Samsung Announced Their Newest Phones, Here’s What To Expect
Foldables are the buzzy sector of smartphones. Why? Because they’re useful for their portable size, they’re where we see leaps and bounds in technological innovation, and frankly, they look slick when seen out in the wild. So it’s with much excitement that Samsung (the market leader in this area) launched its new tranche of flips, folds and wearables that will all be released on 7th August. The global launch event, which took place in London, followed on from its main smartphone event earlier this year that unveiled the Galaxy S26, S26+ and S26 Ultra.
This time around, as tech giant Apple prepares to enter the market in autumn, Samsung announced the biggest shake-up to the foldable range since it launched in 2019. It’s split the Fold range into two: the Fold Ultra aims to work like a foldable tablet, with a focus on multi-tasking. Meanwhile the Fold is geared for the entertainment-focused user that wants a better screen for streaming and scrolling.
Along with a host of other upgrades and AI improvements – including a strong alliance with Google, who are behind Gemini – there’s plenty to prove Samsung are the forerunner in the foldable smartphone market. Here’s the lowdown on the new range.
Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra: the new flagship foldable
Samsung’s flagship fold phone has shifted: it’s changed from the Galaxy Z Fold to the Galaxy Z Fold Ultra. The first to parade the new name is the 8 series. This is the thinnest foldable yet: unfolded, it offers an 8-inch main display, in a body just 4.1mm thick when unfolded, compared to 4.2mm in last year’s model.
This small but significant saving is made possible by the Flex Titanium material used throughout the display in the 8 series, which uses a titanium-alloy film that’s less than half the thickness of a human hair yet 20 times stronger than the previous polymer film. The plate also has tiny laser-perforated holes at the fold line so the crease is far less visible and more durable – a huge improvement from the foldable phones of yore.
Other major improvements are found in its battery size, which has risen from 4,400mAh to 5,000mAh (this matters as a large screen drains the battery quicker). Now the largest battery on a foldable, the phone is likely to last all day with normal use, though that will be confirmed when we can get our hands on it on 7th August.
Other major improvements include the camera, which has been upgraded to 50MP for the ultrawide lens (from 12MP previously). It also supports 8K video. And it still has a 200MP wide sensor, a 10MP telephoto lens, and 10MP selfie camera. So while it’s aimed at those who want to use it like a phone and small tablet, it’s still strong for photographers, videographers and everyday use.
The colour range offers good choice: you’ll find it in Violet Shadow, Graphite, Cream and Green Shadow. As this is the most advanced foldable phone available, it’s Samsung’s priciest phone yet, starting at £1,899 for 256GB.
Galaxy Z Fold8: an all-new shape for entertainment
Less of a follow-on from the Fold7, the Fold8 has changed its look and purpose. It sports a new wider, shorter shape that makes it better for streaming and scrolling rather than getting stuff done. Expect a 5.5” screen when closed, and a 7.6” screen open, with a 4:3 ratio that makes it ideal for watching movies and TV, or reading e-books.
An improvement in brightness means it’s great for use outdoors – it’s now 3,000 nits compared to 2,600 nits before. Added to that, it’s the lightest folding phone on the market at 201g and it has a larger battery at 4,800mAh, making it impressively portable.
The new model does have some drawbacks. Its camera suite has been downgraded, and instead of a 200MP main sensor it featured last year, it now has a 50MP wide-angle lens and a 50MP ultrawide lens. It still works for everyday use, but those who want expert-level pics might do better with the Fold8 Ultra.
The Z Fold8 comes in four colours: Graphite, Cream, Lavender, and Pistachio, and it starts at £1,699 for 256GB.
Galaxy Z Flip8: thinner, lighter, and a smarter cover screen
Supplementing the folding phone range is the flip phone, which opens like a clamshell. The Flip8 is a refresh rather than a revamp, which means you’ll find a few hardware improvements and some software improvements, but much of the hardware has remained the same. This includes the 4,300mAh battery and the camera suite, which is still a 50MP wide camera, a 12MP ultrawide camera, and a 10MP selfie camera.
You’ll certainly notice that it’s the slimmest and lightest Flip ever, at 6.1mm folded and just 180g (8g lighter than the Flip7). The cover screen has also been upgraded with an AI-friendly interface: easy Gemini access and a ‘Now Brief’ feature turn it into a useful assistant in its own right.
The Flip8 is available in Cream, Graphite and Pink, and starts at £1,149, making it an affordable entry into the snazzy world of foldable phones.
Galaxy watches, glasses and more
Samsung also announced the Galaxy Watch9 and the Watch Ultra2, which are a step up from previous models – for example, expect the battery to last 20 or 35 per cent longer respectively. Both watches benefit from an improved chip (the Snapdragon Wear Elite) for smoother and faster AI use and better battery efficiency.
Specialising in diving and outdoor pursuits, the Ultra2 also gets a serious upgrade in brightness, moving from 3,000 nits as its maximum to 5,000 nits. On the design side, it’s also 12 per cent thinner than the Galaxy Watch Ultra.
As for the price, the Watch9 starts at £349, and the Ultra2 starts at £649.
At the launch, Samsung also announced improved general software and AI advancements, including closer ties with Google’s AI assistant, Gemini. In fact, all the new foldable phones feature a range of Gemini functions like Gemini Notebook (previously known as NotebookLM) and a free six-month trial of Google AI Pro.
Finally, we got an early peek at Samsung’s first smart glasses, a rival to Meta’s. Built in partnership with Google, the full details will be revealed when they’re officially launched in autumn.
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