Samsung is preparing for one of its most significant product launches in years as the company gears up to host Galaxy Unpacked in London on July 22. While foldable smartphones have become a regular part of Samsung's annual lineup, this year's event is expected to break new ground with the introduction of two distinct book-style foldables arriving side by side.
The upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is positioned as the direct successor to last year's premium Fold model, bringing substantial upgrades in battery life, charging speeds, and camera performance. Alongside it, Samsung is reportedly preparing an entirely new device simply called the Galaxy Z Fold 8, featuring a wider, shorter design built around a tablet-like 4:3 display ratio.
If the leaks and reports prove accurate, Samsung may be redefining its foldable strategy just weeks before Apple enters the category for the first time.
London Hosts Samsung's First Summer Unpacked Event in the UK
Multiple industry sources, including Korea Economic TV, Android Police, SamMobile, Android Authority, and Tom's Guide, report that Samsung will hold Galaxy Unpacked on July 22, 2026, in London.
The event would mark the company's first summer Unpacked presentation in the United Kingdom, highlighting the importance Samsung is placing on the European premium smartphone market.
Although Samsung has yet to officially announce the event, industry observers expect pre-orders to begin immediately after the presentation, with commercial availability likely arriving during the first week of August.
Beyond the foldable lineup, Samsung is also expected to introduce:
- Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra
- Galaxy Z Fold 8
- Galaxy Z Flip 8
- Galaxy Watch 9 series
- Samsung's first Galaxy Glasses audio wearable, reportedly developed in partnership with Gentle Monster and powered by Google's Gemini AI technology
A Critical Launch Ahead of Apple's Foldable Debut
This year's Unpacked event carries strategic importance beyond Samsung's own product roadmap.
Apple is widely expected to unveil its first foldable iPhone during its September 2026 event. Reports from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman suggest the device could launch alongside the iPhone 18 Pro lineup with a starting price above $2,000.
Well-known Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo estimates the foldable iPhone could retail between $2,000 and $2,500 while shipping between three and five million units during its first year on sale.
Notably, Apple's foldable is also expected to adopt a wider 4:3-style form factor — a design philosophy Samsung appears ready to introduce first with the Galaxy Z Fold 8.
The timing gives Samsung a valuable head start. By launching in July, the company secures nearly two months of market exposure before Apple ships its first foldable device, allowing Samsung to build momentum through reviews, carrier promotions, accessory ecosystems, and trade-in offers.
The decision to stage the event in London is also being viewed by analysts as a symbolic move into one of Apple's strongest premium smartphone markets.
Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra: Refining the Premium Foldable Experience
Familiar Design, Bigger Ambitions
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is expected to retain the tall book-style design introduced with the Fold 7 while focusing heavily on internal improvements.
Leaked dimensions suggest a remarkably slim profile, though reports differ slightly regarding exact thickness measurements. The device is expected to weigh around 215 grams despite housing a significantly larger battery.
Among the expected design features are:
- IP48 water and dust resistance
- Aluminum frame construction
- Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection
- Side-mounted fingerprint scanner
One major change may disappoint longtime Samsung fans. Multiple reports indicate S Pen support could be removed entirely.
According to tipster Ice Universe, neither of Samsung's 2026 Fold models will support the stylus. The move aligns with Samsung's recent focus on making foldable devices thinner and lighter.
Display Improvements Continue
Samsung is expected to retain the Fold 7's display sizes:
- 6.5-inch cover display
- 8-inch internal display
Both panels are said to feature LTPO OLED technology with adaptive refresh rates ranging from 1Hz to 120Hz and brightness levels reaching 2,600 nits.
The most heavily debated aspect remains the display crease.
Ice Universe previously claimed that crease visibility would not improve significantly over the Fold 7. Other reports, however, suggest Samsung has made substantial progress, potentially bringing crease performance closer to competitors such as OPPO's Find N series.
The most realistic expectation appears to be a moderate reduction in crease visibility rather than complete elimination.
Major Camera Upgrades Arrive
The Fold lineup has often faced criticism for lagging behind Samsung's flagship Galaxy S Ultra cameras.
The Fold 8 Ultra appears ready to address at least part of that criticism.
Expected camera setup:
- 200MP main camera with optical image stabilization
- 50MP ultrawide camera
- 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom
- Dual 10MP selfie cameras
The biggest headline is undoubtedly the ultrawide upgrade. Samsung is reportedly moving from a 12MP ultrawide sensor to a far more capable 50MP solution, significantly improving image quality across landscape, group, and low-light photography.
Video capabilities are expected to include:
- 4K recording at 60fps on all cameras
- 8K recording at 30fps on the main and ultrawide sensors
Battery Finally Gets a Long-Awaited Boost
Perhaps the most welcome upgrade comes in the battery department.
Samsung has maintained a 4,400mAh battery across multiple Fold generations. Reports indicate that streak will finally end.
The Fold 8 Ultra is expected to feature:
- 5,000mAh battery
- 45W wired charging
- Up to 20W wireless charging
- Reverse wireless charging support
The larger battery addresses one of the most common complaints among power users and positions the Fold 8 Ultra more competitively against Chinese foldable rivals.
Performance and Software
Powering the Fold 8 Ultra will reportedly be Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy processor across all markets.
Memory and storage options are expected to include:
- 12GB RAM with 256GB storage
- 12GB RAM with 512GB storage
- 16GB RAM with 1TB storage
The device is expected to launch with Android 17 and One UI 9.
Samsung is also preparing new AI-focused capabilities under Galaxy AI and Gemini Intelligence, including advanced task automation designed to work across multiple applications.
As with recent Samsung flagships, seven years of software and security updates are expected.
Expected Pricing
Current leaks point to the following U.S. pricing:
- 256GB: $1,999
- 512GB: $2,199
- 1TB: $2,499
Keeping the base model at $1,999 may be a deliberate move by Samsung as it prepares for direct competition from Apple's upcoming foldable offering.
Galaxy Z Fold 8: A New Direction for Foldables
Samsung Experiments With a Wider Form Factor
While the Ultra focuses on refinement, the standard Galaxy Z Fold 8 represents something entirely different.
The device reportedly adopts a wider 4:3 display ratio, making it feel more like a compact tablet when unfolded.
Leaked specifications suggest:
- 201g weight
- Wider chassis
- Thinner profile than the Ultra
- IP48 durability rating
- Armor Aluminum frame
The new design philosophy aims to improve productivity, reading, web browsing, and multitasking by providing a more tablet-like experience.
Tablet-Like Display Experience
The Fold 8 is expected to feature:
- 5.4-inch cover display
- 7.6-inch internal display
- 4:3 aspect ratio
- Adaptive 120Hz refresh rate
- HDR10+ support
This wider layout closely resembles the dimensions of a small tablet and could appeal to users who prioritize media consumption and productivity over traditional smartphone ergonomics.
Camera Trade-Offs
Achieving the lighter design requires compromises.
Unlike the Ultra, the Fold 8 is expected to feature:
- 50MP primary camera
- 50MP ultrawide camera
- No telephoto lens
That means users lose both the 200MP flagship sensor and dedicated optical zoom capabilities.
Industry observers have described this as Samsung prioritizing form factor over photography, creating a clearer distinction between the Fold 8 and Fold 8 Ultra.
Battery and Charging
Reports remain inconsistent regarding battery capacity, though most recent leaks point toward approximately 4,800mAh.
Charging is expected to reach:
- 45W wired charging
- Wireless charging support
Even at 4,800mAh, the Fold 8 would still trail the Ultra's larger 5,000mAh battery.
Pricing Remains Unclear
Unlike the Ultra, pricing information for the Fold 8 remains scarce.
Current industry estimates place the device around $1,800 in the United States, though Samsung has yet to finalize or confirm any pricing details.
Samsung's Most Important Foldable Launch Yet
The 2026 Galaxy Unpacked event is shaping up to be more than a routine hardware refresh.
With the Fold 8 Ultra, Samsung appears focused on addressing long-standing customer demands around battery life, charging speeds, and camera quality. Meanwhile, the Fold 8 introduces a fresh design philosophy that could redefine how consumers view foldable productivity devices.
Most importantly, both devices arrive just ahead of Apple's long-rumored foldable debut, giving Samsung a rare opportunity to shape the conversation around foldables before its biggest rival officially enters the category.
For Samsung, July 22 is not simply about launching new phones—it is about defending its leadership position in a market it helped create.
Z Fold 8 Ultra vs. Z Fold 8: At a glance
Here is how the two phones compare across the specs that matter most:
| Feature | Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra | Galaxy Z Fold 8 |
| Form factor | Tall book-style | Wider, shorter 4:3 style |
| Unfolded | ~158.4 x 143.2 x 4.5mm | 161.4 x 123.9 x 4.3mm |
| Folded | 158.4 x 72.8 x 9mm | 82.2 x 123.9 x 9.8mm |
| Weight | 215g | 201g |
| Cover display | 6.5-in LTPO OLED | 5.4-in LTPO OLED (4.7:3) |
| Inner display | 8-in LTPO OLED, tall | 7.6-in LTPO OLED, 4:3 |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 |
| Main camera | 200MP | 50MP |
| Ultrawide | 50MP | 50MP |
| Telephoto | 10MP, 3x optical zoom | None |
| Battery | 5,000mAh | ~4,800mAh (contested) |
| Wired charging | 45W | 45W |
| Expected price (US) | $1,999 / $2,199 / $2,499 | ~$1,800 (estimated, unconfirmed) |
Software: What Both Phones Get
Both the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and Galaxy Z Fold 8 launch with Android 17 and One UI 9.0 out of the box. They are expected to be the first devices to receive the stable One UI 9 release, potentially arriving ahead of the Galaxy S26 series and Google's Pixel 11 lineup.
Key software features include:
- Galaxy AI suite: Photo Assist, Portrait Studio, Generative Edit, Now Brief, Now Bar, and a redesigned Bixby with enhanced natural-language understanding.
- Samsung Internet enhancements: Improved multi-window functionality for smoother productivity across apps on the inner display.
- Gemini Intelligence: Google's new agentic AI platform is expected to debut on these devices, enabling automated multi-step actions across apps. Since it was absent from early One UI 9 beta builds on the Galaxy S26, it will likely arrive with the stable One UI 9 release.
- Long-term support: Seven years of Android OS upgrades and security updates.
The Fold 8's wider cover display may be its most significant software advantage. The 5.4-inch 4.7:3 outer screen is considerably more comfortable for one-handed use than the tall, narrow cover displays found on previous Fold models. One UI 9 is also expected to expand third-party app support and optimization for this new form factor.
Should You Buy the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra or Galaxy Z Fold 8?
Buy the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra if:
- Camera performance is your top priority. The Ultra exclusively offers a 200MP main camera and a 3x telephoto lens.
- You want the largest possible folding display, with an 8-inch inner screen.
- You're upgrading from a Galaxy Z Fold 5 or older and want Samsung's most complete foldable experience.
Buy the Galaxy Z Fold 8 if:
- The wider 4:3 design appeals to you for multitasking, video consumption, or a form factor that feels genuinely different from previous foldables.
- You prefer a lighter device at just 201g.
- Telephoto zoom capabilities are not a major concern.
- You want to save some money while still getting a premium foldable experience.
What If You Already Own a Galaxy Z Fold 7?
- The Fold 8 Ultra delivers meaningful upgrades in battery capacity, charging speeds, and ultrawide camera performance. Whether that's worth upgrading for depends largely on how important photography is to you.
- The standard Fold 8 may be the more compelling upgrade if you're attracted to its wider design and improved usability when closed.
What About Apple's Foldable?
Apple's first foldable is expected to arrive roughly six to eight weeks after Samsung's launch, with a starting price likely exceeding $2,000. As a first-generation product, it will face the usual challenges of limited availability and an unproven design. Samsung, by contrast, is entering its seventh generation of foldable development. That level of maturity and refinement carries real value, especially for buyers planning to purchase at launch.
Samsung is expected to make everything official in London on July 22. As always, final specifications and features should be considered preliminary until the company makes its announcement.