Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 goes wide — and takes aim at iPhone Ultra
Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8, announced July 22 at Galaxy Unpacked, is the most significant redesign in the Fold line's eight-year history — a wider, lighter device that arrives two months before Apple's anticipated iPhone Ultra and costs less than most analysts predicted.
A new shape
The Z Fold 8 breaks from the tall, narrow format Samsung has used since 2019. The cover screen is 5.5 inches with a 10:16 ratio — wide enough for comfortable one-hand scrolling. Open it up and you get a 7.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display in a 4:3 ratio, the same proportions as an iPad, so video fills the whole screen without black bars on the sides.
The Galaxy Z Fold 8's new wide-format 4:3 inner display fills the screen edge to edge in landscape mode.
That shape also makes landscape reading feel natural — e-books and long articles no longer require pinching and zooming. The phone weighs 201g and unfolds to just 4.5mm thick, making it noticeably lighter than the rumored 255g iPhone Ultra.
The specs
Under the hood: a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 For Galaxy chip, clocked up to 4.47GHz, paired with 12GB or 16GB RAM and storage options of 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB. Both screens run at up to 120Hz with 3,000-nit peak brightness. Battery is 4,800mAh with 45W wired and wireless charging, running One UI 9 on Android 17. Connectivity covers Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, NFC, and 5G.
One trade-off: Samsung dropped the telephoto lens. The camera system is a 50MP f/1.8 main with OIS, a 50MP f/1.9 ultrawide, and dual 10MP f/2.2 selfie cameras — no zoom beyond digital.
Samsung's dual rear cameras on the Z Fold 8 — the telephoto lens has been removed compared to the Z Fold 7.
Colors are Graphite, Cream, and Lavender, with Pistachio exclusive to Samsung's online store.
Price and availability
European pricing is confirmed at €1,999 (256GB), €2,199 (512GB), and €2,599 (1TB). In the UK, leaked figures per Notebookcheck point to a £1,699 base price — £100 less than the Z Fold 7 launched at — though Samsung has not officially confirmed that number. US pricing is expected around $1,900–$2,099, with trade-in deals reportedly reaching up to $1,230 off at launch.
Pre-orders opened July 22; retail availability is expected in early August, following Samsung's usual two-week pattern.
The real test comes in September, when Apple's iPhone Ultra is expected. Samsung has eight years of foldable hinge experience; Apple will be starting from zero. Whether that gap matters to buyers — or whether iOS loyalty wins regardless — is the question that will define this category through 2027.
Source: Samsung