fixes or points you to repair options.

Samsung is adding a new Warranty and care hub in One UI 9, giving Galaxy users a single place to check warranty coverage, run device diagnostics, access repair options, and get support.

The feature debuted on Samsung’s latest foldables, including the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold 8, and Galaxy Z Flip 8. Now Samsung has made clear what the hub actually does, and it goes way beyond checking when your warranty expires.

Open the new hub and you can see the remaining warranty period for your current device, along with Samsung Care+ eligibility. If you have other Galaxy products linked to the same Samsung account, their warranty and coverage information can appear there too.

The hub also acts as a troubleshooting center. Its Diagnostics tool can test hardware and functions such as battery, charging system, sensors, touchscreen, and connectivity. If something does go wrong, Samsung can recommend fixes or point you to repair options.

Bixby is also baked into the experience for troubleshooting questions. If something doesn’t feel right, you can ask the AI without leaving the Settings app for troubleshooting steps. Samsung's warranty process has always been a nightmare — online forums are full of users stuck in an endless loop between Samsung and service centers, with warranty claims getting lost in a no-man's-land between the standard warranty and Care+ policies. This new hub is designed to cut through that bureaucratic black hole and give you one clear path forward.

When software updates don’t work, you can request repairs from a Samsung-authorized service center without leaving Settings. You can also get remote support and compare estimated repair costs with Samsung Care+ pricing.

Warranty and care isn't necessarily identical everywhere. Available services may differ by country, device, and coverage plan.

While this hub currently debuts across Samsung's newest foldables, keep an eye out for the streamlined experience coming to Galaxy S26 series phones and older flagships as One UI 9 spreads its wings.

• Samsung is reportedly developing two wide foldables for 2027.
• One model could use an aspect ratio designed for movies and YouTube, addressing a major weakness of today’s squarer Fold displays.
• The company could make as many as six foldable models, including two wide Folds, a regular Fold, Fold Ultra, Flip, and TriFold successor.

Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 is barely out the door, but the company may already be preparing to take its wide-screen experiment to the next level. A new report out of South Korea says the company is developing two wide foldables for the Galaxy Z9 generation in 2027, potentially giving buyers more than one way to escape the traditional tall-and-narrow Fold design.

According to ETNews, Samsung has begun development of two wide foldable phones and has shared these plans with suppliers. One of the devices is said to have an aspect ratio specifically for widescreen video, something that could make movies and YouTube content look more natural when the phone is unfolded.

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 features a 4:3 inner screen with a more squarish shape that’s better for multitasking but not as good for most widescreen video.

There’s also a bit of fun history behind this. Earlier this year, a reference to a “WideFoldModel” in Samsung’s own test software for One UI 9 indicated that the company was working on a horizontally oriented Fold before these latest reports came out. Therefore, this isn’t something that just happened after the Fold 8 launched. Samsung has apparently been prepping the software for a different form factor for months.

The timing of this report makes sense. For example, it was said that the Galaxy Z Fold 8 accounted for about 70% of Galaxy Z8 pre-orders in South Korea alone, with the Z8 series setting a new record of 1.44 million pre-orders, compared to 1.09 million for the previous generation.

But the question will be whether Samsung can differentiate two wide Folds in a meaningful way. The report suggests a potential six-device foldable lineup for 2027, including the regular Fold, Fold Ultra, Flip, TriFold successor, and the two wide models.

None of this is confirmed, and display sizes or aspect ratios could still change in development. More concrete details should emerge closer to Samsung’s next-gen foldable launch. But if Samsung can get the balance right, the future of the Fold could be about making it genuinely better for the stuff people actually watch.

Apparently, the smaller Galaxy Z Fold 8 is very popular, as Samsung has highlighted a dramatic increase in preorders and has reportedly ramped up production. But should you buy the Galaxy Z Fold 8? Here are my thoughts after spending a few weeks with the phone and extensively testing its camera.

Why you should buy the Galaxy Z Fold 8

It really is the perfect size

I have an affinity for flip phones and have used one as my go-to. I like that they're small and pocketable, though they tend to be quite thick when folded. On the flip side, I tend not to care for larger book-style foldables, as they are quite tall and only open to a larger, square-ish display.

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 feels like a Goldilocks foldable, adopting the smaller size of a flip phone while offering the utility of a book-style foldable when open. It's actually the size of my passport when closed, and it's incredibly lightweight and easy to slip in my pocket. I honestly didn't think I would like the Fold 8 until I held it in my hand and something just clicked.

Open it, and it feels more like a tablet than traditional foldables, which I think adds to its appeal.

Additionally, both displays are gorgeous, vibrant, and easy to see outdoors. It also helps that the inner display is basically creaseless. Sure, you can see the crease from certain angles and depending on how the light hits it, but if you run your finger across it, it's pretty much not there.

If Apple really is working towards releasing a foldable, this should be the blueprint.

Multitasking and media

One of the most awkward things about multitasking on larger book-style foldables like the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is that they don't always handle multitasking as well as they should. Samsung's One UI can open three apps at the same time in a split-screen view, but due to the square-ish aspect ratio, only one app is open in full view on one side of the display, while the other two are split in half on the other side.

However, what I love about the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is that you can run three full apps side by side or in a row, which makes it feel more like a tablet than its larger sibling.

What also helps is how the Galaxy Z Fold 8 handles media and content. Ebooks look great on the inner display, whether you read them in landscape or portrait orientation. Videos also look much better on the inner display than they do on the larger Ultra. They aren't any bigger when open full screen, but the black bars on the top and bottom are smaller.

It also handles vertical videos from TikTok and Instagram better, since you can rotate the phone in a portrait orientation. And you can always watch horizontal videos or videos on the external display, which also look great in either orientation and better fill the 16:10 aspect ratio.

Performance and cool AI features

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, which is currently the most powerful mobile processor on the market. It's paired with 12 or 16GB of RAM, depending on your storage configuration, so there's little issue with performance. It is a flagship, after all, and it handles graphics-intensive games like Honkai: Star Rail quite well.

You'll also get plenty of cool AI features like My FanCam, which lets you reframe a video by focusing on a subject, making it the perfect way to share memories with friends or on social media. You also get plenty of Gemini Intelligence features, such as the ability to let the AI order food or book rideshares and hotels for you, and many of the Galaxy AI features can be processed on-device to keep your data as private as possible.

And the AI gets even more proactive by suggesting actions for you based on the context of your conversations, such as surfacing relevant photos for you to share, scheduling information, or your location.

The only downside I've noticed is that it can get a bit warm if you're gaming for an extended period, but this is lessened if you're using a Galaxy Z Fold 8 case.

Price (it's cheaper than the Ultra)

Foldables aren't cheap, but the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is a couple of hundred dollars cheaper than the Galaxy Z Fold Ultra. If you're trying to choose between the two, price is definitely something to consider, especially since you get roughly the same performance, storage and RAM options, seven-year software promise, and mostly the same feature set. And for the extra couple hundred that you save, you can get yourself some extras, like Qi2 charging accessories.

Why you shouldn't buy the Galaxy Z Fold 8

Price (it's still expensive)

That said, $1,900 isn't cheap, and the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is still a very expensive phone. Yes, I do love this phone, but I'm not sure if I would spend that kind of money on any smartphone (that's more than what I pay for rent in Seattle, WA).

If you're willing, you can always trade in an older phone or try to take advantage of Galaxy Z Fold 8 deals. Buying from carriers also makes it easy to spread the cost over time, but the fact of the matter is that you're paying nearly $2,000 for a smartphone.

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is still better

For just $200 more, you can get a technically better phone. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra offers larger displays, a bigger battery, and a better camera system that incorporates a 200MP wide and 10MP telephoto sensor.

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra also supports the Flex Panel, a handy One UI feature that turns the bottom half of the display into a keyboard or shows various controls when the phone is folded at an angle, depending on the context of what's on the upper half of the display.

So, it's up to you to decide if the $200 upgrade is worth it.

Cameras are meh

I really wanted to like the cameras on the Galaxy Z Fold 8, but they're just okay. You get two 50MP sensors that produce decent images, but they tend to lack vibrancy and detail compared to other similar camera systems. I tested the Galaxy Z Fold 8 camera against the Razr Ultra 2026 and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, and the latter two phones produced more pleasing images of the same scenes.

It also doesn't do particularly well in low light, can be a little noisy, and zoom images lack detail compared to other cameras. Given the lack of a telephoto camera, that's understandable, but that adds to why you might wanna splurge for the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra.

No S Pen support

If you're hoping for a return of the S Pen to foldable phones, you'll be disappointed with the Galaxy Z Fold 8. Unfortunately, the S Pen remains elusive on Samsung's foldables once again. It's a strange omission, especially given that Motorola now supports an active stylus on the Razr Fold and Samsung continues to include an S Pen with the Galaxy S Ultra models.

It kinda feels like a waste of all that screen real estate, even though it would make for a great canvas and note-taking device, especially with the minimal crease.

• Additional One UI 9.5 rumors surface online, as a tipster claims Samsung is chasing a glass aesthetic that delivers "visual depth" for its elements.
• It seems Samsung would apply this to its home screen widgets, such as Now Brief, as well as in its Phone app and more.
• One UI 9.5 rumors got underway as One UI 9 Beta 5 rolled out, claiming development had begun on the Galaxy S26.

Another round of One UI 9.5 rumors concerns its UI, but in reality, it feels like we're caught in a time loop.

Early this morning (Aug 14), SamMobile highlighted a set of leaked screenshots that tipster Fahad Ali posted on X about One UI 9.5's UI. The tipster calls out the software's UI "polish," and it seems Samsung is approaching its 9.5 update with a glass design in mind. Many elements, such as Now Brief and floating UI elements in Samsung-made apps, resemble shinier glass along the edges.

Certain elements reportedly offer a blur when over objects, which is something we've become accustomed to over the years of phones and software design. Another aspect Ali points out is the "subtle backdrop shading." It looks like Samsung is trying to facilitate more separation, detail, and "visual depth" between its UI and the background (or app).

The Phone app looks the same (so far); however, Ali states Samsung has moved the search icon to the floating navigation bar at the bottom. This icon is currently placed at the top of the app, between the new contact button and the three-dot menu. Another post on X claims Samsung could add App Lock in One UI 9.5 to secure certain apps with a password, biometric, or other verification method.

Clear as glass

Rumors about One UI 9.5 started earlier this week, which is funny since Galaxy S26 users don't have One UI 9 yet. Samsung rolled out One UI 9 Beta 5 for S26 users, leaving testers with a 1.1GB download. A handful of fixes were detailed in its patch notes, alongside the August 2026 security patch. What we were most curious about was the 9.5 update rumors by a tipster on X. The tipster suggests Samsung has started developing One UI 9.5 for the Galaxy S26 far earlier than previously.

You shouldn't expect this update anytime soon, as rumors claim it might not debut until April or May 2027. What has us concerned is Samsung's history of software updates. One UI 8.5 was met with heavy delays throughout its development. There's also a chance that the 9.5 update Beta Program won't begin until late this year.

• One UI 9 Beta 5 is rolling out for enrolled Galaxy S26 testers in a few overseas regions with a 1.1GB download.
• The patch carries a handful of fixes, alongside the August security update.
• However, rumors on social media claim Samsung has started developing One UI 9.5 for the Galaxy S26, despite the main upgrade still in the Beta Program.

There's a lot happening today (Aug 12), but that's not stopping Samsung's beta program. Enrolled users, beware: Beta 5 is here.

This morning, the folks at SamMobile spotted the arrival of One UI 9 Beta 5 for the Galaxy S26 series. Currently, the beta has only been spotted in overseas countries: the U.K., South Korea, and India. This isn't unusual, as Samsung usually begins spreading its availability out little by little. Users in the U.S. should prepare for it to arrive later this week, if not the next. One UI 9 Beta 5 reportedly carries a 1.1GB download and the August 2026 security patch.

The publication highlights Samsung's patch notes, which highlight a few important fixes. It's fixing a "white screen" and "app freeze," which would occur for users when viewing "some menus" in Settings. What's more, Samsung is fixing a camera app issue when opened from the lock screen. Some users encountered lag or a black screen when attempting to open it.

Another fix is rolling out for the bottom floating bar when using the Phone app. Samsung received reports of it not appearing properly, which was reportedly patched. The remainder of the fixes are as follows:

• Improved issue where a blank screen is temporarily visible when entering the recent files list in the My Files app
• Improved issue where 1×1 size shortcuts are not added to the bottom bar of the home screen
• Improved issue where the preview screen position is misaligned or flickers in the Video Editor and Photo Editor
• Improved issue where the screen intermittently flickers in certain situations
• Fixed Wi-Fi connection errors and improved connection stability

If you're enrolled in the One UI 9 Beta Program, keep your eyes out for the update in your respective region.

While this is interesting and gets us closer to launch for the Galaxy S26, rumors are already looking ahead to One UI 9.5. On X, tipster Tarun Vats reports that Samsung has started developing One UI 9.5 for the Galaxy S26 (via GSMArena). Vats says the early build sports version ending CZH1. Samsung has started development on its next major software update even earlier this time. Vats and users on X were quick to highlight Samsung's earlier schedule.

Vats reminds us that One UI 8.5's development began around September, before the Beta Program started for the Galaxy S25 in December. It's hard to forget that One UI 8.5 was heavily delayed throughout its Beta Program. Here's hoping that Samsung can avoid that this time around. Vats adds that Samsung likely won't roll out One UI 9.5 any time soon, meaning we may see it arrive around April or May 2027.

The beta rolls on

It's been nearly a month since the last One UI 9 beta. In mid-July, Samsung rolled out One UI 9 Beta 4, which included a host of fixes for early Android 17 problems. Much like what we're receiving in August, the July patch was ~1.25GB. One fix aimed to solve an issue with the S26 Ultra's Privacy Display routine. The feature would occasionally "not operate normally" while a routine was running. Other fixes involved an unstable UI for Live Notifications and other performance problems for the Quick Settings.

Is the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 waterproof?

Everything you need to know about Galaxy Z Fold 8 durability

First things first, no smartphone is completely waterproof. Many flagships are water resistant, but this does not mean they are fully protected against liquid ingress. Instead, the water-resistance level of a phone is measured using the International Protection (IP) standard. When you look at an IP rating like IP68 or IP69, the first digit signifies the device's dust protection while the second digit denotes the device's liquid protection.

IP68 and IP69 are currently the highest levels of the International Protection (IP) standard. The "6" in IP68 and IP69 means a device is completely dustproof. The number "8" as the second digit means a device can withstand submersion in up to 1.5 meters of freshwater depth for up to 30 minutes. The number "9" as the second digit in IP69 means a device could survive high-pressure and high-temperature water jets in addition to the submersion depth and duration specified by the "8" in IP68.

With that background in place, we can evaluate the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra's IP48 certification. This rating means neither the Galaxy Z Fold 8 nor the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra are completely dustproof. Instead, both devices are merely protected against the ingress of dust particles larger than 1mm in size. But what about their water resistance?

The "8" in IP48 indeed means the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra both meet the highest International Protection (IP) level for submersion. Both phones can withstand submersion in up to 1.5 meters of freshwater for up to 30 minutes. Note that your mileage may vary with salt water submersion (like in the ocean) or chlorinated water submersion (like in a pool). Additionally, these phones do not support IPX9, meaning they are not protected against high-temperature or high-pressure water jets.

Keep in mind that water resistance is not a permanent condition. Samsung only guarantees IP48 certification when your device leaves the factory and arrives at your door. As the company explains in a support document, you can expect the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra's water resistance to diminish over time.

To sum up, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra are highly water-resistant. However, this doesn't mean you should rush to use your foldables in the water. The phones' IP48 ratings only guarantee water resistance in specific conditions, and only at the time you buy them. Every drop wears down the rubber seals inside your phone that keep liquid out, and the seals degrade over time even if kept in perfect condition.

I think this is why I like the Galaxy Z Fold 8 so much. I was ready to dismiss the new design when I saw leaks of the phone, but as soon as I put it in my hand, something clicked, and in my two weeks of testing, the phone has been a joy to use. Between the pocketability, the performance, and the price, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 might be the ideal foldable phone for most buyers, although you'll have to deal with a few compromises.

It's a little strange that Samsung popularized the current foldable design, only to shift to a form factor that few others have tried and abandoned. That said, Samsung's iteration seems to take the design a bit further by incorporating a shorter chassis and wider displays.

The result is a phone that feels admittedly very different from what we're used to, especially following the advent of taller smartphone displays. But holding the phone sort of puts the whole thing into perspective; it's thin and light, and nearly the entire phone fits in the palm of my hand. That's important for reachability, something that taller smartphones seem to have forgotten is still important.

It's literally the size of my passport, and it fits in my pocket better than any other smartphone I've used in recent years, including flip phones like the Motorola Razr Ultra.

Part of my original concern was how apps would scale to this odd 16:10 aspect ratio on the external display, and my concerns were mostly unfounded, although not completely.

Vertical videos are still watchable on the external display, and while the minimum black bars on the sides may annoy some, I don't mind them. I actually like that the app’s UI elements are pushed away from the video. Watching longer-form videos like movies, TV shows, and YouTube also feels pretty natural on the external display.

The downside of having such a short, wide external display is that app content is a bit condensed, and there are times when I find myself scrolling more than I normally would because of the lack of vertical real estate.

This can be addressed somewhat when you open the Galaxy Z Fold 8 to reveal the surprisingly seamless and tablet-like display.

The wider aspect ratio reminds me of how I felt when I first saw the Galaxy Z TriFold: this is exactly how a foldable phone should feel, like a phone when closed and a tablet when open. It also helps that the new Titanium Flex display makes for a barely noticeable crease. If Apple's been waiting to get rid of the crease for its eventual foldable, now is definitely the time.

Videos are also a joy to watch on the larger display, and there are fewer black bars on the top and bottom, at least compared to the Ultra.

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 also acts like a tablet when it's open. That means apps like Gmail, YouTube Music, and Chrome open in tablet mode, and you can pull up a taskbar of apps at the bottom from just about any screen.

Oddly enough, there's no support for the Flex Mode panel, which is on both the Fold 8 Ultra and Flip 8. That's because the hinge can't really be freely adjusted to stay at different angles, especially beyond 90 degrees. It's a bit of a missed opportunity for viewing content.

But the wider display means better multitasking. One thing I love about the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is that you can use three apps side by side, instead of having one app take up a full side and two apps split in half on the other. And of course you can drag and drop content between apps and resize them to your liking.

Another benefit the Galaxy Z Fold 8 has over the more square Ultra is that the wider display gives you more options for app layouts. Sure, I can use apps like Instagram or read ebooks in a horizontal orientation, but I can turn the phone and use the app vertically so that certain content fits the screen better.

Of course, not all apps will scale very well on either display. That mostly goes for games, and while some like Honkai: Star Rail look just fine on either panel, Pokémon Go doesn't look very good on the inner display. Scaling is very awkward for this game and for a lot of other vertically oriented games as well, and you're like I'm going to have to fiddle around with the scaling options to find a fit that works for you.

The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy and base 12GB of RAM help the Fold 8 perform just as well as you'd expect, with no hiccups. That said, I notice that the phone gets pretty warm, mostly when gaming, and I imagine it's due to the phone's small stature.

The small chassis also means there's not much room for a huge battery. The 4,800mAh battery should get you through most of the day, although now that Samsung is using silicone carbon batteries, I feel that the company could have squeezed in its larger-capacity unit. After all, the smaller Razr Ultra 2026 squeezed in a 5,000mAh battery with much faster charging.

There are plenty of AI features scattered throughout One UI 9, although admittedly they're the least interesting thing about the Galaxy Z Fold 8. If you can stand using Samsung Keyboard, which is still pretty bad, you'll get access to many of Samsung's Galaxy AI features like writing tools, translation, and Gemini Intelligence.

When I receive a message, for instance, the AI will suggest responses based on the conversation, and even gave me prompts in German when a friend of mine texted “Danke," which I found pretty fun. It also suggests certain actions, like opening my calendar when my friend asked if I was back in town after a long trip, or sending my location when another friend asked how my trip was going.

And of course, with Gemini intelligence, you can have it perform actions on your behalf, and it supports even more apps than before.

One of the highlight features on the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is My FanCam, which can pinpoint a person in a video and focus on them, allowing you to crop out the rest of the video so that it's social media-ready. It's actually quite ingenious, and the result is often better than I expect.

The phone does a good job keeping up with the subject, wherever they happen to be in the video, although the camera movements can be a bit wobbly when tracking subjects. Still, it saves me a ton of time having to edit the videos manually.

As for the cameras, the dual 50MP sensors on the back can capture decent images, and you can see my Galaxy Z Fold 8 camera review/comparison for more on that. There is no telephoto sensor, which is also likely due to the phone's limited space. On the plus side, Samsung included new video capture features the creators will love, such as the ability to capture LOG video or add LUTs to give your videos a dramatic look.

This is one of the things I loved about using LG smartphones like the V30, so I'm glad to see it here.

Should you buy the Galaxy Z Fold 8?

Th writing has been on the wall for some time that the era of modern flip phones may be coming to an end. Samsung hasn't said anything about it, but reports have pointed to the rising popularity of book-style foldables, so much so that even Motorola has joined the party.

If there's one phone that I can see killing the flip phone and taking foldables truly mainstream, it's the Galaxy Z Fold 8. It may not have all the Ultra features of its sibling, but it brings much of that added utility of a larger foldable to a smaller, more pocketable, and much more affordable form factor. And it's a damn joy to use.

Beyond just testing the cameras of Samsung's newest foldables, I also took the time to compare the camera performance to two of my favorite foldables: the Motorola Razr Ultra 2026 and Razr Fold. Motorola has come a long way, and the Fold has proven that the company knows how to make a good camera.

How I tested them

I've been testing the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Fold 8 Ultra since their launch on July 22. I captured photos in various scenarios and environments, using both devices alongside the Razr Ultra 2026 and Razr Fold.

I didn't fiddle with any settings or tap a subject in the viewfinder to adjust the exposure; all of these were just point-and-shoot.

Juggling four phones isn't easy, and it isn't the most scientific method, but I tried to keep things as fair as possible. I made sure to capture photos with the same or similar composition across devices. Still, there may be some slight differences between photos.

Also, for the sake of my sanity (and your time), I'm not uploading all 1,000 photos I captured with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 series. However, I have selected a number of images that I think best represent the capabilities of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 series in different situations.

Note: Click the expand button in the corner for a better view of the images.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra

Between the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Fold 8 Ultra, the hardware differences are quite massive. The former sticks to two 50MP cameras, while the latter has a massive 200MP primary sensor and a third telephoto camera. The result is noticeably more detail in the Fold 8 Ultra's images, while the Fold 8 tends to lean a bit softer.

That goes for color as well; images from the Fold 8 Ultra tend to be punchier, while the Fold 8 tends to appear a bit muted. I find I prefer the Ultra's images, although it can go a bit overboard with saturation, especially when it comes to the color red.

This is the complete opposite for the ultrawide sensor, which is punchier on the Fold 8, and I tend to prefer these images over the Fold 8 Ultra's ultrawide.

Both phones do relatively okay when it comes to selfies and portrait images, although I still feel like they lack proper tuning for skin tones like mine.

The Ultra clearly has the upper hand with zoom. The Fold 8 can take 2x shots at optical quality, but anything beyond that and you'll see the quality drop. In most cases, images for the Ultra appear much cleaner, while the Fold 8 can sometimes struggle to produce the necessary detail.

Sometimes the Fold 8 gets it right, and while the AI is clearly putting in some work to make up for the lack of a telephoto camera, things like text can appear sharper on the Fold 8 compared to the more natural processing from the Ultra's optical sensor. Still, the Fold 8 isn't as consistent with zoom shots, and your best bet is to stick with 2x.

Both phones do a decent job with challenging lighting, but I wouldn't say either excels. Photos are often a tad noisy, though this is more of an issue with the base Fold 8 than the Fold 8 Ultra, which often delivers cleaner, more detailed shots.

Overall, both phones have their strengths, and Samsung seems to have improved how its phones capture movement. I really like the ultrawide shots on the Fold 8, but the Fold 8 Ultra unsurprisingly comes out on top, with the 200MP primary camera bringing more vibrancy and detail to images, while the telephoto camera keeps zoom shots relatively clean.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Motorola Razr Ultra 2026

Both the Galaxy Fold 8 and Razr Ultra 2026 have dual 50MP cameras for wide and ultrawide shots. However, both phones handle color and lighting a bit differently. Regarding color reproduction, the Razr Ultra 2026 does a better job of staying true to the scene, while elements (like the sky) can be a bit more dramatic due to the added contrast and detail. The Fold 8 again feels a bit more muted in many scenes, but still does a decent job.

The Razr Ultra 2026 also handles trickier lighting situations a bit better, brightening subjects without adding a ton of noise in the process. However, the caveat is that while it does better with things like neon signs, my unit doesn't seem to like bright street lamps very much, as they can flare up and ruin a scene.

I also tend to prefer selfies on the Galaxy Z Fold 8's external front-facing camera, as the Razr Ultra tends to do some weird overprocessing. However, I find the Razr is better at portrait mode photos.

When it comes to zoom, neither phone excels here, and they tend to trade blows in detail, lighting, and color. Sometimes, I prefer the Galaxy Z Fold 8, and other times the Razr comes out on top. Either way, I don't think there's a winner here, as neither is particularly good beyond 2x zoom.

Overall, I think the Razr Ultra 2026 has the upper hand when it comes to just the point-and-shoot camera experience. That's not to say the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is bad, but there's a general lack of pop in its images. I think the camera could use some additional tuning, perhaps with future updates (which Samsung is good about).

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and Motorola Razr Fold

The Fold 8 Ultra's 200MP camera should theoretically come out on top compared to the Razr Fold's 50MP sensor, right? Well, surprisingly, Motorola holds its own. Both phones bring plenty of detail to their images, and while photos from the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra can appear more vibrant, such as when taking photos of the sky or of water, the Razr Fold handles low-light situations better.

As you can see from the photo of the door or the floating planets, the Razr Fold's camera brings more light into a scene while keeping noise levels low. The alleyway also shows how the Razr Fold handles tricky lighting better, as you can see much more clearly into the distance than in the Fold 8 Ultra's photo. And I don't even know what happened with the Carnegie Library; the Fold 8's color is way off.

That said, the Fold 8 handles moving objects better than Motorola's, as the Razr Fold's post-processing can often result in a missed moment or a blurry subject. The Fold 8 Ultra also handles selfies better with its external front camera.

But what I was really curious about was how both phones handle zoom. This was a big highlight of my Motorola Razr Fold camera review, so I wanted to see if the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra was up to the challenge. Shockingly, that doesn't seem to be the case.

At 3x zoom, both phones are neck-and-neck, and unless you need to go any further than this, you should be fine with images from either phone. If you go beyond this point, however, Motorola's AI kicks in and handles a lot of the work, and it does a bang-up job doing it in most cases. Lines are cleaner, text is more legible, and you can see clearer figures of people from off at a distance of even 30x zoom.

That 30x zoom happens to be the limit of the Fold 8 Ultra's zoom capabilities, but perhaps Samsung should have limited it even further, because images at this level are not very usable. You can probably get away with decent 10x zoom photos, but more often than not, the Razr Fold will produce the better photo, regardless of the lighting (although there are some exceptions).

Verdict

Samsung doesn't make bad cameras, but it doesn't make the best cameras either. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Fold 8 Ultra hold their own, and I don't think anyone would be particularly disappointed with either phone's camera.

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 is clearly not as good as its Ultra sibling, and it even falls behind Motorola's Razr Ultra 2026 in some areas. However, unless you're trying to zoom in really close or take photos in the dark, I think it's more than adequate.

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is the better of Samsung's latest foldables, and produces great images with vibrant colors and plenty of detail. However, its zoom capabilities leave a lot to be desired, especially compared to the Razr Fold, and I'm hoping Samsung can address this in future updates.

Fortunately, I'm already hard at work tracking down the best Galaxy Z Flip 8 deals so you don't have to go searching. The offers aren't quite as good as the promotions we saw during the preorder period, but you can still score some impressive savings if you know where to look. Keep reading for my recommendations on buying the brand new flip phone, and don't forget to check back later to see what's new: I'll keep adding new offers to this list as I find them.

Quick links

• The best Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Fold 8 Ultra deals
  
• T-Mobile: Get the Z Flip 8 for $100 with eligible plan
• Samsung: up to $600 off with trade-in, free credit
• AT&T: up to $1,000 off with trade-in, new line
• Amazon: free $200 gift card
• Best Buy: free $200 gift card
• Xfinity Mobile: up to $1,000 off with trade-in

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 deals

FAQ

How much does the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 cost?

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 will start at $1,199.99 / €1,299.00 / £1,149.00 for the 256GB configuration of the phone. That's $100 more expensive than last year's Galaxy Z Flip 7, which was already more expensive than its predecessor. This price increase is even further proof that no one is exempt from the ongoing RAM crisis, which is why finding good deals is so important nowadays.

I already own the Galaxy Z Flip 7. Is it worth upgrading?

The Galaxy Z Flip 8 and last year's Galaxy Z Flip 7 share a lot of similarities on the design and hardware side, especially at first glance. Both flip phones come with 12GB of RAM and a 4,300mAh battery, and they feature virtually identical camera systems and displays, although the Z Flip 8 does clock in at 8 grams lighter than its predecessor. The Z Flip 8 also uses the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, which is a bit more powerful than the last generation's Exynos chip.

Do these minor upgrades justify the $100 price increase? It's a tough call, but if you're already happy with your Galaxy Z Flip 7, I see no reason to rush to the store to grab the new phone. On the other hand, if you're a flip phone fanatic, the Z Flip 8 offers one of the best experiences around.

Unlike some phone releases that feel purely perfunctory, Samsung is really changing things up with its newest book-style foldable phones. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 sports a brand new form factor that we've compared to a passport, while the brand new Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is one of the largest foldables we've ever seen.

These phones aren't just pretty to look at, however. They also feature incredible specs under the hood, with powerful Snapdragon chips, useful AI-boosted software features, and years of guaranteed OS updates. Starting at $1,899, they're also pretty expensive, so I gathered all of the web's best Z Fold 8 deals in this guide. Didn't find anything yet? Check back later: we're sure to see more offers go live in the coming days.

Interested in Samsung's newest clamshell-style flip phone? I also put together a guide to the best Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 deals for your perusal.

Quick links

• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 / Fold 8 Ultra hands-on review
  
  Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 deals - quick links
• T-Mobile: FREE Galaxy Z Fold 8 with eligible trade-in, new line
• Verizon: new line savings, trade-in deals
• Samsung: up to $1,000 of trade-in credit
• Amazon: free $350 gift card with purchase
• Best Buy: trade-in savings, free gift cards
• AT&T: FREE Z Fold 8 with eligible trade-in, new line
• Xfinity Mobile: up to $1,000 off with trade-in, new line
  
  Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra deals - quick links
• T-Mobile: up to $1,900 off Z Fold 8 Ultra with trade-in, new line
• Verizon: new line savings, trade-in deals
• Samsung: up to $1,000 of trade-in credit
• Amazon: free $350 gift card with purchase
• Best Buy: trade-in savings, free gift cards
• AT&T: up to $1,900 off with trade-in, new line
• Xfinity Mobile: up to $1,000 off with trade-in, new line

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 deals

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra deals

FAQ

How much does the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 cost?

The new wide-style Galaxy Z Fold 8 is set to cost $1,899.99 for the 256GB version, while the Fold 8 Ultra will start at $2,099 USD. Samsung's foldable phones have always been expensive, but the ongoing RAM crisis has contributed to increased prices across the board. It's just one more reason why the above deals are so essential.

How does the Galaxy Z Fold 8 compare to the Z Fold 8 Ultra?

It may sound strange, but the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is the true successor to last year's Galaxy Z Fold 7. Starting at $2,099, the phone boasts virtually identical dimensions to last year's foldable with an upgraded 5,000mAh battery, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, and 12GB of RAM for the 256GB and 512GB models. It also weighs just 215 grams, which is the same as last year's model. The fact that Samsung was able to pack a larger battery into the same thin frame as the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is impressive, but some folks may be disappointed that the design is otherwise largely unchanged.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, on the other hand, is where things start to look interesting. The phone boasts a 7.6-inch main display and 5.5-inch cover display (both stunning AMOLED, of course), resulting in a device that looks a bit like a passport book. Clocking in at just 201 grams, the Z Fold 8 also comes with the same Snapdragon chip as the Ultra, plus a 4,800mAh battery, the latest AI-boosted software features, and up to 16GB of RAM. Moreover, the Z Fold 8 is $200 cheaper than the Ultra.

Is the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 worth it?

It depends! If you already own a foldable phone, such as the Z Fold 7 or the Motorola Razr Fold, there's really no reason to upgrade right away. These OEMs push out new foldable phones every year, so it's okay (and probably financially responsible) for you to skip a generation here and there.

On the other hand, if you want to try the latest in foldable phone technology and you're able to get a good deal that works with your budget, the Z Fold 8 and Z Fold 8 Ultra really do offer some of the most innovative Android experiences around.

One such offer comes from Samsung itself, where you can score up to $1,200 off the Galaxy Z Fold 8 when you trade in an old or broken device. Don't have anything to trade in? The company will still hook you up with a $200 credit when you order the Z Fold 8 through its site. There are also some bundle discounts up for grabs if you pair your preorder with a Samsung watch. The promotion ends in just a few days, however, so you better act fast if you're interested.

Score up to $1,200 off your Galaxy Z Fold 8 preorder at Samsung

What about the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8?

More Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, Z Fold 8 Ultra, and Z Flip 8 deals

As usual, T-Mobile is hosting one of the best early offers, giving away the device for free when you process a trade-in and add a line with the Experience Beyond plan.

Don't have anything to trade in? Skip that part of the process and you can still score $1,100 off the Galaxy Z Fold 8 when you add a line with the Experience More or Experience Beyond plans on T-Mobile's website.

Sure, T-Mobile's Experience plans aren't exactly cheap, but when I'm looking at grabbing a $1,900 smartphone, I'll take just about any deal I can get. It doesn't hurt that they are also two of the best unlimited plans in the business. If you're interested in one of the most innovative phones of 2026 and you were planning to update your wireless service anyway, this deal is worth grabbing ASAP.

Last call: grab a FREE Galaxy Z Fold 8 before the preorder period ends

• See my guide to the best T-Mobile deals of the month

Samsung just unveiled the Galaxy Z Fold 8 (alongside the Z Fold 8 Ultra and Z Flip 8) during a Galaxy Unpacked event a few week ago, and the phones are already turning heads. For starters, it's hard to describe the Z Fold 8 as a true successor to last year's Galaxy Z Fold 7, as Samsung has given the phone a shorter and wider, "passport-style" design.

This new look makes the phone easy to pocket and use with one hand while folded, while unfolding the device gives you an experience akin to an Android tablet. And as usual, the foldable phone's two AMOLED display are absolutely stunning and smooth as butter.

Under the hood, you still get the powerful Z Fold experience that we've all come to know and love, with a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, 12GB of RAM, and all of the latest AI-boosted software tricks. The phone does clock in at $1,899, however, so deals like the T-Mobile promotion above are essential.

What about the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra?

After months of leaks and rumors, Samsung finally unveiled its Galaxy Z Fold 8 lineup, including the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, to last year's Galaxy Z Fold 7. The Pixel Fold, meanwhile, was once close in form factor to the standard Z Fold 8, but the Pixel 10 Pro Fold has since shifted closer to the Z Fold 8 Ultra's dimensions.

If you're in the U.S. and looking to buy a top-tier Android foldable, your choice may come down to Samsung and Google: the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and the Pixel 10 Pro Fold. Now that the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is official, the real question is which foldable is actually right for you.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra vs. Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold: Pricing and availability

Samsung officially introduced the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra on July 22, 2026. Unfortunately, what we expected is now true: Samsung has increased the Z Fold 8 Ultra's price by $100 this year, so it starts at $2,100 in the U.S, with 256GB of storage and only 12GB of RAM.

On the other hand, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold was announced alongside the Pixel 10 series on August 20, 2025. It starts at $1,799 for 256GB, undercutting the Fold 8 Ultra by $300. It's also available in 512GB and 1TB variants at higher prices, but all variants offer 16GB of RAM.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra vs. Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold: Design and display

Compared to the Galaxy Z Fold 7, the company has kept minimal upgrades for the Fold 8 Ultra. That means you get a triple-camera setup on the back, arranged vertically in a pill-shaped module, along with a clean back and squared edges.

What's great is that Samsung has made the Z Fold 8 Ultra even slimmer than before, coming in at just 4.1mm when unfolded, while fitting in a larger battery, which we'll get to later.

The Pixel 10 Pro Fold also sticks to the same design as the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. Compared to the Z Fold 8 Ultra, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold remains thicker and heavier. The former measures 8.9mm when folded and weighs just 215 grams, while the latter is about 10.8mm thick and weighs around 258 grams.

The Pixel 10 Pro Fold leads in durability, offering IP68 dust and water resistance, which is rare for foldables. Samsung, on the other hand, despite the upgrade to the hinge mechanism, offers only IP48.

Compared to the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra has a much less visible crease on the inner foldable display, thanks to its new Flex Titanium technology.

The Pixel 10 Pro Fold features a slightly smaller 6.4-inch cover display, but the inner display is also around 8 inches. Both phones offer high-brightness displays, offering up to 3,000 nits of peak brightness.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra vs. Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold: Hardware and specs

Samsung leads the pack, powering the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset. This is currently the best chipset for Android phones, so you can expect the best performance.

The Pixel 10 Pro Fold is powered by the Tensor G5, the same chip used across the Pixel 10 lineup. It's Google's first TSMC-made 3nm chipset, and while it's a big step up over the Tensor G4 in terms of performance and efficiency, it falls behind the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 in raw power.

Internally, Samsung has also upgraded the battery to silicon-carbon tech, which means the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra now features a 5,000mAh cell. In terms of charging, Samsung has upgraded to 45W wired charging, which is much faster than what you get on the Pixel Fold.

The Pixel 10 Pro Fold already comes with a 5,000mAh battery, so it's still too early to say which one offers a better battery life. But one area where the Pixel clearly has an advantage is charging convenience. It supports PixelSnap, Google's take on Qi2, with built-in magnets, meaning you can use MagSafe accessories without needing a case.

This is something Samsung skipped on the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, which requires a case for Qi2 magnetic charging.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra vs. Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold: Cameras

Samsung upgraded the primary camera on the Galaxy Z Fold 7 to 200MP, and this time it upgraded the Fold 8 Ultra's ultrawide sensor to a 50MP unit, alongside the same 200MP primary sensor as before and a 10MP 3x telephoto lens.

The Pixel 10 Pro Fold comes with a 48MP primary sensor, a 10.5MP ultra-wide, and a 10.8MP telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom. It's still too early to say which one will perform better, but considering Samsung has been refreshing its camera setup over the past couple of generations, I do expect the Fold 8 Ultra to have an edge here.

That said, we'll be doing a proper camera comparison soon, so do keep an eye out for the same.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra vs. Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold: Which foldable is better?

All things considered, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra brings some genuine upgrades this year, including a less creased inner display and, finally, a much more capable battery. But Samsung has also raised the price by $100, and the omission of Qi2 magnetic charging still stings on a phone at this price point.

The Pixel 10 Pro Fold, on the other hand, not only costs less to begin with, but it's also often available at a discount for even less. Add in better durability and the promise of day-one Android updates, and it's hard not to see the Pixel as the more lucrative pick on paper.

Samsung found a hit with the Galaxy Z Fold 7 last year, and the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra does even more to solidify its spot as the best North American foldable. It's the first Samsung foldable to bear the Ultra name, and for good reason.

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra proves to be a major upgrade over the Galaxy Z Fold 6 — in every way but one. The latter is the last Samsung foldable to support the S Pen. If you're a Galaxy Z Fold 6 user wondering if it's time to upgrade, the answer is probably yes... unless you need the S Pen.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 vs. Galaxy Z Fold 6: Pricing and availability

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra launched in July 2026 at a Galaxy Unpacked event. It hits store shelves Aug. 7, 2026. The new foldable retails for $2,099.99 with 256GB of storage. You can optionally upgrade to 512GB and 1TB of storage for an additional cost. Out of all the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra colors, Green Shadow is exclusive to Samsung's online store.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 was released on July 10, 2024, for $1,899. It was available in Pink, Navy, Silver Shadow, Crafted Black, and White colorways. Now, the phone is mostly unavailable in new condition, but refurbished and used models are enticing — they'll only run you about $500.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 vs. Galaxy Z Fold 6: Design and display

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra keeps the same general design language as the Galaxy Z Fold 7, but it has a different chamfer that makes it easier to open. Compared to the Galaxy Z Fold 6, though, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is considerably thinner and lighter. The new model measures 4.1mm thick opened and 8.9mm closed. That's quite the jump from the Galaxy Z Fold 6, which is 12.1mm folded and 5.6mm unfolded.

The Galaxy Z Fold 6 is also heavier than the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, with the older foldable measuring 239 grams versus 215 grams. The thinner and lighter form factor makes the Fold 8 Ultra feel like a regular phone that happens to unfold, rather than two phones stuck together.

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra has an 8-inch main screen with a 120Hz refresh rate. Compared to newer models, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 has a more visible crease.

The older foldable's main screen is only 7.6 inches, but it supports the same 120Hz refresh rate and uses identical OLED technology. The outer screen is narrower than the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, as Samsung has finally settled on a slightly wider cover-screen aspect ratio. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 features a 6.3-inch outer screen, while the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra comes with a 6.5-inch cover screen.

Both devices are covered by an IP48 water and dust resistance rating, despite higher levels of protection from other foldables. However, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra adds anti-reflective properties to the folding display cover.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 vs. Galaxy Z Fold 6: Hardware and specs

The Galaxy Z Fold 6 is still supported with Android OS upgrades and has a capable Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy processor with 12GB of memory. However, the latest Qualcomm chips are major leaps over older Snapdragon platforms. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is faster and more capable than the Galaxy Z Fold 6, thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy chipset.

Samsung upgraded the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra's battery by increasing the capacity to 5,000mAh and using silicon-carbon battery tech. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 has a 4,400mAh capacity, which is the same as the Galaxy Z Fold 7. It also has slower charging, supporting 25W speeds over a cable and 15W wirelessly.

The Galaxy Z Fold 6's camera system is already behind the curve. It offers a 50MP main camera, a 12MP ultrawide sensor, and a 10MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom capabilities. By comparison, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra's primary camera is a 200MP sensor. Even the secondary lenses are better, with a 50MP ultrawide camera and a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 vs. Galaxy Z Fold 6: Which should you buy?

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 is quite capable for 2026, even though its form factor might feel outdated as foldables chase thinner and lighter designs. The thicker build makes the Fold 6 feel more premium and lets its hinge stay open at more angles without tipping over. The S Pen support is an added bonus, since the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra ships without it.

Meanwhile, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra builds upon the upgrades already introduced with the Fold 7. That means you get great performance, a thin and light design, a superb camera system, and excellent software. It may be tough — if not impossible — to justify spending $2,000 on a new foldable if you already shelled out for the Galaxy Z Fold 6 two years ago.

That said, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is tempting. Almost everything is better, and if you get a good trade-in deal, the upgrade could be worthwhile.

It's never an easy answer, but I've used all three Galaxy Z 8 phones, and I feel like I have a pretty good idea of who these devices are for. And with the Galaxy Z 8 phones going on sale on August 7, this should hopefully help you get a better idea of which device you should buy.

In the meantime, check out the latest Galaxy Z Fold 8 promotions and Flip 8 deals to see how you can spend less on these incredible phones.

Samsung GAlaxy Z 8 series: Spec comparison

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8: Short and sweet

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 is Samsung's newest fold factor, taking what we love about the Galaxy Z Fold series and shrinking it. The result is something in between the Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip: a more pocketable, book-style foldable. When folded, it's roughly the size of a passport, and when open, it provides a wider, more tablet-like view than its larger Ultra sibling.

This makes the Galaxy Z Fold 8 a great tablet for things like reading articles and other content, as you can easily flip it vertically for less scrolling. And in addition to e-books and other similar content, this makes the inner display better suited for vertical games like Pokémon Go.

It also makes content like videos look less awkward, as you have fewer black bars on the top and bottom of the screen when the phone is unfolded, at least compared to the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra. And videos seem to fit perfectly on the external display.

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 is easily one of the most accessible foldables. It's for anyone who wants the utility of a book-style foldable in a lighter, more comfortable form factor that feels more natural to use. It also helps that at $1,900, the phone is cheaper than the Z Fold 8 Ultra, while still sporting the same Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip, a crease-less folding display, and a great pair of cameras.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra: Productivity powerhouse

Even though I've been using the Z Fold 8 for most things, I realized that I subconsciously defaulted to the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra when it came time to get work done. That's indicative of how Samsung is positioning the Ultra; it's for anyone who wants to get work done using the absolute best that Samsung has to offer in a foldable in a larger form factor.

The 8-inch display makes it an ideal canvas for multitasking, and while there is no S Pen support, the Ultra makes up for it with its stronger battery life and thinner profile. Then there's the 200MP camera, which gets you much more detail in every shot, while the 3x telephoto sensor can get you closer to your subject without sacrificing quality.

And of course, you can do everything the Z Fold 8 can do, just on a larger screen. That means reading, watching videos, scrolling through apps, drafting papers, and more. And who doesn't like showing off their photos and videos on a large tablet-like display that you can fold in half when you just need a phone?

Of course, the Ultra comes with an ultra price tag, starting at an eye-watering $2,100. But if you need a phone that can keep up with your busy lifestyle, this is likely the one for you.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8: Fashionable and nostalgic

For years, flip phones have leaned on nostalgia to attract sales, but it's a bit more than that. The Galaxy Z Flip 8 continues to build on Samsung's expertise by introducing an even thinner model than last year's, making it not only extremely pocketable, but also a very good-looking phone.

The Galaxy Z Flip 8 is for anyone who doesn't need the extra screen real estate of a larger book-style foldable, but still wants the utility of a foldable. With the Galaxy Z Flip 8, you can use apps on the cover screen instead of the main screen, which can potentially save battery and makes using apps less conspicuous than on a larger display.

There are also other benefits, such as Camcorder mode, which makes recording videos really easy and smooth. Taking selfies is also a better experience on the Flip 8, as you can just use the main 50MP camera and larger 4.1-inch cover screen to take high-quality selfies.

Perhaps one of the biggest selling points, aside from its stylish and pocketable design, is the price tag. The Galaxy Z Flip 8 is the cheapest of Samsung's Galaxy Z 8 phones, costing "just" $1,200, while still offering a powerful chipset, the latest AI features, and seven years of software updates.

• A new Galaxy S27 Ultra leak suggests Samsung could ditch its long-running floating camera ring design in favor of a unified camera module.
• A rumored 5,700mAh silicon-carbon battery could deliver a major boost in battery life over previous Ultra models.
• Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro for Galaxy and up to 16GB of RAM are tipped to power the flagship.

Samsung may finally be moving away from small incremental updates to make some serious structural upgrades with its next flagship model. Freshly leaked specs shared by tipster Anthony (@TheGalox_) on X suggest the upcoming Galaxy S27 Ultra could bring major hardware upgrades in multiple areas.

The tipster says that Samsung seems set to take on the silicon-carbon battery tech with a massive 5,700mAh capacity. That's a big jump over previous generations, promising much longer endurance for heavy power users.

Like the Galaxy S26 Ultra, the phone is said to feature a 6.9-inch QHD+ Privacy Display, designed to keep prying eyes away from your sensitive screen content. The flagship is said to feature a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro for Galaxy silicon under the hood, with either 12GB or 16GB of RAM. That said, a recent rumor claims the device might miss out on LPDDR6 RAM and UFS 5.0 storage upgrades.

On the front, we might see an upgraded 16MP selfie shooter that now packs optical image stabilization (OIS) for steady video logging and crisp low-light shots. Samsung could put a 200MP main sensor on the back, paired with three 50MP lenses: an ultrawide, a 5x telephoto camera, and a second dedicated telephoto sensor for extended zoom ranges.

The leak also hints at a new design for the Galaxy S27 Ultra’s camera module. The next flagship is said to feature a redesigned camera housing that brings the rear sensors into a more unified module, moving away from the familiar layout Samsung has used since the Galaxy S22 Ultra.

If true, that would be one of the largest visual changes to the Ultra lineup in years, although this information should be taken with a pinch of salt despite the leaker's decent history with phone leaks.

Likewise, early leaks can change before official production lines are rolled out. But if these specs hold up for the official reveal, Samsung is poised to set an aggressive high-water mark for premium smartphones.

• Rumors now claim Samsung might hold off on a RAM/storage upgrade for the Galaxy S27 Ultra.
• A Korean tipster suggests Samsung might provide LPDDR6 RAM upgrades to other companies' "limited edition" phones.
• As a result, Samsung might leave this and a UFS 5.0 storage upgrade out of the S27 Ultra.
• This walks back previous rumors; however, those same reports said Samsung was concerned about pushing the cost of the phones too high.

The phone industry has been through it with memory issues, and now rumors say an upgrade we thought we'd get might not happen.

A consistent tipster on Naver (Korean), Lanzuk, says "details have emerged" about the situation regarding Samsung's storage and memory (via SamMobile). Lanzuk speaks first about Samsung's LPDDR6 RAM, citing information obtained from Weibo. They claim this hardware is "expected to be featured in flagship models from major manufacturers next year." These "flagship models" from major companies might only involve "limited edition commemorative" (machine-translated) phones.

When we see "limited edition," we think limited quantities, and that's exactly what Lanzuk claims. It seems this will involve Samsung's UFS 5.0 storage, too. It's this upgraded storage tech and LPDDR6 RAM that Lanzuk says might not be in the cards for the Galaxy S27 Ultra.

Lanzuk claims it's "not good" for the S27 Ultra to receive these major upgrades next year. If true, this would be a bummer. Also, the situation must've changed drastically, considering this tipster said the opposite in April.

Things have changed

A few months ago, rumors got underway about a possible UFS 5.0 storage upgrade for the Galaxy S27. This was an upgrade that many believed would hit the Galaxy S27 Ultra at the very least. Rumors only said this would affect "some models," and Samsung's top player seemed like the best fit. UFS 5.0 would bring "an increase to a device's sequential performance to 10.8GB per second," while also taking AI into heavy consideration.

On the surface, this seems like a major and worthwhile upgrade. However, those same reports were a little hesitant to go all in. Samsung reportedly had a lot on its plate to consider. The phone's price, as well as its mass production costs, could've hindered this possibility. Since the rumors have walked back on what was said in April, maybe these worries became a reality for Samsung.

Cost concerns might make the base Galaxy S27 more of a mild phone than we want. Talk online says Samsung might "freeze" any major upgrades for the S27. This could include its cameras and display materials.

Android Central's Take

If you haven't seen my coverage of Samsung's Q2 earnings, I'd suggest you give a quick little gander. Basically, the concerns that have been "expressed" in previous rumors about Galaxy S27 upgrades were mentioned. Rising costs. RAM and storage. It's a tricky climate that companies have had to navigate. For consumers, we're trying to hold onto our wallets. We want new devices, sure, that's fine, but there comes a point where we have to make a decision that truly benefits us. Samsung knows the number one issue is price, as do many others.

• Samsung posted its Q2 2026 earnings, stating it recorded KRW 171.5 trillion in consolidated revenue, a 28% QoQ increase.
• The company's DS division recorded an all-time high thanks to its Memory Business; however, it MX (phone) division marked a decline.
• The smartphone market has been struggling all year, but Samsung has been hanging in there, partly due to its Galaxy S26 series.

It's about that time when earnings calls take place. Samsung is reporting its Q2 performance, and the company has confirmed a loss in its mobile division.

Samsung announced its Q2 2026 earnings, highlighting consolidated revenue of KRW 171.5 trillion (28% QoQ increase) and operating profit of KRW 89.5 trillion. Initially, the report begins well. As a company, Samsung says Q2 delivered "another all-time quarterly high." A majority of this concerns the company's DS (device solutions) division. Of course, we're talking about Samsung's Memory Business, which reportedly set "an all-time high for quarterly revenue and operating profit."

Its DS division posted KRW 127.5 million in revenue (56% QoQ increase). According to the company, "The Memory Business achieved another record-breaking quarter by proactively addressing AI demand despite limited capacity with a primary focus on server products." Samsung expects this trend to continue into the second half of 2026, as the adoption of Agentic AI and AI infrastructures continues.

Where there's a plus, there's a minus, and Samsung's MX (mobile eXperience) division took a hit. Samsung says it saw KRW 33.2 trillion in revenue, marking growth YoY (year-over-year) thanks to the Galaxy S26 series and good sales for its A-series phones. However, operating profits dropped in Q2 "due to increased cost burdens across the industry, such as rising component costs," which can only be attributed to the memory issues.

Seeking Alpha's transcripts of the earnings call see Samsung mention what it's looking forward to in 2026, teasing new devices (via 9to5Google). Samsung says it expects the Galaxy S26 series to retain its "momentum" in the second half with the Galaxy S26 FE launch. What's more, it's looking to "ensure the successful launch of new premium products," such as the Galaxy Tab S12 series later on.

Samsung did mention its Intelligent eyewear smart glasses, stating it's "bringing a new form factor experience for the AI era..." A date wasn't given, but it seems we can still expect it later in the year.

The 2026 trend

It's hard to say we're surprised by Samsung's Q2, especially when we look back at 2026 so far. In Q1, Omdia's research report about the state of the U.S. smartphone market showed a 3% YoY dip. Rising memory and storage costs were attributed to this decline. Samsung was the top OEM; however, it posted a 5% decline in smartphone shipments. Omdia said that this decline was likely kept to a minimum by the Galaxy S26 series. The latest series may have performed well, but Samsung was reportedly in crisis mode in March.

The Galaxy S26 saw record pre-orders, but that didn't help its outlook. It was still estimated that Samsung's smartphone profits would fall in 2026, and we're seeing that here in Q2. This memory crisis is taking a toll on the phone industry as a whole. A Q2 market report showed a 4% global decline. Still, the Galaxy S26 series' "resilient demand" helped Samsung post a 2% increase.

Android Central's Take

This has "become the norm" in the industry. AI is causing a bit of a sitr in more ways than memory and storage issues. Some companies see the light at the end of the tunnel. That things will get better. Others are trying to buckle down and figure out a way to weather the storm. The issue is pricing. I'm sure we can all agree on that. Companies start struggling, and it's often the consumer that gets the worst of it.

• Galaxy S25 Ultra users on Samsung's Community forums report severe battery drain problems after downloading the July patch under normal use.
• Other S25 Ultra users say their phone is now overheating, alongside this battery drain issue (S24 Ultra users are struggling, too).
• The Galaxy S25 Plus and Ultra experienced a charging issue last February, which Samsung said it could fix with a software patch.

Users aren't having the best time with two of Samsung's past-gen Ultra phones after downloading its current July security update.

Galaxy S24 and S25 Ultra users have created threads on Samsung's Community forum about issues they've experienced following the July update (via NotebookCheck). Users with an S25 Ultra have been hit with a double-whammy, as one report states their device's battery is draining severely while idle. The user says, "I am experiencing a critical and sudden battery drain issue on my Galaxy S25 Ultra that began immediately after installing the July Security Patch update."

The user's screenshot shows their S25 Ultra's battery plummeting from 85% (while asleep) to 5% by midday. To make matters worse, the user states their analytics show their phone is losing roughly 5% to 7% battery per hour without proper use. Curiously, this user didn't mention an overheating issue, something another report did. In conjunction with a severe battery drain, one user says their phone "becomes very hot." Other users have reported similarities with their S25 Ultra; however, the S24 Ultra and the S24 Plus were mentioned.

The publication spotted a Galaxy S24 Ultra thread, highlighting similar battery drain issues S25 Ultra users are experiencing. This report states that they're unable to make it a day with "similar usage." Users have tried to help each other, offering your standard flavor of troubleshooting/at-home fixes. Nothing's worked thus far. Users have reported the required logs and other details to Samsung.

There were charging issues before...

Regarding its battery, the Galaxy S25 series had its issues. The Galaxy S25 Plus and Ultra gave users quite a headache with charging issues. These problems were reportedly encountered with Samsung's cable and adapter. Users on social media said the 45W adapter and 5A cable would either force their device to charge slowly or not charge at all. What's more, these phones would display their charging status even when the cable wasn't plugged in.

Samsung responded to these issues relatively quickly last year. It confirmed that a software patch would fix the issue to the relief of many. Hopefully we're looking at a similar occurrence for users experiencing problems today.

• A leaked One UI 9 feature suggests Samsung is working on an "App Screen Zoom" feature for the Galaxy Z Fold 8.
• The feature lets users alter the "screen zoom level for each app" with varying options from "Smallest" to "Largest," with the former displaying even more content.
• Recent reports claim the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is smashing Samsung's pre-order expectations, and some retailers are displaying delayed shipping dates.

It's been a week since Galaxy Unpacked revealed everything from foldables to watches. Samsung's wide Galaxy Z Fold 8 is here, but a tipster claims the company is working on an app option that takes its experience up a level.

This week, tipster Ice Universe on X discussed an "app-level display customization" option that Samsung is reportedly testing for the Galaxy Z Fold 8 in One UI 9 (via 9to5Google). The leak highlights an "App Screen Zoom" feature that might find its way into Samsung Labs, an environment for testing early content. The company's early description says this option lets users "set a separate screen zoom level for each app." In the tipster's report, YouTube is used as an example.

They state, "YouTube normally shows only two rows of video recommendations on the screen." However, this is using the "Small" app zoom-level option (the default). At one point, Ice Universe swaps this to "Smallest." While we instinctually think everything is tiny—thumbnails, text, etc.—the "Smallest" option isn't that bad. By default, YouTube on the Galaxy Z Fold 8 displays two large video thumbnails (long-form content) side by side.

When switched to the "Smallest" option, those thumbnails are slightly reduced to fit three videos in a row. Additionally, the tipster adds, "...it can show three rows of videos at the same time, allowing me to browse more content without constantly scrolling." The leak continues, stating App Screen Zoom offers Smallest, Small, Medium, Large, and Largest levels. Considering this is a leak, and since we don't even have the Galaxy Z Fold 8 yet, we might have to wait a while before this rolls out.

Making it better

How apps respond to the Galaxy Z Fold 8 was an area of concern when it debuted. My colleague Derrek Lee was curious about this, too, and his hands-on quickly abated his worries. In his experience, apps "resize well." When it comes to vertical videos, users might notice the black bars. However, another major plus about the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is its ability to host three apps on its internal screen. This could be boosted by this App Screen Zoom leak, since users can alter the zoom and potentially enhance the amount of content they see when multitasking.

On a related note, reports claim the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is incredibly popular, smashing Samsung's expectations in South Korea. Specific numbers weren't given; however, it was said that the Fold 8 is selling out in online and offline retailers, with some stores showing delayed shipment dates.

Android Central's Take

Am I turning into a foldable enjoyer? I remember how the Fold 7 almost got me to convert from a regular slab phone to that style of device. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 is an appealing phone. This device seems to tick some important boxes for app enjoyment. For scrolling and video watching. Apps resize well, which is a plus, and now Samsung is reportedly testing this zoom level feature. That means apps would (ideally) look even better in this wider format.

• The Galaxy S26 FE could launch on September 1, 2026, but a new leak suggests buyers may have to pay significantly more than last year's model.
• Price hikes may hit every storage tier, with the 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB variants reportedly costing €50, €90, and €150 more, respectively.
• Three color options are expected, including Graphite, Aqua Green, and a new deep blue-purple finish.

Samsung's next Fan Edition phone could end up costing more than expected, at least if a new leak from France is accurate. The Galaxy S26 FE has already leaked a few times in terms of its design and hardware, but now we might have the clearest look yet on how Samsung intends to price it, and buyers in search of the cheapest model might be in for an unwelcome surprise.

According to a new report from Dealabs, the Galaxy S26 FE will hit retail shelves on September 1, 2026. The release schedule for that timeline is similar to last year’s, but the price tag on this year’s model may not be familiar to bargain hunters.

According to the report, European buyers in France could face steep price hikes across every storage configuration. The base 128GB Galaxy S26 FE is said to start at €749, or €50 more than its predecessor. Going for the 256GB version will reportedly set you back €809, a €90 increase. If you’re looking to go all-in on local storage, the top-tier 512GB model could cost you €929, a hefty €150 bump.

And while Samsung dropped the 128GB option on the flagship Galaxy S26 series to justify higher base prices, the S26 FE is said to retain 128GB onboard as its base tier. Presumably, the changes are a result of industry-wide component shortages and increasing RAM prices.

Storage is not the only thing coming in for attention. The leak also hints at three colour options: Graphite, Aqua Green, and a mysterious third colour that sounds like a deep blue-purple hybrid.

Previous leaks have indicated that the Galaxy S26 FE will have a design much closer to the flagship Galaxy S26 family than previous Fan Edition models. It’s already been spotted in a Wireless Power Consortium listing, showing Samsung’s reworked raised camera housing, so the budget model shouldn’t look out of place next to its pricier siblings. The phone is also said to be powered by Samsung’s Exynos 2500 chip, although the company has not confirmed the final hardware.

Android Central's Take

If Samsung really is giving buyers something meaningful in return, I don’t mind paying a little more. If these leaked prices are true, Samsung will need to find a way to convince users that the Galaxy S26 FE is more than just an FE in name. Otherwise, it risks making the Galaxy lineup’s once-value pick yet another phone that’s slowly creeping out of “affordable” territory.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 was just unveiled last week, and we've already seen plenty of preorder deals that make the innovative foldable much cheaper or even free if you can meet the eligibility requirements. The problem is that most of these deals required a trade-in — until now.

Add a line with the Experience More or Experience Beyond plan and T-Mobile will give you a straight $1,100 off the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 when you place your order ahead of the phone's August 7th release date. Of course, if you do have an old or broken phone to trade in, T-Mobile will increase your potential discount to $1,900 with the Experience Beyond plan, effectively making your preorder free.

Either way, the potential savings here could be immense. Considering that the foldable phone starts at a hefty $1,899.99 for the 256GB version, I'll take just about any deal I can get. The less fine print, the better. 

Score $1,100 off the Galaxy Z Fold 8 with new line at T-Mobile

• See my guide to the best T-Mobile deals of July 2026

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 completely changed up Samsung's long-running Z Fold series, introducing a wider, passport-style design with a 16:10 aspect ratio, while under the hood you get the new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, 12GB of RAM, and all of the latest Galaxy AI features. The phone also comes with a long-lasting 4,800mAh battery and seven years of OS and security upgrades guaranteed.

If you preferred the look of previous Z Fold phones, the new Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra remains a great (albeit more expensive) choice, but if you want a thin and ultra-lightweight smartphone that's perfect for multitasking or streaming video, the new-and-improved Galaxy Z Fold 8 offers one of the best Android experiences around.  

More Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 preorder deals - quick links

• Verizon: new line savings, trade-in deals
• Samsung: up to $1,200 of trade-in credit
• Amazon: free $350 gift card with purchase
• Best Buy: trade-in savings, free gift cards
• AT&T: FREE Z Fold 8 with eligible trade-in, new line
• Xfinity Mobile: up to $1,000 off with trade-in, new line

• Samsung Messages no longer works in the U.S., but a new app aims to recreate the familiar One UI messaging experience.
• Messages by OzarksMade supports SMS, MMS, RCS, group chats, and conversation categories.
• You'll still need Google Messages installed since Google's RCS infrastructure isn't open to third-party apps.
• The app is currently in beta, with a public release planned later for a one-time purchase price of $0.99.

Samsung discontinued its Samsung Messages app in the U.S. earlier this month, but a new third-party app aims to bring back the same experience, complete with the familiar One UI design and RCS support.

Earlier this year, Samsung confirmed that Samsung Messages would stop working in the U.S. beginning in July 2026, encouraging users to switch to Google Messages instead. That deadline has now passed, and Galaxy users in the U.S. can no longer send or receive messages through Samsung Messages.

Thankfully, a developer has stepped in to fill the gap.

A new app called Messages by OzarksMade has been built specifically for Samsung users who miss the old Samsung Messages experience.

According to the developer, the goal is to recreate Samsung's messaging app as closely as possible, complete with the familiar One UI design, while also supporting modern RCS messaging and bringing back many of the features Galaxy users have come to expect.

This feels surprisingly close to Samsung Messages

The current beta already supports SMS, MMS, RCS, group chats, group messaging, scheduled messages, and more. It also includes Samsung Messages features like conversation categories. Chat themes are still missing for now, but the developer says they're already planned for the next update.

Since Samsung retired its own messaging app, the company has been directing users towards Google Messages as the default messaging app on Galaxy phones. And while Google Messages has improved significantly over the past few years and now offers many of the same features, it still doesn't completely replicate the Samsung Messages experience. That's exactly the gap this app is trying to fill.

There is one important limitation, though. Because Google doesn't allow third-party apps direct access to its RCS infrastructure, you'll still need Google Messages installed in the background for RCS to work. Even so, you'll continue using Messages by OzarksMade as your primary messaging app.

I haven't had a chance to try the beta myself just yet, but I'll be going hands-on with it very soon. If you're interested, you can already sign up for the beta through the developer's website.

Once development is complete and the app leaves beta, the developer says it will be available for a one-time purchase of $0.99.

• Early reports claim that the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is capturing audiences overseas, as pre-orders are shattering expectations.
• The device is seemingly outpacing Samsung's Fold 8 Ultra and Flip 8, as inventory sells out online, forcing shipping delays.
• The Galaxy Z Fold 8 features a 5.4-inch cover display with a 16:10 aspect ratio in a more comfortable and pocketable form factor.

It's been almost a week since Galaxy Unpacked, and almost a week since pre-orders began for its next-gen foldables like the (wide) Galaxy Z Fold 8. Early reports claim this device is seeing popularity that's stunning Samsung.

The Galaxy Z Fold 8's popularity is reportedly shattering Samsung's expectations. Rumors about its performance started appearing on X, courtesy of tipster Ice Universe (via 9to5Google). The tipster alleges that the "pre-order volume" of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 has "far exceeded the Fold 8 Ultra." This information reportedly comes from early numbers out of South Korea. Users in the thread commented, offering their experience.

• See Android Central's guide to the best Galaxy Z Fold 8 preorder deals

One user states that as soon as the pre-order period began in South Korea, "the site crashed, and within less than 30 minutes, the dates got pushed back from August 4 to 28." They added that the device was seemingly sold out (or pushed back due to severe popularity) on Samsung's official website. The Flip 8 and the Fold 8 Ultra are reportedly still on schedule to ship/arrive by August 4.

Similarly, a report by another tipster, Lanzuk, on Naver suggests more of the same. They state sales for the Galaxy Z Fold 8 are "exceeding expectations," reportedly based on a "preliminary tally" of the first round of pre-orders. Online stock is apparently sold out, and many offline channels for procuring the device are backlogged. Users in the comments seemed to agree with the Fold 8's purported popularity.

Don't jump to conclusions

Some people were understandably skeptical about the Galaxy Z Fold 8, like Android Central's Derrek Lee. The Fold 8 is the wide addition to the foldable lineup, which means the Fold 8 Ultra is actually the successor to the Fold 7. These two look pretty much identical; however, the bigger story here is the Galaxy Z Fold 8. Samsung went smaller to go wider. The Fold 8 offers a 5.4-inch cover display with a 16:10 aspect ratio.

In Derrek's experience, the Fold 8 fits very well in the palm of his hand, and its thin profile (9.7mm) makes it quite a pocketable phone. One concern was how apps would react to a phone of this size, but they resize well on the Fold 8. Long-form videos look a bit better on the taller Fold 8 Ultra, due to its size, but if you flip the device sideways, it's all gravy. Multitasking also took a step up, as the Fold 8 can fit three apps side-by-side.

What's also caught our attention is the S Pen, or rather the lack thereof. Neither the Fold 8 nor the Fold 8 Ultra features Samsung's stylus. If you consider how multitasking-heavy these phones are, and how Samsung pushes users to take advantage of it, you'd imagine the stylus would be there. Other tools on the phones probably make the lack of a stylus sting less, so it's not a huge problem.

Android Central's Take

I feel that the main thing consumers will have trouble with is their choice. Which decision will you make? Are you more interested in a taller, "bigger" foldable or something a bit smaller and wider? A more pocketable phone. I like the wide Galaxy Z Fold 8. And this is where things get interesting because I mentioned this during the live blog. We see how popular the Fold 8 is and how the Flip 8 is supposedly sliding back. The Fold 8 seems to nail what consumers are looking for out of a foldable. I'm still curious on specific numbers if these reports are true.

Process a trade-in and add a line with an eligible data plan and AT&T will give you up to $1,000 off the Galaxy Z Flip 8. That knocks the price of the innovative foldable down to just $5.56 per month for 36 months! Think of it as the large latte that you order every month, except it's not a latte: it's an incredible 2026 flip phone.

AT&T deal drops the Galaxy Z Flip 8 to just over $5 per month

AT&T has listed the Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus, Z Flip 4, and Galaxy Z Flip 3 (or higher) as devices that will earn you the full $1,000 of trade-in credit, while older devices dating all the way back to the Samsung Galaxy S10 series will guarantee you $500 off your preorder. A new line on the carrier's Extra 2.0 plan or higher is also required to earn the full discount.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 takes the foundation of last year's excellent Z Flip 7 and adds a thinner and more lightweight build along with the incorporation of a custom Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor. The finished product is a powerful flip phone with a sleek, sophisticated design, outstanding performance, and seven years of OS and security upgrades guaranteed.

It also retails for $100 more than last year's version, which is why Galaxy Z Flip 8 preorder deals like the offer above are so important. Sure, this deal isn't for everyone, and there's probably no urgent reason to upgrade if you already own the Galaxy Z Flip 7. But if you've had your eye on Samsung's latest masterpiece and you're looking to upgrade your wireless service, this AT&T deal is one of the best on the web.

• Galaxy S27 Pro and S27 Ultra rumors return after battery specifications allegedly surface online.
• The S27 Ultra is rumored to get a 5,700mAh or 5,800mAh battery upgrade, while the S27 Pro could see a 5,200mAh cell.
• These numbers go against a previous rumor that said Samsung's potential silicon-carbon upgrade might not increase the capacities.

Rumors are surfacing fast and furiously about an upgrade Samsung could give two of its flagship Galaxy S phones next year. If these rumors become reality, Samsung might finally make good on the one thing we've wanted for years.

Earlier this morning (July 27), continuing rumors from last week, GalaxyClub (Dutch) now suggests the specifications for a Galaxy S27 Pro and S27 Ultra battery upgrade have appeared (via SamMobile). The publication alleges that both phones could sport battery capacities above the 5,000mAh threshold. According to the post, the Galaxy S27 Ultra could receive a 5,700mAh or 5,800mAh battery at the next Galaxy Unpacked.

The publication assumes that this could be the result of Samsung dipping more into silicon-carbon battery technology. Nothing's confirmed, but more on that in a moment. The rumors continue, stating the Galaxy S27 Pro might deliver a 5,200mAh battery. There have been several rumors about the S27 Pro, especially since next year (if we're believing the rumors) would be its debut.

One common thread is that the Pro might "mirror" the Ultra in a few ways. This battery upgrade is new, considering we've heard things about its camera. Regarding the latest battery upgrade, this was a rumor that picked up traction from Naver (Korean).

Things have changed

The Galaxy S27's battery was the subject of a rumor last week. A tipster from Naver claimed that Samsung was in the early stages of integrating its silicon-carbon battery tech with the upcoming series. Supposedly, the company had its devices "undergoing application testing." Strangely, the tipster alleged that nothing was confirmed (of course, this is a rumor) and that the cell capacities hadn't increased.

The rumors from GalaxyClub walk back on a portion of this rumor, stating the capacities have increased, and by a noticeable amount, too. The Galaxy S25 Ultra features a 5,000mAh battery. The S26 Ultra does, too. We've been stuck in this realm for a while with Samsung's Ultra model, and an 800mAh increase would be a boon to its battery life, enabling more scrolling, gaming, and video watching. This silicon-carbon angle is even more interesting when you consider Samsung's latest foldables now feature it.

Still, these are rumors, and we should treat them as such (though it is exciting). The other side of that report said the S27 and S27 Pro could swap Samsung's ISOCELL camera sensor for Sony's.

Android Central's Take

It would've been hard to imagine a major upgrade like silicon-carbon batteries without a meaningful capacity increase. The Ultra needs some help. I like the phone, but the battery capacity is lagging behind its competitors. There's no two ways about it. Asking for a 6,000mAh battery might sound like greed, so if a 5,800mAh is what we're looking at, that's fine.

• Samsung is reportedly planning a second-generation Galaxy Z TriFold for 2027.
• The next TriFold is expected to keep the same display size, suggesting Samsung is focusing on scaling the product rather than redesigning it.
• Samsung could launch four foldables in 2027 — Galaxy Z Flip 9, Z Fold 9, Z Fold 9 Ultra, and the new TriFold — expanding its premium lineup.

Samsung’s first tri-fold phone wasn’t supposed to be a blockbuster hit, but it seems the company is already planning a much bigger successor. Samsung has reportedly started work on a second-generation Galaxy Z TriFold, with a launch apparently scheduled for 2027, and this time the company may be ready to sell it to far more people.

Korean publication ETNews reports that Samsung has already shared details of the new device with component partners, meaning that development is well underway ahead of launch. While details about the hardware are still scarce, the report indicates that the next TriFold will likely retain the same display size as the current model. The hardware is not that interesting, but the production strategy of Samsung is.

That’s a huge departure from Samsung’s original Galaxy Z TriFold, which was launched as an experimental device in limited quantities and markets. The company treated it more like a technology showcase than a volume seller, making it difficult for most buyers to get their hands on one. If the latest report is to be believed, Samsung now looks confident enough to bring the concept closer to the mainstream by ramping up manufacturing and increasing availability.

The report also claims that Samsung might launch four premium foldables instead of three in the second half of 2027: the Galaxy Z Flip 9, Galaxy Z Fold 9, Galaxy Z Fold 9 Ultra, and the second-gen Galaxy Z TriFold. That would also put to rest recent rumors suggesting that this year's Galaxy Z Flip 8 might be the last of Samsung's clamshell foldables.

Samsung is also said to be expanding the Galaxy S family. Previous reports have suggested that the Galaxy S27 range could include the Galaxy S27, S27 Plus, S27 Pro, and S27 Ultra. If that happens, Samsung would have a “4+4” flagship strategy — four Galaxy S devices in the first half of the year and four foldables in the second half.

It is still early for now. Samsung has made no announcements around any of these plans, and a lot can change before 2027 rolls around.

Android Central's Take

I fully support Samsung's efforts to push the boundaries of foldables, but a tri-fold only matters if most people can actually buy it. A flashy concept with limited production and sky-high pricing doesn't advance the industry. The real upgrade would be if Samsung is finally serious about making its next TriFold more broadly available.

I've spent exactly a year with the Galaxy Z Flip 7, testing Samsung's foldable against the older Galaxy Z Flip 6 and the entire Motorola Razr 2026 lineup. Truth be told, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 is slightly underrated. It's easy to ridicule the flip phone for its poor cover screen software, but beyond that, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 features polished hardware and great hardware support.

It's still going strong in 2026, and these are the things I love (and don't love) about the Galaxy Z Flip 7 after long-term use.

Samsung's flip design is still better than Motorola's

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7's IP48 certification won't win any awards, but overall, this is the best-built foldable you can buy in North America. It's sturdy, with a strong hinge and a nearly crease-less display. My favorite part about the Galaxy Z Flip 7 is its form factor. The flip phone weighs only 188 grams and measures just 13.7mm when folded, seriously undercutting the Razr Ultra 2026.

I can guarantee you'll notice the thinner, lightweight build of the Galaxy Z Flip 7 as you live with it for months. It's no Galaxy Z Fold 7 — flips simply have less internal space to work with, resulting in thicker builds — but it's still impressive. More importantly, I'm fond of the Galaxy Z Flip 7's rectangular shape. It feels polished and premium, whereas I find the Razr Ultra 2026's curvy design to make it look thicker than it actually is.

Motorola gets credit for the stylish PANTONE colorways available throughout the Razr line, but I'll take the Galaxy Z Flip 7's footprint anyway.

The Galaxy Z Flip 7's cover screen software is still disappointing

The one Galaxy Z Flip 7 drawback that is borderline disqualifying is the phone's cover screen software. It's more limited than the Motorola Razr Ultra 2026 — you need to use extra apps like MultiStar to get basic apps running on the Galaxy Z Flip 7 cover screen. The real problem is the Galaxy Z Flip 7's Flex Window software pales in comparison to the Galaxy Z Flip 6.

You used to be able to add widgets and use full-screen widgets on the cover screen. Now, you have to open the phone to add widgets, and the largest widgets (with the exception of launchers) are 2x2. As such, you can see fewer bits of information on the Galaxy Z Flip 7 cover screen than on the Galaxy Z Flip cover screen. I've hoped for updates to improve cover screen functionality, but running One UI 8.5, it's the same story.

If running full-screen apps on the cover screen and enjoying data-dense widgets are important to you, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 unfortunately isn't a real option. You'll have to go with a Motorola flip.

The folding display's aspect ratio is nearly perfect

After using the Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 7, it's clear that the wider screens can't be understated. The 6.9-inch folding display on the Galaxy Z Flip 7 measures 68.6 millimeters wide. This makes it feel just like a Galaxy S25 Edge or Galaxy S26 Plus, and the Galaxy Z Flip 7 is a joy to use as a result. Foldables typically compromised the traditional smartphone experience with narrow screens and odd aspect ratios, but the Galaxy Z Flip 7 doesn't.

Although the cover screen software leaves a lot to be desired, the Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel inside is outstanding. The aspect ratio and size are two big reasons why, but the 120Hz refresh rates and 2,600 nits of peak brightness are others. This is more like a slab phone you can fold in half, rather than a flip phone with a cover screen designed to keep you from opening it. A year with the Galaxy Z Flip 7 taught me that Samsung and Motorola's flips might serve different audiences.

The camera sensors are lackluster, even for a foldable

Samsung's slow pace of smartphone upgrades is well documented, and the Galaxy Z Flip 7's camera system is further evidence. There's a 50MP main camera and a 12MP ultrawide camera, which isn't great compared to Motorola's dual 50MP sensors on the Razr Ultra 2026.

Yes, Motorola's phone is a year newer and more expensive, but the brand's last-gen Razr Ultra 2025 also had dual 50MP rear cameras — and it costs less than the Galaxy Z Flip 7 today. I didn't find the Galaxy Z Flip 7's camera system to be terrible, but there are certainly flip phones with better offerings.

One UI is superb and there's long software support

It's easy to forget that, outside of the Galaxy Z Flip 7's cover screen limitations, the foldable ships with great software. One UI 8 was excellent out of the box, and One UI 8.5 is better. Soon, the flip phone will get the boost to One UI 9. For a lot of people, One UI will feel smoother, cleaner, and more versatile compared to Motorola's My UX.

The big thing to remember is the phone's software support. With a seven-year guarantee, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 will get updates for years to come. The Razr Ultra 2026 is supported for less than half as long, with only three guaranteed Android OS upgrades. Especially considering the high cost of Motorola foldables, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 (and the new Galaxy Z Flip 8) feel like the better deal due to software support.

Battery life and charging could use some work

As silicon-carbon batteries become more common on phones sold in the U.S., the Galaxy Z Flip 7's battery looks worse. It's only a 4,300mAh battery with slow 25W wired charging, and no Qi2 magnets. Compared to the 5,000mAh Razr Ultra 2026, it's not even a competition. Even though the Galaxy Z Flip 7 has a larger battery than the Galaxy Z Flip 6, I found that battery life was about the same between generations.

The Galaxy Z Flip 7 might be old news with the Galaxy Z Flip 8 arriving, but that doesn't mean it's down for the count. This is still a great phone that can rival Motorola's best in a few areas. It's also woefully outdated in others. If you already have a Galaxy Z Flip 7, though, there's no need to replace it yet.

• Rumors claim the Galaxy S27 and S27 Plus are being "tested" with a Sony camera sensor, not Samsung's ISOCELL.
• While this change has been alleged, the sensor might only deliver 50MP to the main lenses for both phones.
• Another rumor claims that Samsung is testing silicon-carbon battery tech for the Galaxy S27 series after delivering it for its 2026 foldables.

Samsung has had an eventful week with Galaxy Unpacked dropping major reveals. Settling back into things, rumors are surfacing about its next flagship phone upgrades.

Rumors have started from a couple of different sources this week. The first stems from Galaxy Club (Dutch), claiming the Galaxy S27 and Galaxy S27 Plus could receive camera tech from a new company (via GSMArena). Samsung typically swaps its in-house Exynos chips for Qualcomm when its phones launch in other markets (markets that aren't Korea or Europe). Now, rumors claim Samsung might forgo its camera sensor, ISOCELL, in favor of Sony's.

The publication cites information from an unnamed source, stating this swap to Sony is being "tested" for the S27 and S27 Plus' main sensor. Early tests show this sensor would arrive as 50MP, and that's only if testing goes well and we see this through to fruition. Galaxy S27 rumors don't end there, as tipster Lanzuk on Naver (Korean) states the phones could get a familiar battery upgrade.

Lanzuk claims silicon-carbon battery tech is currently "undergoing application testing" for Samsung's next phones. While it's easy to get excited early, Lanzuk says there are still a lot of moving parts. For one, the battery capacity has supposedly not increased. However, this could be due to the series' early stages, as "nothing is finalized."

Changes aplenty

Camera rumors haven't been shy about Samsung's S27 series. Specifically, there were reports about the Galaxy S27 Ultra's changes, which say it could sport an ISOCELL HP6 sensor. While this is an "upgrade," the device was still rumored to offer 200MP with this newer sensor. Let's not forget about the alleged "Galaxy S27 Pro." Word has it that Samsung could roll out four Galaxy S series phones next year, with the "Pro" being the new kid on the block.

The S27 Pro could feature cameras closer to the Ultra experience, but with "entirely new sensors" to switch things up. The battery rumor for the S27 series is interesting. We've heard rumors about Samsung potentially "catching up" to its competition with better, bigger batteries. Of course, we're talking about silicon-carbon batteries, but nothing's for certain. What is certain—nice to see, too—is that Samsung's latest foldables rock this new tech.

Android Central's Take

It feels like we're moving into a unique timeline for Samsung. Its foldables have gotten a battery upgrade we've been waiting on. It could've been better—cell capacity, of course. Samsung is still pretty far under its competition. I suppose having silicon-carbon tech is better than not.

AT&T and T-Mobile are both running deals that give you up to $1,900 of credit when you add a qualified line and trade in an old or broken device. The deals aren't for everyone, but if you have a relatively new Android phone lying around and you're interested in updating your wireless plan, that's enough of a promotional discount to make the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 totally free. 

2 ways to make your Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 preorder FREE

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 totally changes up the design of Samsung's long-running Z Fold series of foldable phones, introducing a new "passport-style" form factor with an upgraded Snapdragon chipset, 4,800mAh battery, and a breathtaking inner AMOLED display with a nearly-invisible crease. You also get all of the latest Galaxy AI features, incredible cameras, and seven years of OS and security upgrades guaranteed. 

At $1,900 for the 256GB version, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is also far from cheap, but preorder opportunities like the deals listed above should seriously soften the blow. After all, the innovative foldable hasn't even been officially released yet, so I'll take about any offer I can get.

After weeks and months of leaks, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 series is finally official. Samsung took the wraps off the lineup at its Galaxy Unpacked event in London on July 22, 2026, launching a new set of foldables. There's the Galaxy Z Fold 8, the "wider" of the two, which is set to take on the foldable iPhone arriving later this year, and then there's what Samsung calls its "Ultra Foldable," the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is the successor to last year's Galaxy Z Fold 7. This new "Ultra" foldable retains many of the same elements as last year's book-style foldable, but there are plenty of upgrades underneath that make it an even more compelling option this year.

And while it previously seemed like there wouldn't be much competition in the book-style foldable space in the U.S. this year, that's not quite the case. Motorola has also entered the ring with its Razr Fold.

So if you're wondering what sets the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and the Moto Razr Fold Ultra apart, and how the two compare, here's everything you need to know.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra vs. Motorola Razr Fold: Pricing and availability

Motorola officially launched the Razr Fold in the U.S. on April 29, 2026. The book-style foldable is available for $1,899. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, on the other hand, is the more premium of the two, carrying a starting price of $2,099.

While Samsung has raised the price of its "taller" book-style foldable, Motorola has undercut the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra by $200, which is a sizable gap. On top of that, the Razr Fold comes in a single configuration with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, meanwhile, starts with just 256GB of storage and only 12GB of RAM.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra vs. Motorola Razr Fold: Design and display

The Moto Razr Fold, at first glance, doesn't feel like an entirely new direction for Motorola. It sticks to the company's familiar design language, with a clean back, the Motorola's "M" logo in the center, a Razr logo at the bottom, and a squarish camera module housing the triple camera setup.

In typical Motorola fashion, the Razr Fold comes in PANTONE colors like PANTONE Blackened Blue and PANTONE Lily White. It also has slightly rounded corners, along with polished aluminum rails that complement the back panel.

On the other hand, Samsung hasn't made major design changes to the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra compared to last year's Galaxy Z Fold 7. You get a similar form factor, with a taller cover screen and a more squarish inner display, in a design with flat-edged, sharp corners.

In terms of dimensions, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is pretty much the same as its predecessor. However, Samsung has made the foldable phone even slimmer, so the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is only 4.1 mm thick when unfolded.

The Razr Fold is both thicker and heavier in comparison. It measures around 160.1 x 144.5 x 4.7 mm when unfolded and weighs 243 grams, whereas the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra comes in at only 215 grams.

As for the displays, Motorola seems to have put a lot of focus on them. The Razr Fold ships with a large 6.6-inch P-OLED cover display, which is a 10-bit panel protected by Gorilla Glass Ceramic 3.

The company claims it can hit up to 6,000 nits of peak brightness and is Pantone validated for color accuracy. It also supports Dolby Vision, but what really stands out is the 165Hz refresh rate on the cover display, something you don't usually see on foldable phones.

Inside, the Razr Fold has an 8.1-inch 2K panel. It goes up to 6,200 nits of peak brightness and supports a 120Hz refresh rate.

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra keeps similar screens to last year's Galaxy Z Fold 7. That means it comes with a 6.5-inch cover Dynamic AMOLED display and an 8-inch inner display. Both displays top out at 120Hz.

The biggest upgrade this time is the less visible crease. Samsung has introduced a new Flex Titanium technology that makes the crease on the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra much less noticeable than in previous generations.

We haven't had a chance to directly compare it to the Razr Fold yet, but so far it looks pretty seamless. It's pretty similar to the improvements we have seen in other foldable phones this year, including the OPPO Find N6.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra vs. Motorola Razr Fold: Hardware and specs

At this price point, you usually expect top-tier hardware and specs, and that's exactly what you get with the Motorola Razr Fold. It ships with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chipset (not the top-end Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5), but from what we've seen, it's still a very capable chip.

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, on the other hand, carries the "Ultra" price tag and comes with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, the same chip used in the Galaxy S26 Ultra, which sits a tier above the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 on the Razr Fold.

Samsung may lose out on starting storage with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, but it's made major strides elsewhere on the internal hardware front. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra finally brings a much larger 5,000mAh cell, which is the biggest battery jump we've seen on a Samsung foldable in the last five years. It also supports up to 45W wired fast charging.

That said, the Motorola Razr Fold one-ups the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra here, packing a massive 6,000mAh battery, the largest we've seen on a foldable in the U.S. market. On top of that, it supports 80W wired charging and 50W wireless charging, something most foldables still don't come close to.

Another hardware advantage for Motorola is the stylus support. The Razr Fold supports the Moto Pen Ultra, which you can use for note-taking or doodling on the large inner display. It's sold separately for around $100, but the phone supports it natively. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra does not support the S Pen.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra vs. Motorola Razr Fold: Cameras

Coming to the camera setup, the Moto Razr Fold features a triple camera system on the back. It includes a 50MP primary sensor, a 50MP ultra-wide with a 122-degree field of view, and a 50MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, which Motorola says can go up to 100x super zoom.

On the front, the cover display houses a 32MP selfie camera, while the inner display uses a 20MP sensor. In terms of video, the Razr Fold supports up to 8K at 30fps and 4K at up to 60fps.

For the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, Samsung has stuck with the same 200MP primary sensor we first saw on the Galaxy Z Fold 7 last year. There are major changes to the ultra-wide sensor this time around, though, as it jumps from 12MP to 50MP. The 3x telephoto sensor, however, remains unchanged at 10MP.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra vs. Motorola Razr Fold: Which foldable phone is better?

The Moto Razr Fold might be Motorola's first move into the book-style foldable market, but the company has been making foldables for over seven years now, and the Razr Fold looks like a strong entry.

It brings a large display, a big battery with some of the fastest wired charging we've seen on a foldable (even compared to many flagship phones), along with a capable triple camera setup and stylus support, making it a pretty compelling option.

And that $1,899 price tag honestly can't be ignored either. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra isn't a bad foldable by any means, but a higher starting price than last year, less RAM in the base model, and no S Pen support, despite the upgrades to the battery, charging speeds, and cameras, all make it a tougher sell.

That said, we'll be going hands-on with both devices and comparing them more deeply in the coming days, so stay tuned.

Head to T-Mobile, for instance, and you can get the innovative flip phone for as little as $100 when you trade in and add a line with the Experience Beyond or Experience More plans. Existing T-Mobile customers can also use the legacy Go5G Next or Go5G Plus plans.

T-Mobile will give you $1,100 off the new Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 when you preorder

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 looks almost identical to the Z Flip 7 at first glance, but there are a few notable improvements where it counts. The Z Flip 8 utilizes the new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, for instance, which is the same powerful processor that drives the Galaxy S26 Ultra and Z Fold 8 Ultra.

The clamshell device also features a thinner and lighter build than its predecessor, plus you get all of the latest AI-boosted software features and seven years of OS and security upgrades guaranteed. That being said, the displays and camera systems remain largely unchanged, which might make it difficult for some folks to justify the $1,199.99 price tag.

Fortunately, that's why preorder opportunities like the T-Mobile deal above are so essential. The carrier is also being pretty generous with its trade-in credit: Samsung phones dating back to the Galaxy S20 series will get you the full $1,100 of credit, while plenty of other devices from Apple, Motorola, and OnePlus are also eligible.

Excited for your new Galaxy Z Flip 8 to arrive on August 7th? Don't forget to protect your investment with one of the best Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 cases!

Ahead of the Galaxy Z Flip 8's announcement, one rumor claimed this would be the last of Samsung's eight-generation-long Flip phones. This comes from leaker Ice Universe, who is known for accurate information on upcoming devices, but, as with any leaked information, it could simply be from a meeting where Samsung floated the idea of ending the Z Flip line rather than a legitimate decision to end it.

While the leak didn't provide much info beyond "The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 is likely to be Samsung's last small folding product," it's highly likely a combination of waning sales and market conditions is making Samsung rethink every product it makes.

With the new smaller Galaxy Z Fold 8's arrival and the upcoming onslaught of similar "fun-sized" book-style foldables, Samsung and other players may be shifting focus away from Flip-style phones. Regardless of what happens, we'll be collecting every rumor and leak that appears between now and the expected release of the Galaxy Z Flip 9.

Galaxy Z Flip 9: Price and availability

Samsung's next folding phone announcement, which likely includes the Galaxy Z Flip 9, should take place in July 2027. Samsung has been using a mid-late Summer date for its folding phone and wearables announcements, and we expect that to continue next year.

With electronics prices continuing to rise, we also expect another price increase for the Galaxy Z Flip 9, particularly if RAM and storage prices continue to soar, as is predicted due to the AI data center boom. One of the Z Flip's biggest selling points has always been the lower price when compared to the Z Fold, and another price increase could spell trouble for the Z Flip line.

What we expect for the Galaxy Z Flip 9

It's been a while since we've seen a substantial redesign of the Z Flip series. The Z Flip 8 further reduced the thickness of the series, but since it's not quite Z Fold 8 thin, it's likely a Z Flip 9 will continue to slim down the series. Samsung has begun using silicon-carbon in its batteries (5% silicon content in the Z Flip 8), which means it can continue to increase battery capacity and decrease physical battery size, enabling thinner and lighter phones.

Since the cover display already takes up the entire front of the phone on the Z Flip 8, it's unlikely we'll see changes to it's physical appearance on a Flip 9. Samsung's new titanium screen protection substantially reduced the inner crease on the Z Fold 8 series, and a Flip 9 would do well with a further decreased crease, as well.

There's been word that the Galaxy S26 Ultra's Privacy Display will begin making its way to other Samsung phones in 2027, and that could include the company's premium-level foldables like a Galaxy Z Flip 9. Even if this phone doesn't get that tech, it needs to address the PWM rate, as Samsung has fallen substantially behind rivals in eye care features like this.

I'd also love to see Samsung add a telephoto camera to the Z Flip 9. Basically all flip-style phones include a main and an ultrawide camera, but few have tried to offer some kind of "Pro-level zoom" as a non-folding flagship would at this price range.

It'll be a while before we can start feeling sure of Samsung's direction for the next Z Flip phone, but you'd better believe we'll have everything you need to know about it right here as the rumors and leaks roll in over the next year.

Right now, we're looking at a laundry list of wishes and additions we'd love to see, from an Ultra-style wider Fold 9 to the return of the S Pen, better cameras, and improved battery capacity. Plus, with Samsung's especially close relationship with Google these days, there's definitely going to be new AI-powered software tricks and features that we don't expect.

But until Samsung officially announces it, here's everything we know so far (and hope to see) about the Galaxy Z Fold 9 series.

Galaxy Z Fold 9: Price and availability

If 2026 will go down in history for any one thing, it's the mega inflation rate for RAM and storage components. Fueled by the massive AI data center boom, component prices are skyrocketing, and the prices are expected to double again by the end of 2027 unless something drastic changes.

That means the expected Summer 2027 launch of the Galaxy Z Fold 9 series will come well before the peak of component price increases, forcing Samsung to increase prices yet again for the launch. We'll keep a sharp eye on this one, for sure, but things aren't looking up for a downward trend in this realm of things.

What changes can we expect for the Galaxy Z Fold 9?

Now that Samsung has firmly planted its flag with dual Fold models, we expect the company to reveal its full plans for the future of Z Fold design in 2027. The wider, shorter Z Fold 8 is expected to take home the lion's share of sales, and that may mean Samsung launches additional models in 2027.

Last year, Samsung experimented with the Galaxy Z TriFold, the company's first folding phone with two hinges and three displays. While that phone's availability was short-lived, we know Samsung is working on a successor, which likely means a Galaxy Z TriFold 9 or a similar naming convention.

Depending on how well the wider Galaxy Z Fold 8 sells, Samsung could also deliver a more powerful Wide Fold next year. This means a Galaxy Z Fold 9 Ultra that uses the shorter, wider form factor of the Z Fold 8, all with better camera hardware and a higher-capacity battery to match the Ultra name.

It's also possible that future Ultra models will begin using Samsung's Privacy Display that debuted with the Galaxy S26 Ultra, as it's been said that this display tech will ship in more Samsung phones in 2027. Either way, we're hoping Samsung finally listens to feedback and improves it's display PWM rate and eye care features, which have fallen well behind rivals.

Many are also hoping to see a Galaxy Z Fold 9 with camera hardware that finally feels like a true flagship phone. If another round of price increases turn out to be true, it would behoove Samsung to upgrade the Z Fold 9's cameras with a telephoto camera that doesn't feel like it's from 2019. Considering Samsung looks to be adopting a horizontal Pixel-style camera bar in the Galaxy S27 series, there should be plenty of room for improved camera hardware on a similarly-designed Z Fold 9.

We should also see further improvements in battery capacity now that Samsung has finally begun adopting silicon battery technology. While rivals are reaching 30% silicon content in some models, Samsung's Z Fold 8 series uses just 5% silicon content. Samsung has been extremely shy about battery changes since the Galaxy Note 7 disaster, so we only expect a modest improvement in silicon content for the Z Fold 9 rather than something earth-shattering.

Lastly, Samsung's new Flex Titanium screen technology paved the way for thinner and stronger flexible glass on the Z Fold 8 series, which could spell a return of S Pen compatibility on the Z Fold 9. I could very well see Samsung give the taller Z Fold 9 or even a potential Z 9 TriFold this capability and call it the Galaxy Z Fold 9 Note. That would give its models an important differentiator and bring back the fan-favorite Note series, making it a must-have phone for tech lovers.

• Samsung has opened its application period to consumers looking to grab its first credit card: the Galaxy Card.
• Consumers can get this digitally or physically in a black metal design, thanks to a Barclays U.S. Consumer Bank partnership.
• The Galaxy Card offers a series of cash rewards for consumers, such as 5% cash rewards on eligible purchases made directly with Samsung.

There have been plenty of reveals and announcements at Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked today (July 22), but there's a little more to discuss. The company is entering the credit card world, and you can apply now.

In a press release, Samsung announced the Galaxy Card: the brand's first credit card in the U.S., which delivers "a new way for users to earn cash rewards across everyday purchases and the Galaxy ecosystem." The Galaxy Card is available as a virtual and a premium black metal card. As one would expect, the card is designed to fully support Samsung Wallet. The Galaxy Card was made in partnership with Barclays U.S. Consumer Bank operating on the Visa network.

This partnership is said to help offer "innovative payment options" for Samsung's consumer base.

The company states the Galaxy Card has a $0 annual fee. Rewards are a major aspect of Samsung's first credit card. Consumers will receive 5% cash rewards on eligible purchases made directly with Samsung. What's more, you could receive 20% off Samsung VIP Advantage, as well as 5% cash rewards "when purchasing or renewing a Samsung VIP Advantage membership." The remaining cash rewards are as follows:

• 3% cash rewards on purchases made with Samsung Wallet
• 2% cash rewards on streaming services, like Netflix, Disney Plus, and Spotify
• 1% cash rewards on all other purchases
• $200 cash reward after spending $2,000 in the first 90 days

Galaxy Card and new products

Applications for the Samsung Galaxy Card have opened today (July 22). The company lined up this open period with Galaxy Unpacked, which showed off new smartwatches and foldables.

It's been a while, but Samsung's new credit card was talked about before. Originally, nothing was confirmed. There was a report late last year that said Samsung had approached Barclays to create a card of its own. The alleged name was similar to what was announced, rumored to be the "Samsung Card." Early reports claimed Samsung would offer cashback on its devices and appliances, alongside "digital prepaid accounts."

This had us thinking Samsung was looking to compete against Apple, which has a card it offers consumers. Samsung has continued to refine its payment experience, whether digital or a physical card that we've now received.

• Samsung fixes a major Privacy Display annoyance by limiting the privacy effect to the PiP window instead of the entire screen in One UI 9 Beta 4.
• The update allows you to watch PiP videos privately while the rest of the display stays bright and fully visible.
• The update also removes unnecessary dimming and color shifts across the whole display during PiP playback.

One of the biggest differentiators of the Galaxy S26 Ultra is Samsung’s Privacy Display, but it has also been a source of an annoying tradeoff. If you shrunk a video into a picture-in-picture (PiP) window, the privacy effect continued covering the entire display, making everything else on the screen dimmer and harder to see. The latest One UI 9 beta finally turns that on its head.

According to a video shared by reliable leaker Ice Universe, One UI 9 Beta 4 makes Privacy Display much smarter when using PiP apps. The display angle restriction is no longer applied to the entire display but is still restricted to the floating PiP window. Then you can continue watching YouTube videos or another PiP app without showing it to people around you, while using the rest of your phone normally.

This change fixes a real usability bug. Samsung’s Flex Magic Pixel technology is built right into the Galaxy S26 Ultra screen, limiting viewing angles to make the display unreadable from the side. Unlike a traditional privacy screen protector, it can be enabled only for specific apps, notifications, or password entry. The downside is it also dims the brightness and shifts colors while it's active, so having it cover the whole screen during PiP playback felt a bit too limiting.

With the new behavior, only the sensitive content within the PiP window is shielded, and the rest of the interface is displayed at normal viewing angles and brightness. The enhancement is part of One UI 9 Beta 4, which also delivers a variety of bug fixes in preparation for Samsung’s wider One UI 9 release.

Android Central's Take

This appears to be a fix for a problem that should never have existed in the first place. A privacy feature is only useful if it doesn’t get in the way of using your phone, and covering the whole screen just to protect a tiny PiP window always felt like overkill. This change finally allows Privacy Display to work as I would expect it to from day one. Now Samsung just needs to polish the experience, rather than leaving it to beta users to clean up the rough edges of features it proudly marketed as ready for flagships.

But there was more to Unpacked than just new phones and wearables. Samsung quietly announced a few interesting changes, teased what's coming next, and slipped in several details that were easy to miss. If you didn't catch the event live, here are five of the biggest announcements you may have missed.

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 has a new name (and shape)

This was probably the biggest surprise from Galaxy Unpacked. Despite the name, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 isn't actually the direct successor to the Galaxy Z Fold 7. That title now belongs to the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, while the regular Galaxy Z Fold 8 is an entirely new foldable with a completely different form factor.

Instead of the tall, narrow design Samsung has used since the original Galaxy Fold, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is shorter and much wider. When unfolded, it feels much closer to a compact tablet than a stretched-out phone, making it a far better fit for multitasking, reading, and watching videos.

The naming is admittedly a little confusing if you haven't been keeping up with the leaks, but after spending some hands-on time with the device, it's honestly the most interesting product Samsung announced at Unpacked.

It also feels like Samsung made this move to get ahead of Apple's rumored foldable iPhone, which is widely expected to adopt a similar passport-style design later this year. We'll be diving much deeper into this new form factor over the coming week, because I think there's a lot more to it than just a different aspect ratio.

Samsung finally adopts Silicon Carbon battery tech

It took Samsung long enough, but the company has finally joined the silicon-carbon battery club. The Galaxy Z Fold 8, Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, and Galaxy Z Flip 8 are the first Samsung phones to use the new battery technology, something Chinese smartphone makers adopted years ago.

The biggest advantage of silicon-carbon batteries is that they can pack more capacity into the same physical space. That's exactly what Samsung has done here. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra now features a 5,000mAh battery, up from the Galaxy Z Fold 7's 4,400mAh cell, while also increasing wired charging speeds to 45W.

Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra are also first Samsung foldables with (almost) crease-free displays

The new passport-style Galaxy Z Fold 8 may have grabbed most of the attention, but I actually think the displays are one of the biggest upgrades across Samsung's new foldables. More specifically, it's the inner display that's seen the biggest improvement.

Both the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra feature a much less visible crease than previous Samsung foldables. During my hands-on time, it looked very close to what Oppo achieved with the Find N6 earlier this year.

Samsung says this is thanks to its new Titanium Flex technology, which uses a redesigned titanium layer and hinge structure to reduce the appearance of the crease while improving durability.

Samsung hasn't confirmed it yet, but if recent reports are accurate, this could also be a self-repairing display layer that smooth out the crease over time.

Another underrated upgrade is the new anti-reflective coating on the inner display. Since foldable screens are still plastic, they've traditionally reflected a lot of light. That's much less of an issue this time around thanks to an anti-reflective coating that makes the display noticeably easier to use outdoors and under bright lighting.

Samsung finally adds some long-due software features with One UI 9

Samsung also showcased One UI 9, which is based on Android 17, that will debut with its new foldables.

One of the coolest additions is Fan Cam, which lets you record a video normally and then automatically track a specific person in the frame. One UI 9 then uses AI to crop the footage into social media-friendly formats like 9:16 or 1:1, making it much easier to create videos for Instagram Reels or TikTok without manually editing them later.

The Galaxy Z Flip 8 also quietly gets one of its biggest software upgrades yet. Samsung has finally unlocked the cover display, making it feel much more like a proper smartphone screen.

You can now swipe down for Quick Settings and notifications, swipe up to access the app drawer, and interact with the cover display much more naturally instead of being limited to Samsung's previous implementation.

We now know more about the Galaxy Glasses

Samsung didn't fully unveil the Galaxy Glasses at Unpacked, but the company did share a few new details about its upcoming smart glasses.

Samsung confirmed that it's working with Gentle Monster and Warby Parker on the design of the glasses, and, as expected, they'll run Android XR with Gemini at the center of the experience.

Samsung also confirmed they'll be powered by Qualcomm's AR1 Gen 1 chip and that the first generation smart glasses won't feature a display, but rather they would be AI-first smart glasses designed around voice, cameras, and Gemini.

The company also revealed that when launched, you'll be able to control the glasses using hand gestures while wearing a Wear OS smartwatch.

Samsung is still keeping the exact launch date under wraps, although it did confirm they'll arrive sometime later this year.

Without further ado, let me help you decide which Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 colorway you should buy. To start things off, let us walk through the colors. Familiarize yourself with what your choices are, then you can identify your winner.

A walk through all the colors of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8

• Back to the top ^

Buying the right Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 colorway: A helpful guide

Trying to decide which Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 color should you buy? Now that you've had a good look at all the colorways the Fold 8 comes in, the decision must be easier to make. Of the four Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 colorways, two are basic safe choices. Graphite is the classic black option that almost always outsells all other shades, because most folks don't want bold colors. Cream is another such color, though white isn't as widely preferred as black.

I encourage you to take a risk and choose a color that speaks to you, however unusual it may be! The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 in Lavender is immediately recognizable as the Fold 8, plus it looks divine. The wide, boxy cut of the device is enhanced and accentuated in this light purple hue.

Exclusivity is an attractive feature to many. If you're gunning for something different and less widely available, the warm Pistachio colorway stands out. True to its name, Pistachio is a warm green color that is an online exclusive. If you do go for Pistachio, bear in mind that spare parts for less popular colors can be harder to acquire. So if you're a clumsy, accident prone person who doesn't use impact proof phone cases, best to err on the side of caution and stick with one of the three standard colors instead.

At July's Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event, the company finally unveiled it's latest line of foldables and smartwatches. The foldables are pretty much bang on in line with all the leaked images we've seen over the past few months. What I wasn't expecting was the shake up in the naming convention, which understanably, is bound to cause a bit of confusion.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is the flagship model and will be replacing the Galaxy Z Fold 7, while the standard Galaxy Z Fold 8 is actually a cheaper and wider version of the flagship, previously dubbed as the 'Wide Edition.'

It's now been full year since the Galaxy Z Fold 7's existence and it's already officially selling for $400 lower than the launch price, and this is outside sale season. This could dip further in the months to come as Samsung tries to empty its inventory.

If you've skipped the Galaxy Z Fold 7 or have been waiting for the new Fold 8 series to launch, should you spring for the latest Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra or save a few hundred Benjamins with the older (but still great) model?

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra vs. Galaxy Z Fold 7: Pricing and availability

Our fears did come true as Samsung has raised prices by $100. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra now starts at $2,099.99 and this is for the 256GB variant. There are also 512GB and 1TB storage options, with only the latter getting 16GB of RAM. The tiers below come with 12GB of RAM. Violet Shadow is the new hero color for the Z Fold 8 Ultra, while the other two are Graphite and Cream. Samung will be bundling a six-month complementary subscription to the AI Pro plan, with every Z Fold 8 Ultra.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 will be a year old now and is already retailing for less, starting at $1,499.99 for 256GB and going up to $2,000 for the 1TB variant. There could be a further price drop before it goes out of circulation so you should keep an eye on this if you want to save a good chunk of change. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 had one of the best colors of all the Fold phones yet and has proven to be hugely popular showing strong demand in the U.S. market.

The recent rise in component costs have caught up though as Samsung quietly bumped up the MSRPs of the higher storage variants by $80. Compared to the new Z Fold 8 Ultra though, you're still saving quite a bit.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra vs. Galaxy Z Fold 7: Design and display

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra looks pretty much identical to the Galaxy Z Fold 7, and that's fine. The Fold 7 got a major design overhaul just last year making the slimmest Fold yet. The Z Fold 8 Ultra is a tiny bit thinner at 4.1mm when unfolded, but measures the same 8.9mm when folded.

The weight of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra has also stayed the same at 215 grams, despite Samsung using a larger battery. Physically, you really shouldn't notice too much of a difference between the two phones even if you hold them side by side.

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 scored well in terms of build quality and durabililty but it only had an IP48 rating for dust and water resistance. Sadly, this hasn't improved on the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra. The water proofing is still okay, but the phone still lacks proper dust proofing. In comparison, the Honor Magic V5 and Vivo X Fold 5 feature IP58 and IP59 dust and water resistance, while the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold has an IP68 rating.

The displays on the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra gets some nice upgrades. The folding screen is still 8 inches, but Samsung has bumped up the resolution to 2,504x2,256. Compared to the already high resolution of 1,968x2,184 on the Galaxy Z Fold 7, the Fold 8 Ultra should offer even crisper visuals and sharper text.

The outer display on the Fold 8 Ultra has stayed pretty much the same, but it does get more durable protection in the form of Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic 3. There were murmurs a few months back that support for the S Pen will be brought back in the Z Fold 8 Ultra, but that hasn't happened.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra vs. Galaxy Z Fold 7: Hardware and software

Samsung typically ships the Galaxy Z Fold devices with flagship chipsets, and it's done the same once again with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra. The foldable features the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset for Galaxy devices, same as the ones used in the Galaxy S26 series.

Another big upgrade that Samsung has delivered in the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is a larger battery. We finally have a 5,000mAh capacity battery which should deliver a good battery life boost over the 4,400mAh in the Galaxy Z Fold 7.

Charging speed has also increased to 45W from the measly 25W on the previous model. I would have liked to see 60W wired charging like the Galaxy S26 Ultra but I'll take anything above 25W at this point. Qi2 charging is still not native as the Z Fold 8 Ultra lacks in-built magnets. You'll have to use a compatible case for Qi2.

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra ships with One UI 9, that's based on Android 17. Samsung has been testing One UI 9 in beta for a while on S26 devices, giving users a glimpse of what to expect. Some of the new features include an upgraded Quick Panel with toggles for the brightness, sound, and media player now being independently adjustable. There's a new Text Spotlight feature that shows selected text in a larger floating window. There's plenty more AI and user interface features to unpack, so stay tuned for our detailed guide.

Many of these One UI 9 features should also make their way to the Galaxy Z Fold 7 with future updates. It's possible that some might be hardware dependent so expect a few to be missing when you update your Z Fold 7 to One UI 9.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra vs. Galaxy Z Fold 7: Cameras

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 got a 200MP main camera upgrade just last year, and the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra uses the same one. But it finally gets a higher-resolution 50MP ultrawide camera, which should bring about a tangible quality improvement. A leak had suggested that the Z Fold 8 Ultra would get a 12MP telephoto, but this hasn't turned out to be true. It's still 10MP with an optical zoom of 3X.

The selfie cameras on the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra have also gone unchanged. You still get the two 10MP sensors on the outer and inner screens. We loved the cameras on the Galaxy Z Fold 7 when we tested it so having better sensors in the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra would have made it more competitive against foldables like the OPPO Find N6.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra vs. Galaxy Z Fold 7: Which one should you buy?

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra has gotten more expensive but you're also getting some worthwhile upgrades like a newer SoC, larger battery with quicker charging, a sharper folding screen, and a better ultrawide camera. The only reason to buy this at launch is if you're getting a good trade-in deal or pre-order discounts. Otherwise, I'd wait a few months till Samsung inevitably slashes the price itself.

If you need to pull the trigger right away, you can't go wrong with the Galaxy Z Fold 7. It now retails for lower than what it launched for, it's incredibly slim and light, and you won't have any issues with performance. Keep in mind that we didn't find the battery life to be great and there's no S Pen support if that's something you think you'll need.