The latest Samsung folding phones and watches, including new Z Fold 8 to rival Apple

Samsung has revamped its foldable phone line-up, introducing a new entertainment-focused model that will compete with Apple’s imminent entry into the market. The South Korean technology giant is now offering three models: the US$1,200 Galaxy Z Flip 8, US$1,900 Z Fold 8 and US$2,100 Z Fold 8 Ultra. While the company has kept its long-running foldable design on the high-end Ultra model, the mid-tier Fold 8 – the version aimed at most consumers – has a shorter and wider style that is more ideal for watching video, reading books and gaming. By launching in late July, Samsung is getting a head start on Apple, which in September is expected to unveil a similar passport-style design for the inaugural folding iPhone. Phones of this shape have already been released by Chinese phone makers like Huawei Technologies. The original Pixel Fold from Alphabet’s Google also looked similar. But between Samsung and Apple, the trend is about to receive a huge US marketing push. All of the new Samsung hardware is now available to pre-order, with shipments beginning August 7. Here is what consumers can expect. Galaxy Z Fold 8 There was a practical reason for Samsung to move to a short and squat shape. The first is ergonomics – Samsung said the Fold 8 is its lightest entry in the line-up to date. During a hands-on preview, it was much easier to reach the top of the device’s 5.5-inch outer screen without straining one’s thumb. But the biggest benefit over Samsung’s past Z Fold devices comes in the area of entertainment. The Fold 8’s 7.6-inch unfolded screen now has a 4:3 aspect ratio, which means that videos fill more of the screen. This leads to a more immersive viewing experience that is noticeably superior to watching on a conventional phone like a Galaxy S26 or iPhone 17 Pro Max. But the handset only has two rear cameras – another similarity with Apple’s upcoming rival model. Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra View this post on Instagram For users who want the best cameras or more conventional multitasking with two side-by-side apps, Samsung is keeping its previous design around with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra. Priced at US$2,100, a US$100 increase over last year’s edition, it technically occupies the top of the line-up – even if the new style on the middle-tier Fold 8 will get most of the attention this year. After last year’s Galaxy Z Fold 7 made big strides in weight and thinness, the company is making smaller refinements this time around. The Fold 8 Ultra can now handle 45-watt wired charging and 20-watt wireless speeds, up from 25 watts and 15 watts in the Fold 7, respectively. It also contains a larger 5,000mAh battery despite being thinner than the Fold 7. Like the Fold 7, neither of the Fold 8 models supports stylus input. Galaxy Z Flip 8 View this post on Instagram Samsung’s more casual Flip-series device is US$100 more expensive than last year’s model and is once again powered by a Qualcomm processor after a brief switch to Samsung’s own Exynos silicon last year. And, similar to the Ultra, this is the thinnest version in the series so far. With the Galaxy Z Flip 8, Samsung is also finally making the outer screen’s “FlexWindow” experience more capable and letting owners open many apps without having to unfold the device. But aside from a chip swap and some software advancements, the Flip offers the fewest changes among this year’s line-up. The new Galaxy Z phones share several artificial intelligence features. Google Gemini’s automated agentic capabilities will expand to over 40 supported apps, Samsung said. When recording videos, a new feature called “My FanCam” can track anyone who appears in a clip and crop in for a social-media-friendly aspect ratio, automatically following the subject as they move through the frame. Users can also create custom widgets that can be placed on their home screen with a simple prompt. You could, say, create one that lists the pollen level for each day and have that information just a glance away at all times. This is a feature Google announced in the spring, and it is also coming to Pixel handsets. Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 and Galaxy Watch 9 Samsung’s smartwatch line is also transitioning to Qualcomm chips with the new US$700 Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 and US$380 Galaxy Watch 9. The rugged Ultra 2 has an 800mAh battery, offering 35 per cent more capacity than the original model. The screen has a peak brightness of 5,000 nits, which should be bright enough even in direct sunlight, and the active band now has perforated holes to allow for better breathability and quicker sweat dissipation. View this post on Instagram The Watch 9, intended for a broader audience, also has a larger battery than its predecessor and maxes out at 3,000-nit brightness. Samsung has redesigned its Health app, and the new watches include a revamped Vitals feature that collects metrics that the devices were already tracking and puts them into a central destination with easy-to-understand summaries. Both watches also now have a raise-and-talk gesture for interacting with Google Gemini, meaning users no longer need to press a button or activate the AI assistant with their voice before getting to their query. Upcoming smart glasses Samsung’s upcoming smart glasses are developed in collaboration with Alphabet’s Google, Warby Parker and Gentle Monster. The glasses, which are expected to ship this autumn in numerous styles, will last through up to nine hours of active use, the company said. The first-generation models will be audio-based, similar to Meta Platforms’ glasses, allowing for hands-free voice interactions with Google’s Gemini assistant, which can use the built-in cameras to understand what is in a user’s environment. Samsung highlights the products’ durability and said they are built to withstand water, sweat, sunscreen and everyday use.

The latest Samsung folding phones and watches, including new Z Fold 8 to rival Apple

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Samsung now offers three Galaxy folding phones, with the Z Fold 8 expected to go head to head with Apple’s inaugural folding iPhone

Samsung now offers three Galaxy folding phones, with the Z Fold 8 expected to go head to head with Apple’s inaugural folding iPhone