Samsung took the wraps off its latest foldable phones and smartwatches at the Galaxy Unpacked event held in London. The new lineup includes the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold 8, and Galaxy Z Flip 8, alongside the Galaxy Watch 9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2. Prices are higher across the board, but the devices feature thinner designs, a new Flex Titanium build, and advanced AI capabilities powered by Google Gemini. Pre-orders begin today, with retail availability set for August 7.
Flex Titanium design and Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 across the lineup
All three foldables share the same Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy chipset and base memory options of 12GB RAM with 256GB or 512GB storage. Flex Titanium is the headline feature: a titanium alloy layer beneath the flexible OLED that Samsung claims improves impact resistance, reduces crease visibility, and makes opening the devices smoother. All models sport a 10MP selfie camera capable of 4K video at 60fps, while the main inner selfie cameras on the Fold 8 variants handle FHD at 60fps. Unfortunately, none of the new phones natively support Qi2 charging, requiring a compatible magnetic case to take advantage of faster wireless chargers.
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Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra: 8-inch display and 200MP camera
The flagship Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra starts at $2,099, $100 more than the Fold 7. It features a 6.5-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2x cover display that opens to an 8-inch QXGA+ screen with 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. The main camera is a 200MP sensor, accompanied by a 50MP ultrawide and a 10MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom and 30x Space Zoom. The 5,000mAh battery supports 45W fast charging. At just 4.1mm thick when open and weighing 215 grams, it also includes an expanded graphite cooling structure for heat dissipation during intensive tasks.
Galaxy Z Fold 8: horizontal fold for a wider form factor
The standard Galaxy Z Fold 8 starts at $1,900 and marks a radical shift: a horizontal fold makes the device wider than tall. The inner display has a 4:3 aspect ratio, measuring 7.6 inches QXGQ+, while the cover is a 5.5-inch FHD+ panel with up to 3,000 nits brightness. At 201 grams it's lighter than the Ultra, and packs a 4,800mAh battery — larger than last year's 4,400mAh. However, it lacks a telephoto lens, relying on a 50MP main sensor and a 50MP ultrawide with 10x digital zoom and 8K video at 30fps. Early hands-on impressions suggest the wider design is surprisingly comfortable.
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Galaxy Z Flip 8: clamshell design with 4.1-inch cover display
The Galaxy Z Flip 8 starts at $1,200 (up $100 from the Flip 7) and offers a 4.1-inch HD+ Super AMOLED cover display with adaptive 60/120Hz refresh rate. When opened, it reveals a 6.9-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2x screen at 120Hz. The rear camera array houses a 50MP main sensor and a 12MP ultrawide, supporting 10x digital zoom and 4K video at 60fps. The battery remains at 4,300mAh, and the device weighs just 180 grams.
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Galaxy Watch 9 and Watch Ultra 2: Snapdragon Wear Elite with AI NPU
The new smartwatches run on Qualcomm's 3nm Snapdragon Wear Elite chipset, the first wearable processor with a dedicated Hexagon NPU capable of handling AI models with up to 2 billion parameters. The Galaxy Watch 9 promises improved battery life, while the Watch Ultra 2 targets athletes with advanced tracking features. Pricing hasn't been disclosed, but pre-orders are open now.
Galaxy AI and Gemini Intelligence enhance user experience
Google announced new AI capabilities for Samsung's foldables, including a task automation tool powered by Gemini Intelligence that works across over 40 apps, handling tasks like booking event tickets or ordering food. Gemini Notebook (formerly NotebookLM) comes pre-installed with a free six-month trial of Google AI Pro. Android 17 introduces a QR-code-based tool to make switching from iPhone easier, along with wireless data transfer. A standout feature is Fan Cam in the video editor, which automatically crops any clip to keep a person centered in the frame as they move.
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Smart glasses with Google and Warby Parker: 9-hour battery life
Samsung also showed new designs for its smart glasses, developed with Google, Warby Parker, and Gentle Monster. They run on the Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 chipset and offer up to 9 hours of battery life, with the charging case providing up to seven full charges. Pricing and release date remain unannounced.
For more on seasonal tech releases, check out our coverage of the iPhone 18 Pro introduces variable aperture camera. Also, read about the Verizon International Roaming Outage. For details on the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, visit Wikipedia.
