What you need to know

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

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

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

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

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

Making it better

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

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

Android Central's Take

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

What you need to know

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Android Central's Take

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

TL;DR: T-Mobile just dropped a deal that slashes $1,100 off the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 8 when you add a line with the Experience More or Experience Beyond plan.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

More Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 preorder deals - quick links

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

What you need to know

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

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

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

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

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

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

This feels surprisingly close to Samsung Messages

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

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

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

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

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

What you need to know

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

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

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

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

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

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

Don't jump to conclusions

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

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

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

Android Central's Take

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

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 is set to hit store shelves next week, but for folks who don't want to wait, AT&T just dropped one of the best preorder deals I've seen yet.

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

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

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

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

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

What you need to know

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

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

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

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

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

Things have changed

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

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

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

Android Central's Take

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

What you need to know

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Android Central's Take

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

In the flip phone market, Samsung lives in Motorola's shadow. Even with the Motorola Razr Ultra 2026's price hikes, it will be the flip phone for the Galaxy Z Flip 8 to beat. Before you decide whether to buy the Razr Ultra 2026, the Galaxy Z Flip 8, or an older model, you might want to know how the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 is holding up one year later.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The folding display's aspect ratio is nearly perfect

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

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

The camera sensors are lackluster, even for a foldable

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

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

One UI is superb and there's long software support

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

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

Battery life and charging could use some work

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

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

What you need to know

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

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

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

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

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

Changes aplenty

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

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

Android Central's Take

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

The new and improved Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 is set to hit store shelves on August 7th, and the preorder deals are pouring in. Most of these early promotions will get you the innovative foldable for cheaper than its $1,899 asking price, but there are only two ways to get the Z Fold 8 for completely free — if you can meet the eligibility requirements.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

It's official: the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 has been revealed, and there are already some exceptional preorder deals available for the folks who can't wait for the August 7th release date.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Now that the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 is official, we can start speculating about the Galaxy Z Flip 9. In most years, we'd have a leak or two about the next model's specs or design by now, but Z Flip 9 rumors pointin a different direction entirely: the end of the Z Flip line.

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

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

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

Galaxy Z Flip 9: Price and availability

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

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

What we expect for the Galaxy Z Flip 9

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

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

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

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

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

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 just doubled its chances of success with a new shorter, wider model, and that gets us excited to see what Samsung is cooking for the Z Fold 9 series. This year may be all about the new form factor, but we're hoping next year shores up some of the obvious weak points of Samsung's most premium folding phones.

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

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

Galaxy Z Fold 9: Price and availability

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What you need to know

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

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

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

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

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

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

Galaxy Card and new products

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

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

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

What you need to know

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

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

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

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

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

Android Central's Take

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

Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked event just wrapped up in London, where the company unveiled its latest lineup of foldable phones, alongside a new generation of Galaxy smartwatches. The event largely went as expected, with Samsung walking through the hardware upgrades, new AI features, and refinements across its latest devices.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Samsung finally adopts Silicon Carbon battery tech

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We now know more about the Galaxy Glasses

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

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

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

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

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

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 was unveiled just moments ago, but companies like T-Mobile have wasted no time in dropping some exceptional preorder deals ahead of the August 7th release date. Add a line with the Experience Beyond plan and trade in an old or broken phone and the Big Three carrier will hook you up with enough promo credits to make the new Z Fold 8 completely free! 

Sure, T-Mobile's Experience Beyond may not be the cheapest unlimited plan around, but it's nothing that $1,900 of potential savings can't fix. 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. 

T-Mobile will already give you the Galaxy Z Fold 8 for FREE with new deal

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

This new look makes the phone easy to pocket and use with one hand while folded, while unfolding the device gives you an experience akin to an Android tablet. And as usual, the foldable phone's two AMOLED display are absolutely stunning and smooth as butter. Under the hood, you still get the powerful Z Fold experience that we've all come to know and love, with a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, 12GB of RAM, and all of the latest AI-boosted software tricks. The phone does clock in at $1,899, however, so deals like the T-Mobile promotion above are essential.  

What about the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra?

It's official: the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 has arrived, and it doesn't disappoint. One problem, however, is that the innovative foldable now boasts a starting price of $1,199.99 for the 256GB configuration, which is $100 more expensive than its predecessor.

Fortunately, I'm already hard at work tracking down the best Galaxy Z Flip 8 preorder deals so you don't have to go searching. We haven't seen too many offers just yet, but you can already make this premium flip phone considerably cheaper if you play your cards right. Keep reading for my recommendations, and don't forget to check back later to see what's new: I'll keep adding new offers to this list as I find them.

Quick links

• Samsung Unpacked LIVE: latest news and everything that was announced
• The best Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Fold 8 Ultra deals
  
• T-Mobile: Get the Z Flip 8 for $100 with eligible plan
• Samsung: up to $600 off with trade-in, free credit
• Verizon: TBA
• AT&T: up to $1,000 off with trade-in, new line
• Amazon: free $200 gift card with preorder
• Best Buy: free $200 gift card with preorder

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 deals

FAQ

When does the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 come out?

Alongside the book-style Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 is scheduled for release on August 7th. This gives you just a few weeks to take advantage of the preorder offers detailed above.

How much does the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 cost?

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

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

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

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

The boxy Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 is available in three standard colors, plus an online exclusive, totaling up to four shades overall. As trying as it can be to try to choose only one shade to buy from four different colors, it can also be a good thing. You might come across a shade that you didn't even know you'd love!

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

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

• Back to the top ^

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Samsung is offering the same colors of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 as it did with the previous-gen Galaxy Z Flip 7 which came in four colors. This makes it easy for you to choose a color, even if one of the four shades is an online exclusive. The colors are largely "safe" options, with only two colorful shades to choose from.

Before cashing in on a single choice, take a good look at all the finishes available at launch to help you decide which Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 color should you buy.

Check out all the colors of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8

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Three colors, one choice: Picking the right Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 color made easy

Answering the question of which Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 color should you buy isn't too difficult. You can either stick with your safest bet, which the plain black Graphite colorway, or choose something light and pastel.

If you're not one to stick with the traditional black colorway, you'll have to be excited about lighter shades. The Z Flip 8 comes in three other shades, the last of which is online exclusive: Pink, Cream, and Mint.

Pink is a blushing rosy hue that isn't entirely new to Samsung's Flip series. Just like Mint is a recurring shade across generations, the Galaxy Z Flip 3, Flip 4, and Flip 5 all came in similar pinky shades as well. If you're feeling nostalgic, either Pink or Mint will both be great Flip 8 colors for you.

However, if you're not looking to attract too much attention without being too predictable, Cream is a good choice to consider. A pale white hue is a minimalist's dream. It is different without being overtly attention grabbing.

Choosing to buy the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is easy. After all, it's Samsung's largest dual-fold smartphone yet. What's hard is making a decision on which Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra color should you buy. That's why I'm here to make things easy for you. First, you need to appreciate all the different colors it comes in and then figure out which one is the right match for you.

Bathe in the glory of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and its four shades

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The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra comes in a range of deep, elegant colors

I am loving the color scheme of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra. This gigantic foldable comes in a squad of deep, elegant colors. With the exception of Cream, every single shade is on the darker side. Violet Shadow is the hero, a mesmerizing shade of dark indigo that's almost black in certain lighting. It is sure to be very popular with the crowds.

I usually suggest opting for the black colorway of the phone when in doubt, but Violet Shadow is dark enough to appease even those who would usually choose Graphite to be safe. Why play it safe when you can get the signature new color of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra?

Meanwhile, if dark indigo isn't your jam, Green Shadow is a charming shade to consider. I know a lot of people have very strong opinions about green, but trust me on this one. Green Shadow is a smokey, forest green hue that exudes class and sophistication. It's not asking for attention, but it's easy on the eyes nonetheless.

What you need to know

• Qualcomm now powers Samsung's entire AI ecosystem, expanding beyond foldables into Galaxy smartwatches and upcoming AI smart glasses.
• The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy promises faster on-device AI, stronger gaming performance, smarter cameras, and better power efficiency to Samsung's latest foldables.
• Samsung's first Snapdragon-powered smartwatches debut with the Galaxy Watch 9 and Watch Ultra 2, using Snapdragon Wear Elite for more personalized health tracking and AI experiences.

Samsung’s new Galaxy launch was more than just foldables. Qualcomm also used the occasion to show just how much deeper its partnership with Samsung has become, with Snapdragon chips now powering the company's newest phones, smartwatches, and its upcoming AI-powered smart glasses.

The biggest upgrade is for Samsung’s flagship foldables. Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy powers the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold 8, and, in select markets, the Galaxy Z Flip 8. Qualcomm says the custom chip blends its Oryon CPU, next-gen NPU, and upgraded GPU for faster on-device AI, better gaming performance, smarter camera features, and improved power efficiency.

And the collaboration isn’t limited to smartphones. Samsung’s wearables lineup is also seeing a significant shakeup, with the Galaxy Watch 9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 set to be the company’s first smartwatches to run on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Wear Elite platform.

Qualcomm says the platform was built around “Personal AI” that employs advanced sensor fusion to better understand user activity throughout the day, providing more proactive health insights while maintaining strong connectivity and performance.

Perhaps the most interesting expansion is outside of phones and watches. Qualcomm, Samsung, and Google are expanding their Android XR partnership to include intelligent eyewear with the Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 platform. Samsung already unveiled new smart glasses designs with Gentle Monster and Warby Parker, with larger collections slated for market later this fall.

Qualcomm says the platform is meant to enable more contextual AI experiences in lightweight glasses as opposed to bulky headsets.

Android Central's Take

If Snapdragon can actually deliver seamless AI across your phone, watch, and future smart glasses, you’ll be greeted with experiences that feel genuinely connected, rather than a bunch of isolated features. That said, we’ve heard enough of these “AI ecosystem” promises before, and not all of them have lived up to the hype. The real test will be Samsung’s ability to make those features useful enough that people actually notice them outside of launch-day demos.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 preorder deals have landed, and I'm dropping all of the best offers into this guide. Whether you want the ultra-wide Z Fold 8 or the super-powered Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, there are already a few ways to save money on these premium foldables before they hit store shelves on August 7th.

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

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

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

Quick links

• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 / Fold 8 Ultra hands-on review
  
  Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 preorder deals - quick links
• T-Mobile: FREE Galaxy Z Fold 8 with eligible trade-in, new line
• Verizon: new line savings, trade-in deals
• Samsung: up to $1,200 of trade-in credit
• Amazon: free $350 gift card with purchase
• Best Buy: trade-in savings, free gift cards
• AT&T: FREE Z Fold 8 with eligible trade-in, new line
• Xfinity Mobile: up to $1,000 off with trade-in, new line
  
  Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra preorder deals - quick links
• T-Mobile: up to $1,900 off Z Fold 8 Ultra with trade-in, new line
• Verizon: new line savings, trade-in deals
• Samsung: up to $1,200 of trade-in credit
• Amazon: free $350 gift card with purchase
• Best Buy: trade-in savings, free gift cards
• AT&T: up to $1,900 off with trade-in, new line
• Xfinity Mobile: up to $1,000 off with trade-in, new line

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 deals

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra deals

FAQ

How much does the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 cost?

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

When does the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 come out?

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8 lineup is set to officially hit store shelves on August 7th, which gives you just over two weeks to take advantage of the deals above.

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

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

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

Is the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 worth it?

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

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

What you need to know

• Samsung quietly abandoned stylus support for both the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Fold 8 Ultra, just like the Z Fold 7.
• The missing S Pen leaves a productivity gap, removing a tool that made handwritten notes, document annotation, and sketching easy on the Fold's large inner display.
• Marketing the Fold 8 Ultra as the ultimate productivity machine while removing the very hardware tool that made previous generations so effective sends mixed signals to users.

Samsung just launched its Galaxy Z Fold 8 series, but one longtime Fold feature is absent. Samsung has quietly ditched S Pen support from the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Fold 8 Ultra (again) after years of marketing the Fold as a productivity-first device, with no mention of stylus support anywhere in its official announcement, spec sheets, or otherwise.

This is despite Samsung doubling down on AI-powered productivity. The new Fold line-up is all about multitasking with Galaxy AI, Gemini Intelligence, split-screen workflows, and larger displays leading the way.

Additionally, the Fold 8 Ultra is billed as the company’s ultimate productivity machine, combining an 8-inch display with a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy chip, a 5,000mAh battery, and a 200MP main camera. The standard Fold 8 has a lighter 201g design, a 4,800mAh battery, and dual 50MP cameras but retains the same flagship chipset.

What’s missing is any mention of the S Pen that used to help separate Samsung’s book-style foldables from the competition. In previous iterations of the Fold (except the Z Fold 7), the stylus was a peripheral, giving users a way to handwrite notes, annotate documents, and scribble on the large inner display.

This decision is even more surprising given that the new Fold lineup is designed to help users do more with AI and features like Gemini Notebook, drag-and-drop multitasking, and app automation across more than 40 apps and services supported. Those upgrades double down on the Fold’s productivity focus, but they also make the lack of pen input feel like an even bigger compromise.

Android Central's Take

Samsung seems to be giving off mixed signals here. You can’t market the Fold 8 as the ultimate productivity phone and then quietly take away one of the tools that actually made it feel productive. Sure, AI can summarize meetings and organize notes, but it can’t replace the precision of putting pen to paper. But if Samsung wants Fold users to embrace an AI-first future, it also has to remember that sometimes the smartest feature isn’t AI at all — it’s letting people write things down.

Samsung's new Galaxy Z Flip 8 was finally unveiled at Unpacked, and I got to spend some time with the phone ahead of the big reveal. Samsung has been a pioneer of the modern flip phone for years, so it's no surprise that the Galaxy Z Flip 8 both looks and feels spectacular. It also feels like a bit of a course correction for the flip series after the Z Flip 7 fell short on some aspects.

Still, despite this being a refinement of last year's Galaxy Z Flip 7, the Flip 8 feels like a solid piece of hardware and potentially a worthy competitor to the Motorola Razr. But with the higher price, it might be a hard sell for some.

If it ain't broke...

If you've seen the Galaxy Z Flip 7, then you've basically seen the Z Flip 8. The design is pretty much identical, aside from some refinements like a slightly thinner chassis. Samsung was somehow able to achieve this with the same battery capacity, thanks to a new silicon-carbon battery. The result is probably one of the best-looking and most pocketable phones you can buy, even compared to the rather thick Motorola Razr Ultra.

There are also some nice new colors, including a nice pink that I’m rather fond of and a green that’s probably my favorite of the bunch, which is why it’s such a shame it’s a Samsung.com-exclusive color.

Nearly everything else about the phone is the same as its predecessor. It comes in the same storage and RAM configurations, the displays are the same size, and even the cameras are the same. The 50MP camera does get a boost with the ProVisual engine for enhanced selfies, so I’m excited to really test that out.

One downside is that unlike the Fold 8 series, the Galaxy Z Flip 8 doesn’t get the new Titanium Flex display. The crease is still pretty minimal on the Flip, and I doubt it will bother anyone who owns it, but it would be nice to see it get the same treatment as its other foldable siblings.

So what's new?

Fortunately, Samsung made some rather important changes on the inside. The phone is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, a return to Qualcomm after last year’s model was Exynos-only. I’m curious to see how performance compares to the Razr Ultra 2026, which is powered by last year’s Snapdragon 8 Elite. This also means you get the same Gemini Intelligence features as on the Fold series, such as screen automation

However, one of the most notable changes made was to the cover screen experience. Samsung revamped the cover screen with One UI 9 in a way that feels somehow more intuitive than even Motorola’s excellent cover screen experience.

You have a main home screen that acts like a more useful Now Brief hub for easy access to things that matter to you, offering a truly useful way to use the cover screen. You can even use AI to generate new Now Brief cards for you based on your interests.

Swiping down now reveals a Quick Settings menu and the notifications panel, and swiping up opens your app drawer. Samsung says the cover screen experience was changed to mimic the UI when the phone is open, which should help reduce friction, while still allowing for various panels when swiping left or right.

I kind of love this new cover screen experience and, for once, think Motorola should take note for future updates to its Razr series. That said, it’s not all gravy because the app drawer only officially supports 16 apps. Fortunately, Samsung adds a button in the app drawer that prompts users to install the MultiStar module from Good Lock, which will enable additional app support, but there’s still more friction here than there needs to be.

Samsung also showed off some other tricks, like a new mirror mode, dual recording that you can preview on the cover screen, and even Super Steady with Horizontal Lock so you can capture ultra-smooth high-intensity videos on the go.

Is this really the end?

From my first impression, the Galaxy Z Flip 8 isn’t leaps and bounds better than its predecessor, but it feels like Samsung is still somewhat serious about this category of smartphone. That’s why I’m worried that the rumors might be true and Samsung could end the Flip lineup after this year, which would be a shame.

There are so few flip phones on the market now, with Motorola and Samsung as the only serious players. The ongoing RAM crisis isn’t helping things either, as it’s likely the reason for Samsung increasing the price by $100. Granted, it’s still much cheaper than the Razr Ultra 2026, but Samsung may be pricing the flip phone out of our minds and out of the market.

What you need to know

• Samsung's new Galaxy Z Fold 8 adopts a wider passport-style design that feels much closer to a compact tablet when unfolded.
• The Galaxy Z Fold 8 shares the same Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip as the Ultra while starting $200 cheaper.
• The standard Fold 8 trades the Ultra's triple cameras and larger battery for a lighter design and wider inner display.

Samsung has just taken the wraps off the Galaxy Z Fold 8 at its Unpacked event in London, and if you've been following the leaks, you already know the twist: this isn't the direct successor to the Galaxy Z Fold 7.

That phone is now called the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra. Instead, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 name has been given to something entirely new: a wider, squatter foldable that Samsung has built to go head-to-head with Apple's rumored iPhone Ultra foldable phone.

The wide Galaxy Z Fold 8 ditches the tall, narrow proportions that have defined every Z Fold since 2019. Instead, it unfolds into a 7.6-inch inner display with a 4:3 aspect ratio, making it feel much closer to a compact tablet than a stretched-out phone.

Samsung is positioning this new form factor as the key differentiator. While the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra sticks with the familiar tall cover display and book-style design, the wide Galaxy Z Fold 8 is aimed at people who want a wider, more usable screen for multitasking, split-screen apps, and reading.

It also means you'll see smaller black bars when watching videos with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 unfolded.

Both Fold models are powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, so you're not giving up any performance by choosing the wide model over the Ultra. The biggest hardware difference comes down to the battery.

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 packs a 4,800mAh battery with 45W wired and 25W wireless charging, while the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra steps up to a 5,000mAh cell.

The cameras are another key difference. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 features a dual-camera setup consisting of a 50MP primary sensor and a 50MP ultrawide camera, while the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra gets a more capable triple-camera system. Both the cover and inner selfie cameras on the Galaxy Z Fold 8 are 10MP.

As for pricing, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 sits just below the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, starting at $1,900 in the U.S. for the base model with 256GB of storage. Samsung is also offering 512GB and 1TB storage options.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 is available for pre-order now, with general availability beginning on August 7, 2026.

What you need to know

• Samsung's Galaxy Z8 series is the company's first lineup to adopt silicon-carbon battery technology.
• Silicon-carbon batteries pack more capacity into the same space, enabling bigger batteries without thicker phones.
• The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra grows from a 4,400mAh to a 5,000mAh battery while keeping a similar footprint.

Samsung has just introduced the new Galaxy Z Fold 8, Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, and Galaxy Z Flip 8. While most of the attention is on the new foldable form factors, there's another major upgrade hiding underneath: silicon-carbon battery technology.

For years, Samsung avoided using silicon-carbon batteries in its smartphones, but the Galaxy Z8 series marks the company's first phones to finally adopt the technology. We've already seen brands like OnePlus, Oppo, Xiaomi, and Honor embrace silicon-carbon batteries over the past few years, and now Samsung is finally onboard.

For those unfamiliar with it, silicon-carbon battery technology allows manufacturers to fit the same amount, or even more, battery capacity into a physically smaller cell. That means larger batteries without making the phone any thicker.

It's the reason phones like the Oppo Find N6, Honor Magic V6, and even older devices like the OnePlus 13 have managed to offer significantly bigger batteries than comparable phones from Samsung, Apple, and Google.

Samsung has finally made the jump with the Galaxy Z8 series. The company hasn't officially confirmed how much silicon is used in these batteries, but it's clearly enough to make a noticeable difference.

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, for example, is physically very similar to its predecessor, yet its battery capacity has increased from 4,400mAh to 5,000mAh.

It's also hard not to view Samsung's cautious rollout through the lens of the Galaxy Note 7. The battery fires in 2016 led to a global recall, cost the company billions of dollars, and damaged Samsung's reputation for years.

It's possible Samsung simply wanted more time to validate the technology before bringing it to its own devices, especially foldables. We'll be putting these new batteries through their paces once we spend more time with the phones, but on paper alone, this is arguably the biggest battery upgrade Samsung has made in years.

What you need to know

• Samsung just unveiled its latest foldable lineup, with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra targeting productivity and the Galaxy Z Flip 8 focusing on AI-powered convenience and self-expression.
• The Fold 8 Ultra packs an 8-inch display, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, a 5,000mAh battery, 45W charging, and Samsung's slimmest Fold design yet.
• The Flip 8's redesigned FlexWindow brings Now Brief, Gemini Intelligence, and connected tasks to the cover screen without unfolding the phone.
• Preorders are open now ahead of an August 7 launch, with the Fold 8 Ultra starting at $2,100 and the Flip 8 at $1,200, plus six months of Google AI Pro and 5TB of cloud storage.

Samsung is officially throwing out its mobile playbook by splitting its foldable lineup into two vastly different extremes.

Announced during today’s Galaxy Unpacked event, the new Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra takes the familiar Fold concept and pushes it into flagship territory. It boasts an 8-inch main display within Samsung’s slimmest Fold yet, measuring only 4.1mm when unfolded and weighing 215g.

Under the hood, it packs Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, alongside a 5,000mAh battery, revamped cooling, and a new dual-path 45W charging system to keep performance steady during demanding workloads.

On the optics front, Samsung equips the Fold 8 Ultra with a 200MP main camera that now supports HDR shooting at full resolution, alongside a new 50MP ultrawide sensor. The phone also brings improved Nightography, 8K recording using the APV codec, and Cine LUT support for creators who want more control over color grading right on the device.

The Z Flip 8 is all about that FlexWindow life

Meanwhile, the Galaxy Z Flip 8 goes in the opposite direction, making everyday interactions faster. This is Samsung’s slimmest and lightest Flip yet, measuring 6.1mm when unfolded and weighing 180g. The biggest change is the redesigned FlexWindow, which becomes an AI-first interface that can show Now Brief summaries, launch Gemini Intelligence actions, and handle connected tasks without opening the phone.

The Flip 8 also makes a big leap into content creation. You get a 50MP main camera powered by Samsung’s ProVisual Engine, Flex Mode for hands-free shooting, a camcorder grip with zoom rocker controls, Super Steady with a new Horizontal Lock mode, and Flip-exclusive features like FlipShot and Mirror View for easier selfies and quick appearance checks.

Both phones share Samsung's broader AI push, which includes Now Brief, Now Nudge, Gemini Intelligence with support in over 40 apps, and new privacy tools like the AI Assistant Activity dashboard and improved privacy alerts. They’re also debuting with Android 17 and One UI 9.

You can start preordering today, with a launch date of August 7. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra starts at $2,100 with up to 1TB of storage, while the Galaxy Z Flip 8 is priced at $1,200 with 256GB and 512GB configurations. Buyers also receive six months of Google AI Pro and 5TB of cloud storage.

Android Central's Take

I like that Samsung is finally giving its foldables their own identities, rather than making every model feel like a slightly different version of the same phone. If you’re considering an actual tablet or laptop replacement, the Fold 8 Ultra seems like the way to go, but the Flip 8 takes to convenience and AI in a way that feels more useful than gimmicky. That said, Samsung still has to persuade people it’s worth paying these premium prices. AI can help make your phone a little smarter, but it’s not going to magically make a $2,100 foldable feel like a bargain.

Samsung took the wraps off its new Galaxy Z Fold 8, and unlike previous years, we're getting two Folds instead of one. I got to spend some time with Samsung's new book-style foldables during its launch event in London, and they're very different, with one being an almost completely new form factor for the company.

Samsung is trying to target different audiences with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Fold 8 Ultra. Frankly, I'm intrigued by the company's decision to double down on its most expensive smartphone segment. But while I was fully expecting to hate the wider, more compact design on the base Fold 8 (based solely on the leaks), I actually came away from my hands-on kind of loving it.

Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra: Chasing "Ultra"

If the Galaxy Z Fold 7 was Samsung's tick year, then the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is the tock. That's not a bad thing because the device looks nearly identical to the Galaxy Z Fold 7, a phone that was something like Samsung's comeback device after a few missteps. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra follows that rather impressive device with some much-needed upgrades and refinements that help the phone earn that new Ultra moniker.

For one, the phone is actually thinner than its predecessor. In fact, Samsung says it's its thinnest foldable, measuring 4.1 mm when open. To be honest, I couldn't really tell the difference between the Z Fold 8 Ultra and the Z Fold 7 when put side by side, but the latter was already very impressively thin, and the Ultra is no less impressive.

Part of what makes it impressive is that Samsung managed to increase the battery quite a bit, bumping up from 4,400mah to 5,000mah! It's all because Samsung finally joined the silicon-carbon party, helping it to pack denser batteries into its latest foldables. It's still not the largest battery in a foldable, but it should help the phone fare better in daily use. The 45W wired charging is also a nice step up, although it notably falls behind competitors like the Razr Fold.

The display itself may not look much different, but you might notice something is missing: a crease. Okay, so it's not completely gone, but Samsung’s new Titanium Flex improves display durability and greatly reduces the crease, so it's nearly non-existent when viewing content or swiping across the screen.

Samsung also added an anti-reflective coating, so glare should be less of a problem when watching movies or reels.

Then there's the new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, which gives the phone new superpowers. I got to play with some of the new AI features, including Gemini automation and the new Now Nudge capabilities. In my demo, Gemini took the context from a photo of the Eiffel Tower in the Gallery, then opened the Expedia app to book a stay for two adults nearby.

Now Nudge also feels much more useful across more areas of One UI 9. It can now trigger suggestions in places like the Google Messages app or within notifications, so you can respond more intuitively. It even lets you open suggestions in split-screen mode so you don't have to disrupt your flow, and when you're done with a Now Nudge task, the second app will automatically close for you.

I wasn't able to try the camera, but the upgraded 50MP ultrawide sensor and new Cine LUT features should give the Z Fold 8 more of an Ultra edge, even if the 10MP telephoto camera leaves a bit to be desired.

Galaxy Z Fold 8: Big things, small packages

But the real story here is the new Galaxy Z Fold 8. It's a new, wider foldable that feels like it's meant to capture the feeling of some older foldables like the Oppo Find N or Pixel Fold. However, Samsung decided to go with a shorter and wider 5.4-inch external screen with a 16:10 aspect ratio.

The result of such a short and wide stature is that the Galaxy Z Fold 8 feels like a passport in hand. It fits quite well in my hand and slides easily into my pocket, partly because it's so thin at 9.7mm. In fact, as soon as I held it, my preconceptions about the design immediately went out the window, and I fell in love with this phone.

I imagine my proclivity towards flip phones has something to do with it, but using the external display isn't as awkward as I thought it would be. If you're a frequent watcher of vertical videos, then you'll notice black bars on the sides, but apps seem to resize well, and horizontal videos look great.

That goes for the internal folding display. Opening the Galaxy Z Fold 8 reveals a 4:3 aspect ratio display that looks and feels like a small tablet (and honestly feels closer to 3:2. That means content like long-form videos look more natural on the screen than on the Ultra with fewer black bars, but turn the phone and vertical videos also feel right at home, giving you a bigger and better way to show off your favorite Reels.

Samsung also highlights how the inner display is ideal for things like reading articles or books, depending on how you orient the phone.

However, one aspect I like about this form factor when the device is open is multitasking. On the Ultra, you can have three split-screen apps open at once, with two sharing one side of the screen and one expanding on the other. With the Fold 8, you can have three apps side-by-side, which feels like a usability win.

Unfortunately, there are only two 50MP cameras on the rear, so it's not the most versatile imaging system. However, Samsung showed me a cool new My FanCam feature that can capture and resize a video while focusing on one subject.

Imagine you're recording a horizontal video of a performance and want to post a Reel of one particular dancer. You can select that person, and the AI will focus on them and crop to your desired aspect ratio.

It takes a lot of work out of converting videos for social media, and it's a feature I can't wait to play with a lot more.

Which Fold do you want?

After spending some time with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Fold 8 Ultra, it's clear Samsung is onto something. Starting at $1899, I'm not sure if doubling down on the pricier models will pay off, but for now, the cheaper model at least feels like the more compelling option, even if it's missing some of the "Ultra" specs.

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked is here! Managing Editor Derrek Lee is in the U.K. for the event and is reporting on all things foldables, watches, and everything else that launched today.

This marks the first time in 14 years that Samsung is back in the U.K. for a big announcement (the last time was the Galaxy S3!), and Samsung is launching tons of new products, including a new Fold that's ready to take the world by storm. Scroll down to see everything announced today!

When and what time is Samsung Unpacked?

The event is today, July 22nd, and it starts at 9am EST (New York time)...in the U.K. the time will be 2pm BST.

What was announced at Samsung Galaxy Unpacked?

• A duo of new Galaxy Z Fold 8 phones has been announced, including a new shorter, wider model that's expected to be the best-selling Galaxy Z Fold to date. Alongside it, Samsung debuted the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, which looks nearly identical to the Z Fold 7, with a taller aspect ratio and three cameras on the back. Likely, this naming change is to line up with Apple's expected iPhone Ultra, the company's first folding phone, which is expected to be announced in September.
• The Galaxy Z Flip 8 brings back Samsung's iconic flip phones, with a slimmer design and upgraded specs.
• Samsung also brought a refresh to its watch line, including the Galaxy Watch 9 and the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2. The Watch 9 looks almost identical to the Ultra 2 from many angles, including a circle-within-a-squircle design and big new features.
• Lastly, Samsung debuted its first smart glasses with Warby Parker and Gentle Monster designs. These are powered by Gemini and include cameras on the front and speakers on each arm.

What's the best way to watch Samsung Galaxy Unpacked?

There are three ways to watch Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked event live. You can tune in via Samsung's official websites, including Samsung.com and Samsung Newsroom.

Perhaps the easiest way to watch the event is on YouTube. Head to Samsung's official YouTube channel or watch from the link below.

We’re reaching the final countdown! Samsung’s Unpacked event is just hours away, and I’m currently on the ground in London to experience it all in real-time. Be sure to tune in at 9 a.m.ET to watch the event and keep this tab open for our play-by-play and real-time thoughts on Samsung’s new devices and announcements!

I'll send over more pictures from the event, but for now, here's a shot of the event location from last year!!

What am I most excited to see at Unpacked? I’m really curious about the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and its new wide aspect ratio.

I really want to see how apps look on the external display and how it handles multitasking on the internal folding screen, because frankly, I’m not convinced that this is an optimal design for a foldable phone. It feels like Samsung is trying to replicate the Galaxy Z TriFold's internal aspect ratio, but it comes off as an awkward attempt. Idk, I guess we’ll see when it's announced and I get my hands on it.

I'm so excited to be here, and London is looking great! Like I said, we are just a few hours away from the event and there's so much going on. I landed here on Sunday, but we've been in briefings all week.

There are a LOOOOT of exciting things happening and I can't wait to share it all at 9am ET when the event starts!!

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 should take center stage at the event, and it's exciting for a lot of reasons. A shorter and wider foldable makes it easier to consume content, and it looks like Samsung is leaning heavily into this, if leaked marketing is anything to go by. Of course, a smaller foldable is also easier to hold and use, and if you've used a Surface Duo or the Find N2 in the past, you should be excited about the Z Fold 8.

Samsung is seeing increased demand for its foldables, and not just in the U.S. These devices have been around for well over seven years now, and the tech has matured to a point where its mainstream. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 had a lot to do with this, as the thinner and lighter design made it that much more enticing an upgrade if you're using a Galaxy S device.

I love flip phones, so I would’ve loved to see Samsung bring back another better Galaxy Z Flip FE, but it doesn’t look like that’s the case.

To be honest, it makes sense, as book-style foldables have been on the rise and have overtaken flip phones in sales volume. That seems to be why Samsung is set to offer two Fold variants this time around; to hopefully appeal to more people.

Will it work?

One thing Samsung does great is accessories. The company is great at launching a bevy of cases, screen protectors, and bands for its devices, and I expect the same treatment for the foldables and watches. It’s likely there will be a selection of magnetic cases available since we don’t expect any of the devices to feature built-in Qi2 magnets.

We’ll be sure to highlight some of the best ones we find when the devices launch so you can pair your new purchase with some much-needed protection.

I also really hope we get to see more of Samsung’s Android XR glasses. We’ve seen Google's prototypes, and I got to play with Xreal’s display glasses, but I want to get my hands on Samsung’s production glasses. They’re expected to launch this fall, so with any luck, we’ll hear more about them at Unpacked, but they’re probably my most anticipated launch of this year.

And don’t get me wrong, I like Meta’s glasses, but there’s a bit of a disconnect. I also prefer Gemini to Meta AI, so it would be cool to have some stylish glasses that sync with my phone and watch.

And while the Meta glasses have been an amazing addition to my tech bag, and I love the hands-free recording to capture amazing memories while being present with my family and friends...a few jerks have ruined the public image of these glasses for everyone.

So how will Google and Samsung get around the stigma of “pervert glasses” that the AI glasses category now finds itself in? That’s a great question, and Google has only answered part of it so far.

In a recent interview with our sister site Tom’s Guide, Google's XR product management lead, Juston Payne, explained that Google and Samsung are doing everything in their power to create a system of trust around its upcoming AI glasses. That includes LED indicators on the front that illuminate when recording starts, as well as “employing Android permission frameworks to help protect users.”

Meta already employs LED indicators on its AI glasses and recently rolled out a mandatory glasses update that permanently disables the camera if the LED is tampered with. Meta doesn’t have the same level of Android OS-level controls that Google does, though, so we’re thinking the company could allow users to enable automated alerts when a pair of glasses is recording nearby, similar to how Android users can enable warnings when Bluetooth trackers are nearby.

So far, Google and Samsung’s upcoming glasses look to be mostly a carbon copy of what Meta has built over the years, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Like Meta, Google and Samsung are working with fashion brands (Gentle Monster and Warby Parker this time instead of Ray-Ban and Oakley) to make a fashion-forward pair of glasses that also happen to have cool features inside.

And these glasses will be powered by Gemini, not Meta AI, which may make all the difference in the world to a lot of people. Meta AI is used a lot around the world, but lots of people I know prefer Gemini because it integrates so well with Google’s services. I would say that Google is also slightly more trusted than Meta, which is another positive point for what Samsung is expected to show off today.

Whenever a company shows off AI glasses, it always talks about translation features and how great they are. That’s fine and all, but I don’t find myself needing translation features every day, or even every month. In fact, the only time I’ve used the translation features on any glasses I own is when I was reviewing features and seeing how well they work.

But Google’s announced navigation features might be a different story for me entirely! In the Tom’s Guide interview, Google’s XR product management lead, Juston Payne, said, “The audio experience for [navigation] is fantastic,” Payne said. “It uses the camera to localize you, so it knows that you're pointing in the right direction. It can give you contextual navigation to help you get to where you're going without being vague, you know, like ‘turn right there.’”
You can do some of this with Google Maps on your phone, but I don’t care to hold my phone up constantly while walking around. Having this on my glasses would provide yet another hands-free opportunity, letting me get lost in the moment without actually getting lost.

While we expect to see Samsung’s AI glasses, Google seems more comfortable with calling them “intelligent eyewear” rather than “AI glasses.” This is an interesting choice of language because, at least to me, it seems to imply that people are less interested in yet another AI gadget, but are likely still receptive to a cool gadget that looks great in the process.

Whether people will actually use all the nifty Gemini-powered features is another story entirely. I almost never use the AI functions on my Meta or Rokid glasses despite them being a simple voice command away. For the most part, these kinds of glasses are most useful to me as a camera and as a way to get notifications without visual distractions. I’d love to see if Google’s implementation convinces me otherwise.

What about colors for the Galaxy Z Flip 8? Well, rumors claim the flip foldable could debut in Cream, Graphite, Mint, and Pink.

This is an interesting assortment, for sure. If you’re asking me (and, even if you're not, I’m asking me), I really only vibe with Graphite. I can get down with pink, too, if I’m honest. It’s different. It pops.

I’m going to be real: these rumored colors for Samsung’s foldables are passable at best for me. I mean, am I a crazy person if I like vibrant primary colors? Where’s my red Fold 8 or Flip 8? I would absolutely love a red foldable from Samsung. Crimson would be a sick color, too. I’m not saying these colors (if they’re real) are bad. All I’m saying is Samsung could do better (or do different).

There’s a lot that we’re expecting from Samsung’s Unpacked this summer. Personally, I’m most interested in the brand’s smartwatches. The Galaxy Watch 9, seeing how the company is positioning it as an “always-on” device is intriguing. Samsung made efforts to boost its heart health features, then it rolled out for the user’s hearing. Its full presentation will certainly be one that I’ll focus on, for sure.

Going back to the AI glasses...I want to see how well it will play with Samsung’s Galaxy phones should the lenses appear during the keynote. Samsung’s AI has been all over its phones. It wants to be helpful, it wants to help make mundane tasks feel effortless.

So, where do its glasses fit in? How will these glasses do better than the phone when it’s in your pocket? Will it expand what we already have in our hands and put it on our faces?

We are about 15 minutes away from the Big SHOW! What are you most excited about?? Answer the poll above!

And the show is beginning! Samsung is going all-in on this new aspect ratio, with tons of teasers ahead of the start. Get ready!

Samsung is doubling down on what it calls "the importance of AI infrastructure," linking all its products together with Galaxy AI as it says it's bringing the service to 800 million devices by the end of this year. Of course, that begins with new devices like Galaxy Glasses (that's the official name, right?), pictured above.

Time for foldables! Samsung's TM Roh is on stage talking about Samsung's leadership in foldables, saying the company is the global leader in foldables, and this year's new devices will only further that lead.

If you haven't had a chance to read our hands-on with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 series, go ahead and do that now! Android Central Managing Editor, Derrek Lee, got to check out the new phones ahead of Unpacked and has tons of photos and info for you to check out.

A suave gentleman with a lovely British accent just took the stage to announce the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, which he says "represents the very best of Samsung Galaxy."

The Fold 8 Ultra looks pretty darn similar to the Z Fold 7, and Samsung says this year's remains the thinnest Galaxy phone ever despite the visual similarities.

The Z Fold 8 Ultra is made thinner thanks to Flex Titanium, a new screen structure that's thinner and stronger than the previous plastic-based flexible glass structure. Samsung also swapped out the hinge with something thinner, lighter, and even stronger, delivering further improvements alongside the expected evolution of the Z Fold series.

I could have done without the AI-generated hamster brainrot, but Samsung's battery announcement is a BIG one. At 5,000mAh, the Z Fold 8 Ultra packs the highest capacity battery ever in a Z Fold phone, with 5% silicon-carbon content. This enables faster charging, and while neither capacity or charging speed are quite matching the company's biggest competition, we VERY MUCH welcome any improvement in this area on Samsung's foldables.

The Z Fold 8 Ultra's upgraded cameras can record 8k video, take "stunning Nightography shots," and features a substantially upgraded ultrawide sensor at 50MP.

Samsung is talking about improved performance on the Z Fold 8 Ultra, including enhanced Galaxy AI performance and even better gaming performance than in the past. That's not just a normal silicon upgrade with a faster processor, it means Galaxy AI is able to intelligently scale things to keep your phone cool and fast over time.

Now Nudge is coming to the Z Fold series! This means proactive buttons that appear alongside your text and favorite apps, giving you instant ways to add new entries to your calendar and open apps side-by-side with context-sensitive suggestions.

And that's the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra! This one starts at a rather painful $2,099 this year, so you'll definitely want to grab those preorder deals once they're available following the show.

And here's the Z Fold 8! It's a new shorter, wider Galaxy Z Fold, and I couldn't be more excited about this new size!

The new aspect ratio on the outer display still works very well with vertical video (surprisingly) thanks to some small borders on the left and right side.

Unfold the Z Fold 8 and you get a lovely 4:3 aspect ratio, which Samsung says is perfect for watching content and reading the comments at the same time.

Gaming is better thanks to the aspect ratio, which gives you a much more hand-friendly size to game on.

Also, WHEN DID PUBG GET A NARUTO EVENT???

Samsung says the new shape is also perfect for reading, as you just rotate the inner display to get a lovely page-shaped design. I'm not sure I want to be reading anything long-term on Samsung's low-PWM displays, but I certainly welcome the new shape change!

Samsung pits this one as the world's lightest Fold (that's book-style folds, if you're wondering), complete with a 4,800mAh battery and the same Flex Titanium tech as the Z Fold 8 Ultra.

A new camera mode will automatically follow someone and frame them perfectly in a vertical format, so you can do less editing and more posting.

And there's the Z Fold 8, a new shorter, wider Fold that's lighter and easier to use than ever. This one starts at $1,899 and will be available from August 7.

Time for the Galaxy Z Flip 8! This one's lighter and slimmer than ever at just 6.1mm unfolded and around 180g.

The real highlight of the new release is the upgraded Flex Window, which is brought about with One UI 9 (that means older Flips get it too). This includes new gestures, full notifications and quick toggles, and more apps that open properly on the cover screen. Just don't expect something that's quite Motorola level without downloading Multistar, though.

The Z Flip 8 ships with Samsung's awesome Horizon Lock feature, so that camcorder recording is smoother than ever.

And here's all the specs for the Z Flip 8! This one starts at $1,199 and launches alongside the Folds on Aug 7. Preorders start TODAY!

Ned from the latest Spider-Man movies took the stage to show off his latest invention, the Spidey Tracker, running side-by-side with camera footage on a Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra.

The AI-generated brainrot is back! Ignoring the annoying part, Samsung Care+ is being shown off as a big feature for the new Fold and Flip phones, which will be a big deal if Apple ends up launching a folding phone as we expect them to this year.

Samsung is trying to get you to sign up for its new credit card with discounts on preorders for the new phones. I'll pass, but some people in the audience sounded rather enthused.

Galaxy Watch 9 leans further into the circle-within-a-squircle design and brings about a ton of new "proactive care" features powered by Galaxy AI.

The new proactive features constantly monitor heart rate, heart rate variability, respiratory rate, skin temperature, and blood oxygen, combining all these things into a new heart health score.

Heart health metrics give you tons of information and, more importantly, ways to help reduce problems when they arise.

Samsung is partnering with iFit to bring custom workouts to your watch, matching these workouts up with its new heart health metrics and existing metrics technologies to give you ways to improve your health at home rather than generic workouts.

Samsung announced that the Galaxy Watch 9 and Galaxy Ring will be the first FDA-approved pair to monitor sleep apnea! That's a huge deal and, quite frankly, the first time I've seen a good reason to get a Galaxy Ring.

Time for the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2! It might look similar, but it's got a TON of upgrades over the original Watch Ultra, including a new Snapdragon Elite processor with 32% better performance and a 35% larger battery.

The Watch Ultra 2 is the strongest device Samsung has ever made, with IP69K and 10 ATM ratings, as well as a new dive rating.

Samsung is partnering with Mares to deliver exclusive diving computer features the company says will only be avaialble on the Watch Ultra 2. This exclusivity lasts for the next 2 years and makes the Watch Ultra 2 the smartwatch to get for divers.

The Watch Ultra 2 can detect when you're sweating and make intelligent suggestions to drink more water when you're getting dehydrated. The watch uses a bevy of metrics to do this, and should be a huge deal for athletes and runners.

Here are all the specs for the Galaxy Watch 9! This one starts at $379 for the Bluetooth-only versions and will be available on August 7.

Ready for Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 specs? You're in luck, because they're quite impressive, and the watch is heading to store shelves on August 7 from $699.

Rick Osterloh is taking the stage to talk about Gemini Intelligence, including the new next-gen task automation features. We got to check these out in our hands-on with the Z Fold 8 series.

Task Automation is coming to 40 more apps, which means you can ask Gemini to do something for you instead of spending time doing it yourself. Gemini will open the app in the background and get things done, then alert you when it's finished.

Gemini Intelligence is also coming to Samsung and Google's upcoming smart glasses, which the company calls "Intelligent Eyewear."

Qualcomm has taken the stage, talking about the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy processor inside Samsung's Z Fold 8 and Fold 8 Ultra. We've already seen this processor in the S26 series, and now it's headed to Samsung's foldables for the first time.

The Snapdragon Wear Elite in the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 isn't just faster, it also helps the watch deliver more advanced health metrics thanks to faster, better sensors and better Bluetooth connectivity and interoperability.

If you haven't taken a look at our Galaxy Watch 9 and Watch Ultra 2 hands-on yet, now is a great time to do that!

Samsung's Intelligent Eyewear has taken the stage!

We've already known about the Warby Parker and Gentle Monster partnership for about a year now, but it's becoming real now that the glasses are about to launch.

Samsung talked a lot about how these glasses were engineered to be light and comfortable, including flex hinges and light, stylish frames. Things like the power slider also look a lot like Meta's glasses, which is a great thing if you want the features but want to avoid Meta.

Samsung Intelligent Eyewear launches this fall and includes 9 hours of battery life on a single charge, a charging case that'll fully recharge the glasses 7 times, a Snapdragon AR1 chipset inside and, of course, deep connectivity with the Galaxy ecosystem.

We've got a full hands-on with Samsung's Intelligent Eyewear for you to check out, including the charging case, several styles, and all the great features you can expect when they launch this fall.

And while it's probably the least exciting launch of the show, the Galaxy Z Flip 8 is still plenty cool, especially with that new Horizon Lock camcorder upgrade. Check out our full Galaxy Z Flip 8 hands-on here!

And that wraps it up for Samsung's July 2026 Galaxy Unpacked show! What did you think? Were any of the new devices particularly exciting? I'm personally most excited about the Fold 8, as I was a huge fan of the original Pixel Fold's shorter, wider design and got quite annoyed when the company switched to the narrower, taller design a year later. Hopefully, this is the beginning of a bunch of new shorter, wider folds!

Looking to preorder any of the new Folds or Flips? We've got the deals you're looking for! Head to our Galaxy Z Fold 8 deals hub to get all the best preorder deals you'll find on the web, or check out the Galaxy Z Flip 8 deals hub if flip-style phones are more your thing.

One of the most surprising things announced today is the inclusion of silicon-carbon material inside the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Fold 8 Ultra's batteries. Samsung has been notoriously conservative with battery upgrades ever since the Galaxy Note 7, and it was anyone's best guess as to when Samsung would finally include silicon-carbon in its phones.

Now, the Z Fold 8 series only has 5% silicon-carbon content, which sounds like a very small amount, but that turns into a big result when you compare the numbers. The Z Fold 7 has a paltry 4,400mAh battery, which was one of the biggest complaints about the phone, but the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra ramps this up to 5,000mAh without increasing the size or weight of the device. That's all thanks to silicon-carbon, and it's wonderful to see Samsung finally start including it!

While there's a definite gulf in the specs between Samsung's latest watches, both of them look surprisingly similar. This shouldn't come as too much of a surprise, considering this was the case with the Galaxy Watch 8 and the Galaxy Watch Ultra, but I still thought it was a little odd that Samsung didn't offer for at least one different option.

In the past, some companies have offered different styles of watches to help people choose one that better fits their style. With these recent releases, Samsung seems to be leaning more into a rugged style, ignoring customers who might be looking for something a little gentler looking. Oh well, I guess that's what the Pixel Watch is for.

Samsung's upcoming smart glasses seem to be completely avoiding a "proper" product name, and it's driving us a little crazy. Are these Samsung Glasses? Galaxy Glasses? Samsung Google Intelligent Eyewear? Warby Parker and/or Gentle Monster AI Glasses? Intelligent Eyewear seems to be the term Google and Samsung use most often, so that's likely what we're going to see at retail.

Regardless of what they're called, I'm elated with the idea of having Gemini built into a pair of AI glasses. I use my Meta-branded smart glasses all the time as a hands-free camera to capture family memories, as it's just so much better than holding onto a phone and my kids seeing me stare at yet another screen.

They're also great for calls and audio, and given Gemini's deep ties into all the Google services I use daily, I might actually start using the AI-based features more than I do on Meta glasses, which often are still fairly limited because Meta doesn't have the same level of access that Google does.

Rumor has it that this year is the last year Samsung will make a new Z Flip phone. I'm not sure I believe that just yet, but given the weirdness in the tech industry right now (with supplies and prices), I suppose anything is possible. After all, Samsung held just 15% of the global foldable market share in Q2 2026, beating Motorola by just 2%.

Considering Motorola only made flip-style phones until the excellent Razr Fold showed up in May this year, it's clear that Samsung isn't selling as many Flips as it should be. With the new wide Fold reportedly taking over the bulk of the sales and waning interest in Samsung's Flip-style phones, I'll be curious to see if this one turns out to be true.

Either way, we've got some great new cover screen features on this year's Z Flip 8, and the excellent Horizon Lock feature is going to make camcorder mode even more fun than it was before.

• Get a FREE Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 with new line, trade-in at T-Mobile

We’ve seen a lot of Galaxy Z Fold 8 preorder deals come down the pipeline since the phones were unveiled this morning, but few offers will actually get you the premium foldable for free. That said, if you’re a T-Mobile customer (or willing to switch), you can get a free Galaxy Z Fold 8 by trading in an old or broken phone and adding a line with the Experience Beyond or Experience More plan.

Sure, it’s a lot of fine print (and the qualified unlimited plans aren't exactly budget-friendly), but if you need a new wireless plan and you agree to these terms, you’re looking at $1,900 of potential savings. That’s nothing to scoff at!

Of course, T-Mobile isn’t the only company offering preorder deals for the new Galaxy phones. If you don’t want to deal with all of the confusing contracts and eligibility requirements, you can also buy the Galaxy Z Fold 8 or Z Fold Ultra unlocked from Amazon and get a free gift card with a balance of up to $350. With phones this expensive, every penny counts!

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 is clearly an eye-catching device, and strange naming decisions aside, it's refreshing that Samsung decided to do something new with this generation rather than churn out nearly-identical devices year after year.

Of course, good-looking devices deserve good-looking protection, so it's worth checking out our guide to the best Galaxy Z Fold 8 cases. The phone's wide design gives you more surface area to work with, after all, so consider it an opportunity to express yourself.

• Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 40mm (BT): $379.99, plus free $50 gift card at Amazon

The foldable phones may be getting all of the attention, but they're far from the only devices that were announced this morning. The Galaxy Watch 9 is likely to rank among the best Android smartwatches released this year, and Amazon will already give you a free $50 gift card when you preorder one of these wearables from its website.

Just like the other devices that Samsung announced today, the Galaxy Watch 9 will officially hit store shelves on August 7th.

• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 256GB: $1,900 FREE with eligible trade-in, qualified line at AT&T

Not one to be outdone by the competition, AT&T has also just launched a deal that could get you a free Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 when you add a line with an eligible unlimited plan and trade in an old or broken phone. That's $1,900 of potential savings!

To be honest, I wish all of these preorder deals didn't involve so much fine print, but with prices on tech going up all across the board, I'll take just about any offer I can get.

If you're sick of all the trade-in opportunities and free gift card deals, you might be wondering when the Galaxy Z Fold 8 series (and everything else announced today) will finally get a good old-fashioned discount.

Well, it might be a while. As the eCommerce Editor of Android Central, I've covered a lot of device launches over the years, and it usually takes a few months before a new Samsung phone gets any real price drop. There's a chance that we'll see some decent discounts when the fall sales arrive in September/October; otherwise, we'll have to wait for Black Friday.

In the meantime, keep your eyes peeled: it's possible that we'll see some good deals on lingering Galaxy Z Fold 7 / Z Flip 7 stock in the coming days.

If anything, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 may be a better choice if it gets a decent discount. Prices of all tech products have increased substantially in recent months, and with the Z Fold 8 Ultra starting at $2,099, it's worth taking a look at last year's devices. Same goes for the Z Flip 7 as well.

As a reminder, the new foldables and smartwatches are going on sale starting August 7. Samsung has unmatched global presence, and the new products are available in every major country. That said, you don't get trade-in deals that are quite as generous as the U.S. in most regions.

Out of all the devices that Samsung unveiled yesterday, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is the one I want to use the most. The wider profile looks interesting, and the fact that it's designed to consume media and read books makes it a great choice for my own use case. At this point, there's no telling if the foldable will gain anywhere close to the same level of mainstream attention as the book-style devices Samsung has been selling, but I want it to do well.

We haven't talked about the software much; all the foldables run One UI 9 based on Android 17 out of the box. Like their predecessors, they will get seven Android OS updates. Samsung isn't changing its interface or adding much in the way of features with One UI 9, but there is a generous smattering of Galaxy AI everywhere. It's clear that Samsung is positioning AI as a key point of differentiation on its devices, and to its credit, it has a strong suite of utilities.

As is the case with the last few iterations of Android, Samsung's One UI 9 looks quite different to Android 17 on a Pixel. This is by design; Samsung has always maintained its own visual identity, and One UI 9 continues that trend. That said, you get most of the latest features Google introduced in Android 17 — other than the Bubbles floating windows mode. That's limited to the Pixel Launcher, but other than the multitasking feature, all the security and privacy features along with all the new changes in Android 17 are also available in One UI 9.

Samsung delivered a strong set of upgrades this year, and it had to do so. With Motorola launching the Razr Fold and Google set to introduce its 2026 foldable next month, Samsung needed to maintain the momentum in this category, and the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Fold 8 Ultra are the right products to do so.

It's exciting that Samsung finally used silicon battery tech in its latest foldables. Outside of the Razr Fold, there isn't another foldable in the U.S. that leverages this tech, and it's great to see Samsung making the switch. Of course, the brand didn't put an oversized battery — unlike most Chinese brands — but it still means we get bigger batteries than last year in thinner designs, and that's an overall positive.

What you need to know

• A South Korean publication highlights a series of reports from Galaxy S26 Ultra users, who claim a "red screen" or "red stain" has affected their displays.
• The post cites a Samsung official who places the blame on the phone's Privacy Display, stating that a software update is in the works to solve this problem.
• After the S26 Ultra debuted, tests discovered that the phone's display is darker than the Galaxy S25 Ultra, and the Privacy Display is the cause.

Consumers with a Galaxy S26 Ultra are starting to report a strange display issue with the phone. Samsung supposedly chimed in, and what it said could be a relief to many.

Before the weekend, News1 (Korean) highlighted an issue that Galaxy S26 Ultra users have continued to report (via GSMArena). According to the publication, many consumers have experienced a "red screen" or "red stain" issue with the Ultra's display, leading many to worry. This red screen issue is most noticeable when the phone produces brighter colors, such as white. Many users have experienced a wide area of redness on their display, whether vertically (in a wide strip) or in specific places.

Samsung reportedly investigated these reports and determined that the Galaxy S26 Ultra's "new technology" is the cause. The Korean publication cites a Samsung official who places the blame on how the S26 Ultra's Privacy Display works. The official said that this "red stain" would occur when the phone is "exposed to strong lighting at maximum brightness."

While the problem itself isn't great to have, the fact that Samsung feels the cause is its Privacy Display is. Samsung's Privacy Display is purely software-based. It's for this reason that the post highlights Samsung's message to users, stating a software update is on the way to resolve this problem. The publication mentions that many of these reports were from users who've had their S26 Ultra for "three to four months."

Privacy Display took something, too

If Samsung is pointing fingers at its Privacy Display tech, then we can't help but drum up a known fact: the S26 Ultra's screen has suffered because of it. We're not using this term—"suffered"—in a dramatic way. What we mean is, the S26 Ultra's screen is not as bright as the S25 Ultra's. Our friends at Tom's Guide did a deep dive and found that the newer model's screen is much darker. At wider angles, the S26 Ultra's drop in peak brightness is quite noticeable.

Even Android Central's Nicholas Sutrich discovered the same facts about the S26 Ultra. The phone also offers questionable comfort for people sensitive to PWM dimming. The S26 Ultra still uses a 480Hz rate, while Sutrich says its competitors have moved on to 5,000Hz or higher. Moreover, Samsung hasn't switched to 10-bit displays. The S26 Ultra still clings to 8-bit.

Android Central's Take

The issue the S26 Ultra has is likely more of a concern than people realize. I'm sure some people have taken out their phones to see if their devices are suffering, too. The timeline is just so strange and pinpoint, especially if you got the device right when it launched. My hope is that Samsung's software update not only solves this current issue, but helps ensure it doesn't happen in the future. There's nothing like getting a fix for something, only to have it break again a few months later.

What you need to know

• Caviar unveiled a luxury Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra edition before Samsung has even announced the phone.
• The special edition honors Lionel Messi with hand-painted cloisonné enamel artwork and 24-karat gold accents.
• Only 19 units will be made, with prices starting at a staggering $13,130 for the 256GB model.

Samsung’s next foldables aren’t expected to be announced until its Galaxy Unpacked event on July 22, but luxury customization brand Caviar has beat it to the punch with a wildly expensive special edition based on the unreleased Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra.

The customized Fold 8 Ultra is part of Caviar’s new Legends collection, swapping out the standard rear panel for a hand-painted portrait of football icon Lionel Messi in the colors of Argentina’s national team. The artwork is created using the centuries-old cloisonné enamel technique, and the outlines, jersey number 10, national symbols, and frame accents are finished with 24-karat gold plating. Caviar says the jewelry craftsmanship and the premium materials are meant to help make the foldable a collectible, not just another smartphone.

It sounds exclusive by design, and the production numbers reflect that. Only 19 units of the Caviar will be made worldwide, and pricing begins at $13,130 for the 256GB variant before any optional customization. Buyers can also request additional services such as custom engravings, logos, design modifications, or custom packaging.

The collection launches ahead of the upcoming FIFA World Cup final and the launch of Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra phone, an appropriate time considering that the 2026 tournament is expected to be the last World Cup appearance for both stars.

None of this, of course, gives us any new information about Samsung’s upcoming foldable phone. The base phone is still expected to be the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra that Samsung will unveil on July 22. What Caviar has done is give us a peek at how luxury brands are already betting on Samsung's next flagship, if you're willing to pay more than the price of a decent used car to own one.

Android Central's Take

I can personally appreciate the craftsmanship here, and there’s no denying that turning a foldable into a piece of collectible art is going to have a tiny niche of deep-pocketed football fans eating this up. But for the rest of us, this is more evidence that luxury phone customizations are less about improving the actual user experience and more about showing off. I’d rather see Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra wow me with meaningful hardware upgrades instead of a layer of gold and enamel that sends the price soaring into the five-figure range. At the very least, this special edition proves there’s always someone willing to pay for exclusivity.

What you need to know

• Galaxy Z Flip 8 leak points to another incremental upgrade, with familiar hardware and few meaningful changes.
• Samsung may opt for its in-house Exynos 2600, a surprising move for a premium foldable.
• European prices could jump by up to €180, making the Flip 8 significantly more expensive despite its modest improvements.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 is expected to launch on July 22, alongside the Z Fold 8 models, but the latest leak reveals a frustrating reality: you may soon be paying a lot more for almost the same hardware, except without the premium Snapdragon silicon everyone was expecting.

Thanks to a detailed leak from WinFuture, we now know precisely what this foldable brings to the table. The phone is said to pack a 6.9-inch 120Hz inner display and a 4.1-inch outer screen. The camera hardware seems to have been left entirely untouched, with the same 50MP main sensor with OIS, a 12MP ultrawide, and a 10MP selfie shooter.

But instead of the top-tier Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 that’s expected to power the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 8, Samsung is said to be opting for its own 10-core Exynos 2600. This chip runs at a respectable 3.8 GHz, but at this price point, passing on Qualcomm’s flagship silicon is a tough pill to swallow.

Note that there are a few minor physical tweaks. The Flip 8 is likely to lose some weight, dropping down to 180g from last year’s 188g. Strangely enough, though it loses mass, the device is actually two-tenths of a millimeter thicker in height and width when unfolded.

On the battery front, the 4,300mAh capacity is tipped to remain the same, but there is now optional 45W wired charging and standard 12GB of RAM.

The real pain is at the till. Base pricing in Europe could start at €1,299 for the 256GB configuration — a flat €100 hike over the Flip 7, if true. The 512GB will reportedly be €180 more expensive at €1,499. The device is said to be available in Graphite, Cream, and Pink. WinFuture shared a few renders of the device, as seen below.

Android Central's Take

We’ll find out soon enough if these leaks pan out, but from where I sit, the Galaxy Z Flip 8 seems more like Samsung checking boxes than pushing its foldable forward. After years of iterative releases, I can’t get away from the feeling that Samsung is leaning a bit too hard on the fact that it remains the biggest name in foldables. If these specs are true, existing Flip owners will have a hard time justifying the jump, while first-time buyers get a refined device that still doesn’t move the category forward in any meaningful way.

What you need to know

• Rumors claim that Samsung might not offer its free storage upgrade for its upcoming Galaxy foldables.
• This was offered to customers who pre-ordered devices, helping them to upgrade from a 256GB model to the 512GB model for free.
• A report claims that Samsung might have customers pay half the cost to upgrade to higher storage, and soaring memory prices might be the reason.

Future Samsung Galaxy customers might have a sour future ahead of them. Reports claim the company might not offer one of its sweetest upgrades.

The report surfaced from Chosun (Korean), which cites "industry sources" in stating Samsung might remove its free storage upgrade offering (via Android Authority). This upgrade was reserved for customers who pre-ordered an upcoming Galaxy device. Think Galaxy S25, S26, or Samsung's upcoming foldables, which is what this rumor is focused on. The Korean publication claims that Samsung might remove its free storage upgrade for all pre-ordered Galaxy Z Flip 8s and Fold 8s.

This storage upgrade would double what you previously selected. If you wanted to grab a 256GB Flip, Samsung would give you the 512GB version at no extra cost. However, the company might replace this free offer by pushing half of the storage upgrade cost onto you, the consumer.

We'll have to wait and see how prices shake out for U.S. customers once the foldables are fully released (if this is true). Chosun's sources reportedly highlight the only culprit anyone's pointing fingers at nowadays: soaring memory prices. That's where things get interesting.

Can't have nice things

We're already stir-crazy over price hikes. There were a few rumors that said the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra could cost $2,099 in the U.S. For reference, that's $100 more than the Fold 7. The Fold 8, which might be the wide foldable we've been hearing about, could start at $1,899. Prices are all over the place, but the ongoing situation with AI taking up all the memory is real.

A research report was published earlier this week, citing another drop in the global smartphone market. For Q2 2026, the phone market fell by 4%, and Omdia places the blame squarely on soaring memory prices. It adds that the market might not recover in 2026, and the holiday season, which typically brings a surge, might not happen. In Q1, the U.S. phone market fell by 3%, so things have been bleak this year.

That's not the only issue. These soaring memory prices might also claim budget phones as collateral. Researchers suspect that the budget phone market might fall by 22% as companies struggle to find a way to make a profit off such devices. We're a week away from knowing for sure if Samsung's free storage upgrade is gone or not. Samsung confirmed Galaxy Unpacked will take place in London, U.K., on July 22 at 9 am ET.

What you need to know

• Samsung is taking aim at the foldable crease with its Galaxy Z Fold 8, promising a dramatically slimmer, tougher, and nearly crease-free display.
• Flex Titanium replaces carbon fiber beneath the screen with a titanium support layer that's lighter, stronger, and better suited for ultra-thin foldables.
• Early hands-on impressions back up Samsung's claims, with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 reportedly feeling thinner while maintaining a premium build.

For seven years, across seven generations of devices, owners of foldable phones have been contending with the same glaring compromise: the inescapable display crease. You either got used to ignoring the physical trench down the middle of your screen or you skipped foldables entirely.

But the hardware landscape is transforming. There is a lot of talk about Apple entering the market with a foldable iPhone Ultra, and Samsung is directly answering the threat with the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 8. The firm claims to have completely re-engineered the flexible screen to be almost crease-free, far more robust, and considerably thinner.

Samsung has announced Flex Titanium, a new display structure that replaces the support layer of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) used in previous Galaxy Z Fold models with a titanium-based plate. Samsung says the material is lighter, stronger, and more suitable for ultra-thin foldables, as it can hold its shape while taking less space.

Thinner without compromise

The company’s announcement is in sync with hands-on impressions from Tom's Guide’s Mark Spoonauer, who had a chance to get an early look at what Samsung says is the new display of the Galaxy Z Fold 8. The screen is significantly thinner but still retains the premium feel of a foldable, the outlet (sister publication of Android Central) reports.

The change is not simply swapping out one material for another. Traditionally, CFRP under the display is used to provide reinforcement for the flexible screen of foldable OLED panels. Titanium offers the same structural support but allows a thinner overall panel, helping manufacturers to squeeze precious millimeters from ever-thinner devices, per Samsung. The company also combined the new support layer with a new OLED process, which is designed to improve flexibility and durability, two areas that have defined the evolution of foldables since the original Galaxy Fold.

Samsung’s announcement comes amidst ongoing rumors surrounding Apple’s much-anticipated foldable iPhone, with Samsung Display expected to be a major supplier of foldable OLED panels.

Android Central's Take

Personally, I’m all for anything that makes foldables thinner and tougher, because that’s what people actually notice after the novelty wears off. Titanium sounds impressive, but Samsung still has to prove this is more than just another flashy material name. If Flex Titanium means a phone that’s easier to carry, survives daily wear better, and doesn’t come with compromises, users win. Otherwise, I don't think buyers are going to care what metal is hiding under the display.

What you need to know

• Samsung has reportedly started rolling out One UI 9 Beta 4 (Android 17) to the Galaxy S26 series overseas.
• The beta carries a ~1.25GB download with mostly bug fixes ahead of a hopeful launch for current and past-gen devices.
• Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked is coming up next week (July 22), and the company is expected to debut new foldables and watches.

Android 17's been out for a few weeks now, and Samsung is continuing to work on its version for Galaxy phones.

Earlier this morning (July 14), SamMobile spotted the Korean OEM rolling out the next version of its Android 17 beta. One UI 9 Beta 4 is rolling out for the Galaxy S26 series; however, the publication reports it's only been spotted in India. The patch is ~1.25GB and carries the July 2026 security update for the S26 series. So far, it seems that Samsung is more focused on fixing a handful of problems its current flagship series has experienced.

One issue affects the Galaxy S26 Ultra. Samsung states it's rolling out a fix for the Privacy Display routine. While this routine is running, the changelog states it would "not operate normally" when users turn it on/off in the Quick Panel or Settings. Another issue hampered Galaxy S26 gamers.

It says that the navigation bar would disappear under "certain conditions" while gaming. This should be fixed, alongside a Bluetooth problem. Samsung says a problem crippling its "Bluetooth audio media volume" when connecting to a vehicle should be solved in Beta 4.

The following fixes are also included:

• Fixed an issue where timer notification numbers are cut off or the Ul is unstable in Live notification
• Improved Ul performance issues that occur when opening and closing the Quick Panel
• Improved an issue where the clock size appears abnormal when rotating the lock screen horizontally/vertically

One UI 9 launch soon?

Samsung has been consistent with its beta, rolling updates for it at a near-monthly cadence. Mid-June is when we got Beta 3, which was also over a gigabyte in size. The patch was available early in several overseas regions, similar to what we've got with Beta 4. However, that should begin to change. Nevertheless, Beta 3 brought several fixes, such as a solution to a rebooting issue that plagued the S26 series during video streaming.

A focus accuracy at 30x zoom was included, as well as a white screen during calls.

Samsung's next wave of products is on the way, and there's a chance One UI 9 is on the horizon, too. We're expecting the usual suspects: the Galaxy Z Flip 8 and Fold 8. There's also been hype around a Wide Fold 8, which we could see during this summer's Unpacked, alongside Samsung's new smartwatches.

One of the best things about tablets and foldable phones is the taskbar at the bottom of the folding screen, which houses your most-used apps. But did you know you can have something just like it on regular non-folding phones?

Whenever I set up a new Samsung or Motorola phone, this is the first thing I enable and customize, and it is probably my most-used Android feature. In fact, the side panel — Sidebar, Edge Panel, or whatever you want to call it — is a very common Android feature available across various OEMs, although it's still surprisingly missing from Pixel smartphones.

An app taskbar you can access from anywhere

The side panel on Android phones acts as a sort of taskbar on non-folding phones. When activated, it hides on the side of your display, identifiable by a small bar. When you swipe inwards on the bar, you get access to a customizable set of apps, as well as some recently opened apps and/or (in Samsung's case), a dedicated set of AI apps.

What's great about this is that it's accessible from nearly every screen. If you're already in an app, you can open the side panel to access another frequently used app in an instant or your full app drawer.

It's also a good option for multitasking. Frankly, I find that activating split screen mode can be a pain, but with the side panel, you can drag an app to one side of the screen or open it in freeform over another open app.

Samsung also offers a set of additional side panels you can activate that are more than just apps. You can access your clipboard, favorite contacts, weather, navigation tools, and more. The side panel can essentially become a one-stop shop if you use it right.

How to enable the side panel on a Galaxy phone

1. Open the Settings app.

2. Tap Display.

3. Toggle on Edge panels and tap the option to enter the Edge Panels menu.

4. Tap Panels and select the panels you want to add.

5. Tap Edit under the Apps panel, then tap the apps you want to add to the panel. Do the same with the People panel if you wish to add it.

6. Optional: Tap the three-dot icon in the top right corner and toggle on split screen, Galaxy AI, Show recent apps, and Show app names.

7. On the Edge panels menu, tap Handle.

8. Choose the position of the screen you want the handle to be on, the color, transparency, size, and width.

9. Hold and drag the handle to your preferred position so it's easy to access.

Download Good Lock for even more goodies

Now, you can swipe from the bar on nearly any screen to access your favorite and most-used apps or functions! But if you want to customize your panel even more, you can do so by Installing Samsung's Good Lock app from the Play Store or Galaxy Store. Once downloaded, scroll through the plugins and install the Home Up module.

Once installed, open Home Up and toggle on Edge panel. Here, you will find additional settings you can apply to the panel, such as the ability to integrate multiple types of panels into a single panel so you can access apps, contacts, and shortcuts, the ability to scroll through the recent apps section, and an expanded view that adds columns of apps.

One user on Android 17 has demonstrated that the upcoming One UI 9 update will enable even more customization for the Edge Panel. An update to the Home Up module will let users add backgrounds and colors, change the corner radius, and even adjust the blur effect.

Keep in mind that Samsung has not yet officially released Android 17/One UI 9, so unless you're on the beta, you'll have to wait a bit longer for this functionality.

Pixel is missing out

As I noted, it's not just Samsung that has a side panel for easy access to apps. It's also available on Motorola phones. You can access it by navigating to Settings > Gestures > Sidebar, then toggle the feature on. Then, tap the Settings icon to add apps, tools, and contacts to the bar. It basically combines three of Samsung's panels into one.

For OnePlus, the feature is buried in a less obvious spot. Navigate to Settings > Accessibility & convenience > Smart Sidebar, then toggle the feature on. There, you can edit its position, functions, and more. Then open the Sidebar and tap Edit to add and change the apps you want.

I wish I could tell you how to enable this feature on Pixel smartphones, but for some reason, Google refuses to add it to the Pixel lineup. There are a number of things I don't like about the Pixel UI, but the fact that Google won't give me an app sidebar is one of the main reasons I don't like using it. There are third-party apps that can add similar functionality, such as Panels, but I would rather use a built-in feature that doesn't have a paywall.

The closest the Pixel comes is the new App Bubbles, which lets you easily multitask across multiple apps with floating bubbles, but it's not really comparable to having a dedicated sidebar. With any luck, Google will add this in future OS updates or Pixel Drops.

What you need to know

• Reports claim that the Galaxy S26 series has been shattering Samsung's sales expectations, as the company holds "Appreciation Events" and more.
• Sales for the Galaxy S26 have risen by "three times" the amount in recent history, and it's likely consumer fear over a pricier Galaxy S27 that's cultivated this boost.
• Samsung reported a major boost in Galaxy S26 popularity and production earlier this year, but with soaring DRAM and NAND prices, cost

We're caught at a midway point between the Galaxy S26 series and the upcoming Galaxy S27 series. These series are reportedly influencing one another, as fears mount over higher prices for Samsung's next wave.

Late this week, ETNews (Korean) reported that Samsung is experiencing another surge in Galaxy S26 sales (via SamMobile). The publication's sources claim that Samsung observed significant sales performance domestically and globally in June. What's more, the company reportedly held an "Appreciation Festival" for consumers. If a Galaxy S26 series device were purchased, consumers would receive a 20% refund "in Digital Onnuri Gift Certificates."

Another contributing factor is Samsung's website, alongside various "open markets," which have seen sales "three times" higher than before. As a result, Samsung is boosting its Galaxy S26 production to 1.5 million units over the previously planned 1 million units for July. A report by EInfoMax adds that domestic Galaxy S26 sales have surpassed 3 million units for Samsung in 117 days, shattering Galaxy S25 records (via GSMArena).

With everything going on with the phone market, it's been alleged that this growing demand for the Galaxy S26 is due to pricier Galaxy S27 concerns. The memory shortage is (of course) a primary contributor to these worries.

A changing market

The Galaxy S26 series' popularity was discussed a few times, leading to a production boost reported back in April. The spring saw Samsung boost its Galaxy S26 Ultra production by 200,000 units (1.5 mil total in April) and its base S26 model by 500,000 units. The Plus model was pulled back soon. Samsung knocked off roughly 100,000 units as the other two phones were more sought after.

We're not entirely sure what's going on with the Galaxy S27, but some rumors said it could be kept mild to avoid ridiculous pricing. Certain upgrades were allegedly being put on the back burner, such as the series' display and cameras. It's still early, and things can change. Soaring memory prices are affecting everyone. Companies are struggling to find ways to keep their profits without suffering a loss.

Recent research by Omdia suggests budget phones could take a hit, thanks to high DRAM and NAND prices. The market could see far fewer budget phones, as higher-priced devices give companies more leeway to make cost-conscious changes.

Android Central's Take

The Galaxy S26 series is a popular series for Samsung, coming off the back of the popular Galaxy S25. It goes without saying that the S26 Ultra is leading the charge by a mile, too. But the shift I'm seeing in how people are buying is a tell of the times. If the price of a phone is "more acceptable" right now, and we risk seeing those disappear in the future, why not buy now? Why not buy right now and see where the market takes us later? At least, right now, we're not "suffering" as much. This is all subjective, as we all have our limits on what we'd like to pay.

Mint Mobile offers some of my favorite Android phone deals on the web, but when these promotions go out of stock, they're usually gone for good. Fortunately, that's not the case with the Samsung Galaxy S26, as the prepaid carrier just brought back one of my favorite deals of 2026 thus far.

Purchase the Samsung Galaxy S26 with one year of the Unlimited plan and Mint Mobile will give you $500 off the phone AND 50% off the wireless. That means you're getting a powerful 2026 flagship phone and a full 12 months of T-Mobile-powered wireless service for only $580 upfront (or $49 per month using affirm). The deal gets even better when you trade in, as Mint Mobile will give you up to $400 of additional savings depending on the age and condition of the device.

In fact, the entire S26 lineup is included to the deal, which means you can save $500 (and get the discounted wireless) on the Galaxy S26 Plus and Galaxy S26 Ultra if you need a more powerful phone.

Mint Mobile just resurrected one of my favorite Galaxy S26 deals of all time

I've been covering Samsung Galaxy S26 deals on a regular basis since the phone first debuted in March, and Mint's offer continues to impress as one of the best on the web. It's really all about the simplicity for me. Unlike most carrier deals, which force you to process a trade-in or sign up for some expensive data plan to receive the savings, all you need to do is hit the Add to Cart button to receive the phone and wireless bundle.

Activation just takes a few minutes, and again, it'll only cost you $580 out the door to get a new phone AND cover your phone bill until 2027. Considering that the Galaxy S26 usually retails for $900 on its own, it's a pretty remarkable opportunity.

Sure, if you prefer the simplicity of unlocked phones or you don't want to commit to a full year of Mint, then this deal isn't for you. But if you hate paying your phone bill and you want a great deal on a great Samsung phone, grab this Mint Mobile offer before it really disappears.

What you need to know

• The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is expected to cost $2,099 in the US, which is $100 more than last year's Galaxy Z Fold 7.
• The wider Galaxy Z Fold 8, tipped to take on the iPhone Ultra, is rumored to start at $1,899 for the 256GB base model.
• A Reddit user claims a Samsung store in South Korea is already displaying the Galaxy Z Fold 8 ahead of its official reveal.
• Samsung has confirmed its next Unpacked event for July 22 in London, where the Z Fold 8 series will finally go official.

As if there was nothing left for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 series to leak, we now have images showcasing the official device a week ahead of launch, along with rumored pricing.

We're only about a week away from the official debut of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 series. The company has already confirmed its Unpacked event for July 22 in London. But ahead of the launch, we've already heard about European pricing for the Galaxy Z Fold 8 series, and now U.S. pricing has leaked as well.

As reported by Korean outlet SE Daily, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 series will be priced above $2,000 in the U.S. According to the outlet, the standard Galaxy Z Fold 7 successor, reportedly to be called the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, will "likely" be priced at $2,099.

The wider Galaxy Z Fold 8, said to compete with the upcoming foldable iPhone Ultra, will sit at $1,899.

Samsung seems to have spoiled its own launch

It's worth noting that these prices are for the base 256GB variant, with higher storage options likely costing more. For comparison, last year's Galaxy Z Fold 7 started at $2,000, meaning its direct successor will be $100 more expensive.

The most interesting bit, though, is that Samsung has allegedly already pulled the trigger and started showcasing the wider Galaxy Z Fold 8 on retail displays in Korea.

A Reddit user claims a Samsung store in South Korea has already put the Galaxy Z Fold 8 out on display. The user says a Samsung store employee "confirmed" the device on display was indeed the Z Fold 8, and they even managed to sneak in a photo of it.

The retail unit doesn't mention the Galaxy Z Fold 8 name anywhere, but it lines up pretty closely with what's leaked so far.

This might be the first time Samsung has showcased a device ahead of its official reveal, and it's interesting to see that the company's new form factor is real and arriving soon.

What you need to know

• A leaker claims the Galaxy Z Flip 8 could be Samsung's last small folding product.
• Samsung's July 22 Unpacked event in London will bring the Z Fold 8, Z Fold 8 Ultra, and the Z Flip 8.
• The new passport-style Z Fold 8 could eventually replace the flip-style form factor in Samsung's lineup.
• Rising component costs and Apple's foldable iPhone may be pushing Samsung away from flip-style phones.

If you're a fan of Samsung's flip-style foldable lineup, we may have some bad news for you, as the next Galaxy Z Flip might be the last flip phone Samsung ever releases.

Samsung is set to launch its new foldable phones later this month at the Galaxy Unpacked event in London. The company is rumored to introduce two new Galaxy Z Fold 8 series phones, including a wider form factor device for the first time. Alongside those, Samsung is also expected to release the Galaxy Z Flip 8 as usual.

However, it seems the next Galaxy Z Flip could be the last one the company ever makes.

Popular tipster Ice Universe shared on X that the Galaxy Z Flip 8 is likely to be Samsung's last small folding product. That suggests we may be nearing the end of the small flip-style foldable from Samsung.

It's worth noting, though, that the tipster doesn't explicitly say it'll be the last Galaxy Z Flip. Instead, they refer to it as the last small folding product.

Samsung is entering a new era with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 series, launching a passport-style form factor for the first time. That form factor will be less tall and much wider than previous Galaxy Z Fold products, so it's possible it ends up replacing the Galaxy Z Flip series going forward. Of course, it's far too early to say for certain.

Either way, this is sad news for anyone who's been a fan of the Galaxy Z Flip or flip-style foldables in general.

There's no denying that making these phones is becoming increasingly expensive. We recently saw Motorola raise prices across this year's Razr lineup as well.

And with Apple entering the foldable market with a passport-like form factor of its own, it's possible that this ends up being the only foldable form factor that survives, with Samsung wanting to compete head-on.

Regardless, it's disappointing for flip-style foldable users. Plenty of people still genuinely prefer the flip form factor, even with book-style foldables dominating the market. If this turns out to be true, it really will be the end of an era.

What you need to know

• Samsung has confirmed its next Unpacked event for July 22 in London, where the Galaxy Z Fold 8 series will debut.
• A new Spider-Man: Brand New Day teaser hints at a "brand new shape," pointing to the wider Galaxy Z Fold 8 form factor.
• A second teaser shows Spider-Man catching what appears to be the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, though few details are shown.

Samsung is all set to announce its new foldables soon, with a reportedly wider form factor launching for the first time. And the company isn't leaving anything to guesswork in its new teaser, released in collaboration with Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

Samsung took to Instagram, X, and other social media platforms to drop new teasers for the Galaxy Z Fold 8 series. The company has confirmed that its next Unpacked event takes place on July 22 in London, where it's expected to launch the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, new Flip phones, and new Galaxy watches.

One of the teasers features a Spider-Man postcard with the text "A brand new shape is coming," with the top half tearing off to reveal the new Spider-Man movie logo and details. The teaser ends with the line "A brand new shape for a brand new day," clearly hinting at the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and its wider form factor.

For those unaware, Samsung is reportedly launching two Galaxy Z Fold 8 phones this time around, with the standard Galaxy Z Fold 8 set to take on Apple's upcoming foldable iPhone. It'll reportedly have a shorter but wider form factor, almost like a passport, meaning it'll feel like a true mini tablet when unfolded. This poster teaser seems to be pointing at exactly that.

Another teaser posted on Instagram shows Spider-Man catching a foldable phone, which appears to be the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra. Not much else is revealed beyond the collaboration itself, but it's interesting to see Samsung partnering with Spider-Man for the new Z Fold series.

Thankfully, we won't have to wait long for the full picture. Samsung's launch event is just about a week away, where we'll be getting all the details about these upcoming foldable phones.

What you need to know

• Samsung has confirmed the Galaxy Z Fold 8 will use the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy chipset.
• The "for Galaxy" version means a custom-tuned Snapdragon processor, which has historically delivered slightly higher CPU and GPU performance than the standard chip.
• Performance should get a meaningful boost for multitasking, gaming, and on-device AI, helping justify rumored price increases.

Recent rumors pointed to a major price hike for Samsung’s next wave of foldables. But hold your horses before you dismiss the upcoming lineup, because Samsung just confirmed a huge hardware upgrade that could actually make the extra cash worth it.

Samsung has now confirmed that the Galaxy Z Fold 8 will be powered by Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon chip, solidifying its position on flagship processors for its high-end foldables. The confirmation comes ahead of the Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event on July 22, where the company is expected to launch the Galaxy Z Fold 8 along with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and Galaxy Z Flip 8.

In a post on Weibo, the Korean tech giant revealed that the Fold 8 will be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, the same silicon that powers the Galaxy S26 series. That might not be a huge surprise, but it settles weeks of speculation on whether Samsung would tap its own Exynos silicon in some markets.

No Exynos this time

Reports out earlier had already hinted that the U.S. model would stick with Qualcomm, but Samsung’s announcement makes it clear that Snapdragon will power the device worldwide.

It's a notable confirmation because Samsung didn’t just stop at the processor name. The company specifically noted the “Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy” branding, suggesting users should expect Samsung’s custom version of Qualcomm’s chip, not the standard version.

Historically, those “for Galaxy” editions have come with slightly higher CPU and GPU clock speeds, giving Samsung’s phones a modest performance edge over other Android flagships.

But the processor is not expected to be the only upgrade. Rumors suggest a wider, redesigned Fold 8 that will act more like a standard smartphone when closed, addressing one of the main complaints of previous Galaxy Fold models. Leaks have also hinted at improvements like a bigger battery and faster charging, though Samsung hasn’t confirmed those details yet.

Android Central's Take

I can't say I'm shocked that Samsung stuck with Snapdragon here — it would've been far riskier to gamble on anything else for a phone that will almost certainly cost well north of $1,800. The good news is that buyers should get the best performance Samsung has to offer for multitasking, gaming, and on-device AI. That said, I’d rather the company put as much energy into fixing the Fold’s long-standing pain points — like battery life, charging speed, and camera performance — as it does confirming the obvious.

Samsung has confirmed that the next Galaxy Unpacked event will be held on July 22nd in London, which means we're likely just two weeks away from the unveiling of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 series. 

That being said, if you don't want to wait (or you simply don't want to shell out $2,000 for a smartphone), you're in luck: last year's Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 is currently $500 off at Best Buy, making it a pretty compelling prospect for folks who want a great foldable phone experience without breaking the bank.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 is a beautiful foldable phone with a thin and lightweight design, two Dynamic AMOLED displays, and a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chipset with 12GB of RAM. When opening the book-style foldable, the center crease is finally as imperceptible as Samsung claims it to be, and the upgraded camera system is one of the best we've ever seen on a foldable. 

The phone's thin frame means that the battery life isn't anything to write home about (and Samsung removed the embedded stylus), but if you want a premium foldable phone experience, it doesn't get much better than the Z Fold 7 (well, maybe with the Motorola Razr Fold, but that's another discussion). 

How does last year's phone compare to the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 8? Well, we don't have official specs just yet, but the latest leaks and rumors suggest that the Z Fold 8 simply takes the foundation of its predecessor and adds a larger battery with faster charging and possibly an upgraded screen. Are those small updates worth an additional $500 at minimum? I don't think so, but you'll have to make the call. 

Android Central's take

I've said it before and I'll it again: we don't need new phones every single year. With the current global memory shortage and prices going up on tech all across the board, maybe OEMs like Samsung should focus more on optimizing the devices that people already have rather than pushing out new generations every year. 

This is particularly true when new devices only offer small upgrades between generations. If I were in the market for an unlocked foldable phone, I'd go with this discounted Galaxy Z Fold 7 and keep a bit of cash in my pocket for a rainy day. After all, what's the point of giving a device a seven-year software promise if you're not going to keep it for more than a year or two? 

Good news, Samsung fans: Amazon just dropped some Galaxy S26 deals that are giving me serious Prime Day flashbacks. For a limited time, you can save up to $270 on these super-powered flagships when you buy unlocked, no trade-in required and no strings attached. 

The Galaxy S26 lineup includes the base model S26, the balanced Galaxy S26 Plus, and the über-powerful Galaxy S26 Ultra. All three phones are powered by the efficient Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor and come with at least 12GB of RAM, a bunch of useful AI features, and seven years of software updates guaranteed. They're also pretty expensive, which is why the following S26 deals are so crucial. 

• See more of my favorite Samsung Galaxy S26 deals of July 2026

Amazon is bringing back Prime Day for the Galaxy S26 series

More Samsung Galaxy S26 deals today

What you need to know

• Samsung confirmed this evening that Galaxy Unpacked will take place on July 22 at 9 am ET/6 am PT in London, U.K.
• The company brings its next foldables into the spotlight, stating a new era is coming for their intelligent capabilities and more, to make them feel personal.
• Samsung's marketing campaign took over its Instagram, wiping all of its posts, as clues went up that users needed to decode.

The time has come. Samsung reveals the date for its summer Unpacked event and everything the keynote will discuss.

Samsung announced this evening that its 2026 summer Unpacked event will take place on July 22 in London, U.K. Interested parties can watch the event, which begins at 9 am ET/6 am PT, from Samsung's YouTube, Samsung.com, or its Newsroom. Of course, consumers are expecting to see what's next from the Korean OEM's many hardware series. Samsung states it will highlight the next era of its foldables.

It states these devices "combine intelligent capabilities and new form factors to deliver more personal, adaptive experiences and set a new standard for the AI era."

What's more, Samsung has kicked off its reserve program ahead of Unpacked, as usual. Consumers can "reserve to receive a $30 Samsung credit during pre-order for up to $1,230 in total savings. Customers can also enter a sweepstakes for a chance to win one of ten $500 Samsung.com gift cards."

Set a reminder (and get up early)

It goes without saying that Samsung is keeping things a little hush-hush. Its announcement places its foldables front and center, and that's not something we're surprised about. These are its phones, and we're expecting them every (mid) year. Teases started late June when Samsung kicked off a viral marketing campaign that wiped every Instagram post it had.

The company is looking forward to revealing the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Flip 8 to consumers, but it wants to tell a story along the way. On Instagram, Samsung's been posting images, which serve as clues that we must decode. There's nothing like a bit of hype, and that's what Samsung's trying to cultivate. There's more to Galaxy Unpacked than its foldables.

We're also looking forward to the Galaxy Watch 9. We know there are some new health features, but what else? All will be revealed in two weeks.

Android Central's Take

This is the Galaxy Unpacked waiting room, please take a seat. We're two weeks out, and Samsung building up to something interesting (we hope, right?). What else other than foldables could we see? Also, what about these foldables are going to keep me interested and make me think about laying down some cash? I've got a lot of questions, but I'm curious by nature.

What you need to know

• Samsung is redesigning the hinge on the Galaxy Z Fold 8, with the new mechanism offering noticeably better crease control.
• The crease performance is reportedly comparable to the Oppo Find N6, which currently has the best crease of any foldable.
• Both the standard Galaxy Z Fold 8 and the Fold 8 Ultra are expected to benefit from the improved hinge design.

Samsung might finally be fixing the display crease problem with the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 8 series.

Samsung looks set to launch its new foldable phones later this month. The company has already kicked off its marketing campaign teasing the new devices, and while leaks have given us a good idea of what to expect, we're now getting closer to launch with new leaks confirming some of the bigger upgrades on the way.

According to tipster Ice Universe on X, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 series is expected to feature a redesigned hinge, with the hinge feel reportedly being noticeably different from previous generations.

The tipster says Samsung has made several changes to the folding mechanism, making it more decisive. In practice, this means the phone is no longer as easy to hold open at certain in-between angles as before, which has led to better crease control.

Ice Universe goes on to say that it's reached the top level in the industry, with crease performance comparable to the Oppo Find N6.

The Oppo Find N6 launched earlier this year as a virtually crease-free foldable. Having spent an extended period with it hands-on, it still has the best crease performance of any foldable phone to date. It sounds like Samsung is finally closing that gap with the Galaxy Z Fold 8.

It's also worth noting that the tipster is referring to the Galaxy Z Fold 8 series as a whole, which suggests the improved crease performance will carry over to both the standard Galaxy Z Fold 8 and the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra.

For those unfamiliar, the standard Galaxy Z Fold 8 this time around will feature a slightly taller and wider, passport-style form factor, positioning it as a direct competitor to Apple's foldable phone later this year. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, meanwhile, will be the successor to last year's Galaxy Z Fold 7.

It remains to be seen just how much Samsung has improved the crease on the Galaxy Z Fold 8. But if the rumors hold up, the display upgrades alone should make it one of the bigger generational leaps for the lineup.