Samsung debuts its first wide-body foldable in 2026 Galaxy Z8 lineup

Samsung revealed its first wide-body foldable as part of a three-model 2026 Galaxy Z8 family that also includes the Z Fold 8 Ultra, a thinner Z Flip 8, and two smartwatches. Larger batteries, faster charging, and the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset arrive with higher prices caused by component shortages; devices go on sale August 7.

Source:Ars Technica

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Samsung debuts its first wide-body foldable in 2026 Galaxy Z8 lineup

TL;DRAI · 60 sec read

Samsung revealed its 2026 foldable lineup, marking the first time the company has offered three models in the family. The range includes the new wide-body Galaxy Z Fold 8 built for media consumption rather than multitasking, the top-tier Z Fold 8 Ultra that follows the Galaxy Z Fold 7, a slimmer Z Flip 8, and two smartwatches. Preorders start immediately, though component shortages have driven prices higher across the board.

Samsung expands its foldable family to three models. The wide-body device features a 7.6-inch main Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel in a 4:3 aspect ratio paired with a 5.5-inch cover screen. When open it measures 123.9 × 161.4 × 4.5 mm and weighs 201 g. By contrast the Z Fold 8 Ultra retains the roughly square 8.0-inch inner display and adds a 6.5-inch 10:16-ratio outer screen.

The range includes the new wide-body Galaxy Z Fold 8 built for media consumption rather than multitasking, the top-tier Z Fold 8 Ultra that follows the Galaxy Z Fold 7, a slimmer Z Flip 8, and two smartwatches.

Pricing rises across the Z8 series. The Galaxy Z Flip 8 begins at $1,200, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 at $1,900, and the Z Fold 8 Ultra at $2,100. Even the entry-level flip model now exceeds $1,000 while the flagship costs nearly double that amount.

POST FROM @SamsungMobile· official announcement tweet referencing the new Galaxy Z Fold8 lineup

https://x.com/SamsungMobile/status/2079920361668518078

Every device ships with Android 17 and One UI 9, powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy chipset. The Z Flip 8 offers 12 GB RAM with 256 GB or 512 GB storage; both folding models can be configured with up to 16 GB memory and 1 TB storage.

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Battery capacities and charging see gains. Capacity rises to 4,800 mAh on the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and 5,000 mAh on the Ultra, compared with the previous generation’s 4,400 mAh. The Z Flip 8 keeps its 4,300 mAh cell. The two folding phones support 45 W wired charging that reaches approximately two-thirds capacity in half an hour, plus 20 W wireless charging.

Even the entry-level flip model now exceeds $1,000 while the flagship costs nearly double that amount.

The Z Fold 8 Ultra is 4.1 mm thick when unfolded and 8.9 mm when closed, weighing 215 g. Its rear camera system includes a 200 MP main sensor with optical stabilization, a 50 MP ultrawide, and a 10 MP 3× telephoto lens. All three phones add Wi-Fi 7, 5G, and eSIM support. Certain color finishes are sold online only.

New Galaxy Watches accompany the foldables. Samsung introduced two new smartwatches alongside the Z8 series, although detailed specifications were not provided. The full lineup reaches customers on August 7.

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