Samsung is renaming its foldables — and the logic is hard to follow
Samsung is reshuffling the names on its next foldable phones in a way that's likely to confuse anyone who's been following the lineup. According to leaker Ice Universe — who has a solid track record on Samsung predictions — the Galaxy Z Fold 7's direct successor will be called the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, while the wider, passport-proportioned model previously known as the Z Fold 8 Wide gets bumped down to simply Galaxy Z Fold 8.
Samsung's foldable lineup is set for a naming overhaul ahead of the expected July Unpacked event.
The naming swap
The renaming isn't random. 9to5Google suggests Samsung is deliberately positioning its top foldable against Apple's upcoming foldable iPhone, which is widely expected to carry the "Ultra" name when it lands in September 2026. Samsung wants "Ultra vs. Ultra" in headlines.
The problem: Apple's foldable is expected to open to a 16:10 aspect ratio — which actually makes it a closer match to Samsung's wider Galaxy Z Fold 8, the model now carrying the standard name. So the phone built to rival Apple's design won't have "Ultra" on the box, and the one that does will be a different shape entirely.
The spec gap
The Ultra label also arrives without the full premium package. Per SamMobile, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is confirmed with a 5,000 mAh battery, 45W charging, and a 50MP ultrawide camera — meaningful upgrades over the Fold 7. But it skips the S Pen support and Privacy Display that define the Galaxy S26 Ultra. Charging tops out at 45W, not the 60W found on the S26 Ultra. Calling it "Ultra" while leaving out those features risks muddying what the label actually means across Samsung's lineup.
What to expect
Both phones are expected to be unveiled at a Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event on July 22 in London — though Samsung has not officially confirmed that date. No pricing has been announced for either model in the US or UK.
For now, treat all of this as a leak. The naming could still change before July. What's clear is that Samsung is trying to get ahead of Apple's foldable debut with a branding move that, at least on paper, creates as much confusion as it resolves.
