Samsung Electronics Expands Foldable Lineup with Three New Galaxy Z Models
Samsung Electronics Co. on Wednesday unveiled an expanded lineup of Galaxy Z foldable smartphones at its Galaxy Unpacked event in London, introducing the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, and Galaxy Z Flip 8. The new devices, powered by Alphabet Inc.'s Gemini artificial intelligence (AI), are designed to cater to different user lifestyles with more personalized AI experiences, the South Korean tech giant said.
Roh Tae-moon, co-chief executive officer of Samsung Electronics and head of its mobile business, hailed the new series as the company's most refined foldable lineup yet. "The new Galaxy Z series represents Samsung Electronics' most refined foldable lineup yet. It will advance the mobile experience and provide personalized services to help usher in the next era of intelligence," he said during the event.
The launch builds on seven generations of Samsung's foldable innovation since the first Galaxy Z debuted in 2019. The lineup's expansion marks the company's first major broadening of its foldable offerings since then, according to Yonhap News.
Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Fold 8 Ultra: Design and Features
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 features a wider display ratio designed to balance everyday usability when folded with an immersive viewing experience when unfolded, the company said. Its 5.5-inch cover screen, with a 10:16 aspect ratio, is suited for everyday tasks such as messaging, social media, and short-form video. When unfolded, the 7.6-inch main screen, with a 4:3 aspect ratio, is optimized for videos, reading, gaming, and web browsing.
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is the first foldable smartphone in Samsung's lineup to carry the company's "Ultra" branding, which denotes its highest-end devices. Its 8-inch main screen provides a larger workspace designed for multitasking and productivity. Samsung said its upgraded camera system and larger battery support tasks ranging from content creation to editing. Weighing 215 grams, the device is also the lightest in the fold series, according to Samsung, and at 4.1 millimeters thick when unfolded, it is the thinnest fold model the company has produced.
The new smartphones will be rolled out sequentially in South Korea and other markets worldwide starting Aug. 7.
Roh Tae-moon: Confidence in Technology Amid Anticipated Apple Competition
Roh Tae-moon expressed confidence in Samsung's foldable technology ahead of the planned launch of a rival device by Apple Inc. "The technological expertise and understanding of customers that we have built over seven years cannot be caught up to overnight," he told reporters.
The remarks came as Apple is expected to unveil a similar book-style design for its first foldable iPhone in September, setting the stage for fierce competition in the foldable smartphone space, as reported by Yonhap.
"Foldables have reached maturity both technologically and as a market," Roh said. "The entry of more companies into the market means that foldables have already become a mainstream product and that the market is likely to grow further." He also noted that Samsung's Galaxy smartphones played a key role in pioneering the foldable market and bringing the experience to consumers.
Pricing Strategy and South Korean Market Focus
Asked about Samsung's decision to set lower prices for its new foldable smartphones in South Korea than in overseas markets, despite rising costs due to higher memory prices, Roh emphasized the importance of the domestic market. "Taking into comprehensive consideration the importance of the Korean market, we set prices that are more affordable than in any other market in the world," he said.
The Galaxy Z Fold 8, based on the 256-gigabyte model, is priced at 2.28 million won (US$1,541), down 101,200 won from its predecessor. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is priced as reported by Yonhap.
Intelligent Eyewear Showcase
Samsung also showcased its smart glasses, Intelligent Eyewear, developed in partnership with Warby Parker of Alphabet and Gentle Monster, according to the company.
As AI becomes more agentic, mobile devices will become the most personal entry point to experiences that understand and adapt to each user, Roh said, positioning the new devices within Samsung's broader AI strategy.