Samsung announced the Galaxy Z Flip 8, Z Fold 8, and Z Fold 8 Ultra at its London Unpacked event on July 22, 2026. Pre-orders are currently open with devices scheduled for release on August 7, featuring a new wide-fold design for the Z Fold 8 and a first-ever Ultra foldable model.
The 2026 foldable lineup marks a significant shift in Samsung’s strategy, splitting the “Fold” experience into two distinct form factors. While the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is designed for entertainment with a wider, shorter chassis that mimics a small tablet, the Z Fold 8 Ultra serves as the true successor to the Z Fold 7, maintaining the traditional book-like dimensions but with premium internal upgrades.
Pricing and Pre-order Incentives
Sticker prices for the new series have risen, with both the Z Flip 8 and Z Fold 8 Ultra costing $100 more than previous models.
| Model | Starting Price (USD) | Available Colors |
|---|---|---|
| Galaxy Z Flip 8 | $1,199 | Pink, Graphite, Cream, Mint (Online Only) |
| Galaxy Z Fold 8 | $1,899.99 | Lavender, Graphite, Cream, Pistachio (Online Only) |
| Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra | $2,099.99 | Violet Shadow, Graphite, Cream, Green Shadow (Online Only) |
Buyers can stack several discounts depending on the retailer. Samsung is offering $30 reserve credits to those who registered interest, which can be combined with a $200 store credit for no-trade-in purchases and a $100 discount via the code PAYPAL100. For those preferring third-party retailers, Amazon is providing $350 gift cards with Z Fold 8 and Ultra pre-orders, while Best Buy is offering $200 gift cards.
In Australia, the pricing is higher, with the Z Fold 8 starting at $2,699 and the Ultra at $2,999. Local deals include $150 extra trade-in credits or online vouchers from Samsung, and significant device discounts from Telstra and Optus linked to eligible monthly plans.
Z Fold 8 Ultra: Hardware and Display Refinements
The Z Fold 8 Ultra focuses on subtle design improvements
to the Z Fold 7’s chassis. It is one millimeter slimmer when unfolded and features slightly narrower sides to create a gap that makes the device easier to open. The internal 8-inch AMOLED display is now brighter, reaching 3,000 nits compared to the 2,600 nits of the previous generation, and includes a new anti-reflective coating for better outdoor legibility.
“hinge mechanics, display tension and magnetic force to make unfolding feel smoother, lighter and more natural,”
Samsung, via CNET
Under the hood, the Ultra runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy chip. Memory configurations range from 12GB of RAM for the 256GB and 512GB models up to 16GB of RAM for the 1TB variant.
The New Wide-Fold Z Fold 8
The standard Galaxy Z Fold 8 is a departure from previous iterations, adopting a 4:3 full-screen ratio.
The Z Fold 8 drops the telephoto lens found in the Ultra and Fold 7 models, opting instead for a dual-camera system.
Silicon-Carbon Battery Trade-offs
Across the Z Fold 8, Fold 8 Ultra, and Flip 8, Samsung has transitioned to silicon-carbon battery chemistry. This shift allows for higher capacity without increasing device thickness. The Z Fold 8 Ultra now packs a 5,000mAh battery, while the Z Fold 8 uses a 4,800mAh cell.
However, this chemistry introduces a longevity penalty. EU regulatory documents cited by 9to5Google indicate these batteries are rated for approximately 1,200 charging cycles before hitting 80% capacity—a significant drop from the 2,000 cycles rated for the Z Fold 7. Gizmodo notes that this may be a result of shifting to the European Product Registry for Energy Labelling (EPREL) standards, which provides a more standardized ranking than Samsung’s previous internal methodology.
Z Flip 8 and Ecosystem Additions
The Galaxy Z Flip 8 remains a clamshell design with a 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED main display and 12GB of RAM. It is available in 256GB or 512GB storage options. Improvements are focused on the crease, which Mashable describes as indistinguishable when the device is flipped open.
Beyond phones, the Unpacked event introduced the Galaxy Watch 9 and Galaxy Tab S10 FE, which Verizon is currently offering as a free bundle with the purchase of a new Samsung phone.
The central uncertainty remaining for consumers is whether the $100 price hike is justified by the new silicon-carbon battery life and the split between the “Wide” and “Ultra” Fold models, especially as the market awaits a potential foldable competitor from Apple.
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