Samsung unveils Galaxy Z Fold 8 series and smartwatches at Unpacked event
Samsung announced its latest mobile hardware lineup at the July 2026 Galaxy Unpacked event in London, revealing three foldable phones—the Galaxy Z Flip 8, Galaxy Z Fold 8, and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra—alongside two new smartwatches. The devices feature Qualcomm Snapdragon processors, advanced AI capabilities, and titanium display layers, with commercial availability scheduled for August 7th.
Key points
- Tech giant Samsung announced its new lineup at the Galaxy Unpacked event in London, featuring three foldables and the Galaxy Watch 9 and Watch Ultra 2.
- The hardware rollout includes the Galaxy Z Flip 8 starting at $1,199.99, the redesigned Galaxy Z Fold 8 starting at $1,899.99, and the premium Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra priced from $2,099.99.
- All three new folding smartphones run on Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy chipset and ship with Android 17 integrating Gemini Intelligence.
- Preorders launched immediately following the announcement, with official retail availability set for August 7th alongside promotional gift cards up to $350.
Consumer electronics manufacturer Samsung has expanded its mobile ecosystem during its mid-summer Galaxy Unpacked event in London, showcasing a restructured portfolio of folding smartphones and updated smartwatches. The newly revealed hardware comprises the clamshell Galaxy Z Flip 8, the productivity-focused Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, and a newly introduced, wider-format Galaxy Z Fold 8.
Performance across all three models is driven by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy processor. The devices operate on Android 17 and One UI 9, introducing upgraded software tools such as Gemini Intelligence task automation and proactive suggestion features. Structurally, Samsung has incorporated a titanium alloy layer beneath the flexible OLED displays, a design choice intended to reinforce durability and minimize screen creases.
Pricing structure varies significantly across the new phone tier. The Galaxy Z Flip 8 begins at $1,199.99, while the book-style Galaxy Z Fold 8 starts at $1,899.99 with a 7.6-inch main screen and 5.5-inch cover display. The larger Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra—serving as the direct successor to last year's Z Fold 7—carries a starting price of $2,099.99, offering an 8-inch main display and a 6.5-inch exterior screen.
Preorders for the entire lineup opened immediately following the July reveal, accompanied by promotional retail incentives offering up to $350 in gift cards. General retail availability for the devices is slated to begin on August 7th, 2026.
Sources
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