Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8 Launch at Unpacked 2026: Slimmer, Faster, Pricier

Samsung unveiled its latest foldable smartphones and smartwatches at its Unpacked event on July 22, 2026, with the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Z Flip 8, Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, and Galaxy Watch 9 set to hit stores on August 7. The new devices promise slimmer profiles, faster processors, and higher price tags compared to their predecessors. The event was streamed live from Samsung's headquarters in Suwon, South Korea.

AT&T is offering up to $1,900 off the Galaxy Z Fold 8 with trade-in, effectively making the device free for eligible customers. The deal applies to preorders placed now through the carrier, which also offers 0% APR financing for 36 months. Verizon is offering a similar trade-in deal of up to $1,800, while T-Mobile provides a $1,000 credit with eligible trade-in. Other carriers are expected to announce similar promotions.

Key Specifications and Upgrades

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 series finally includes an anti-reflective coating on the inner display, a feature long requested by users and confirmed by 9to5Google. Samsung also reduced the thickness of the foldable by 1.2 millimeters compared to the Z Fold 7, according to Ars Technica. The devices are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 processor and start at $1,999 for the Z Fold 8 and $1,099 for the Z Flip 8.

• Galaxy Z Fold 8: 7.6-inch inner display with anti-reflective coating, 6.2-inch cover display, 12GB RAM, 256GB/512GB/1TB storage, IP48 water resistance, 4,400mAh battery.
• Galaxy Z Flip 8: 6.7-inch inner display, 3.4-inch cover display, 8GB RAM, 128GB/256GB storage, IP48 water resistance, 3,700mAh battery.
• Galaxy Watch Ultra 2: Titanium case, 47mm size, improved battery life up to 60 hours, dual-frequency GPS, starting at $649.
• Galaxy Watch 9: 40mm and 44mm sizes, new BioActive sensor, starting at $299.
• Preorders open now at Samsung.com, AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and other retailers. Devices ship starting August 7.

The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 also includes a new emergency siren feature and improved sleep tracking, while the Galaxy Watch 9 gains a skin temperature sensor for cycle tracking. The Z Fold 8 is available in Phantom Black, Cream, and Gray, while the Z Flip 8 comes in Lavender, Mint, and Graphite.

Competitive Landscape and Market Position

The launch comes as Motorola prepares its Razr Ultra, which Engadget notes offers a larger cover display and lower starting price. Samsung's higher pricing may test consumer willingness to pay a premium for the brand's ecosystem and software support. The company is also facing increased competition from Chinese manufacturers like Huawei and Oppo in the global foldable market, which IDC projects will grow 30% year-over-year in 2026. Samsung is extending its software support policy to seven years of OS upgrades and security patches for the Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8, matching Google's Pixel commitment.

What comes next: The Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8 will be available in stores on August 7. Carrier trade-in deals and financing options are expected to drive early adoption. Samsung is also expected to release software updates to improve multitasking and app continuity on the foldables, including better support for third-party apps on the cover display. Analysts expect Samsung to sell 15 million foldable units in 2026, up from 12 million in 2025. Samsung is also launching new cases and accessories, including a slim S Pen case for the Z Fold 8.