LONDON — The foldable smartphone landscape is poised to see its biggest shake-up yet. Regulatory filings from the FCC and Bluetooth SIG, as well as a string of retail leaks, have revealed Samsung’s next generation of foldables.
Samsung is apparently moving its next Galaxy Unpacked out of its usual South Korea and United States launch grounds, to London on July 22, 2026. The headliner? It’s a startling strategic decision that separates the flagship lineup in two: a shorter, passport-style Galaxy Z Fold 8, and a razor-thin, feature-packed Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra.
One Line, Two Philosophies: Standard vs. Ultra
For years, users have argued the appropriate aspect ratio for a book-style fold. Samsung gives the consumer a choice with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 series. Samsung is splitting the Fold range for varied tastes, with multiple supply chain leaks and dummy unit photos.
| Galaxy Z Fold 8 Series | Standard (Passport Type) | Ultra (Premium Slim) |
|---|---|---|
| Form Factor | Shorter, wider form factor | Razor-thin 4.1 mm unfolded |
| Camera | Dual-camera configuration | 200 MP triple-camera system |
| S Pen | No S Pen functionality | Integrated S Pen support |
The Standard Fold 8: The “Wide” Passport
The base Galaxy Z Fold 8 is ditching the traditional tall-and-narrow cover screen. Instead, it adopts a wider, shorter footprint reminiscent of a passport.
- Design & Displays: It features a comfortable 5.5-inch outer cover display (16:10 aspect ratio) and opens up to a 7.6-inch inner screen with a boxier 4:3 ratio.
- The Twist: To keep the phone remarkably lightweight (around 201 grams) and thin (9.7mm folded), Samsung has reportedly dropped the telephoto zoom lens entirely, opting for a dual-camera setup consisting of a 50MP primary lens and a 50MP ultra-wide. Furthermore, this model will not support the S Pen.
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra: The True Flagship
If you were worried that the Fold line was making compromises, the Ultra tier is where Samsung is flexing its engineering muscles. Positioned as the true successor to last year’s Fold 7, the Ultra maintains a sleeker, taller profile but shrinks down to a staggering 4.1mm thickness when unfolded while weighing 215 grams.
- The Screen Upgrade: Rumors point to a massive 8-inch internal display and a 6.5-inch cover screen. Crucially, the pixel density is getting a massive bump over the older 368 ppi panels, making text and images noticeably sharper.
- The Return of the Stylus: For power users, S Pen support is making a triumphant comeback on the Ultra, solidifying its place as a mobile productivity powerhouse.
Under the Hood: Desktop-Class Power & Fixed Weaknesses
The ordinary and Ultra versions may differ in design but underneath they share the same elite DNA.
Both devices will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 CPU, designed on a state-of-the-art 3nm architecture. The CPU is believed to power desktop-class gaming and a ton of new local Galaxy AI functions baked into Android 17-based One UI 9.0. Base variants will start with 12GB of RAM, with top tiers scaling up to a huge 16GB RAM with 1TB storage.
More significantly, Samsung is finally tackling the two major problems when it comes to foldables: the crease, and the battery.
Crease & Durability: The standard Fold 8 will reportedly feature a 60-micrometer Ultra-Thin Glass (UTG)—over 30% thicker than previous generations. Combined with a new multi-rail “Armour FlexHinge,” this thicker glass is expected to drastically reduce the visibility of the screen crease while making the display significantly more durable.
Battery & Charging Breakthrough: Foldables have historically lagged behind standard flagships in battery life. Samsung is rewriting that narrative by stuffing a massive 5,000mAh battery inside the Ultra (and a highly respectable 4,800mAh cell in the standard model). Even better, both phones are finally moving past sluggish power limits to support 45W wired fast charging, alongside Qi2-ready wireless charging.
Heavy Upgrades, Heavier Price Tags
Unsurprisingly, these major hardware jumps come at a cost. Leaked European retailer databases indicate a price hike across the board.
The baseline Galaxy Z Fold 8 (256GB) is expected to start at €1,999, while the premium Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra will start at €2,199. Moving up the storage tiers will be more expensive than ever, with a steep €200 premium to jump from 256GB to 512GB. In India, the lineup is projected to start around ₹1,74,999, making it a definitive luxury item.
The standard model will reportedly arrive in Cream, Graphite, Lavender, and Pistachio, while the Ultra will turn heads in Black, White, Purple, and a special online-exclusive Green.
With Apple rumored to be looming over the foldable horizon, Samsung’s two-pronged attack with the Z Fold 8 series proves the tech giant isn’t waiting around to be challenged. We will have final confirmation of all specifications, regional pricing, and pre-order windows when Samsung takes the stage in London on July 22nd.
