Samsung is just days away from unveiling its next generation of foldable smartphones at Galaxy Unpacked on July 22 in London. While the company has largely remained tight-lipped about what to expect, the rumour mill has left very little to the imagination.
In fact, the alleged Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and Z Fold 8 were recently spotted in a South Korean retail store. Plus, certification listings, multiple leaks detailing specifications, pricing and even the product names are all over the place. If these leaks and reports are accurate, we could be looking at Samsung’s biggest shake-up to the Galaxy Z Fold lineup in years, with the company expected to launch two book-style foldables instead of one.
Here’s a complete round-up of everything that has surfaced so far ahead of the official launch of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 series.
Galaxy Unpacked 2026: Launch date and India pre-reservations
Samsung has officially confirmed that Galaxy Unpacked will take place on July 22 in London, where the company is expected to unveil its next generation of foldables. Alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 8 series, Samsung is also expected to launch the Galaxy Z Flip 8, the Galaxy Watch 9 lineup and its long-rumoured smart glasses.
Ahead of the launch, Samsung has already opened pre-reservations in India. Interested buyers can reserve the upcoming foldables by paying a refundable token amount of Rs 999. Those who complete their purchase will receive benefits worth Rs 2,799, according to Samsung India.
Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and Z Fold 8 said to arrive this year
One of the biggest changes this year may not be the hardware itself, but Samsung’s product strategy. Instead of introducing a single successor to the Galaxy Z Fold 7, multiple reports suggest Samsung could be preparing to launch two book-style foldables.
The standard Galaxy Z Fold 8 is expected to adopt an entirely new and wider form factor, while the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is tipped to retain a design that’s closer to last year’s Fold 7 but with more premium hardware.
Image source: 9to5Google
There has been some confusion regarding the naming over the past few months, with earlier reports referring to the wider model as the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide. However, more recent certification listings and leaks point towards Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra being the final branding.
Galaxy Z Fold 8 may introduce Samsung’s widest foldable yet
The standard Galaxy Z Fold 8 is expected to receive the most noticeable design overhaul. Leaks suggest the phone will feature a 5.4-inch cover display paired with a 7.6-inch foldable inner display that uses a more tablet-like 4:3 aspect ratio. This wider design is expected to improve usability when the phone is closed, making typing and everyday navigation more natural and comfortable. The phone is also rumoured to weigh around 200 grams while measuring under 10mm when folded, making it one of Samsung’s lightest and slimmest book-style foldables so far. Samsung is also said to be introducing a redesigned hinge mechanism, improved durability and a significantly less noticeable display crease.
Galaxy Z Fold 8 (Image source: TechActually / X)
Meanwhile, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is expected to retain the familiar larger design with a 6.5-inch cover display and an 8-inch internal display.
Of course, both these devices will likely feature Samsung’s top-of-the-line Dynamic AMOLED 2X screens, or whatever newer technology the company has to offer.
Fixing one of Samsung’s biggest foldable complaints
According to recent reports, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra may feature an anti-reflective inner display, improving outdoor visibility by reducing glare under bright lighting conditions. We have already been seeing this technology on the Galaxy S Ultra phones, and it’s one of those underrated features that you need to test out yourself to see the difference. The foldable display is also expected to reach a peak brightness of up to 3,600 nits, potentially making it Samsung’s brightest foldable display to date.
Another notable upgrade could be a much less visible crease. Leaks suggest Samsung has redesigned the hinge and introduced a thicker display layer to improve durability while reducing the appearance of the fold.
However, one notable omission may remain. Despite these durability improvements, current rumours suggest Samsung may still not introduce full IP68 water and dust resistance for its foldables this year.
Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, bigger batteries and One UI 9 expected
Both Galaxy Z Fold models are expected to be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy chipset. The standard Galaxy Z Fold 8 is rumoured to feature 12GB of RAM, while the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra may offer configurations with up to 16GB of RAM. Both devices are expected to be available in 256GB, 512GB and 1TB storage variants.
Battery capacity is also expected to differ between the two models. The standard Galaxy Z Fold 8 could pack a 4,800mAh battery, whereas the Z Fold 8 Ultra may receive a larger 5,000mAh battery. Charging speeds are tipped to remain unchanged, with support for 45W wired charging and 25W wireless charging.
Software-wise, both devices are expected to ship with One UI 9 based on Android 17.
Samsung may reserve the flagship cameras for the Ultra
The standard Galaxy Z Fold 8 is expected to feature a dual rear camera setup comprising a 50MP primary sensor with OIS and a 50MP ultra-wide camera. It is also tipped to include dual 10MP selfie cameras, one on the cover display and another inside.
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, meanwhile, is expected to receive Samsung’s top-tier camera hardware. According to leaks, it could feature a 200MP primary camera with OIS, a 50MP ultra-wide sensor and a 10MP telephoto camera offering 3x optical zoom. The device is also expected to include two 10MP front-facing cameras.
Expected India pricing: Could Samsung increase prices again?
For obvious reasons, pricing remains one of the biggest unanswered questions ahead of launch. For reference, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 launched in India at Rs 1,74,999 for the 12GB + 256GB variant, Rs 1,86,999 for the 512GB model and Rs 2,16,999 for the top-end 1TB version.
Now, recent reports suggest Samsung could increase prices globally this year.
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is tipped to start at $2,099 (roughly Rs 2,01,000), while the wider Galaxy Z Fold 8 may reportedly debut at $1,899 (roughly Rs 1,82,000) for the base 256GB variant.
If these prices translate similarly to India, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra could comfortably cross the Rs 1.8 lakh mark, while the standard Fold 8 may remain closer to the current Fold 7 pricing. However, Samsung’s official India pricing will only be confirmed after Galaxy Unpacked on July 22.
Closing thoughts
Although none of these details has been officially confirmed by Samsung, the volume of leaks gives us a pretty decent idea of what to expect. From what I can gather, Samsung appears to be making quite a lot of meaningful changes to its foldable portfolio. A wider Galaxy Z Fold 8, an Ultra model with flagship cameras, brighter displays, reduced crease visibility, a stronger hinge and lighter construction could make this one of the company’s biggest foldable upgrades in recent years.
The biggest question, however, is whether these improvements will be enough to justify another potential price increase. Fortunately, we won’t have to wait much longer, as Samsung is set to make everything official at Galaxy Unpacked on July 22.