Samsung unveiled today its new generation of foldables, led by the Galaxy Z Fold8 — a model whose proportions and ergonomics appear to address rumors around an expected folding iPhone later this year. In a hands-on preview ahead of launch, the biggest changes stood out as diversified form factors, wider displays and an overall performance uplift.
A more “passport” — and squarer — design
The Galaxy Z Fold8 shifts to a shorter, wider footprint than previous Folds: closed, the cover display measures 5.5 inches; unfolded, the main display reaches 7.6 inches. That squarer aspect ratio gives the device a small-tablet feel — reviewers compared it to an iPad mini — and makes it particularly well suited for video consumption and split-screen multitasking.
Displays and user experience
Samsung now offers three foldable sizes across two distinct form factors. The Fold8 emphasizes a wider interior experience that’s less elongated than prior generations, while the Ultra model pushes screen sizes further: a 6.5-inch cover display and an 8-inch main panel when unfolded. Displays are OLED with 120 Hz refresh rates; Samsung also highlights a 4.1 mm thinness when the device is open.
Cameras and performance: Ultra for the top-tier hardware
The family is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and supports up to 16 GB of RAM, but Samsung reserves the highest-end specifications for the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra. The standard Fold8 keeps a triple rear camera array with more modest sensors, whereas the Ultra upgrades to a 200 MP main sensor, a 50 MP ultra-wide and a 10 MP telephoto lens delivering 3x optical zoom and up to 30x Space Zoom. Two front-facing cameras (one on the cover, one under the main display) complete the photography package.
Flip8 and a two-format strategy
Samsung’s lineup also includes the Galaxy Z Flip8 in clamshell form. Its inner display measures 6.9 inches when open, and the external cover screen is 4.1 inches when closed. With three foldable sizes covered, Samsung is positioning itself as having matured over eight generations of foldables, while a major competitor’s first foldable has yet to hit the market.
Watches and health tracking
Alongside the phones, Samsung introduced two watches: the Galaxy Watch Ultra2 in 47 mm titanium and the Watch9 in 40 mm and 44 mm sizes. Both retain a traditional round dial and add advanced health features, including bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) to estimate body composition from the wrist, heart rate monitoring and sleep apnea detection — features that mirror current trends in connected watches.
Preorders are already open on Samsung’s website. The announcements reinforce Samsung’s strategy: multiply form factors and refine the foldable experience to capture tablet–smartphone use cases, while clearly differentiating finish and hardware tiers between the Fold8 and the Fold8 Ultra.
