đą Samsung is gearing up to launch two versions of the Galaxy Z Fold 8
đ Thereâs the normal version that gets wider and shorter than ever
đ An upgraded Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra will sport a familiar design and big battery
âď¸ Both phones will be equipped with the latest specs, new colors, and One UI
đ° Pricing could start around $1,700 for the Fold 8 and $2,000 for the Ultra
đ Hereâs everything weâve heard about the phones ahead of their July 22 announcement
Samsung is shaking things up with this yearâs Galaxy Z lineup. Instead of launching one successor to the excellent Galaxy Z Fold 7 from last year, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 will come in two flavors: one regular with a short and stubby design, and a new âUltraâ model with a familiar look and feel.
The companyâs never done something like that before. Usually, we only see one book-style foldable from Samsung each year - thatâs it. But with the iPhone Fold on the horizon and growing interest in the foldable category from consumers, Samsung wants to diversify its portfolio with two distinct options you can pick from at checkout.
Weâve been tracking all the rumors, leaks, and other chatter around the Galaxy Z Fold 8 ahead of its July 22 announcement. Hereâs everything we (think we) know about the Fold 8 and Fold 8 Ultra, and just how different theyâll be when they hit store shelves.
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Galaxy Z Fold 8 release date and announcement
Samsung is expected to announce the Galaxy Z Fold 8 series on July 22, 2026 at a Galaxy Unpacked event in London. The company sent out invitations to the press and released a teaser online confirming that Unpacked would occur in mid-July in the United Kingdom. The teaser includes a ticket stub being torn, with the larger half resembling the silhouette of the Fold 8âs new form factor.
Based on previous launch events and release dates, hereâs our best guess as to how Samsungâs Fold 8 release strategy will go:
đŁ July 22, 2026: Galaxy Unpacked in London where weâll see the Fold 8 for the first time.
đ ~July 22, 2026: Pre-orders will likely open.
đŚ ~August 7, 2026: Rumored launch date for the Fold 8 and the rest of Samsungâs new devices.
đą Two very different designs
This is the biggest story of the year for Samsungâs foldable lineup. Instead of one Galaxy Z Fold, weâre getting two completely different versions.
Samsung is keeping things familiar on the Fold 8 Ultra. Itâs essentially the Galaxy Z Fold 7 but slightly thicker. The corners are still square, the sides are still flat, and that big camera bump on the back isnât going anywhere. According to renders shared by Android Headlines, the Fold 8 Ultra will measure 4.5mm thick when open, which is just 0.3mm more than the Fold 7. You probably wonât even notice the difference when youâre holding it.
That extra thickness was said to also accommodate S Pen support on the foldable display, but it no longer sounds like thatâs the case. Youâll want a Moto Razr Fold if you want stylus support on your next foldable.
The regular Fold 8 is a different story entirely. Official-looking renders all but confirm that the phone will be dramatically shorter and wider than anything Samsung has made before, with a much squarer silhouette on the outside. That 4:3 aspect ratio cover screen is going to feel completely different in the hand compared to a traditional Fold.
Itâs the phone Samsung built to counter Appleâs upcoming iPhone Fold. Real-world photos leaked a few weeks back showing the device being held by someone with a protective case around it, and it looks dramatically different from anything Samsung has shipped before. Itâs much more passport-shaped than anything, which is what weâre also expecting from Appleâs first foldable.
One thing we havenât heard much about is whether the crease is improving significantly on either model. As we wrote back in April, this is one area where Apple is expected to have a big advantage with the iPhone Fold, which is said to use an advanced hinge to eliminate the crease almost entirely. The leaked metal support plate in the Fold 8 Ultraâs specs suggests Samsung is at least working on it, but âimproved creaseâ doesnât mean âno crease at all.â
âď¸ Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Fold 8 Ultra specs
Back in March, tipster Anthony (@TheGalox_ on X) shared a leaked spec list for what appeared to be the Fold 8 Ultra, and it painted a pretty complete picture of what Samsungâs planning. Hereâs a breakdown of whatâs rumored for both models.
Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra
Display: 6.5-inch cover + 8-inch main, 120Hz Dynamic AMOLED
Glass: Dual-layer Ultra-Thin Glass, laser-drilled metal support plate
Chip: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy
RAM / Storage: 12â16GB RAM, 256GB / 512GB / 1TB
Cameras (rear): 200MP main, 50MP ultra-wide, 10MP 3x telephoto
Selfie: 10MP on cover + inner display
Battery: 5,000mAh, 45W wired charging, âQi2 readyâ wireless charging
Thickness: ~4.5mm open, ~8.9mm folded
Software: Android 17 + One UI 9, 7 years of updates
Water resistance: IP48
S Pen: Not supported
Galaxy Z Fold 8
Display: 5.4-inch cover + 7.6-inch main, 120Hz Dynamic AMOLED
Glass: Dual-layer Ultra-Thin Glass, laser-drilled metal support plate
Chip: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy
RAM / Storage: 12â16GB RAM, 256GB / 512GB / 1TB
Cameras (rear): 50MP main, 50MP ultra-wide
Selfie: 10MP on cover + inner display
Battery: ~4,800mAh, 45W charging, âQi2 readyâ wireless charging
Software: Android 17 + One UI 9, 7 years of updates
Water resistance: IP48
S Pen: Not supported
The battery upgrade is the one weâre most excited about. When we tested the Galaxy Z Fold 7, its 4,400mAh battery could just barely scrape through a full day. Jumping to 5,000mAh plus doubling the charging speed from 25W to 45W would be a massive quality-of-life upgrade.
The camera situation is interesting, too. Dual 50MP cameras on the regular Fold 8 should prove to be enough for most people, but many are accustomed to Samsung shipping three cameras on its book-style foldables. For the Ultra to exclusively carry the triple camera system is interesting, to say the least. Guess youâll have to be okay with taking regular and ultra-wide photos - no lossless zoom for you.
đ¨ Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Fold 8 Ultra colors
As for colors, Ice Universe corroborated a leak from Digital Citizen listing the full color lineup. Hereâs what to expect:
Galaxy Z Fold 8 colors
Cream
Graphite
Lavender
Pistachio
Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra colors
Cream
Graphite
Green Shadow
Violet Shadow
Pistachio and Lavender on the regular Fold 8 are new, and sound like the most fun colors youâll be able to pick from. Samsung has never shied away from picking bold colors for its foldables, and it doesnât sound like thatâs changing this year, either. The Shadow suffixes on the Ultraâs options suggest darker, more muted takes on those same hues, which fits the Ultraâs premium positioning.
đ° Price
The Fold 8 Ultra is expected to start at $1,999, keeping it in line with what the Fold 7 cost at launch. That means 256GB would run you $1,999, 512GB would be $2,199, and the 1TB version would land at $2,499, assuming Samsung doesnât raise prices. But thereâs a real chance they do. RAM prices have been surging industry-wide, and some reports out of South Korea suggest the Fold 8 Ultra could actually kick off at $2,100, making it Samsungâs most expensive mainstream phone ever.
The regular Fold 8 is expected to come in cheaper, hovering around $1,799â$1,999. That potential discount would make it a meaningful alternative, not just a different shape.
đ¤ Software and AI features
Both Fold 8 models will most likely ship with Android 17 and One UI 9, with Samsung promising seven years of OS updates (just like it does with every flagship phone these days).
The bigger software story, though, is Gemini Intelligence. Googleâs new system-level AI - the one that can run multi-step tasks across multiple apps without you having to babysit it - is reportedly set to debut on the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Fold 8 Ultra before any other Android device. If that pans out, itâd be a meaningful exclusive for Samsung buyers and a real reason to consider these phones over other Android flagships at launch.
Of course, the upcoming Pixel 11 series will also likely have Gemini Intelligence, but it sounds like Samsungâs foldables could be first.
đď¸ Everything else at Unpacked
The Fold 8 and Fold 8 Ultra wonât be the only things Samsung announces on July 22. This is shaping up to be one of the most product-dense Unpacked events Samsung has put together in years. Alongside the two Fold phones, weâre also expecting the Galaxy Z Flip 8, the Galaxy Watch 9, and the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2.
We could also hear mentions of Galaxy Glasses, Samsungâs new Android XR-powered smart glasses. Rumor has it they could receive a proper introduction at this yearâs Unpacked before launching later this fall. Details remain scarce, but not out of the question.
đą Galaxy Z Fold 8 coverage continues
Weâre tracking all the Galaxy Z Fold 8 rumors and leaks until Samsung announces it later this month. Subscribe so you donât miss any of our coverage!
Max Buondonno is an editor at The Shortcut and co-host of The Shortcut Live. Heâs been reporting on the latest consumer technology since 2015, with his work featured on CNN Underscored, ZDNET, How-To Geek, XDA, TheStreet, and more. Follow him on X @LegendaryScoop and Instagram @LegendaryScoop.