What you need to know

• Samsung has reportedly asked suppliers to cut Q4 smartphone production by 20% to 30%.
• The cuts could drop Samsung’s total 2026 production from an expected 270 million units down closer to the early 200-million range.
• Skyrocketing smartphone DRAM prices are said to be squeezing margins, forcing Samsung to absorb higher manufacturing expenses or risk alienating buyers with steep price hikes.

Samsung looks set to do something counterintuitive in the smartphone market: make fewer phones rather than continue to make devices that barely make money.

A report from Korean outlet Money Today claims the company has asked suppliers to cut smartphone production by 20% to 30% in the fourth quarter, with rising memory costs making some models harder and harder to sell profitably.

Samsung was previously expected to produce around 270 million smartphones in 2026, but the latest cuts could push that total into the early 200-million range, the report said. Some seasonal slowdown is expected as buyers wait for the next Galaxy S series, but this year's drop is said to be significantly more than expected.

Based on the estimates from TrendForce that are cited in the report, Samsung produced around 240 million smartphones in 2025, which put it on par with Apple as the world’s biggest smartphone maker by volume. This demonstrates the scale that Samsung has been able to hold onto even as competition gets tougher.

The issue apparently has something to do with memory chips. Smartphone DRAM prices have skyrocketed, forcing manufacturers to either raise prices or take a hit on their margins.

That makes a dirty equation for Samsung. Raising phone prices too quickly risks cooling demand, while taking on the higher component costs leaves less cash on every device sold. Making millions more of them doesn’t resolve the problem of a phone making little or no profit.

For consumers it could mean fewer low-margin models, higher prices, and even more focus on Samsung’s premium Galaxy lineup.

Samsung has not officially confirmed the production cuts it is reportedly planning, so the next few months will show if the change is a temporary adjustment or a bigger shift in its smartphone strategy.

To get the cheapest Samsung or Google flagship in 2026, you'll need to choose a smaller phone. The Samsung Galaxy S26, for instance, is a 6.3-inch smartphone. If you want to splurge for a 6.7-inch display, you'll need to pay $1,200 for the Galaxy S26 Plus. That's $200 more than than the Galaxy S25 Plus went for, and $100 more than the Galaxy S26 Plus originally cost when it launched in March.

Phones with large screens are expensive, in other words — but the Samsung Galaxy S26 FE is an outlier. It offers the same 6.7-inch screen size as the Galaxy S26 Plus for $500 less, and it's worth your attention for that reason alone. I've used the Galaxy S26 FE for weeks, and it's closer to flagship territory than you may think.

But it also makes a handful of cost-cutting measures to hit that attractive $700 price point, and other phones provide a better value.

The price hike is hard to ignore

Samsung's "Fan Edition" phones have always been in a tough spot in terms your wallet will understand. They're typically priced well above Google's midrange A-series models, as well as Samsung's own A-series phones. They're cheaper than Galaxy S series phones, but not by a whole lot. Further complicating matters is that the Galaxy FE phones have a screen size matching the Plus model of the Galaxy S lineup, making them attractive to people who want a larger display.

This year, the Galaxy S26 FE ships with a $50 price hike. That might not raise alarm bells considering the rising prices around the industry, but it should. The Google Pixel 11 and Samsung Galaxy S26 each saw a $100 price increase this year, and buyers get double the base storage in exchange. The Galaxy S26 FE, by comparison, still comes with the same 128GB of storage as standard.

If you want to match the 256GB storage of the rest of the Galaxy S26 series, get ready to pay $100 more for a Galaxy S26 FE. The 128GB model costs $699.99 and the 256GB version costs $799.99. This creates a puzzling lineup where the midrange Galaxy S26 FE and the flagship Galaxy S26 both launched at the exact same price, provided you got 256GB of storage for both.

Samsung retroactively raised Galaxy S26 and Galaxy S26 Plus prices, and the base model now costs $999.99. That does give the Galaxy S26 FE a better value proposition, but only slightly.

I'm starting off with pricing because it's the most important thing about the Galaxy S26 FE. As you'll learn throughout this review, Samsung's new midranger is as solid as ever, and it beats the Galaxy S25 FE in performance. However, it has the base Galaxy S26 and cheaper Android midrangers like the Google Pixel 10a and the OnePlus 13R breathing down its neck.

The Galaxy S26 FE is a plus-sized midranger

From a design perspective, the Galaxy S26 FE shares a few similarities with the Galaxy S26 Plus; it's only a millimeter thicker and three grams heavier. Due to the larger bezels, the Galaxy S26 FE has a bigger overall footprint. Reachability is a bit of an issue due to the form factor, as it's both wider and taller than the Galaxy S26 Plus.

On the back, the key difference is the glossy Gorilla Glass Victus Plus. I prefer the matte look and feel of the Galaxy S26 Plus back, and that phone has newer Gorilla Glass Victus 2. But the colors for the Galaxy S26 FE are gorgeous. I reviewed the subtle Pistachio model, but you can also get the phone in Blueberry or Graphite colorways.

The Galaxy S26 FE uses a mix of glass and aluminum for materials, and it's IP68 certified against dust and water ingress. I had no problems with durability, and you shouldn't either. The device feels more premium compared to midrange phones with plastic backs, like the Pixel 10a.

The Galaxy S26 FE finds a niche thanks to its 6.7-inch display. It's the same size as the one on the Galaxy S26 Plus, albeit with a lower 1080p resolution. The screen isn't perfect — it has larger bezels, and more importantly, they aren't uniform. The Galaxy S26 FE has a "chin," and the lack of a consistent bezel size is unsightly to my eyes.

The chin has long been a sign you're looking at a Samsung budget or midrange phone compared to a flagship, and I think Samsung could've changed this by now. Google's midrange phone, the Pixel 10a, is cheaper and has uniform bezels.

Bezel talk aside, the Galaxy S26 FE isn't nearly as bright as its flagship counterparts. The phone has a peak brightness of 1,900 nits, whereas the Galaxy S26 and Galaxy S26 Plus top out at 2,600 nits. In practice, this means the Galaxy S26 FE won't be as easy to see outdoors. Without an anti-reflective coating, something becoming more popular on flagships, this phone is tricky to view in direct sunlight.

Otherwise, the display feels responsive with a 120Hz refresh rate. It's a fine panel for the price, even if there is clear room for improvement here. This is the exact same display we saw on the Galaxy S25 FE, and the Galaxy S24 FE for that matter. If you have one of these older phones, the Galaxy S26 FE's screen isn't a reason to upgrade.

A fresh chip, but the same slow charging

Samsung's midrange phones have come a long way in a few short years in terms of performance. As a refresher, the Galaxy S24 FE had an Exynos 2400e chip and the Galaxy S25 FE got the boost to the regular Exynos 2400 chip. This year, the Galaxy S26 FE runs on the Exynos 2500. It's a mobile processor built on a 3nm process (a major improvement over the 4nm Exynos 2400) that recently powered flagships like the Galaxy Z Flip 7 worldwide.

I tested the Galaxy Z Flip 7 firsthand, so I expected the Galaxy S26 FE to be a strong performer. I didn't expect for Samsung to pull so much extra power out of the Exynos 2500 for the Galaxy S26 FE. In the benchmark results below, you'll see the Galaxy S26 FE not only handily beat the Galaxy Z Flip 7, but also crush Google's Tensor G4-powered Pixel 10a.

I'm surprised that Samsung is doing that with only 8GB memory onboard the Galaxy S26 FE. The Galaxy S26 FE ships with Android 17 and will get seven years of full Android OS support. Despite the RAM limitations, this phone will be a strong performer for a very long time.

The battery life is rock solid, too. It has the same 4,900mAh capacity as the Galaxy S26 Plus, but the Galaxy S26 FE's lower-resolution display and weaker chip combine to hep you squeeze a longer runtime out of it. The charging, unfortunately, is still too slow. The 45W wired speeds are fine, but 15W wireless charging is disappointing when the Qi2.2 25W standard exists.

It's worth revisiting the storage options. The Galaxy S26 FE ships with 128GB of storage by default, and you can upgrade it to 256GB or 512GB at the time of purchase. I think 128GB of storage is starting to stretch users thin because of growing app and operating system sizes. But if you upgrade the Galaxy S26 FE to 256GB or 512GB storage, you end up paying flagship prices for a midrange phone.

It's quite the dilemma, and one Samsung could've avoided by making 256GB standard, like the Galaxy S26 series. If you're fine with a 128GB phone, the Galaxy A57 is lurking in the corner at $599.99, but it does come with additional compromises.

The cameras are underwhelming for the price

Samsung isn't one to upgrade its phone cameras often, and the Galaxy S26 FE is no exception. It's using the same 50MP primary shooter, 8MP telephoto, and 12MP ultrawide lens we've seen on prior generations of Galaxy FE phones. The selfie camera is a 12MP, f/2.2 lens.

The telephoto only goes up to 3x optical zoom, but you may find digital zoom to produce passable results beyond that. Here's how the Galaxy S26 FE telephoto camera looks at 2x, 3x, and 10x zoom:

As for the main camera and ultrawide, it's a mixed bag. The 50MP sensor at the heart of the Galaxy S26 FE's rear camera system packs enough detail, and low-light performance is impressive. The photo of the "Aloha" sign in the gallery of camera samples below is as good of a night shot as I've taken recently. And for context, I've been using phones like the iPhone 18 Pro, Google Pixel 11, and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra.

However, the phone's color science in daylight shots leaves a lot to be desired. Often, there's one part of the image that's brighter and color-saturated, by the overall scene is dark. The beach shots in particular stand out as looking darker as captured by the Galaxy S26 FE than the setting looked in real life.

I don't think the Galaxy S26 FE camera system is terrible, but I do think budget phones like the Pixel 10a and iPhone 17e will produce more desirable photos.

Should you buy the Samsung Galaxy S26 FE?

The Galaxy S26 FE only looks competitive on the surface of a smartphone market riddled with price hikes over the past year. Samsung's new $1,000 and $1,200 prices for the Galaxy S26 and Galaxy S26 Plus, respectively, make the Galaxy S26 FE at $700 seem like a discount. I want to emphasize that the Galaxy S26 FE is a great phone that I could absolutely use as my daily driver, despite its compromises.

That said, I still think you can do better. For example, last year's Galaxy S25 is available at the same $700 price as the Galaxy S26 FE at Target and Amazon. It has a smaller screen and battery, but it's a bona-fide flagship with a better camera and chip. If you're willing to compromise on screen size but want a cheaper phone, Google's Pixel 10a stands out. But it just got a price hike as well, and it's only $100 cheaper than the Galaxy S26 FE.

Looking at the Galaxy S26 FE in isolation, it's a solid phone. With OnePlus on its way out in the U.S., the Galaxy S26 FE represents one of your only options to get a plus-sized Android midranger. If it's important that you get a 6.7-inch Android phone for under a grand, I can recommend the Galaxy S26 FE — just be aware of the drawbacks, and consider your other options.

What you need to know

• The Galaxy S27 Ultra will reportedly launch in Black, White, Blue, and Light Pink.
• These initial options are designated as "base" colors, meaning they should be available through general carrier and retail channels rather than locked to Samsung’s website.
• Following Samsung's typical playbook, additional store-exclusive finishes will likely follow at launch beyond the core four.

The rumor mill is already buzzing with Samsung's next high-end flagship, and the latest details are about the color options. According to a new leak, the upcoming Galaxy S27 Ultra will be available in four standard colors: black, white, blue, and light pink.

These colors, as per leaker Ice Universe, are said to be the four “base” colors of the phone. That language may suggest that they're meant for broader retail distribution rather than being exclusive to Samsung's online store.

The exact shades, however, are still unknown, so there’s still no confirmation whether the blue will be like the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s Sky Blue or if the pink will be anything like its Pink Gold finish.

Samsung could have even more colors in store. The Galaxy S26 Ultra came in four standard colors: Black, Cobalt Violet, Sky Blue, and White, plus Pink Gold and Silver Shadow, which are only available on Samsung's online store. That said, more S27 Ultra color options are a real possibility.

What’s particularly interesting here is the rumor that Pink Gold might be moving from an online-exclusive finish to Light Pink possibly being one of the S27 Ultra’s main colors. If Samsung does release it widely, pink could be a much more prominent color in its Ultra lineup than in recent years.

The color leak also arrives as Samsung is reportedly gearing up for a bigger visual overhaul for the S27 Ultra, including a horizontal camera bar instead of the current camera setup.

Samsung hasn’t officially confirmed the colors or the phone yet. More leaks are expected before the Galaxy S27 Ultra arrives in early 2027.

What you need to know

• Overseas rumors suggest Samsung's Exynos 2700 has entered the mass production stage.
• The chip is reportedly going to be used in the Galaxy S27, S27 Plus, and "S27 Pro;" but decisions need to be made about the S27 Ultra.
• Recent rumors about the chip suggest Samsung is working on improving its heat generation/dissipation, as well as increasing performance.

Samsung is reportedly moving ahead with its next-gen in-house chip, the Exynos 2700. And as it enters mass production, a few questions still linger concerning its uses.

A report by Korean tech site The Elec suggests Samsung is moving the Exynos 2700 to its mass production stage (Via SamMobile). According to the publication's insiders, there are two decisions the company had to make. The first reportedly concerns its "increase in volume." Supposedly, Samsung has started crafting ~10% more Exynos 2700 chips.

This increase could accommodate the alleged "Galaxy S27 Pro" we've heard rumors of throughout 2026. There's uncertainty behind its Galaxy S27 Ultra application, however. Usually, Samsung integrates Exynos chips in its flagship series in various overseas markets. Korea and (at times) Europe have received this version over Qualcomm-powered phones.

The Elec claims "it has not yet been decided" how widespread the Exynos 2700 will be in the S27 Ultra. Current speculation has the S27 series receiving the latest Snapdragon chips in the U.S., but beyond that, the report is uncertain.

Rumors so far

Samsung was reportedly fast-tracking development of the Exynos 2700. Supposedly, the company's major focus involved the chip's HPB (Heat Path Block) technology, which lets the chip throw off heat, reducing its temperature and remaining cooler overall. No one wants a hot phone all the time, and that was precisely an issue Samsung's Exynos often suffered from.

There were also rumors that using the Exynos 2700 in the Galaxy S27 series could help "reduce costs" for consumers — a welcome change no matter where the consumer lives. Elsewhere, we have performance rumors. Rumors from the spring suggest the chip could feature a 10-core structure, and its fastest core could clock in at ~2.88GHz. What's more, the Xclipse 970 GPU was spotted for the chip, with reports purporting a ~12% performance boost.

Similar rumors continued, with some boldly claiming the Exynos 2700 could top Qualcomm's flagship chips.

Android Central's Take

I don't think Samsung is too far out of its depth with the Exynos. I think it needs to buckle down, lock in, and make a good chip. The Exynos 2600 wasn't terrible ... indeed, it was a decent step in the right direction. But everyone knows what I'm going to talk about: How is it graphically? Can it hold up well for games? Think about it: if a chip can do that, you'd figure it can handle everything else without fail. It should be smooth, cool. We expect Samsung's next phones next year, and that's likely when we'll know everything for sure.

What you need to know

• A report states Samsung has raised prices for its Galaxy S26 series online.
• The S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra received a $100 price bump for the 256GB and 512GB variants.
• The S26 Ultra's 1TB saw the highest increase at $200. It now sits at $1,999.

Tough times continue in the phone market this week: Samsung is raising prices for its latest flagship Galaxy phones.

The folks at 9to5Google reported price increases across the board for the Galaxy S26 series. The price hikes appear uniform for the most part, but Samsung was heavy-handed with one Galaxy S26 Ultra configuration: According to the publication, Samsung is rolling out a $100 price increase for the 256GB variation of the S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra. This changes the starting prices to $999, $1,199, and $1,399, respectively.

For the 512GB version, there's also a $100 increase. Prices have risen to $1,199, $1,399, and $1,599 for the S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra.

And here's where this flat (but still quite meaningful) $100 increase changes. 9to5Google said the 1TB Galaxy S26 Ultra has jumped by $200. The device is now listed at $1,999. When you factor in taxes, that number is far higher than most would've expected. The publication initially spotted these price changes on Samsung's online store; they've since made their rounds, however.

We've now noticed the 1TB Galaxy S26 Ultra jump to $1,999 on Best Buy. Other retailers (Amazon, Target, Walmart) haven't changed prices, but there's a chance this is inevitable.

Prices on the rise

The Galaxy S26 series isn't even a year old, and we're already seeing impactful price increases. So goes the phone market, huh? Samsung raised prices earlier this year, which hit its Galaxy tablets the hardest. The 1TB Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra jumped $280 to $1,899 when the company rolled out the changes. Other price increases for its tablets ranged from $50 to $100.

A couple of Samsung's older foldables also got hit. The Galaxy Z Flip 7 increased from $1,219 to $1,299 for its 512GB option. The S25 FE saw a modest $40 increase to $749. Alongside Samsung, there were reports that Motorola was raising prices for its phones earlier this year, too. The Moto G 2026 saw a 50% increase to $300, and the G Power rose to $400 after originally launching at $299. The blame's falling on one place: AI and the ongoing memory crisis. Omdia's recent analytics suggest this trend might continue, and the holiday season might not help.

What you need to know

• Camera rumors continue for the Galaxy S27 Ultra as another round surfaces on X, stating it could boast "noticeable" processing changes.
• The S27 Ultra could bring better "highlight control" for objects at a distance, ensuring exposure levels don't go out of whack.
• Elsewhere, the device might also reduce the noise when taking dark/night photos and switch its cool tones for warmer ones.

Rumors about the Galaxy S27 Ultra's camera aren't slowing down. The latest round suggests there are significant changes to how it processes our photos.

These rumors surfaced on X from tipster Ice Universe (via GSMArena). According to the tipster, Samsung is supposedly planning three "noticeable" changes to the S27 Ultra's camera processing. The first change sounds like a major win for night photographers. They claim the S27 Ultra "shows an improvement in image cleanliness" when shooting in darker places. Photos may feature less noise, facilitating a "smoother" result.

Elsewhere, color tones are said to change. Allegedly, the S27 Ultra will swap its proclivity for cooler tones to warmer ones. Ice Universe then discusses what changes could come for the S27 Ultra's "highlight control."

If your highlights are blown out in a photo, it can really ruin an image. This is something the tipster calls out when speaking about the S26 Ultra. They state the device can "sometimes struggle to suppress the highlights" when shooting small, bright objects at a distance. The next iteration might try to control overexposure with a little more tact. The post claims this upgraded highlight control is likely for the phone's main and telephoto cameras.

The tipster states these changes are more noticeable when compared to the S26 Ultra.

Camera rumors galore

There has been no shortage of S27 Ultra camera rumors. We've seen everything from changes to walkbacks. Currently, there's a rumor that the next Ultra could feature "new technologies" for its camera system. The phone could feature an ISOCELL HP6 sensor that sticks to 200MP.

On the other hand, we have a rumor that says we might not see that telephoto upgrade we were hoping for. This old rumor from August claimed the S27 Ultra could switch its 3x and 5x telephoto cameras for a 4x f/1.9 zoom upgrade. For comparison, Samsung was going for a camera close to Apple's iPhone 17 Pro. This has since been thrown away. Rumors now suggest the S27 Ultra will retain its 5x periscope (1/2.52-inch sensor).

Amazon's Big Deal Days sale kicks off next week (October 6-7), which means we're about to get a look at some of the season's best Samsung Galaxy deals. From S26 smartphones and wearables to tablets and laptops, it's no secret that Samsung produces some of the best tech on the planet. This October Prime Day presents a great opportunity to get some of these devices for cheap, well before the Black Friday sales kick off in November.

I've been working sale events like this for many long years now, so I have a pretty good idea of what Samsung devices will be going on sale and which you might want to avoid until the holiday season hits.

Needless to say, the best deals during Amazon's sale will be exclusive to Prime members, so be sure to sign up if you haven't already. The retailer is even offering a free 30-day trial so you can explore the ins and outs of Prime membership without paying a cent. Whatever you're looking to buy during Amazon's Big Deal Days sale, this guide has everything you need to know about shopping Samsung tech during the sale. There are even some early deals available right now, so let's jump in.

• Prime Big Deal Days returns October 6-7: see the full list of early deals

Early Samsung Galaxy deals

FAQ

What is Prime Big Deal Days?

Just like July's Prime Day and the Big Spring Sale in March, Prime Big Deal Days is yet another sitewide sale event for Prime members only. This October event showcases some of the season's best deals across a wide variety of product categories, from phones and tablets to clothes and kitchen appliances. Amazon's Big Deal Days also signals the start of fall sale season, giving shoppers an early look at what to expect when the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales go live in November.

What Samsung Galaxy devices will go on sale during Big Deal Days?

If you like to buy your Samsung phones and other devices unlocked, October Prime Day is an excellent time to do so. For starters, I'm expecting that we'll see the entire Samsung Galaxy S26 series get heavily discounted as part of the sale. The flagship phones received discounts as high as 30% during the official Prime Day event last July, so you can pretty much guarantee that the price will drop that low (or even lower) once Big Deal Days kicks off on October 6th.

The latest Samsung foldable phones (including the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Z Fold 8 Ultra, and Z Flip 8) are also sure to receive record-smashing discounts as part of the sale, in addition to the latest Samsung smartwatches, tablets, TVs, and more. I'd also keep a special eye out for discounts on Samsung SSDs, as storage devices remain in high demand due to the ongoing RAM crisis.

Do I need to be a Prime member to shop during Prime Big Deal Days?

Yep, as with all of Amazon's sitewide sale events, the best deals during Prime Big Deal Days will be exclusive to Amazon Prime members. If you're not a member yet, it's worth mentioning that the retailer offers a 30-day free trial so you can explore all of the benefits of Prime without paying a thing.

Don't want to support Amazon? You're in luck: the retailer's biggest competitors (think Best Buy, Walmart, and Target) typically launch rival sales to coincide with October Prime Day, so you might be able to match Amazon's prices without breaking a sweat.

What you need to know

• Samsung has finally published the official One UI 9 changelog for the Galaxy S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra.
• One UI 9 brings the Galaxy Z Fold 8's My FanCam feature to Samsung's Galaxy S26 series for the first time.
• The update makes the Quick Panel more customizable and adds improved Now Nudge and call screen information.
• Samsung is also adding AI privacy alerts, a new location indicator, and upgrades to Bixby and Samsung Health.

Samsung has finally and officially detailed what's coming to the Galaxy S26 series with the One UI 9 update.

Samsung's One UI 9 rollout for the Galaxy S26 series has been one for the books. Earlier this month, the company announced that One UI 9 would start rolling out to the Galaxy S26 series on September 21. We later learned that Samsung had delayed the rollout, only for T-Mobile to suddenly start pushing the update to Galaxy S26 devices in the U.S.

Safe to say, it's been messy. That said, Samsung has now updated its official support pages to confirm that One UI 9 builds for the Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26 Plus, and Galaxy S26 Ultra are available on T-Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile, and US Cellular (via Android Authority). Unlocked Galaxy S26 owners are apparently starting to receive the update as well.

Despite One UI 9 already reaching several Galaxy S26 devices, we didn't have an official changelog from Samsung detailing exactly what was new. But with Samsung now updating its support pages, we finally know what Galaxy S26 owners are getting.

One of the biggest additions is My FanCam, the AI-powered video tracking feature that debuted with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 series. One UI 9 also brings an improved Now Nudge experience, alongside the ability to show relevant information directly on the call screen.

Samsung is also making the Quick Panel even more customizable. You can now separate the Sound Mode button from the volume slider, giving you more control over how the panel is laid out.

There are some new privacy and security features as well. One UI 9 introduces AI-powered privacy alerts that monitor how apps use permissions and can notify you if an app appears to be unnecessarily accessing your personal data. A blue indicator will also appear at the top of the screen whenever an app accesses your location.

Beyond that, Samsung says One UI 9 brings major upgrades to Bixby, Samsung Health, and the Lock Screen Clock, alongside several other smaller changes. You can check out Samsung's full One UI 9 changelog below.

One UI 9 official changelog:

Galaxy AI

Enhanced Now nudge
Now nudge provides helpful suggestions in more places throughout your Galaxy experience. In addition to the keyboard, suggestions will now appear in conversation notifications and in a floating button in the bottom right corner of the screen. There are also several new types of suggestions, like entering reservation details or addresses and saving places in Google Maps.

Focus on someone important
My FanCam lets you select a person in a video and follow them automatically while cropping out the rest of the video.

Interpreter keeps your conversation in front of you
In conversation mode, you can scroll through the whole conversation while you’re still talking.

See useful information during calls
See relevant events and other information related to your current call on the call screen.

Productivity and multitasking

More customizable quick panel
You can now rearrange and customize the controls in your quick panel even more than before. You can change the size of the brightness and volume sliders as well as the media player. You can also separate the sound mode button from the volume slider.

Privacy, security, and device protection

Warranty and care
The new Warranty and care menu in settings lets you check your warranty information and access diagnostic checks and useful information for keeping your Galaxy in top condition.

Lock down your phone quickly
It's now easier to securely lock your phone in a hurry. Just press and hold the Volume down and Side buttons at the same time or tap the Power button in the quick panel. This prevents biometrics from being used the next time you unlock your phone.

Location access transparency
Stay on top of your location privacy. A blue indicator will appear at the top of the screen when an app accesses your location. Tap the indicator in the quick panel to see which app it is.

Stronger security and privacy protection
Alerts will appear in your Now brief to let you know about risks from malware, apps from unknown sources, unnecessary permissions, and other issues that may put your security and privacy at risk. Apps that have been identified as malicious or vulnerable will be blocked from opening until you make a decision about whether to remove them.

AI privacy alerts
Get help protecting your personal data. AI will monitor how apps use permissions and notify you about unnecessary access to your personal data.

Samsung Health

New look for Samsung Health
Samsung Health has been redesigned to make your health data easier to understand. Enjoy clearer visuals, improved charts, and a more engaging experience to help you reach your health goals.

Customize your Health home screen
Resize cards and organize them by category, like Activity, Sleep, Mindfulness, and Nutrition, so your top priorities are easy to access.

Log health data quickly
It's now easier to add your health information right from the Samsung Health home screen. You can log your mood, meals, and more. You can even use the camera for faster input.

Advanced trend analysis
Track your progress with improved trend charts in Samsung Health. View data in hourly, daily, or weekly intervals, pinch to zoom in for a closer look, and overlay multiple charts to compare your performance across different periods.

Monitor changes in your sleep vitals
Samsung Health helps you notice meaningful changes in your sleep health data. Use Galaxy Watch or Ring measurements to better understand your daily health patterns.

Manage your heart health
Track key health metrics and lifestyle factors that affect your heart. A daily score based on your sleep, exercise, BMI, and blood pressure helps you better understand your current heart health trends.

Track your cardio load
See how your workouts and activity impact your heart so you'll know when to push harder and when to rest. Your target cardio load range adjusts daily based on your recent activity and training focus.

Check your fitness index
Your Fitness Index is an overall score calculated using five key fitness metrics: body composition, cardio, strength, flexibility, and endurance. Set a goal and unlock personalized insights tailored to your results.

Keep your ears safe
The new Hearing tracker monitors sound levels detected by your Galaxy Watch and headphone audio levels to help you manage your exposure to loud sounds.

View your cycle and body rhythm
Get a more personalized view of your cycle and body rhythm with new cycle tracking options. You can view your cycle information in your calendar and better understand your health patterns.

Bixby

Activate Bixby with a gesture
Talk to Bixby just by raising your phone close to your mouth and speaking. No wake-up word needed.

Manage your conversations
Keep your chats organized. Search them, rename them, or pin your favorites. You can also delete all of your past conversations at once.

Bixby on the Home screen
Add a Bixby widget to type or talk to Bixby or jump directly to your conversation history.

Accessibility

Discover new Accessibility features
Check the What's new menu in Accessibility settings to learn about and try the latest Accessibility features for your Galaxy.

Text spotlight for easier reading
Need a closer look? Tap any text on the screen to show it enlarged and highlighted in its own window. You can also customize the font size, colors, and other settings to match your preferences.

Physical keyboard shortcuts
Use shortcuts on your physical keyboard to access the Accessibility settings you need without touching the screen.

Mouse keys enhancements
New options are available when using your keyboard for mouse interactions including speed and acceleration control. You can also use the keyboard's number pad to point and click.

Replace swipe with single tap
The Replace swipe with single tap option is now located in the Dexterity and interaction menu instead of the Assistant menu for easier access.

Select to speak
Get quick audio readouts without turning on full TalkBack. With the new Select to speak feature, you can select an item on your screen, like text or an image, and hear it read or described out loud.

Improved TalkBack updates
TalkBack updates can now be applied with a simple app update from the Play Store, helping you get the latest accessibility features and enhancements.

Even more improvements

New Lock screen clock
The default clock on your Lock screen has been redesigned with a cleaner and more modern look that adapts to match your wallpaper.

Samsung DeX enhancements
It's easier to move an app window from one desktop to another using the menu at the top of the window. Desktop previews are now available at the top of the Recents screen, making it easier to switch with a single tap.

What you need to know

• One UI 9 has started rolling out to some T-Mobile Galaxy S26 Ultra owners in the U.S.
• The Android 17-based update is around 4GB in size and also includes the September security patch.
• Unlocked Galaxy S26 phones and models on AT&T and Verizon don't appear to have received the update yet..

Samsung has started rolling out the One UI 9 update for Galaxy S26 Ultra owners in the U.S., although it appears to be limited to T-Mobile models for now.

Earlier this month, Samsung announced that One UI 9, which debuted with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 series, would begin rolling out to the Galaxy S26 lineup this month. Reports initially suggested the rollout would begin around September 21, but that didn't happen. We later even heard rumors that Samsung may have delayed the Galaxy S26 series' One UI 9 rollout indefinitely.

It now looks like things have taken a U-turn, and there's finally some good news for Samsung users in the U.S. The company appears to have started rolling out One UI 9 to at least some Galaxy S26 Ultra owners.

A user on Reddit reports that their T-Mobile Galaxy S26 Ultra has received the One UI 9 update. As expected, the update is based on Android 17 and comes in at around 4GB. It carries the build number S948USQU4BZID/S948UOYN4BZID/S948USQU4BZID and also includes the September security patch.

A few other users in the Reddit thread have also confirmed receiving the update on their T-Mobile Galaxy S26 Ultra. However, it appears that other Galaxy S26 models on T-Mobile, alongside unlocked devices and phones on AT&T and Verizon, haven't received the update just yet. So, it looks like T-Mobile may have jumped the gun and started rolling out One UI 9 ahead of the wider U.S. release.

That said, if you have a T-Mobile Galaxy S26 Ultra, it's worth heading into Settings and manually checking for the One UI 9 update if you haven't received a notification yet.

There's currently no word on exactly when One UI 9 will arrive for unlocked devices or other carrier variants. But with the update now appearing on T-Mobile models in the U.S., the wait hopefully shouldn't be much longer.

What you need to know

• Samsung has reportedly delayed the global release of its One UI 9 (Android 17) update for Galaxy users.
• The company originally planned to release the update on September 21, but missed the date, and quietly changed its new plans twice.
• Samsung went from a September 28 possibility to a general "September 2026" window, but time is running out.
• One UI 9 has been in testing for five months, and users we're eagerly awaiting the release of the next major Android software/

Reactions have been in an uproar across social media and publications early today (Sept. 22). Samsung has reportedly delayed its major Android update, and we have a general timeline for when to expect it.

Reports have been fast and furious on social media; however, we're getting started with a post by SammyGuru. The post reminds us that Samsung originally announced One UI 9's arrival last week, on September 16. The Android 17 update was supposed to begin rolling out globally to more users on September 21 (yesterday), but that didn't happen.

This is where things get strange. Tarun Vats brought this up on X, too, stating that Samsung Thailand's blog changed the original September 21 date to September 28. However, early this morning, the company changed the date once again.

Now, September 28 is no longer present. Samsung has replaced this missed date with a general "September 2026" launch window. The blog reads, "In Thailand, the update will first be available on the Galaxy S26 series, Galaxy S25 series, and Galaxy Z7 series within September, with further updates to the Galaxy S23 FE later this year." It's hard to think one way or the other right now. Either Samsung is still sticking to this delayed September 28 date, or we're going to see it even later.

However, Samsung can't go too late into the month. September only has 30 days. So we'll either see the update on the 28th, 29th, or 30th. Either way, this development is extremely disappointing.

Surprise, surprise

To remind you, we've been dealing with five months of One UI 9 testing with Samsung. Testing for the Galaxy S26 series started for users in May. The company synced its beta across multiple regions, including Germany, India, Korea, Poland, the UK, and the U.S. The start was pretty light, offering users a glimpse into a few new features for the Contacts app and Samsung Notes.

Fast-forward to September, and we received the wondrous announcement of One UI 9's full release. Funnily enough, Samsung's U.S. newsroom post didn't mention a specific date for the global release. Makes one curious. Regardless, Samsung said it was pushing its update in South Korea on September 16. Global users were to follow, but it looks like we're all left waiting—again.

Android Central's Take

I've got nothing to say. That's not true. I have something to say, but I'd rather not. It's frustrating. That's also the sentiment I'm getting from users on social media, too. People are annoyed and tired and confused about the delay. If you remember Samsung's One UI 8.5 update, that was hounded by delay after delay. I can't imagine One UI 9 getting pushed back into October, but I guess I won't hold my breath about it, either.

Choosing between the Galaxy S26 Ultra and iPhone 18 Pro Max? I'm about to make this decision much easier for you.

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra came out in March 2026, while Apple's iPhone 18 Pro Max debuted in September. That six-month gap is enough to account for some major differences between these phones, but Samsung's lackadaisical attitude with its flagship phones in the past few years has finally caught up, and that means I'm about to do something I've never before done in my life: recommend an iPhone.

You might think I'm crazy for it, but Apple's latest flagship checks more boxes than Samsung's and, at the same price, it's hard to argue with the facts. Here's what you need to know.

Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max vs. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: Design, specs, and performance

Over the years, Samsung has opted for flatter and flatter designs. While the company thankfully got rid of the square corners on the Galaxy S Ultra series, Apple's curvier iPhone designs are far more comfortable to hold on a daily basis. But while those curves certainly feel better in the hand, the iPhone weighs a whopping 35g more and is nearly 1mm thicker than the Galaxy S26 Ultra.

Some of this has to do with the MagSafe magnets built into iPhones, but some of it is also because the iPhone has a 10% larger battery than the Galaxy S26 Ultra. And while 10% doesn't sound like a lot, real-world usage of both phones ends up showing a far greater difference in the end.

Samsung's Galaxy S Ultra phones have had the same 5000mAh battery size for the last 5 years. Meanwhile, most Android phones have switched to higher-capacity silicon-carbon batteries that reduce physical size and weight. The Galaxy S26 Ultra at least improves charging speed compared to previous Samsung phones, but it's still slower than Apple's latest.

Plugging the iPhone 18 Pro Max in for 15 minutes gives it a 50% charge, while our tests have shown that the Galaxy S26 Ultra only hits 41% in the same time frame. That difference becomes wider when you consider that the iPhone's battery is larger, too.

Additionally, Apple's A20 chipset in the iPhone 18 Pro Max is at least 20% faster than the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 in the Galaxy S26 Ultra (and up to 40% faster in gaming). That, combined with Apple's new "next-generation" vapor chamber, gives games like Monster Hunter Outlanders special advanced graphics settings only available on iPhone.

Apple also sports a customizable side key and the camera button, while the Galaxy S26 Ultra offers a built-in stylus. Samsung has been placing less emphasis on the stylus lately, though, stripping it of its Bluetooth features and opting for a weird design that can only be docked one way.

Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max vs. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: Display and cameras

The Galaxy S26 Ultra's Privacy Display is a unique AMOLED display that allows the phone to dim specific portions of the screen so that they are not visible from an angle, keeping prying eyes from reading your messages or seeing your photos.

While this feature is incredibly cool and quite a bit of fun to show off to people, the screen quality has been degraded because of it. In my display review, I showed that the effective resolution, brightness, contrast, and the anti-reflective layer were worse than the Galaxy S25 Ultra, and some people even found that Privacy Display was uncomfortable to look at.

Neither phone is suitable for folks who are PWM-sensitive, but more people in the flicker-sensitive community have had luck using iPhones than Samsung phones. While both phones run at paltry 480HZ dimming rates, Apple does a better job of managing the intensity of the PWM cycle.

Samsung experimented with variable aperture cameras a few years ago on the Galaxy S9 series, but did not stick with the technology for very long. Now that Apple has adopted variable aperture, the iPhone 18 Pro Max's main camera promises to deliver crisper low-light photography and better bokeh than the Galaxy S26 Ultra's 200MP main camera.

Apple has also caught up to Samsung with several features, including an actual Pro camera mode. The iPhone 18 Pro Max's ultrawide camera and portrait modes are better than what Samsung offers, and the iPhone even lets you adjust the angle you took the photo after it was taken with its Spatial Reframing feature. Samsung's most unique camera feature is Horizon Lock, which is excellent if you take a lot of action videos.

Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max vs. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: Software and features

One of the most difficult reasons to choose the iPhone over the Galaxy S26 Ultra is the fact that Apple's iOS operating system is nowhere near as customizable or open as Android. Aside from general customization, Android phones like the Galaxy S26 Ultra support a wider variety of peripherals.

Apple mainly wants you to only buy its products, so many parts of the operating system are locked down, meaning third-party watches, smart glasses, etc. don't have the same level of access as Apple's own products. This is the reason I've chosen Android for the last 16 years, and the reason I will continue to stick with it.

There's also no denying that Samsung phones are substantially more feature-rich than any iPhone. There's a running joke every year that Apple announces features that Android users have had for 10 years, and that's really no different this year.

Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max vs. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: Which should you buy?

If you're truly only the fence between these phones this year, it's pretty clear that Apple's iPhone 18 Pro Max is the better option. With better performance, better battery life, faster charging, a better display, and tons of new features that finally caught up with Samsung, it's difficult not to recommend Apple's latest.

If I were picking from the huge selection of Android flagship phones, I'd definitely pick something other than a Galaxy S26 Ultra.

Samsung's foldable phones are more popular than ever before, and retailers all across the web are trying to capitalize on this success by dropping some pretty great Galaxy Z Fold 8 deals ahead of fall sale season.

The offers from Verizon and T-Mobile are particularly impressive this time around, but which Z Fold 8 deal is best? Well, as always with carrier deals, the answer isn't exactly straightforward. Let's break it down.

How do the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 deals compare?

T-Mobile:

For starters, it's important to note that, in the world of phone deals, nothing is ever truly free. Yes, play your cards right and T-Mobile won't charge you anything for the Galaxy Z Fold 8, but you'll still need to pay for the wireless. The Experience Beyond plan starts at $105 per month for a single line, although you can drop that price down considerably by adding multiple lines and using AutoPay.

It also helps that it's one of the best unlimited plans in the business, providing unlimited coverage and premium data with a mobile hotspot, free streaming subscriptions, and a ton of international benefits.

You'll also need to trade in an old or broken device to receive the full savings. At this time, Samsung phones dating back to the Galaxy S23 Plus will earn you the max credit, in addition to a number of devices from OEMs like Apple and Google. Check T-Mobile's product page for the full list of phones.

Verizon:

Verizon is actually keeping things pretty simple with its Galaxy Z Fold 8 deal. New customers who bundle the device with the carrier's Simplicity plan will only pay $59.98 per month for 48 months.

The plan in question gets you unlimited talk, text, and 5G Ultra Wideband data, plus you'll get 10GB of mobile hotspot data and coverage in Mexico and Canada. The benefits aren't as comprehensive as T-Mobile's Experience Beyond plan, but if you just want some straightforward wireless coverage, Verizon's Simplicity plan is a great deal.

No trade-in is required, although you'll need to be a new customer and use AutoPay to enjoy the full discount. Existing Verizon customers can enjoy the same deal, but the rate will increase to $85 per month.

So which Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 deal is best?

✅Choose T-Mobile's deal if: you have a device to trade-in; you're a heavy data user and you want to experience one of the best unlimited plans in wireless; you live in an area with good T-Mobile coverage.

✅Choose Verizon's deal if: you're looking to switch wireless carriers; you don't need all of the bells and whistles included in some unlimited plans; you live in an area with good Verizon coverage.

There are a ton of Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 deals on the web right now. Whether you're looking for a trade-in opportunity or a straight discount on an unlocked phone, stiff competition in the foldable space means there has never been a better time to pick up one of these innovative devices. That said, if you're looking for a different type of deal, Mint Mobile has you covered.

Bundle the purchase of the new Galaxy Z Flip 8 with one year of the unlimited plan and you'll get $200 off the phone and 50% off the wireless, knocking your total payment down to $1,180 (or $99 per month using affirm). Considering that the retail cost of the Z Flip 8 usually starts at $1,200, you're essentially getting a FREE year of unlimited T-Mobile-powered wireless, courtesy of Mint Mobile. And hey, there's a little $20 discount in there too.

Mint Mobile's unlimited plan gives you unlimited talk, text, and data on T-Mobile's legendary 5G network, plus you get a free mobile hotspot and calls to Mexico, Canada, and the UK. It's not the most comprehensive unlimited plan I've ever used, but if you like to keep things simple, this deal presents an easy way to avoid paying your phone bill for an entire year.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 is worth the price of entry too, coming complete with a foldable clamshell design, two gorgeous AMOLED displays, and the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset for powerful performance. The phone also comes equipped with 12GB of RAM, an upgraded 4,300mAh battery, and a thinner and lighter build than ever before.

Sure, this deal isn't for everyone. Some folks may miss the premium features offered by some unlimited plans, while others might be looking for a trade-in opportunity to could make the Galaxy Z Flip 8 even cheaper upfront. But if you have the cash lying around and you want to score a year of wireless and a great flip phone in one fell swoop, now's your chance.

The iPhone 18 lineup finally went on sale today, but that simply means that the Samsung Galaxy S26 deals are about to get even more competitive. Add a line with the Experience More OR Experience Beyond plans and T-Mobile will slash $1,100 off the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, dropping the price down to just $5.56 per month for 36 months. No trade-in required!

This T-Mobile deal is particularly compelling because, unlike some offers, it will still give you the full discount when you sign up for the mid-tier Experience More plan. That means you aren't stuck paying for the carrier's pricey Experience Beyond plan.

For comparison, Expensive More will only net you a $930 discount when you buy the iPhone 18 Pro Max at T-Mobile, while signing up for the Experience Beyond plan could land you $1,200 off the Apple device. In other words, unless you want to pay for T-Mobile's most-expensive wireless plan, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra deal is the better value.

• See my guide to the best Galaxy S26 deals of September 2026

The most powerful phone in Samsung's 2026 flagship lineup, the Galaxy S26 Ultra boasts a gorgeous 6.9-inch AMOLED display with embedded S Pen stylus, while under the hood you get the incredible Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset with 12GB of RAM and seven years of guaranteed OS/security updates.

Charging speeds have been improved here as well, plus you get all of the latest AI-boosted software features from Galaxy AI (if you're into that kind of thing). The Galaxy S26 Ultra has also stolen a lot of headlines for its new Privacy Display, a unique design feature that prevents prying eyes from looking at your phone's screen at a side angle.

Indeed, the iPhone 18 Pro Max is going to be the Ultra's biggest competition as we head into the fall sale season, but how do these two phones compare? I'll start by saying that both premium flagships are impressive, with huge gorgeous screens, powerful performance, and steep price tags to match.

With a direct comparison, you'll find that, although the two phones are nearly identical in size, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is considerably lighter than the 18 Pro. The Samsung phone also has more unique features than the iPhone, while the 18 Pro Max is likely superior when it comes to battery life and video recording.

Ultimately, for many folks, the final decision is going to come down to which device will land you the better deal. If you've been eyeing T-Mobile's mid-tier Experience More plan, the answer is clear.

What you need to know

• An overseas report claims the Galaxy Z Fold 8 saw a 10% increase in sales following the iPhone Duo.
• It was alleged that consumers were interested in seeing pricing details and more before deciding on a device, among other factors.
• The Galaxy Z Fold 8 was already incredibly popular for Samsung, shattering pre-order records and exceeding the Fold 8 Ultra and Flip 8

It's just over a week since Apple's main event where it debuted the iPhone Duo, its first foldable phone. Trends have shifted since then, and it's Samsung that's seeing an uptick in Fold 8 sales.

The Chosun (Korean) reported that Apple's event provided a noteworthy boost in Galaxy Z Fold 8 sales following the iPhone Duo's debut (via GSMArena). This appears to be the result of consumers "waiting and seeing," as the publication notes. According to the report, Samsung observed a 10% boost in Galaxy Z Fold 8 sales following the iPhone Duo reveal.

There might've been a few deciding factors that consumers were waiting out. The report highlights the price difference between the two phones as one of them. That price might be minimal in the U.S. (the iPhone Duo is $100 more), but in South Korea, there's a one million won difference. What's more, the report acknowledges that there is no 1TB option for the Fold 8; however, if consumers wanted the 2TB iPhone Duo, they'd have to pay five million won (by comparison, the Fold 8 starts at 2.2 million won).

These two factors were cited as the deciding factors for Korean consumers when choosing between the Fold 8 and the iPhone Duo. The publication went on to highlight one more factor: actually receiving the phone. Consumers can more readily go out and purchase a Fold 8. But the iPhone Duo isn't set to appear until October. In the U.S., Apple said pre-orders begin October 16, but its market debut isn't until October 23.

The Fold 8's pretty popular

It was nice finally seeing Apple's long-awaited foldable debut. Shortly after the event, Android Central's Harish Jonnalagadda was quick with his two cents about it. While an appealing phone, there were some glaring differences between it and the competition. Comparing the iPhone Duo's weight was highlighted. Both Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Google's Pixel 11 Pro Fold are lighter (it's 53g heavier than the Fold 8).

Elsewhere, Samsung and, yes, Duolingo, chirped Apple on social media during the event. It's probably safe to say Samsung wasn't too impressed. It said, "Making us wait? Fine. We'll be over here, folding 3 ways." The company even said the iPhone Duo's bedside clock mode was "giving groundhog day." Then we have Duolingo—completely unhinged. Its post read, "They named a phone after me and made it bend over," accompanied by its mascot's—you get the idea.

Getting back on topic, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 was already incredibly popular following its debut. After a week of pre-orders, the Fold 8 shattered expectations with its high volume. Inventory sold out online, and the Fold 8 far outpaced the Fold 8 Ultra and Flip 8.

Android Central's Take

I'm sure this is the case for a lot of people. The "waiting and see" approach is how to stay smart in a market that demands a lot from your wallet. But also, Samsung and Apple are major competitors. People might grab one phone one year and then the other the next. It's a constant flow. An ever-shifting reality we live in. However, it speaks a little more volume on Samsung's end. Clearly, people were on the fence and wanted to see. But after seeing, they still opted for Samsung. That's good for now. I want to know if it'll stick, though.

What you need to know

• Samsung has started the stable One UI 9 update for the Galaxy S26 series, beginning in South Korea before expanding to other markets.
• One UI 9 brings features like My FanCam and more customizable Now Brief cards to the Galaxy S26 lineup.
• Samsung released seven beta builds over nearly five months, giving it time to fix bugs and refine the software.

Samsung has officially started the One UI 9 update rollout for the Galaxy S26 series, nearly five months after the company kicked off beta testing in May. The stable update for the Galaxy S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra began rolling out in South Korea on September 16 and is now being released in other regions as well.

The test drive of the software wasn’t exactly a quick preview. Samsung released seven beta versions before moving to the finished release, allowing it to have several rounds of feedback and bug fixes to go through. The September security patch is, as expected, included with the stable release.

One UI 9 also includes some Galaxy AI features that first appeared on Samsung’s latest foldables. For example, one is the My FanCam feature, which can keep a chosen person in focus while automatically reframing video for different aspect ratios, while Now Brief gets customizable cards and expanded security and privacy information.

Samsung is also adding Now Nudge for more contextual suggestions and improvements to Interpreter, Document Scan, Voice Recorder summaries, and device care. Security Brief can find and surface warnings around malware, unknown apps, and unnecessary permissions, and on-device AI is able to identify potential privacy risks.

What’s interesting is how One UI 9 is moving away from a singular headline feature and is instead becoming more about tying Samsung’s AI, camera, and security tools into everyday tasks. That could make the update feel more substantial in daily use than the visual changes alone would suggest.

Samsung says One UI 9 will be available to more Galaxy phones and tablets, so international users should keep an eye on Settings > Software update > Download and install as the rollout expands to other markets.

What you need to know

• Samsung's OneDrive Gallery integration is ending soon, but Google Photos appears ready to take its place.
• A new Gallery Cloud Sync service has appeared on the Galaxy Store with support for backing up to Google Photos.
• Samsung hasn't announced the Google Photos integration yet, but it could start rolling out within weeks.

Samsung has started laying the groundwork for what appears to be the replacement for its outgoing OneDrive integration, and unsurprisingly, it's Google Photos.

Earlier this year, Samsung announced that users would no longer be able to use OneDrive to back up photos and videos directly through the Samsung Gallery app. Until now, Galaxy users have been able to automatically sync their Gallery photos and videos with OneDrive without needing to use another app or service.

However, that partnership is coming to an end later this month. And now, Samsung appears to be preparing its replacement with none other than Google Photos.

X user Sandeep Adap has spotted a new Samsung service called "Gallery Cloud Sync" on the Galaxy Store, which appears to be designed to take over from the existing Gallery OneDrive Sync integration. The app listing says Gallery Cloud Sync will safely back up your memories, including photos and videos, to "Google Cloud" so you can access them across your devices.

The mention of Google Cloud might sound slightly confusing, but it appears Samsung is actually referring to Google Photos here.

User That Josh Guy on X was able to preview the upcoming functionality, which isn't live just yet, and found that Samsung Gallery will offer an option to sync directly with Google. The Gallery settings will reportedly show your available Google storage, let you choose which albums to sync, and offer controls to sync over Wi-Fi or while roaming.

This could be a big change if you currently rely on OneDrive for Samsung Gallery backups, since you'll likely need to switch to Google Photos. That said, the overall experience should remain pretty similar, with the sync controls still built directly into the Gallery app.

The OneDrive sync option has already started disappearing from Samsung Gallery for some users and is expected to be discontinued completely later this month. Thankfully, Samsung's upcoming Google Photos integration looks like it could be an even more natural replacement.

Samsung hasn't officially announced Galaxy Cloud Sync or started rolling out the Google Photos integration just yet. But with OneDrive support ending soon, we expect the new option to become available sometime later this month or in early October.

What you need to know

• Samsung introduces the Galaxy S26 series to its Certified Re-Newed program.
• The S26 Ultra starts at $1,099 (a ~$200 price drop), while the S26 and S26 Plus start at $759 and $929.
• The company highlights that buyers can grab Samsung Care Plus protection with Loss and Theft during checkout for unlimited battery repairs and free screen replacements.

If you're looking to save some money, Samsung announced that its latest Galaxy S26 series is now available in its Certified Re-Newed program.

Today (Sept. 14), Samsung announced that its Certified Re-Newed program has welcomed the Galaxy S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra. You can view this program as Samsung's refurbished phone line. As always, the company says its "Certified Re-Newed devices offer a like-new phone experience." It has taken in Galaxy S26 devices and equipped them with new (genuine) parts and a "brand-new battery."

A Certified Re-Newed Galaxy S26 Ultra starts at $1,099. This is roughly a $200 price drop from the standard, new flagship starting price (256GB). When it comes to the S26 and S26 Plus, the program shifts these prices to $759 and $929, respectively.

Samsung says you can only purchase these devices from the Certified Re-Newed program at its main store. The post states consumers can trade in their current phone for a Certified Re-Newed phone and receive "up to $720" in credit. You should check the specifics of this during purchase.

What's more, Samsung says if you are purchasing a Certified Re-Newed Galaxy S26 device, you can add Samsung Care Plus (with Loss and Theft) protection. This protection plan features unlimited battery repairs and free screen replacements.

• See our guide to the best Samsung Galaxy S26 deals of September 2026

Refurbished Galaxy S26

We're a couple of months early, but Samsung brought the Galaxy S25 series into the Re-Newed program last November. The price drops were fairly similar to what we're seeing this year for the S26 series. Costs dropped anywhere from $150 to $260. The model and configuration (RAM/storage) made the difference here. The "cheapest" option last year was the Galaxy S25 with 256GB of storage for $709.

Joining the Galaxy S25 was the Galaxy Z Fold 6, as well as the Galaxy S25 Edge and the Flip 6.

At the time of writing this post (around 3:15 pm ET), the devices are not listed on Samsung's storefront. That should change. If you're interested, check back later today or perhaps later this week. You shouldn't fret about the refurbished tag; you'll still receive all of Samsung's newest features. Now Nudge and Now Brief were highlighted, and if you're getting the Galaxy S26 Ultra, you'll find the Privacy Display.

Internally, the Galaxy S26 series features Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset.

What you need to know

• Rumors claim we might have a Galaxy Z TriFold 2 in 2027, as Samsung is supposedly moving ahead with development.
• The TriFold 2 could feature a "more durable," thinner, and lighter design with a price tag similar to the original model ($2,800).
• It's worth remembering the struggles Samsung encountered with the first TriFold (component prices/prices in general) and that it was a "limited release."
• The TriFold lasted for three months before Samsung pulled the plug.

It's been almost a year since Samsung debuted its Galaxy Z TriFold. Rumors say there's a sequel on the way next year.

Over the weekend, tipster Lanzuk on Naver stated Samsung is already working on a Galaxy Z TriFold 2 (via 9to5Google). One thing the tipster mentions is the phone's price. Samsung could face issues; however, they claim this supposed TriFold 2 could be priced "similarly" to the original—around $2,899. When it comes to upgrades, Samsung is supposedly looking at three areas.

This alleged TriFold 2 could debut as a thinner, lighter, and "more durable" phone. Looking at what Samsung did with the Galaxy Z Fold 7 (and 8), reducing the thickness of that phone, this rumor strikes a chord. What's more, the idea of a "more durable" TriFold likely concerns its hinge/display for longevity.

Right now, these rumors suggest Samsung is sticking to its "original schedule" of releasing this "TriFold 2" in 2027. Additionally, rumors say Samsung might reveal a "slideable" phone, too. If it's what we presume it is, Samsung has shown off concepts of this type of phone several times over the past few years.

How the TriFold did

It's interesting to hear this rumor. We all remember Huawei's Mate XT surprise. It beat Samsung to the world of tri-fold phones. It's even more interesting since Samsung effectively stopped selling the Galaxy Z TriFold after three months...

Maybe this wasn't so surprising. Samsung always positioned the Galaxy Z TriFold as a "limited release." These rumors about a TriFold sequel mention something Samsung struggled with before: components. Developing the Galaxy Z TriFold was already incredibly strenuous due to high manufacturing and rising component costs. If Samsung is considering a TriFold 2, in the current climate, that might be difficult (on our wallets).

Nevertheless, it remains to be seen how Samsung would treat a TriFold 2. Another limited release might seem strange, but we'll have to see. The Galaxy Z TriFold debuted with a huge, tablet-like 10-inch internal display and a 6.5-inch cover.

What you need to know

• Overseas rumors claim Samsung's Galaxy S26 series could see a ~$100/149,000 KRW price increase.
• Samsung is reportedly grappling with various issues impacting the phone market (RAM/memory).
• This increase has been rumored for Korean consumers; however, Samsung's official statement says nothing is set in stone yet as rumors say this could all happen in October.

Prices are soaring all over the place, whether it's phones or gaming consoles. A recent rumor from overseas says Samsung's latest flagship phones might be next on the list.

A report by Hans Economy (Korean) claims Samsung is mulling over a potential price increase for the Galaxy S26 series (via SamMobile). According to the publication's sources, Samsung is now facing "difficulties" with "maintaining its existing pricing structure." The post alludes to the current stress placed on the phone industry: RAM and memory prices. With that in mind, Samsung is supposedly increasing its Galaxy S26 series prices by ~$100 (USD)/~149,000 KRW.

If this happens, it would push the Galaxy S26 to a ~$999 starting price, and the Galaxy S26 Ultra to ~$1,400. The post claims a mobile carrier started informing consumers about an impending price hike for the Galaxy S26 series. Here's the thing: nothing is confirmed. In fact, Samsung provided an official comment to Hans Economy about these rumors.

The company states that while it has been "internally reviewing" the idea of "adjusting" prices, "nothing has been finalized as of now" (machine-translated).

There's more to consider with these rumors. On one hand, it was suggested that Samsung could hike S26 prices in October for Korean consumers if its internal review finds success. However, it's unclear how widespread this hike could be—meaning it's not clear if the U.S. would see it, too.

Prices are soaring

Let's not kid ourselves, Samsung (technically) already raised prices for the Galaxy S26. It was around the time the series debuted earlier this year. Compared to the S25 and S25 Plus, the S26 and S26 Plus cost roughly $100 more. The S26 Ultra's price remains the same compared to its past-gen counterpart. However, despite the price hikes to the first two models, Samsung's phones still performed well.

Specifically, the Galaxy S26 Ultra performed the best. According to early analytics, the Galaxy S26 Ultra achieved 71% of sales in the first three weeks. This year's Ultra has a lot going on, like the Privacy Display, so that might've helped.

And since we're talking about Samsung price hikes, it's hard not to bring up the horrendous streak it went on in the U.S. in April. Someone needs to save our wallets, because Samsung's Galaxy tablets were hit hardest. The Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra (1TB) jumped by $280 earlier this year to $1,899.

Android Central's Take

Price hikes are becoming quite the unsettling "norm." Looking at devices in a smart way has never mattered more. We might love to chase after "what's new," but when it starts hitting your wallet, you'll reconsider. Not everyone's in that sort of position where they can chase after every new phone or what-have-you. To be honest, it is that majority that gives companies pause. If they drop out, that's when they're in trouble.

What you need to know

• A reliable tipster says the rumored 50MP 4x telephoto with a large 1/1.9-inch sensor may not make it to the Galaxy S27 Ultra.
• The upcoming phone is said to retain a 5x periscope with a smaller 1/2.52-inch sensor.
• Samsung may ditch the dedicated 3x telephoto camera entirely, leaving the 5x periscope as its sole zoom hardware.

Samsung’s Galaxy S27 Ultra is reportedly getting a major zoom rethink after recent rumors suggested a 50MP 4x telephoto with a much larger 1/1.9-inch sensor. The supposed plan was to swap out the familiar 3x and 5x cameras for a single, larger sensor that could handle more of the zoom range.

Now that upgrade seems a lot less certain. Ice Universe claims on X that the Galaxy S27 Ultra will instead feature a 5x periscope camera with a 1/2.52-inch sensor, which would be pretty much the same sensor size as the one used by recent Ultra models. The competing 4x rumor was described as false, suggesting Samsung could remove the 3x camera while leaving the 5x unit as its only dedicated telephoto.

Samsung has a practical reason for going the safer route. The 5x module is already compatible with the company’s existing camera strategy, but a switch to a new 4x system would mean spending more on sensor development, optics, tuning, and production. If the difference isn’t dramatic enough, it may make more financial sense to stick with proven hardware.

Plus, native 5x optical reach means you'll still get sharp long-range detail at 10x and above with high-resolution sensor cropping, something a 4x lens can have a hard time with when pushed to high magnification.

But that doesn’t mean the 4x idea was for nothing. A 1/1.9-inch sensor would be much larger than the 1/2.52-inch 5x component, possibly allowing for cleaner zoom shots, enhanced low-light performance, improved dynamic range, and stronger portraits.

For now, the safer bet is one 5x telephoto with the 200MP main camera for lower zoom levels. Samsung has time to change course before launch, and with multiple S27 Ultra prototypes reportedly under evaluation, the final camera setup may not be set in stone yet.

The real test for Samsung will be whether its image processing can compensate for not having a bigger sensor if it sticks with the old 5x hardware. Otherwise, axing the 3x camera could be viewed as Samsung simply cutting the spec sheet.

There's a lot to like in the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, and although Samsung didn't make too many changes this year, the bigger 5,000mAh silicon battery means the foldable lasts considerably longer than its predecessor.

Thankfully, there's an easy way to boost the battery life even more. Samsung offers performance profiles within One UI, and I switched over to the Light mode, netting me a decent uptick in battery life. So let's take a look at what the mode has to offer, and why you should consider using it.

Standard vs. Light profiles: Is there a difference?

By default, all Samsung phones run the Standard profile out of the box, but there's a Light mode that's designed to prioritize battery life and thermal efficiency. These performance profiles are located in the Device care section, and you can easily switch between the two as needed.

Unlike Energy Saver mode, the Light profile doesn't actually make a difference in regular daily use. You still get 120Hz refresh and similar levels of fluidity when navigating the UI or browsing. What is does instead is reduce the clock frequencies of the processor, so it isn't using as much power all the time. This is absolutely fine on a high-end foldable, as Qualcomm's latest-gen silicon has plenty of power to spare.

As I said, I didn't see any difference after switching to the Light profile, and the device continued to be lag-free even while multitasking. Notably, the profile is only active in regular use; if you launch a game, it uses Game Booster (which is another thing entirely), so you don't need to limit the hardware if you play games regularly.

There's a clear benefit to using the Light profile. I got close to an additional hour of usage (not SOT) over the course of a day, and it meant I didn't need to plug in the phone until the end of the day. It particularly makes a difference with outdoor use, as the profile does a good job balancing thermals.

How to enable the Light profile

Switching between the Standard and Light modes is as easy as it gets. This is how to do it:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Navigate to Device care.
3. Select Performance profile.
4. Choose Light.

That's all there is to it. The best part about this is that the feature is available on all Samsung devices, so if you're using an older Galaxy phone and need it to last a little longer, you should give it a try.

TL;DR: Forget the iPhone 18 Pro, you can score $1,100 off the Galaxy S26 Ultra when you add a line with an eligible unlimited plan at T-Mobile deal.

Apple unveiled the iPhone 18 Pro earlier this week, and for folks who are tempted to try it out: I get it. Even as a representative of Android Central, I have to admit that the 18 Pro is going to give the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra a run for its money when we start ranking the best smartphones of 2026.

The iPhone 18 Pro utilizes a new A20 Pro chip that might match the performance of the Galaxy S26 Ultra's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor (time will tell), plus the Apple device boasts a larger battery and the ability to shoot video with Dolby Vision support. On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is considerably lighter than the iPhone, and you get unique features like Privacy ID and an embedded S Pen stylus.

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

It's a close race, and it's one of those debates that will probably be raging for many months to come. While the tech sites sort it out, there's probably only one factor that really matters to you: whether or not you can get a good deal.

Preorder offers for the iPhone 18 Pro don't go on sale until September 12th, but if you're interested in the Galaxy S26 Ultra, you can save a whopping $1,100 right now by adding a line with the Experience More or Experience Beyond plans at T-Mobile. That drops the price of the premium flagship down to just $5.56 per month for 36 months, no trade-in required!

Both of the unlimited plans included in the T-Mobile promotion give you unlimited talk, text, and premium data on the carrier's vast 5G network, a high-speed mobile hotspot, and a ton of international benefits. Going with the more-expensive Experience Beyond plan also gets you free Hulu and Netflix streaming, plus access to the same deals that are usually exclusive to new customers.

The Experience More and Experience Beyond plans start at $90 and $100 per month for a single line, respectively, but you can drop that price down considerably by adding multiple lines and using AutoPay. Adding four lines of the Experience More plan, for instance, will drop the price down to $42.50 per month for each line ($170 total).

The fact is, both the Galaxy S26 Ultra and the iPhone 18 Pro are excellent smartphones with prohibitively expensive price tags. Regardless of the device you choose, you're going to want a good deal, and this Galaxy S26 promo from T-Mobile is one of the best on the web today.

Whether you've just joined the foldable revolution or you've been a long-time foldable phone user, you're probably already aware of how amazing it is to have a mini tablet that folds and fits easily in your pocket. That feels more true than ever since the Galaxy Z Fold 8 came along.

But did you know that your Galaxy Z Fold 8 isn't just a massive canvas for one big app? Samsung makes it easy to run more than one app on your screen at once, and a handful of nifty new multitasking features on the Galaxy Z Fold 8 line further enhance what was already one of the best multitasking experiences in the business.

Whether you want to juggle two apps more efficiently, use a 3-way split screen, or run even more apps at once, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is a great way to get things done without a laptop or another larger device.

The taskbar is the key

When you open your Galaxy Z Fold 8, you've probably seen that little floating taskbar appear at the bottom of the screen. By default, this taskbar isn't meant to stick around for long, but one setting changes that.

By pinning the taskbar, you can effortlessly open multiple apps at once, or quickly juggle between apps faster than you can by constantly going back to the home screen. Here's how to supercharge the taskbar:

1. Unfold the phone to use the larger inner display.

2. Open the Settings app.

3. Scroll down and tap Display.

4. Scroll down and tap Taskbar.

5. Tap Taskbar style.

6. Select Stay on screen.

Now, the taskbar will always be visible on the inner display. You can tap any app icon to open that app, but the real magic happens when you press and hold an icon, then drag it around the screen. This lets you easily launch multiple apps at a time and split them any way you want.

Splitting the action

Samsung launched two new multitasking features with the Galaxy Z Fold 8, including 3-way split screen and a new way to juggle between layouts. To get started, choose three apps you want to run side by side. For this example, I'm using YouTube, Chrome, and Google Docs.

1. Unfold the phone to use the larger inner display.

2. Open any app of your choosing. I started with Chrome.

3. Press and hold another app's icon, then drag it to any side of the screen. You'll see indicators to snap the app to a specific area on the screen.

4. Choose another app from the taskbar. If you don't see the app you want, tap the app drawer button on the left side and choose it from there.

5. Drag this new app to a third section of the screen. Your Galaxy Z Fold 8 will show indicators for where you can drop the app.

Now that you have three apps running at once, you can play around with the layout. Most commonly, this means three apps run side by side, but Samsung offers many layout options. Personally, I think three apps side-by-side makes them a bit too small to be useful, and that's where we'll start.

To enlarge an app, grab any separation bar by the "handle" — the part with the dots — and drag it outward. When running three apps at once, this will enlarge one app while leaving the others at the default size.

Here's the coolest part about this setup: when you've got multiple larger apps running at once, the others will hang "off to the side." That lets you run nearly full-screen apps and quickly switch between them by just tapping the app that's off to the side.

But if you want all the apps on one screen and don't want them all vertical, tap any of the "handles" — remember, that's the part of the separator line with the dots — then tap the grid icon that appears. Your apps will now be separated into one half-sized app alongside two quarter-sized apps.

Tapping the handle also brings up additional options. You can easily swap apps between frames by tapping the handle between those two apps, then tapping the "swap" arrow icon. Additionally, you can tap the other grid icon to swap the location of the grid. That lets you move quarter-sized apps from the left to the side half of the screen, and vice versa.

You can even hover an app by dragging the app icon to the center of the screen, letting you run four or more apps at once, similar to a desktop OS. Which layout is your favorite? Let us know in the comments!

It's official: Apple's first ever iPhone foldable has been unveiled, but why wait for that October release date when you can still get the Galaxy Z Fold 8 for FREE with T-Mobile's latest deal? Process a trade-in and add a line with the Experience Beyond plan and T-Mo will give you the passport-style Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 for free, weeks before the iPhone Duo even goes on sale.

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.

Forget the iPhone Duo: grab a FREE Galaxy Z Fold 8 with trade at T-Mobile

• 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 months back, 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 you need to know

• Samsung has officially ended software support for the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3 after five years.
• Both foldables received four years of OS upgrades and five years of security updates, as Samsung originally promised.
• Samsung has removed both phones from its security update page, meaning they won't receive regular security patches anymore.

Samsung's foldable phones that launched in the summer of 2021 have officially reached the end of their software support cycle.

Most Samsung flagship smartphones today, including the Galaxy S26 Ultra and even 2024's Galaxy S24 Ultra, come with seven years of software support. But Samsung hasn't always offered updates for this long. Older flagships came with shorter support promises, and now the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3 have officially reached the end of theirs.

As spotted by Android Authority, the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3 have received their final software updates. At launch, Samsung promised four years of OS upgrades and five years of security updates for both foldables, and the company has now fulfilled that promise. Samsung has also removed both devices from its security updates page.

This means Samsung won't be releasing any further regular software or security updates for these devices. The oldest foldables officially supported by the company are now the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Z Flip 4. Even those devices have moved to a quarterly update schedule, unlike newer Samsung phones that continue to receive monthly updates.

So, if you're still using a Galaxy Z Fold 3 or Galaxy Z Flip 3, your phone won't receive any new regular security patches from Samsung going forward. That means any new security vulnerabilities discovered from here on may remain unpatched on these devices.

If you're still holding onto one of these foldables, this might finally be the time to start thinking about an upgrade. Samsung recently introduced a completely new form factor with the Galaxy Z Fold 8, while its latest foldables also come with a much longer software support promise.

If you've managed to keep your Fold 3 or Flip 3 running for five years, one of Samsung's newer foldables should last you considerably longer.

What you need to know

• Samsung highlights achievements by its Galaxy Z8 series in 2026, stating the Fold 8 and Fold 8 Ultra sales are topping the Fold 7 by 30% with "high demand."
• While the Flip 8's sales are far lower, Samsung states the clamshell is succeeding as an entry into foldables, and it's also successfully getting users to switch to the Korean OEM.
• The company also highlights hardware changes in the series, such as the Fold 8's light 201g weight, the bigger 5,600mAh battery in the Fold 8 Ultra, and more.

Samsung is highlighting the achievements of the Galaxy Z8 series, as it notes higher sales and the "highest share of buyers" for one phone.

Today (Sept 8), Samsung published its official insights into the Galaxy Z8 series following the trio's launch this summer. Among its shopper analytics, Samsung states consumers have enjoyed the Galaxy Z Fold 8's "thin and light design for greater portability." Alternatively, consumers preferred the Fold 8 Ultra for its larger display. It seems the most common feedback Samsung received was that the Fold 8 Ultra's display reduced the need to carry a tablet.

As a result, Samsung observed "high demand" during the strong pre-order period for these foldables.

Together, the post states the Fold 8 and Fold 8 Ultra are outpacing the Fold 7's sales by 30%. Additionally, these book-style foldables account for 80% of all (current) foldable sales this year.

The Galaxy Z Flip 8 has seemed to fall by the wayside this year, but Samsung has excelled in other areas. According to its data, the Flip 8 has reportedly succeeded in getting consumers to switch from other brands. Samsung states 30% of Flip 8 buyers come from competing brands. What's more, "most of those buyers are first-time foldable owners."

Samsung goes down an interesting route. It states that the Flip 8 (or the Flip series in general) serves as a springboard for consumers new to foldables. With that in mind, there are reportedly "more than three times" the number of Z Flip users trading in for a Fold 8 or Fold 8 Ultra in 2026. These numbers are up compared to the Flip 7.

Samsung has observed positivity and growth for its foldables this year. Alongside its sales overview, it also detailed key engineering facts about the devices. The Galaxy Z Fold 8, for example, is just as thin as the Fold 7 (8.9mm); however, it's lighter at 201g. Flex Titanium is a technology Samsung uses for the Fold 8 and Fold 8 Ultra. The post states this tech utilizes Titanium Alloy Film, which is "one-third the width of a human hair."

The materials and structure used reportedly maintain foldable performance despite its thinness. What's more, the Fold 8 Ultra features a 5,000mAh battery (up from 4,400mAh last year) with greater heat-dissipation capabilities. Samsung says it increased this by 7% over the Fold 7.

Samsung's 2026 foldables

This isn't the first time we've heard about Samsung's foldable sales performance. Rumors started late in July, after Unpacked, that the Galaxy Z Fold 8 sales had skyrocketed. We were only in the pre-order phase, but that reportedly didn't stop websites overseas from crashing in the rush of consumers. Sites were crashing within 30 minutes after the product became available for pre-order. Additionally, reports said that shipping dates were delayed, as companies needed more inventory to meet demand.

We're now seeing the whole picture from Samsung. Sales have clearly turned positive for the company. While the Flip 8 has totalled far less than the Fold 8/Fold 8 Ultra, it's found success in another area that Samsung might feel satisfied with.

What you need to know

• Reports have appeared online, as users state the corner's of their Fold 8's display bends or "indents" when pressed.
• This most commonly occurs with the top right corner; however, there are others who haven't experienced this.
• Samsung provided an official statement, stating this is intentional to help avoid damage if thin, fine particles become stuck on the screen.

Galaxy Z Fold 8 consumers have noticed something strange with the device's screen, and it's caused a stir. Samsung has explained the situation, stating the reality is much better than it seems.

Tipster Lanzuk on Naver highlighted users experiencing the Galaxy Z Fold 8's screen bend or "indentation" (via SamMobile). Their post states that one side of the phone's display can be pressed "more severely than the other." They add that this most commonly happens in the upper right corner of the foldable. Lanzuk offered video evidence, showing the Fold 8's unfolded display nightmarishly bending when pressed.

The way it dips into the phone has startled consumers, forcing them to believe something is wrong. It's stirred quality control conversations online. The video highlights other corners without this indentation. Lanzuk says reports vary: some users experience at least one corner bending in when pressed, while others don't.

Samsung might have something to say about this, as a report by Business Post cites an official statement (via 9to5Google). According to Samsung, everything is normal. It adds, "We designed it so the display indents slightly to provide a cushioning effect and prevent damage." The sort of damage Samsung is looking to help users avoid involves very fine or thin particles, such as sand. It explained that if something were to get stuck on the display and it's then folded, it could cause damage.

The small bend or dip helps avoid damage, so you can remove the substance without worry.

Where the Fold 8 could go

It might help settle the rapidly beating hearts of consumers who've noticed their screen bend. It's not something pleasant to see, and the reactions are understandable.

Elsewhere, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 has remained quite popular for Samsung since its launch. It's become so popular that rumors suggest the company could restart its "luxury foldable strategy" with the Fold 8. A "special edition" Galaxy Z Fold 8 could be on the horizon for the second half of 2026, with Thom Browne as a purported top contender. This would return the previous partnership that occurred with the Fold 5.

Samsung paired the device with a matching smartwatch, exclusive accessories, and a custom finish. While Thom Browne is a "top contender," Samsung could also look to Maison Margiela, which it previously worked with.

Android Central's Take

The tipster from Naver mentioned that many of these Fold 8 reports got started as September got rolling. Consumers from South Korea, as well as other international countries (like the U.S.) have reported similar findings. It's good that Samsung has been rather timely with a response. I'd freak out, too, if I pressed by screen and I saw it bend. I'd think something was wrong with it. Hopefully, this is the response people were looking for to settle their worries.

TL;DR: the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra just scored a rare 27% discount during Amazon's Labor Day sale, but the deal expires in less than 24 hours!

It's no secret that the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is one of the best phones ever built, but its steep price tag has been a major barrier for a lot of Android fans. Fortunately, Amazon's Labor Day sale is live and slashing 27% off the unlocked flagship, dropping the price to a much more reasonable $953.

The only catch is that the deal ends at midnight tonight, so you better act fast if you're interested. We probably won't see another discount like this until the fall sales begin in earnest next month.

• Amazon's Labor Day sale ends TONIGHT: see the full list of deals

The nearly perfect Galaxy S26 Ultra just scored a hefty discount during Amazon's Labor Day sale

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is pure luxury inside and out, with a stunning 6.9-inch AMOLED display (with built-in stylus), IP68 ingress protection with an aluminum and Gorilla Glass build, and a slimmer, more lightweight design than its predecessor.

Under the hood, the phone is equipped with the excellent Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, plus you get 12GB of RAM, a seven-year software promise, and all of the latest AI-boosted software features from Galaxy AI. The S26 Ultra also has the innovative Privacy Display feature that prevents people from seeing your screen unless they're looking at it straight on.

Indeed, even with this discount, $953 is a lot for a phone. But if you've had your eye on the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra for a while and you prefer the simplicity of an unlocked device, this deal is tough to beat. Just don't wait too long: once this offer is gone, it's going to be at least a month before the Galaxy S26 Ultra gets another discount this good.

Looking for more? Check out my guide to the best Samsung Galaxy S26 deals of September 2026.

Samsung's latest 'Fan Edition' smartphone has just hit store shelves, and you can already find some solid Galaxy S26 FE deals during Labor Day sales this weekend. Buy the midrange masterpiece unlocked from Amazon, for instance, and you'll get a free $200 gift card with your purchase. No strings attached!

You can even claim an additional gift card worth up to $600 if you trade in an old or broken device on the retailer's website. Not too shabby for an Android phone that was literally just announced last week! No Prime membership is required to receive the gift card, but be aware that Amazon's deal ends on September 20th — so you don't have very long to claim your free cash.

• See my TOP 20+ favorite deals during Amazon's Labor Day sale

The 'Fan Edition' Galaxy S26 FE comes with a free $200 gift card at Amazon

Don't let its unassuming design fool you: the Galaxy S26 FE is one of the best 'Fan Edition' smartphones that Samsung has produced in years. Starting at $699.99 for the 128GB version, the device comes equipped with a lovely 6.7-inch AMOLED display constructed from durable Gorilla Glass Victus+, while under the hood you get a powerful Exynos chipset and a 4,900mAh battery that should easily last a full day on a single charge.

Looking at the camera tech, the Galaxy S26 FE boasts a 50MP main lens, plus you get all of the brand's latest AI-boosted software features, such as Nightography and My FanCam. The midrange smartphone also comes with Android 17 straight out of the box, making the Galaxy S26 FE the first Samsung phone to launch with One UI 9. You even get seven years of OS and security updates guaranteed, which is extremely unusual for phones in this price range.

So what's the catch?

Well, the problem with Samsung's FE series always comes down to timing and price. The midrange phones generally launch months after the release of the company's S-series lineup, which means the flagship devices are often getting discounted by the time the new FE arrives. For example, you can currently buy an unlocked Samsung Galaxy S26 256GB for $721 at Amazon, which is only $21 more expensive than the S26 FE. Although, of course, you won't get the $200 gift card.

If you want a great smartphone with Android 17 out of the box AND $200 of Amazon spending money, this Galaxy S26 FE promotion is an awesome deal. If, on the other hand, you're simply looking for the best Android phone deal imaginable, it might be worth waiting a few weeks to see what the fall sale season has in store for us.

TL;DR: I just found some Labor Day deals that carve up to $350 off the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, no strings attached.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra has only been out since August 7th, but you can already score some impressive discounts if you know where to look. The best part is that these are straight discounts, which means you don't need to worry about meeting any kind of eligibility requirements to receive the savings.

No confusing contracts, no trade-in process: just good old-fashioned discounts on a powerful Android phone. Considering that the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra starts at a steep $2,099.99, these straightforward Labor Day deals are a very welcome sight.

• See my guide to the best Galaxy Z Fold 8 / Z Fold 8 Ultra deals of September 2026

Starting at $2,099.99, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is both a follow-up to last year's great Galaxy Z Fold 7 and a major upgrade upon it. This impressive foldable phone takes its predecessor's thin and lightweight build and adds a huge 5,000mAh battery, the latest Qualcomm chip, and all of the latest AI-boosted software features from Galaxy AI.

As promised, the center crease is less visible than ever before, plus the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra comes with all of the powerful specs you'd expect from a 2026 Samsung foldable, including great cameras, two gorgeous AMOLED displays, and seven years of guaranteed OS and security upgrades.

Indeed, the biggest problem that I have with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is probably its price. Spending over $2,000 on a smartphone simply isn't realistic for many folks, which is why deals like the offer above are so essential. A $350 price reduction may seem like a drop in the bucket for such an expensive phone, but if you want a straightforward offer without any confusing fine print, these discounts are going to be pretty tough to beat (until Black Friday, at least).

Samsung didn't change too many things with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, but a key area of differentiation is silicon-carbon battery tech. This is one of the reasons how Samsung managed to slot in a bigger 5,000mAh battery in the foldable while retaining a similar svelte design as the Z Fold 7. In fact, all of Samsung's latest foldables use silicon batteries, but it's the Z Fold 8 and Fold 8 Ultra where the difference is immediately noticeable. I asked Samsung a list of questions around its implementation of silicon-carbon tech, and it is interesting to see how the brand is going about integrating the tech into its latest foldables.

As a refresher, a silicon battery has a small mixture of a silicon-carbon material in the anode, leading to an increased energy density. The amount of silicon content in the anode varies by brand, and Samsung didn't share how much it is using in its foldables. To give you some context, most brands use around a mixture of 10% silicon by weight in the anode, with some — like Xiaomi's Redmi Note 17 Pro Max that has a 9,210mAh battery — going with a slightly higher 16% silicon ratio to provide greater energy density.

Why don't brands just use an anode that's entirely made out of silicon-carbon? That's because while silicon has much better energy density — ten times as much as graphite — it undergoes expansion and contraction during charging, something you don't want in a phone battery. As there is a greater risk of long-term stability or battery swelling with extended use, it is mixed with carbon to deliver a mechanically stable structure while offering better electrical conductivity.

Brands are being (justifiably) cautious of the tech, and a Samsung spokesperson said the brand "reengineering the battery system" to facilitate the use of silicon-carbon in the anode, and to ensure that the higher-density batteries it is using this year are just as safe to use as traditional lithium-ion batteries:

"On the anode side, a thin carbon coating helps manage the reactivity of silicon-carbon particles, helping mitigate sudden volume changes during charge and discharge and supporting long-term stability," said Samsung. "On the cathode side, coating and doping help maintain surface stability and structural integrity, even under higher voltage conditions."

Another thing to consider is long-term durability, and Samsung says it added "additives" to the electrolyte to "help form a protective layer on the silicon surface, reducing silicon reactivity and supporting long-term cell stability."

Samsung also made tweaks to the separator — a polymer sheet that sits between the cathode and anode — which has a "high-porosity structure" to "improve ion movement while maintaining strength and thermal stability."

What's interesting is that Samsung is using different battery architectures for its foldables. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Fold 8 Ultra use a "dual-path charging architecture that distributes power more efficiently across the battery system, enabling faster, more stable and reliable charging while improving heat management." This system enables 45W charging on both devices, but with the Flip 8, Samsung "separately optimized for the unique spatial and thermal requirements" of the compact foldable, so it has a battery size and charging tech that's unchanged to last year.

With Samsung just getting started with silicon-carbon batteries, it's understandable that it is playing it safe. While foldables like the Razr Fold, Vivo X Fold 5, and the Find N6 come with 6,000mAh silicon batteries, the Z Fold 8 Ultra has a much more modest 5,000mAh unit. It is still considerable progress from last year, and I'm glad to see Samsung leveraging this tech — I can't wait to see how it evolves with the Galaxy S27 next year.

What you need to know

• The Galaxy S27 Ultra could replace its 3x and 5x telephoto cameras with a single new 4x f/1.9 zoom camera.
• The rumored 4x telephoto camera would match the native optical zoom of the iPhone 17 Pro.
• Leaked CAD renders appear to show room for only one telephoto camera alongside the Galaxy S27 Ultra's main sensors.

A new leak may have revealed the new zoom camera Samsung is planning for the Galaxy S27 Ultra.

The Galaxy S27 Ultra is finally starting to take shape. We recently saw CAD renders of the Galaxy S27 Ultra that revealed a redesigned camera module with an iPhone 17 Pro-like horizontal camera plateau. Another leak also suggested that Samsung might finally increase the battery capacity on its upcoming flagship.

Now, the same leaker who claimed Samsung is working on self-healing display glass for the Galaxy S27 Ultra has shared on X that the phone could feature a new 4x telephoto camera with an f/1.9 aperture.

Until now, Samsung has used two different zoom cameras on its recent Ultra flagships, traditionally offering a combination of 3x and 5x telephoto lenses. But with the Galaxy S27 Ultra, it looks like Samsung could be changing that strategy.

The company will reportedly switch to a single telephoto camera offering 4x optical zoom. Interestingly, that's also the zoom level Apple offers on the iPhone 17 Pro.

The recently leaked CAD renders also appear to leave room for only one telephoto camera inside the pill-shaped module next to the two main cameras on the horizontal camera plateau, so that could be where this new 4x camera sits.

The leaker hasn't revealed the megapixel count or any other specifications of the new sensor just yet. But with the Galaxy S27 Ultra still around six months away, we expect to learn much more about the camera setup as we get closer to launch.

Of course, there's still plenty of time for Samsung to change things before the hardware is finalized. But between the redesigned camera module, rumored larger battery, self-healing display glass, and now this new 4x telephoto camera, we're finally starting to get a clearer picture of the direction Samsung could be taking with the Galaxy S27 Ultra

Samsung's book-style foldables have historically featured squarish (1:1) aspect ratios for their main displays, but the Galaxy Z Fold 8 changes that. It's a wider foldable with a 7.6-inch folding display that uses a 4:3 aspect ratio. As a result, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is better for widescreen video and mobile games, such as modern TV shows, movies, and game titles you're likely to play on an Android foldable. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 makes a handful of compromises to get there, so it's not for everyone.

Luckily, the Android foldable market is ripe with options — and Apple is said to be gearing up to launch a wide "iPhone Ultra" foldable as well. For now, there are five Android phones I'd consider instead of the Galaxy Z Fold 8. Whether you're looking for great displays, long battery life, sharp cameras, or maximum durability, there's something for everyone here.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra

Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8 is fun to use, but it isn't the flagship foldable of 2026. That would be the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, which is a pricey pick at $2,100. This phone uses the same Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset and runs the same One UI 9 software. However, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra offers enough upgrades to be your top alternative to the Galaxy Z Fold 8.

The nearly square folding display is better for multitasking, but it's also larger, with an 8-inch folding AMOLED screen. The cover screen is bigger, too, at 6.5 inches, and its aspect ratio makes the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra feel like a traditional smartphone.

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is almost a millimeter thinner and is crazy light, weighing only 215 grams. Somehow, Samsung managed to cram a 5,000mAh silicon-carbon battery in this slim chassis — larger than the one in the regular Galaxy Z Fold 8.

Plus, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra includes a triple-camera system on the rear, headlined by a 200MP primary shooter. The ultrawide camera is upgraded to a 50MP sensor this year, and the system is rounded out with a 10MP telephoto. All these spec bumps combine to make the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra a more well-rounded foldable than the Galaxy Z Fold 8, as long as you can live without the wide form factor.

Motorola Razr Fold

If battery life is your main priority, there's no better choice than the Motorola Razr Fold. It runs on a 6,000mAh silicon-carbon battery that charges at blazing 80W wired charging speeds and 50W wireless charging, as long as you use a proprietary charger. The Razr Fold has the largest foldable battery you'll find in the U.S., and it's still only 9.89mm thick. It is on the heavier side, but Motorola makes up for that with stylish vegan leather materials and a premium look.

The Razr Fold uses an 8.1-inch folding display that's larger than every other foldable on this list. It's also really bright at up to 6,200 nits. What's interesting is that the Razr Fold's 6.6-inch cover screen has a 165Hz refresh rate, making it more responsive than the Galaxy Z Fold 8.

Another perk of Motorola's first book-style foldable is its camera system, which we even compared to the Galaxy Z Fold 8 series. Every rear camera lens, from the primary shooter to the ultrawide and telephoto, uses a 50MP sensor. This gives you plenty of versatility, whereas the Galaxy Z Fold 8's ultrawide camera is low-resolution and lacks a telephoto.

The Razr Fold's base Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chip might give you pause, but it shouldn't. Even without an "Elite" processor, the Razr Fold performs as it should.

Google Pixel Fold

Samsung is trying to start a new foldable trend with the Galaxy Z Fold 8. Apple might introduce a wide foldable of its own with the iPhone Ultra, but until then, there's only one widescreen alternative to the Galaxy Z Fold 8: the original Google Pixel Fold. Released in 2023, the Pixel Fold has a 7.6-inch folding display with a wide 6:5 aspect ratio that feels similar to the Galaxy Z Fold 8.

If you're set on trying a widescreen foldable, the Pixel Fold is the only real alternative. The Tensor G2 chipset is showing its age, but the Pixel Fold's other core specs still hold up in 2026. You get a 4,821mAh battery, a triple-camera system, and a 5.8-inch cover screen. The phone is still fully supported with Android updates. You can run Android 17 on it today, and it's guaranteed to get at least Android 18.

What makes the Pixel Fold truly appealing is the price. If you can find it in new or refurbished condition, it'll be around $500 or less. On the secondhand market, it's not hard to find a Pixel Fold for $300 or less. That's a steal for a foldable, even one that's a few years old. It might be worth your while to track down an original Pixel Fold to get a Galaxy Z Fold 8 competitor with a wide-folding display at a low price.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8

Part of the appeal of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is its compact form factor when closed. Though it's a little wide, the Galaxy Z Fold 8's 5.5-inch cover screen is much more compact than modern Android phones. If you're intrigued by the smaller footprint, the Galaxy Z Flip 8 might be worth a look. As a flip phone, it's certainly a different experience than the Galaxy Z Fold 8, but it comes with practical benefits of its own.

The Galaxy Z Flip 8 is lighter than the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and measures only 85.7 tall when shut, making it disappear in your pocket. Plus, it has the same Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy chipset, meaning you can expect similar performance across the two phones.

Samsung kept the same 4,300mAh battery in the Galaxy Z Flip 8, but it charges fairly fast at 25W via cable. That gets you about 55% of the battery in exchange for a 30-minute charge. The phone has a 6.9-inch display when unfolded, putting it in the Galaxy S26 Plus and Galaxy S26 Ultra territory. The 4.1-inch cover screen is usable, and the software is slowly getting better.

At $1,200, the Galaxy Z Flip 8 is about $700 cheaper than the Galaxy Z Fold 8. It might not be exactly what you had in mind when you started searching for a new foldable, but flip phones are fun, functional, and more affordable.

Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold

Google's Pixel 11 Pro Fold does two things better than any other foldable sold in the U.S.: durability and wireless charging. It's still the only foldable to be completely dustproof thanks to IP68 certification, meaning you don't have to worry about dust or sand working their way into your folding display assembly or hinge and causing trouble.

The Pixel 11 Pro Fold also has Qi2 magnets inside. This allows you to connect the Pixel 11 Pro Fold to Qi2, MagSafe, or Pixelsnap chargers and accessories without needing a third-party case. This time, the Pixel 11 Pro Fold isn't overtly thick because of its internal magnets. The foldable measures 10.1mm thick, which is respectable. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 is thinner, but doesn't have internal magnets.

Google has a few more tricks up its sleeve, like the Pixel 11 Pro Fold's HiLight feature, a colorful LED on the back flash that glows when you receive a call from a favorite contact or start chatting with Gemini. It's a bit gimmicky, but it makes the Pixel 11 Pro Fold unique. This is one of many Pixel-exclusive features on the Pixel 11 Pro Fold, such as Magic Capture and Camera Looks.

If you value IP68 and Qi2 as foldable features, you should choose the latest Google foldable over the Galaxy Z Fold 8.

Take your pick

If none of these foldables catch your eye, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 may indeed be the best option for your needs. Otherwise, consider traditional flagships, like the Google Pixel 11 Pro XL and the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra. While they don't have the large folding displays of the other phones on this list, these models are just as capable and cost hundreds of dollars less.

What you need to know

• The latest One UI 9 beta brings the Galaxy Z Fold 8's marquee My FanCam tool to the Galaxy S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra.
• My FanCam lets you crop and reframe pre-recorded Gallery videos to lock focus on specific people for social media, though it doesn't work on pets or animals.
• The update also adds customizable routine cards, real-time security risk alerts, and smarter contextual task suggestions.

The latest One UI 9 beta update for the Galaxy S26 series is here, and it's finally bringing some of the best AI tricks from the Galaxy Z Fold 8 to Samsung's flagship slab phones. Starting today, beta program participants can download an update packed full of features that puts the new My FanCam front and center.

If you’ve ever filmed a fantastic video, only to realize that your subject wasn’t perfectly framed, My FanCam is the tool for you. This AI-powered tool lives inside the Gallery app and can take any video you have, track a person you select, and automatically reframe the footage to keep them in the middle. It is ideal for social media creators and can crop the video to various aspect ratios for platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and more.

There’s a catch: My FanCam is made for tracking people, not pets or other animals. If the feature has trouble finding someone, you can scrub through the video to a frame where the person is easier to find. The feature also requires a Samsung account, and Samsung does not guarantee it will work on every clip.

Additionally, Samsung is improving the Now Brief experience beyond my FanCam. This personalization hub now offers customizable cards pulling together useful insights based on your routines, interests, and daily needs.

It's also getting a security boost, with new cards surfacing potential risks and suggesting actions you can take to protect your device. The Now Nudge feature is also getting smarter, with more contextual suggestions to help you complete everyday tasks more efficiently. And as a bonus, this update finally lets you declutter your home screen by removing the dedicated Google Search bar.

The Galaxy S26 FE will ship with My FanCam out of the box and will arrive with One UI 9 on September 4. This beta rollout means the core S26 lineup won’t be left behind before that happens.

The update is limited to a handful of markets for now, and there’s no word on when it will be rolled out broadly. If you’re on the beta, keep an eye on your notifications and be ready for a roughly 1.28GB download.

What you need to know

• Samsung launched the Galaxy S26 FE with a 6.7-inch display, and One UI 9 (Android 17), beating the rest of the Galaxy S26 series to the newest software.
• While the display remains the same to the S25 FE, the battery is also similar, arriving at 4,900mAh with 45W wired charging.
• The S26 FE features a 50MP main lens, and Samsung equipped it with the flagship series' Nightography and My FanCam from its latest foldables.
• Consumers can find the Galaxy S26 FE for $699 starting on September 3 at "select carriers" before a wider market debut on September 4.

This morning (Aug 27), Samsung fully unveiled the Galaxy S26 FE, and this slightly more affordable phone is bringing the latest software before its flagship siblings.

In a press release, Samsung states the Galaxy S26 FE runs One UI 9 (Android 17) out of the box before the flagship S26 series. According to Samsung, One UI 9 brings more "intuitive" Galaxy AI features. Consumers will recognize several features, such as Google's Circle to Search, Samsung's Now Nudge, and Now Brief. Now Nudge suggests actions you can take above your keyboard. Now Brief is more personalized, displaying quick weather insights or wellness insights daily.

Something you can immerse your eyeballs in is the S26 FE's 6.7-inch AMOLED display, like its predecessor. Samsung states the screen can reach a maximum 120Hz refresh rate. Internally, the phone is equipped with the company's Exynos 2500 SoC. This was Samsung's 2025 chip that debuted a month before its foldables. It said it upgraded the chip with "powerful" AI capabilities and CPU performance.

What's also remained the same between the S26 FE and the S25 FE is the battery. The latest model offers a 4,900mAh cell with 45W wired charging and 15W wireless charging.

Samsung carved out space for the Galaxy S26 FE's camera features. The device offers the following rear cameras: a 50MP main lens, 12MP ultra-wide camera, and an 8MP telephoto. The selfie lens arrives at 12MP.

Consumers will find Super Steady and the flagship series' Nightography available for the S26 FE. The former helps capture fast-moving subjects so everything looks smooth in playback. Nightography is Samsung's night mode for capturing "clear shots in low light." One camera feature the S26 FE has received that Samsung's latest foldables have is "My FanCam."

Imagine going to a concert and wanting to capture your favorite member fully without any distraction. Samsung says My FanCam can focus on a singular subject, "intelligently reframing video as the scene moves, so users can turn dynamic moments into social-ready content with less manual editing." Photo Assist helps freshen up your images after the fact, while Gemini Omni lets users create quick photos based on content in their Gallery.

If you're considering the Galaxy S26 FE, Samsung says it has committed to seven years of software updates (security patches, too). What if you're switching from iOS to Android? Samsung highlights the upgrades to Smart Switch, which makes it easier for users to swap from an iPhone to a Galaxy S26 FE by scanning a QR code. Users can wirelessly transfer their files over Wi-Fi, including passwords, passkeys, call history, and more.

Samsung Care is an option for consumers when purchasing the device, as well as a 6-month free trial of Google AI Pro.

The Galaxy S26 FE will be available on September 3 for "select carriers." On September 4, consumers can find it at samsung.com, carriers, and retailers across the U.S. for $699. The S26 FE can be found in Pistachio, Blueberry, and Graphite with the following RAM/storage options: 8/126GB and 8/256GB.

TL;DR: Sign up for T-Mobile's Essentials 4 Line offer and you'll get four Galaxy S26 phones and four lines for only $25/month per line.

It's not unusual to find T-Mobile deals that could land you a free phone, but more often than not, these offers require a trade-in or expensive data plan before you see any real savings. Fortunately, that's not the case with T-Mo's latest offer.

For a limited time, if you add four lines with the Essentials 4 Line offer, you'll get four Samsung Galaxy S26 phones for FREE, while the wireless coverage will be dropped to only $25 per month for each line. That's four 2026 Samsung phones with unlimited coverage for the whole family, and it'll only set you back 100 bucks per month. Sounds pretty good, if you ask me.

The Galaxy S26 may not be the most eye-catching device on the planet, but don't judge the book by its cover. The Samsung flagship is all power under the hood, with a powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, 12GB of RAM, and all of the latest AI-boosted software features. The phone also sports IP68 water-and-dust resistance, while the butter-smooth 6.3-inch FHD+ AMOLED display is simply a joy to behold.

T-Mobile's Essentials plan is no slouch, either. Although it lacks some of the premium perks included in the carrier's more expensive phone plans, you still get unlimited talk, text, and data on T-Mo's vast network, in addition to 50GB of premium data for each device every single month.

Sure, this T-Mobile deal isn't for everyone, but if you were searching for a good way to get your four-person family set up with some new devices in 2026, it's going to be pretty tough to beat.

What you need to know

• The Galaxy S27 is expected to retain almost the same design and dimensions as the current Galaxy S26.
• The Galaxy S27 Pro could share the Galaxy S27 Ultra's new iPhone-like horizontal camera plateau design.
• Leaked renders suggest the smaller Galaxy S27 Pro won't feature an S Pen slot, unlike the Galaxy S27 Ultra.

Following the Galaxy S27 Ultra renders leak, we're now finally starting to see the base Galaxy S27 and Galaxy S27 Pro as well.

Over the past few days, we've seen several leaks surrounding the Galaxy S27 Ultra's new design. Samsung appears to be moving away from its familiar vertical camera layout in favor of an iPhone-like horizontal camera plateau, with two prominent camera lenses on the left and a vertical pill-shaped module next to them.

From everything we've seen so far, it's hard not to notice the inspiration from Apple's iPhone 17 Pro lineup.

And now, we're starting to get a look at the Galaxy S27 and Galaxy S27 Pro as well.

Renders of the base Galaxy S27 were shared by OnLeaks in collaboration with Android Headlines, and unfortunately, it looks like Samsung isn't changing much from the Galaxy S26.

The phone still features three vertically arranged cameras inside a raised camera island in the top-left corner, with an overall design that looks extremely similar to its predecessor. Even the dimensions are reportedly more or less identical. This seemingly confirms that Samsung is keeping its new design exclusive to the more expensive models.

And that theory has gained even more weight thanks to a separate Galaxy S27 Pro leak from Ice Universe on X. The leaker shared outline renders comparing the Galaxy S27 Ultra and Galaxy S27 Pro, showing that the two phones will reportedly share a very similar design.

That isn't entirely surprising, since the Galaxy S27 Pro is expected to share several design elements and specifications with the Ultra. However, the renders also appear to confirm one major difference: the smaller Pro model won't come with an S Pen.

There's no S Pen slot visible on the Galaxy S27 Pro, and Samsung will also reportedly reposition the speaker grille and microphone on the smaller model.

In a separate post, Ice Universe also claimed that the Galaxy S27 Ultra will feature a more rounded frame than the Galaxy S26 Ultra, which should make the larger phone feel more natural and comfortable in the hand.

Overall, these Galaxy S27 and Galaxy S27 Pro leaks seem to clear up one major question about Samsung's 2027 lineup. The new horizontal camera design will apparently remain exclusive to the Galaxy S27 Pro and Ultra, while the regular Galaxy S27 and Galaxy S27 Plus will stick with Samsung's more familiar design.

What you need to know

• Samsung is reportedly rolling out its August 2026 security update late this month, including an important fix.
• Users on X highlight a Samsung official's notice online, stating a fix for the Galaxy S26 Ultra's red screen or "red stain" issue is in this update.
• Galaxy S26 Ultra users overseas noticed this problem when the device is at maximum brightness, often resulting in a red band or stain across their screen.

No, you didn't miss it. Samsung is just now rolling out its August security update for stable Galaxy S26 users, and with it comes a long-awaited bug fix.

Late this week, SamMobile spotted the August 2026 security update rolling out for Galaxy S26 users overseas. The update is reportedly rolling out for users in South Korea first, which is typical for Samsung. Users on its Korean community forum pointed this development out, posting a screenshot of the patch hitting their S26. The publication highlights a hefty number of fixes involved in this August patch, but we're putting that on hold.

SamMobile and Tarun Vats on X state this patch will likely hold the long-awaited fix for the red screen or red tint issue that's plagued the Galaxy S26 Ultra. A Samsung official has started informing Korean users that a fix is now rolling out.

As for what the security patch fixes, Samsung's changelog states it's rolling out seven "Critical" and 30 "High" level fixes. Among them, the notes state there's a fix that could let malicious attackers "cause device inoperability" on a Galaxy device. Several fixes for the Samsung Contacts app are rolling out, alongside a fix to stop hackers from accessing a Galaxy phone's SIM card. Once again, Google has not listed its extensive changelog for Framework fixes and more on the Android Security Bulletin.

Fixing some struggles

It was in July that reports about a red screen/red stain on the Galaxy S26 Ultra surfaced. Users in Korea noticed this issue when the phone produced bright colors or when at maximum brightness. The area of redness varied. Some users noticed it appeared vertically on their S26 Ultra, while others reported wide strips across the display. What was a bummer was Samsung's investigation.

According to its discovery, the S26 Ultra's "new technology" was to blame. The only "new tech" to hit the Ultra this year, especially its display, was the Privacy Display. This tech is purely software, which is why we needed a patch to fix it. The good thing is that it seems that this issue should be fixed as of this week (keep your eyes out for the patch).

But the Privacy Display, while useful and incredibly attractive, isn't all rainbows and sunshine. After the device launched, a report quickly surfaced, stating the Galaxy S26 Ultra's screen isn't as bright because of the Privacy Display. Compared to the S25 Ultra, the S26 Ultra is noticeably darker.

What you need to know

• Counterpoint Research published its report concerning the top 10 best-selling phones globally for Q2, and the Galaxy S26 Ultra surprised the results.
• The Galaxy S26 Ultra, a premium phone, topped the charts for Android, marking the first time such a device has done so.
• While Samsung and Apple dominated the top 10 in Q2 2026, Apple's iPhone 17 was number one.

Research data is taking a look back at individual phone performance for Q2 2026. The discovery? A premium phone topped Android's charts for the very first time.

This week, Counterpoint Research published its research into the global best-selling phones for Q2 2026, and one device was a surprise (via 9to5Google). The Galaxy S26 Ultra turned heads this past quarter, as the device claimed the top spot in the best-selling Android phone sector. Counterpoint cites its senior analyst, Harshit Rastogi, who said the S26 Ultra's performance "marks the first time an ultra-premium Android device has led Android sales in a June quarter."

Rastogi highlighted the Ultra phone's Q2 performance over Q1 2026. Considering Samsung's first Galaxy Unpacked this year, sales "shifted more into Q2." What's more, research shows that the S26 Ultra not only outperformed the S25 Ultra, but it also accounted for "more than half of the series' sales" this year. While this is a first for Android, Samsung isn't at the top of the global best-selling phone list in Q2.

That belongs to Apple's iPhone 17. The iPhone 17 Pro Max followed up in second, then it's the 17 Pro. The Galaxy S26 Ultra sits in fourth place, with the more expected Android leader, the Galaxy A07 (a mid-range phone), in fifth. Compared to this time last year, Apple and Samsung dominate the top 10 best-selling phones. In Q2 2025, Xiaomi snuck into the eighth spot, but not this time.

Counterpoint adds that Apple and Samsung total 26% of the global smartphone sales, a 2% increase YoY.

A downward trend

Samsung and Apple's positive Q2 2026 was highlighted in another research report published by Omdia in July. It noted a 2% and 4% increase, respectively, for the companies. Omdia reported that the global smartphone market dipped 4% in Q2, placing the blame on the memory crisis. The current outlook on the smartphone market isn't a pleasant one. According to Omdia's projections, the market may continue to drop into Q3, then Q4.

This would be significant, considering the holiday season is when the market tends to rise. In its report, Runar Bjorhovde, principal analyst at Omdia, said the "sharpest volume decline" is expected in the two upcoming quarters. "Contrained memory chip" supply and the issues that accompany it could sour a time when there are multiple device launches, festivities, and sales.

What you need to know

• Samsung is reportedly rolling out One UI 9 Beta 6 to enrolled Galaxy S26 users in South Korea, India, the U.K., Germany, and Poland.
• The update is just under 1GB, and features a small selection of fixes for display errors and Expert RAW.
• Funnily enough, One UI 9.5 rumors have surfaced online, despite One UI 9 still not available for stable users.

It's been almost two weeks since the last One UI 9 beta, and now a sixth edition is rolling out to enrolled Galaxy S26 users. All we're wondering about is a stable launch.

Earlier this morning (Aug 25), Samsung started rolling out One UI 9 Beta 6 to enrolled Galaxy S26 series users (via SamMobile). Samsung is only fixing a handful of problems its devices have experienced, but users will still have to download an 851MB file. According to its patch notes, Beta 6 is fixing a "display error" with the Now Brief widget. Similarly, the notes highlight another pair of display errors being fixed: one for the Home Screen and another for the camera widget.

What's more, the changelog details a fix for an issue where "images are saved differently at specific focal lengths when shooting with Expert RAW 24MP."

On X, tipster Tarun Vats states One UI 9 Beta 6 is rolling out in South Korea, India, the U.K., Germany, and Poland. Any enrolled testers in the U.S. should begin seeing it as the week progresses. Vats states Beta 6 lacks any new features for Galaxy S26 users. It seems like, once again, Galaxy S26 users are treated to a beta full of bug fixes and nothing new.

The one thing many are waiting on is a stable launch of One UI 9, and there's still no telling when that could be.

Still a One UI 9 waiting room

A couple of weeks ago, Samsung rolled out One UI 9 Beta 5 to Galaxy S26 users. This patch was larger, rolling in at 1.1GB. However, it consisted mostly of bug fixes (and there was a long list of them). Beta 5 also included the August 2026 security update, so that was a welcome addition to testers. While another beta was fine, what shone brighter earlier this month were One U 9.5 rumors. A tipster on social media claimed that a test build for One UI 9.5 for the Galaxy S26 was discovered.

Additional rumors quickly surfaced, as Samsung could chase a familiar UI redesign for its next major release. Samsung's One UI could take after Apple's Liquid Glass for "visual depth" across multiple elements. Taking after Apple seems to be the running trend for Samsung as of late. What's more, App Lock was reported for One UI 9.5, meaning users could lock apps behind biometrics, a password, and more.

What you need to know

• New Galaxy S27 Ultra renders show Samsung moving away from its familiar vertical camera design.
• The Galaxy S27 Ultra could feature a horizontal camera plateau that looks similar to the iPhone 17 Pro.
• Samsung is expected to finally add native Qi2 magnets, enabling MagSafe-compatible accessories without a case.
• The redesign could also make room for a larger battery, while Samsung may finally ditch the old 10MP 3x camera.

Newly leaked renders of the Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra have now given us our best look yet at what the device could look like in real life.

It was recently reported that Samsung is cooking up a major redesign for the Galaxy S27 Ultra next year. The leak suggested Samsung is planning to move away from the vertical camera layout we've seen for years in favor of a horizontal camera plateau, similar to the iPhone 17 Pro series.

And now, new renders from OnLeaks in collaboration with Android Headlines give us a much better look at that design.

As you can see in the renders, Samsung is indeed moving away from its familiar vertical camera layout. Instead, the Galaxy S27 Ultra features a large horizontal camera plateau across the back, with two prominent camera lenses on the left and a vertical pill-shaped section next to them housing the remaining sensors and LED flash.

And honestly, it's pretty hard to look at these renders and not see the similarities with Apple's latest iPhones. The Galaxy S27 Ultra definitely seems to take some design inspiration from the iPhone 17 Pro lineup.

Alongside the renders, the publication has also shared the alleged dimensions of the device, which reportedly measure around 163.76 x 78.25 x 7.97mm. That's pretty close to the Galaxy S26 Ultra, so despite the major camera redesign, the overall size of the phone shouldn't change dramatically. The report also suggests Samsung may finally ditch the aging 10MP 3x telephoto camera.

One benefit of the new design could be native Qi2 support. The Galaxy S27 Ultra's new design should allow Samsung to finally integrate the Qi2 Magnetic Power Profile directly into the phone, meaning you'll be able to attach Qi2 and MagSafe accessories without needing a magnetic case.

That said, it remains to be seen whether Samsung actually takes advantage of the extra space and adds native Qi2 support this time around. The redesigned internals could also reportedly give Samsung more room for a larger battery, although we don't have concrete details about the capacity just yet.

What do you think of the Galaxy S27 Ultra's new look now that we've seen these renders? Do you like the redesign, or does it look a little too much like an iPhone? Let us know in the comments.

What you need to know

• Samsung and Corning are reportedly developing self-healing display glass for the upcoming Galaxy S27 Ultra.
• The new Gorilla Armor could recover from everyday micro-scratches instead of focusing purely on scratch resistance.
• Self-healing tech isn't entirely new, but the Galaxy S27 Ultra could bring it to a flagship phone's front display.
• The Galaxy S27 Ultra is also rumored to feature a major redesign with an iPhone 17 Pro-like horizontal camera plateau.

Rumors and leaks surrounding the Samsung Galaxy S27 series are starting to pick up, and the latest one claims Samsung could be working on a self-healing display for the Galaxy S27 Ultra.

Samsung already introduced a major display upgrade with the Galaxy S26 Ultra, adding its Privacy Display technology that prevents people around you from easily seeing what's on your screen. With the Galaxy S27 Ultra, though, Samsung could be preparing another major upgrade, this time allowing the display to recover from minor scratches on its own.

According to leaker Schrödinger on X, Samsung and Corning are reportedly working on a new self-healing surface for the next generation of Gorilla Armor. The goal, according to the post, is to create a display that can recover from a certain level of everyday micro-scratches over time.

Instead of simply making the glass harder and more scratch-resistant, Samsung and Corning could take a different approach. According to the leak, the surface itself may be slightly softer than the tempered glass we're used to, but would gain the ability to recover from smaller scratches on its own.

If the technology works as intended, Samsung could essentially move Gorilla Armor from focusing purely on scratch resistance to scratch recovery.

The leaker doesn't reveal much more about how the technology works or how far along Samsung and Corning are in its development. However, the feature is explicitly said to be intended for the Galaxy S27 Ultra, meaning we could potentially see it debut within the next six months.

This wouldn't be the first time we've seen self-healing technology on a smartphone. More than a decade ago, LG introduced the LG G Flex 2 with a self-healing back panel that could recover from smaller scratches. But we haven't really seen the idea make its way to the front display of a mainstream flagship, which could make Samsung's implementation particularly interesting.

There have been a few other Galaxy S27 Ultra leaks recently as well, including one suggesting a major redesign that looks eerily similar to Apple's iPhone 17 Pro lineup. Samsung could reportedly ditch its familiar vertical camera arrangement for a horizontal camera plateau stretching across the back, with two large camera lenses on the left and a pill-shaped module next to them.

Of course, nothing is set in stone just yet. The Galaxy S27 Ultra is still months away, and plenty could change before launch. But with leaks now starting to pick up, we're finally getting a better idea of what Samsung might have planned for its next flagship.

What you need to know

• Samsung may revive its luxury foldable strategy with a Galaxy Z Fold 8 special edition planned for the second half of 2026.
• Thom Browne is reportedly a top contender, potentially bringing back a partnership that last appeared with the Galaxy Z Fold 5.
• Availability will likely be limited, with select-market launches and a substantial price premium over the standard Galaxy Z Fold 8.

Samsung has never treated its foldables as just another smartphone. Over the years, the company has collaborated with fashion labels like Thom Browne and Maison Margiela to give its Galaxy Z lineup a more exclusive edge. That approach could be making a comeback with the Galaxy Z Fold 8.

According to reliable tipster Lanzuk on Naver Blog, Samsung is working on a luxury-brand collaboration for the Z Fold 8, with a special edition reportedly aimed at the second half of 2026. Samsung hasn’t confirmed any partnership, but Thom Browne is one of the leading candidates.

That would make sense, considering the companies’ history. Samsung has previously launched Thom Browne editions of the original Galaxy Z Flip, Z Fold 2, Z Fold 3, and Z Fold 5. These weren’t just simple reskins, either. They were available with custom hardware finishes (pebble gray, matte white, and even a sleek black suit-inspired design for the Z Fold 5), along with deep software customizations that extended even to the packaging and accessories like watches and S Pens. The last two generations of Folds missed this treatment, but it looks like the runways are clearing for a return.

Samsung’s last Thom Browne release is a good hint of how things might go. The Z Fold 5 edition wasn't simply a different paint job: Samsung included a matching Galaxy Watch 6 and exclusive accessories, hinting at how these collaborations can transform a phone launch into a broader lifestyle package.

Of course, Thom Browne is not the only option available. Samsung has previously partnered with Maison Margiela on the Z Flip 4 and Z Flip 5, so the tech giant could easily opt for another collaborator or someone entirely new. The gray-and-stripe look has become a collector's hallmark, and given how much previous bundles commanded eye-watering prices — the Z Fold 2 Thom Browne Edition retailed for $3,299 and still trades at a premium on secondary markets — it’s safe to say the Z Fold 8 luxury edition won’t be a budget-friendly affair.

Whoever it is, expect the usual limited quantities, rollout in select markets, and a price tag that's a significant jump from the standard model. The Fold 8 is on a roll, so a designer drop would be the perfect way to keep it in the limelight. We should hear more concrete details over the coming weeks.

What you need to know

• Recent rumors suggest Samsung's Exynos 2700 has posted positive scores that outperform Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 chips in "early benchmarks."
• These reports state the Exynos 2700 has beaten Qualcomm in the graphics department (GPU), as well as its CPU performance and AI capabilities.
• Earlier Exynos 2700 rumors claim the chip is progressing with better HPB tech for better heat dispersion and more.

Samsung's placed more focus on its in-house chip brand, Exynos, over the past couple of years. A rumor surfaced online this week, claiming the next chip could top Qualcomm's flagships.

These rumors about the Exynos 2700 started swirling after a post by Yonhap News (Korean), which highlighted "early benchmarks" (via SamMobile). What's incredibly interesting is what these tests have allegedly shown regarding GPU performance. The publication cites "industry sources" in saying the Exynos 2700 has surpassed Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 chip. In a test, Samsung's SoC outperformed Qualcomm by 5% in a peak performance scenario.

What's more, the Exynos 2700 also recorded "24% higher performance" over the 8 Elite Gen 6 and "22% higher" than the (rumored) 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro. In a multi-core CPU performance test, the Exynos 2700's scores were roughly 9% better than the Gen 6 Pro. AI, especially Galaxy AI, has been a focal point for Samsung in developing its next-gen phones.

The company reportedly tested Qualcomm's chips and its in-house brand for AI performance and prompt understanding. In another test, Exynos 2700 generated responses and understood prompts faster than Qualcomm's chips. If this report is accurate, Samsung's chips could be in a better position compared to recent years.

A brighter future for Exynos?

In a bit of house cleaning, it's worth mentioning that Samsung created a "task force" to spearhead its Exynos chip creation. Samsung got serious about its in-house chip in 2025 in an "urgent" push for the Exynos 2600. What we received was an Exynos 2600 that was a major step in the right direction for Samsung. Exynos chips haven't always been the greatest, grappling with various performance and overheating issues. It's the latter point that Samsung is reportedly looking to solve with the Exynos 2700.

Rumors in March said Exynos 2700 development was progressing with upgraded HPB (Heat Path Block) tech. This upgrade would help phones disperse heat better. Elsewhere, we heard speculation about the chip's performance in April. It was alleged that the chip could sport a 10-core structure with its fastest cores clocking in at ~2.88GHz. A ~12% performance boost could make the difference for the 2700 over the 2600.

Android Central's Take

Now this is interesting. I want to reserve my thoughts for when the Exynos 2700 gets announced, and we see its performance for real. To think that Samsung's chip could outperform Qualcomm's in graphics is interesting, but I'm going to be skeptical. Would I like for this to be true? Absolutely. Imagine the competition there. Imagine both sides pushing to improve their gaming graphics, pushing to improve CPU performance. Exynos has always been behind the crowd. If it's trying to step up, let it.

What you need to know

• Early Galaxy S27 Ultra leaks point to a major redesign with a horizontal camera plateau similar to the iPhone 17 Pro.
• Samsung could finally bring native Qi2 support to the Galaxy S27 Ultra, with magnets seemingly visible in leaked renders.
• The Galaxy S27 Ultra could reportedly launch in two sizes, potentially giving buyers a smaller Ultra option for the first time.

With the Galaxy Z Fold 8 series out of the way, attention is now turning toward Samsung's next flagship smartphone lineup. And if the latest round of leaks is anything to go by, the Galaxy S27 Ultra could be getting a major redesign that looks a lot like Apple's latest iPhones.

For the past few years, Samsung has stuck with a vertical camera layout across its Galaxy S lineup. In fact, the company has been criticized several times for shipping very similar-looking Galaxy S Ultra phones year after year. It now looks like Samsung is finally planning to move away from that design, but perhaps not in the direction everyone expected.

Leakers Sonny Dickson, Max Jambor, and Ice Universe have shared what is claimed to be the Galaxy S27 Ultra's new design on X, and it's hard not to see the resemblance to Apple's iPhone 17 Pro lineup.

The leaked design shows a horizontal camera plateau across the back, similar to the latest iPhones, with two large camera rings and an elongated section that will likely house the remaining cameras and LED flash.

It's pretty clear where Samsung may be taking some design inspiration from this time around. On the bright side, though, the leaked renders also appear to show a Qi2 magnetic ring on the back, suggesting Samsung could finally build native Qi2 support directly into the Galaxy S27 Ultra.

The leaks also suggest Samsung could offer the Galaxy S27 Ultra in two different sizes, something we've heard rumored previously. If true, that could mean we're finally getting a more compact version of Samsung's Ultra flagship alongside the larger model.

Of course, we're still months away from the Galaxy S27 series launch, and plenty could change before Samsung makes anything official. But these early leaks certainly suggest Samsung is preparing a pretty major design shake-up, even if the inspiration appears to be coming straight from Cupertino.

What do you think of the rumored design? Let us know in the comments below.

Motorola may have kickstarted the modern flip phone, but Samsung popularized it, and for years the Galaxy Z Flip series was the standard for a stylish, pocketable foldable. Now that the Galaxy Z Flip 8 is out, it arrives at a tumultuous time for both flip phones and smartphones in general.

On the plus side, the Galaxy Z Flip 8 undercuts and is, in some ways, the better buy than Motorola’s Razr Ultra 2026, something I never thought I would say. And despite rumors suggesting the Flip 8 may be the last of its kind from Samsung, it receives some notable changes that I think even Motorola can learn from.

However, with the price increase, few actual hardware upgrades, and the launch of the very compelling Galaxy Z Fold 8, it’s becoming harder to justify buying the Galaxy Z Flip 8.

If it ain't broke...

I didn't get to use the Galaxy Z Flip 7, but I was jealous of its thin profile, especially when compared to the Razr Ultra 2025. The Galaxy Z Flip 8 goes further with an even thinner chassis, and it's noticeably lighter than the Razr Ultra 2026. It's pretty impressive, especially since flip phones become quite thick when folded in half, so this goes a long way towards making it truly pocketable.

That said, that thinness comes at a bit of a price: the battery is much smaller than the Razr's, clocking in at just 4,300mAh. That's unchanged from its predecessor, and while it can get me through a day, I haven't been able to squeeze much more out of it. Also unchanged is the charging speed, which, at 25W, feels quite slow for a $1,200 smartphone.

Fortunately, performance is anything but slow, thanks to the beefed-up Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and 12GB of RAM, which is as snappy as you'd expect. I play Honkai: Star Rail on the highest available settings and the phone doesn't falter. The only thing I notice when doing any heavy gaming is the top half of the phone getting rather warm, but that's nothing new for flip phones, given their limited internal space for things like a copper vapor chamber.

Beyond the overall performance, a benefit of the newer chip is better AI capabilities and access to newer features. Galaxy AI and Gemini Intelligence are found throughout the experience, and features like Now Brief and Now Nudge keep me up to date on my day and make it easier to grab the information or content I need when I need it.

Gemini Screen Automation also supports more apps, though I rarely find much need for it, aside from ordering food when I'm too lazy to open an app myself (is this what we've come to?).

The main display hasn't changed much, and unfortunately Samsung's new Titanium Flex isn't available here, so the crease isn't as inconspicuous as on the Galaxy Z Fold 8. That said, the crease feels very shallow, and dare I say, it feels even better than my Razr Ultra 2026.

My only annoyance is that the hinge joint protrudes quite a bit on either end of the screen, which sort of ruins the seamless feel of the display.

That said, the hinge remains relatively stiff, so I can open the Flip 8 to as wide as 45 degrees before it falls back. It's also much easier to flip the phone open with one finger and slam it shut, thanks to the redesigned display bumpers and a more forgiving hinge mechanism.

The cover screen gets (mostly) fixed!

That said, how the main display feels doesn't matter much to me, because most of my time with the Galaxy Z Flip 8 has been spent with the cover screen. Previous versions of Samsung's cover screen that I used felt half-baked, but the company did something new this year by integrating Now Brief into the cover screen and making it the default home screen. It's honestly pretty smart, and it turns the cover screen into a hub for updates on your day and activities.

But that's just the start of Samsung's cover screen overhaul. The company revamped the experience so that it acts more like the main UI. That means swiping down enables the Quick Settings menu, while swiping up reveals the app drawer. This differs from previous versions, where apps were available on a separate panel.

What I like about this is that it defaults to Samsung's first-party apps while providing easy access to third-party apps, which are sectioned off underneath. Samsung also makes it easy to access third-party apps, with a button to download the MultiStar module from Good Lock when you first set it up.

I find this new UI quite effective, making the cover screen much more accessible and useful than previous versions. I think Motorola could even take a note from Samsung's revamped UI, as it still keeps its apps on a separate panel.

Plus, any additional panels you create can be filled with app widgets, and some, like Spotify, will take up an entire widget panel. Unfortunately, not every widget is available on the cover screen, but there's a good amount to make them useful.

As for using apps, the experience is largely the same, but with some interesting updates. Apps can now open in three different aspect ratios: full screen, cropped up (to avoid the cameras), or in portrait mode for a more full app experience with black bars on either side.

There's a button at the bottom that lets you easily change the app's aspect ratio, which comes in handy depending on the app you're using. The only downside is that, for some reason, the app doesn't stay that way if I switch apps or go back to the home screen and then back to the app, and I find myself constantly switching views.

Of course, you can still use the camera with the cover screen for selfies, and you get quick access to photos, videos, and portrait mode. There's also an interesting Flip Shot feature that I didn't understand at first, but I think it's meant to add a little razzle-dazzle to your mirror selfies by displaying various graphics on the cover screen. And since I take a lot of mirror selfies with the camera preview on, this could be a good way to show off the Z Flip 8.

But as for the actual cameras, they're largely the same, and image quality is good but not spectacular. In good lighting, photos look fine, and the cameras even do a good job of freezing time, so you can be sure your dog photos should come out well enough. The downside is that you can't get too close to your subjects, as there's no Macro Mode, unlike on the Razr Ultra.

I also love the My FanCam feature, which can take any video and reframe it to focus on one subject, such as your kid or a friend. It's easily one of the best editing features Samsung has released in recent years, and a great way to make social-media-ready clips.

Should you buy the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8?

On the outside, the Galaxy Z Flip 8 is a minor update from its predecessor. A new chipset and smaller chassis are welcome changes, although I wish the battery and cameras had been upgraded.

The software is the star of the show, and Samsung's One UI continues to be more useful, whether you're using the main display or cover screen. That said, for $100 more than the Galaxy Z Flip 7, I'm not sure it's worth spending this much on a phone that Samsung seems largely uninterested in these days.

The Galaxy Z Flip 8 is good, but it's not $1,200 good. If you can find a discount, however, I would say go for it, or grab the Motorola Razr Ultra 2026 if you can find a good enough deal.

I knew Samsung hadn't changed the design with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, but it was still surprising to see just how similar it is to last year's model — I had to double-check the box to confirm I wasn't sent the Z Fold 7 again.

That sums up the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra in a nutshell; at the surface-level, it is indistinguishable from the Z Fold 7. It is just as thin and light, weighs the same, and has the same in-hand feel. I was holding out on Samsung moving to a design with rounded edges — similar to what Google does with the Pixel 11 Pro Fold — but that isn't the case.

Thankfully, there are a few upgrades. Samsung finally moved to silicon-carbon battery tech, and was able to slot in a bigger 5,000mAh battery in a chassis that's the same size as last year. There's also 45W charging, a crease that isn't quite as noticeable as last year, a new rear camera, and Android 17 with One UI 9 out of the box. But is that enough to warrant a price hike to an eye-watering $2,099? Let's take a look.

It's the little things that matter

Samsung didn't make any outward changes to the design, but the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra has a new hinge that feels better to use, and it allows the foldable to be fully flat. It's another thing that it took Samsung eight years to get to this point while Chinese brands have managed it in less than half that time, but at least there's some progress in this area.

The other side effect of the new hinge is the crease, which is barely noticeable now. It's still evident in daily use, and it isn't quite as creaseless as the Find N6, but there is a difference from the Z Fold 7. Samsung didn't change the panel sizes this year, so you get a 6.5-inch outer and 8.0-inch inner screen, and they're a little brighter this year.

What I like is that the inner panel has an anti-reflective coating, and it makes a difference when using it outdoors. It also gets a higher resolution (2504 x 2256), and as I prefer reading to watching media on my phone, I like these changes — that's one of the reasons I'm using the Z Fold 8 Ultra instead of the Z Fold 8.

There isn't anything missing when it comes to the internals as well. You get the latest Qualcomm silicon, 12GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage. I think a foldable that costs over $2,000 needs to have at least 512GB of storage, but with the RAM shortages, I'm glad Samsung didn't move the base model to 128GB and call the 256GB edition an upgrade.

While it has the same silicon as the S26 Ultra, the inherent foldable nature means the Z Fold 8 Ultra is thermally constrained, so it throttles sooner, and tends to get hot in extended gaming sessions. This is the case with all foldables and isn't something unique to Samsung. I didn't see any issues with connectivity (thankfully), but the only change in this area is that the foldable has a single SIM slot, with the secondary slot requiring an eSIM.

We need to talk about the wobble

The one thing Samsung should have changed with the design is the placement of the rear camera module. The Z Fold 8 Ultra has an oblong camera housing that sits to the left, and because the modules protrude quite a bit from the body, you get a constant wobble when using the foldable on a table.

It doesn't matter if you're using the phone folded or unfolded, the wobble is ever-present and a routine source of frustration. This is why all other brands have switched to center-mounted cameras; I didn't see this problem with my Find N6, Vivo X Fold 5, Moto Razr Fold, or the Pixel 11 Pro Fold.

I just don't understand why Samsung continues to be obstinate about this; clearly, this is a major design flaw, yet the brand chooses to ignore it. On that note, the foldable once again misses out on IP68 dust and water resistance. You get IP48 instead, and while it's decent, it doesn't prevent dust ingress.

Samsung upgraded the wrong camera

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra uses the same 200MP main camera as last year, and it has a 10MP telephoto and a new 50MP wide-angle lens. Okay, great, but just one question: who uses the wide-angle camera? I take plenty of photos, and I predominantly use the 2x or 3x lenses while framing, and I think Samsung should've upgraded the ageing 10MP lens instead — this is the same module that's being used from the Galaxy S21 days.

Also, the tele lens is particularly useful as a portrait shooter, and I use it all the time because of this. To have a distinctly average tele lens on a foldable dubbed an Ultra is egregious to say the least, and the Z Fold 8 Ultra doesn't measure up to the Find N6 or the Vivo X Fold 5 in this regard. Shots at 3x don't have much in the way of definition, and anything shot at 10x and beyond is just a blotchy mess without any detail.

Thankfully, the other cameras are quite good, and you get decent shots with Samsung's traditional oversaturated look. It does a good enough job in low-light situations as well, and while the cameras aren't on the same level as regular phones — or current-gen Chinese foldables — they are pretty good for the most part.

The battery is better

Samsung finally started using silicon-carbon batteries, and the Z Fold 8 Ultra gets a 5,000mAh unit. The foldable manages to last a day as a result, and while I still had to plug in before the end of the day at times, it wasn't anywhere as frequently as previous years.

What I like even more is the 45W charging. It may not seem like a big deal, but the move means the battery gets to a full charge in just an hour, which is 30 minutes less than its predecessor. A 30-minute charge gives you a 40% charge, and it's just refreshing to be able to get decent charging speeds on a Samsung foldable. However, Samsung once again missed out on adding Qi 2 magnets, so if you want to use a Qi 2 or Qi 2.2 power bank or charger, you'll need to buy a case.

Double dose of AI

Just like the physical design, Samsung isn't changing things too much with One UI 9, its Android 17-based interface. The UI should be immediately familiar if you've used a Samsung phone, and while there are a few tweaks, the design as a whole is unchanged.

Galaxy AI (once again) is the key focus, with Samsung shoehorning on-device AI into just about every corner — and there's Gemini Intelligence as well if you wanted even more AI. The agentic model is designed to take actions on your behalf, but it isn't quite useful just yet.

You get good fluidity and an exhaustive feature-set, including intuitive multi-tasking modes to maximize the real estate. Just like previous years, the foldable will get seven years of software updates, similar to what Google offers on the Pixel 11 Pro Fold.

Should you buy it?

It irks me that Samsung calls this foldable an Ultra — the only thing fitting of that moniker on the Z Fold 8 Ultra is the pricing. At $2,099, this is the costliest phone around (at least until the iPhone Fold shows up), and I'm not sure you're getting anywhere close to a good value.

Of course, this is a moot point in the U.S.; generous trade-in deals and carrier subsidies make getting the foldable a lot easier. That isn't the case in other regions, and I think the Find N6, X Fold 5, and the Moto Razr Fold are a better all-round deal if you're ready to move to a foldable. There's no denying that Samsung has a strong foldable in the Z Fold 8 Ultra, but the pricing makes it hard to recommend, and I'd suggest looking at other choices before making a decision — you'll be surprised to see just how good the competition is these days.

What you need to know

• Samsung will hold its next Galaxy Event on August 27, where it is expected to unveil the Galaxy S26 FE.
• The Galaxy S26 FE is expected to feature a 6.7-inch 120Hz display and Samsung's Exynos 2500 chipset.
• Leaks point to a 50MP main camera, 3x telephoto lens, 4,900mAh battery, and support for 45W charging.

It's the day the Pixel 11 series officially goes on sale, but Samsung isn't keeping quiet either. The company has confirmed its next Galaxy launch event for August 27, 2026.

Samsung has sent out invites to the media for its "Galaxy Event August 2026." Interestingly, the company isn't calling this one Galaxy Unpacked. Samsung says it will introduce the latest addition to the Galaxy S26 family at the event. While it hasn't officially named the device, all signs point toward the Galaxy S26 FE.

Samsung says the keynote will also be livestreamed for anyone watching from home. You'll be able to catch the event on Samsung's website as well as the company's YouTube channel, with the keynote scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. KST (8 a.m. ET) on August 27.

As with almost every Samsung launch these days, though, there probably isn't much left to surprise us. A massive leak recently gave us our clearest look yet at the Galaxy S26 FE, including what appear to be Samsung's official marketing materials, revealing both the phone's design and most of its specs.

According to those leaks, the Galaxy S26 FE will feature a 6.7-inch FHD+ display with support for up to a 120Hz refresh rate. The phone is expected to be powered by Samsung's Exynos 2500 chipset, the same processor that powered the Galaxy Z Flip 7 last year. It's also expected to come with 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of storage.

On the back, the Galaxy S26 FE is rumored to feature a triple-camera setup consisting of a 50MP main camera, a 12MP ultra-wide, and an 8MP telephoto camera with up to 3x optical zoom. The phone is also expected to pack a 4,900mAh battery, the same capacity as last year's Galaxy S25 FE, along with support for 45W wired charging.

There's no word on pricing just yet. But with the ongoing RAM crisis and memory shortage affecting smartphone makers across the industry, it wouldn't be surprising to see the Galaxy S26 FE arrive at a higher starting price than its predecessor.

Thankfully, we don't have much longer to wait. Samsung's next Galaxy event is just a week away, and if everything points in the direction we expect, the Galaxy S26 FE will finally make its official debut on August 27.

What you need to know

• 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.