Samsung says it has driven much of the foldable phone evolution and listed eight areas where it claims to have pushed the category forward in a recent press release.
Foldable phones: Samsung’s eight areas of influence
1. Foldable durability
Samsung says its foldable display technology has evolved each year to become more durable and to make the crease less visible. For 2026, the company highlights Flex Titanium as the generation’s greatest advancement in durability: a titanium-based display structure used in the Galaxy Z8 series that improves durability and reduces crease visibility.
Seamless fold–unfold action
2. A seamless fold-unfold action
Samsung credits improvements to the Galaxy Z hinge — including its mechanism, display tension and folding magnets — for making folding and unfolding feel seamless and effortless. The company says these refinements helped make the Galaxy Z Fold 8 the lightest and the Fold 8 Ultra the thinnest Fold models ever made.
New form factor
3. New form factor
Samsung notes it introduced a new form factor this year for the first time since 2020. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 adopts a passport-style shape and is the first Samsung foldable with a 4:3 aspect ratio, which the company says is better suited for reading, watching certain video content and playing mobile games.
Multiple form factors
4. Multiple form factors
Samsung points to its variety of designs rather than a single model approach. Since 2020 it has produced two main models, the Fold and Flip, and has experimented with the Fold SE and a tri-folding model. The company says different form factors can suit different users.
Unifying hardware and software
5. Unifying hardware and software
Samsung says foldables presented opportunities to create software that takes advantage of the folding hardware and unusual layouts. It cites FlexWindow, created years ago to enable different UI experiences depending on whether a Fold or Flip is fully or partially open. One highlighted use case is folding the Galaxy Z Flip into an L shape and holding it like a camcorder. The company also notes that the new Galaxy Z Fold 8 does not support FlexWindow.
Bringing AI to foldables
6. Bringing AI to foldables
Samsung says its latest Galaxy Z8 models introduce new and improved AI features and aim to enable better productivity through capabilities such as Gemini Notebook.
Easier switching between phones and brands
7. Easier to switch phones and phone brands
Samsung reports an upgraded Smart Switch app that eases switching between phone brands. With One UI 9, the company says iPhone users can transfer to the Galaxy Z8 by scanning a QR code.
Customer feedback and experience loop
8. The constant customer feedback loop
Samsung emphasizes its long-running work on foldables: the company has sold foldable devices since 2019 and worked on the underlying technology for longer. It says that accumulated experience and consumer insights across generations contribute to the capabilities of models such as the Galaxy Z Flip 8 and Fold 8 and are an advantage in designing new foldables.
The company adds that the Galaxy Z8 series is available for purchase and that buyers may find discounts at this time of year.
