Samsung just rewrote its own foldable playbook. At a Galaxy Unpacked event held in London, the company introduced three new folding phones, and the headline addition fills a gap fans have pointed out for years. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 is not a small update to last year’s book-style flagship. It is an entirely new shape sitting between the compact Z Flip and the large Z Fold Ultra, built for people who want a bigger screen without carrying a phone the size of a small tablet.
Alongside it, Samsung also launched the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, which quietly takes over as the true successor to last year’s Z Fold7, and the Galaxy Z Flip8, a clamshell that keeps its familiar shape while getting a faster chipset under the hood. Together, the three phones mark one of the busiest foldable launches Samsung has put together, and the wide new Fold8 in particular is drawing attention for daring to look different from every Fold that came before it.
This guide breaks down everything worth knowing about the new lineup: design, displays, performance, cameras, battery, Galaxy AI, pricing, and what buyers in Pakistan can expect once the phones reach local shelves.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Series Overview
Here is where things get a little confusing, in a good way. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 is a brand-new form factor, not the follow-up to the Z Fold7. That job belongs to the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, which carries the premium camera hardware, the bigger battery, and the higher price tag that longtime Fold buyers expect.
Samsung has described this refreshed lineup as its most complete set of foldables to date, and the logic makes sense once you see the phones side by side. The Z Flip8 covers the compact, pocketable end of the spectrum. The wide-format Fold8 sits in the middle, offering a shorter shape built around video, browsing, and everyday multitasking. The Z Fold8 Ultra anchors the top of the range with flagship-grade cameras and materials.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8 Highlights
The Galaxy Z Flip8 looks nearly identical to its predecessor from the outside, and Samsung clearly decided not to fix what wasn’t broken. The bigger change is under the hood, with a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy chipset powering US units and an Exynos 2600 running the show in other regions.
The inner display remains a 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel with a 120Hz refresh rate and Full HD+ resolution, while the cover screen is a 4.1-inch AMOLED display that also supports up to 120Hz. Camera-wise, it keeps a 50MP main sensor with OIS and a 12MP ultrawide, with a 10MP selfie camera tucked inside.
Battery capacity holds steady at 4,300mAh, with 25W wired and 15W wireless charging. Notably, there is no Flip FE model this year, which means the standard Z Flip8 is now the only clamshell option in Samsung’s lineup, and it costs more than last year’s Flip7 as a result.
Design Improvements
Design is where the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 makes its boldest statement. Closed, it measures 81.9mm wide and 123.9mm tall, with a 9.7mm thickness and a weight of 201g. The cover display runs a portrait 10:16 aspect ratio that feels reminiscent of the compact phones of years past, while still being wide enough to feel comfortable during one-handed use.
Unfold it, and the interior display switches to a 4:3 ratio, which happens to match the default aspect ratio of most photos and works nicely for documents, e-books, and text-heavy browsing. This dual-ratio approach, portrait when closed and boxier when open, is the entire reason this model exists as a separate device rather than a Fold7 refresh.
Both the Z Fold8 and Z Fold8 Ultra benefit from Samsung’s new Flex Titanium technology, which pairs a titanium-alloy film with a reinforced titanium plate to resist the pressure that typically causes crease wear, alongside a refined hinge that Samsung says opens more smoothly than before.
Display Technology
Display specs across the range are genuinely strong. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 cover panel is an LTPO OLED unit running at 1-120Hz with a 1,248 x 1,972px resolution and roughly 428ppi. The inner display, also LTPO OLED at 1-120Hz, reaches 1,848 x 2,448px, peaks at 3,000 nits of brightness, and comes with a low-reflection coating for easier outdoor viewing.
The Z Fold8 Ultra takes the crown for cover-screen size at 6.5 inches, while the standard Z Fold8 sits at 5.5 inches closed and the Z Flip8 comes in smallest at 4.1 inches. All three support up to 120Hz on both their inner and cover screens. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 offers a more immersive display experience for streaming, reading, and multitasking. Its new screen layout feels practical for everyday use.
Performance and Processor
Every phone in this lineup runs on serious silicon. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 and the Z Fold8 Ultra both use the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, the same chip found in the Galaxy S26 series, across every region Samsung sells them in. The Ultra model benefits from an expanded graphite cooling sheet designed to spread heat more evenly during longer sessions of gaming or camera use.
RAM is identical across the Fold8 and Fold8 Ultra: 12GB on the 256GB and 512GB tiers, stepping up to 16GB on the 1TB model. The Z Flip8 splits chips by region too, a strategy Samsung has used before to manage supply and cost.
With flagship hardware, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 is built to deliver fast and reliable performance. It is designed for both productivity and entertainment.
Galaxy AI Features
Software intelligence is a major selling point this year, and Samsung leaned heavily on Gemini, Google’s AI system, to power features across the new devices. The Z Flip8 introduces upgraded Galaxy AI tools built specifically for its cover screen, including a Now Brief feature that surfaces relevant information without needing to open the phone at all.
For the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 and its Ultra sibling, the larger canvas naturally lends itself to AI-assisted multitasking, from smarter app suggestions to on-device writing and summarization tools baked into One UI 9. Samsung is also sweetening the deal with a six-month trial of Google AI Pro included with every purchase, which normally costs $20 a month and bundles in 5TB of cloud storage alongside expanded AI capabilities.
Camera Improvements
Camera hardware is where the three phones diverge the most. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 sticks closer to Z Flip-level hardware, with a 50MP main sensor (f/1.8, OIS, 2x in-sensor zoom) and a 50MP ultra-wide lens with a 120-degree field of view. Selfie duties are handled by dual 10MP sensors, one on the cover display and a wider-angle unit inside.
The Z Fold8 Ultra goes considerably further, headlined by a 200MP main sensor with OIS and enhanced HDR, 8K video with the APV codec, and on-device Cine LUTs for color grading. Its ultra-wide camera has also been upgraded to a sharper 50MP sensor capable of macro shots. The one letdown, per early hands-on impressions, is the telephoto camera, which keeps last year’s modest 10MP, 3x sensor.
The Z Flip8 keeps things simpler with a 50MP main camera featuring OIS, paired with a 12MP ultrawide lens and a 10MP inner selfie camera.
Battery and Charging
Battery life sees a healthy bump across the lineup. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 ships with a 4,800mAh battery, noticeably larger than the outgoing Z Fold7’s 4,400mAh cell, and supports 45W wired charging that Samsung says can reach 63 percent in about 30 minutes, plus 20W wireless charging with reverse wireless support.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 combines a larger battery with faster charging, making it a dependable companion for users with busy daily routines.
The Z Fold8 Ultra goes even further with a 5,000mAh battery, nearly 14 percent larger than its predecessor, made possible by Samsung’s first-ever Silicon-Carbon battery cell. Charging jumps from 25W to 45W wired, hitting roughly 67 percent in 30 minutes, alongside the same 20W wireless charging found on the Z Fold8. The Z Flip8 sees no change, holding steady at 4,300mAh with 25W wired and 15W wireless charging.
Software and One UI Features
All three phones launch on Android 17 with One UI 9 layered on top, Samsung’s most refined foldable software experience yet. Connectivity is strong across the board too, with Wi-Fi 7 support on every model and Bluetooth 6.0 on the Fold8 and Fold8 Ultra. Durability hasn’t been ignored either, as every phone in the range carries an IP48 rating for dust and water resistance.
Storage Variants
Storage options are consistent across the foldable duo. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 and the Z Fold8 Ultra are both offered in 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB configurations, with 12GB of RAM on the two lower tiers and 16GB on the top-end 1TB model. The Z Flip8 is simpler, arriving in just 256GB and 512GB variants, both paired with 12GB of RAM, with no 1TB option this generation.
Color Options
Color choices lean toward understated, premium tones this year. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 comes in Graphite, Cream, and Lavender, with an exclusive Pistachio finish reserved for Samsung’s own online store. The Z Fold8 Ultra is available in Graphite, Cream, and Violet Shadow, with Green Shadow as its own web-exclusive color. The Z Flip8 rounds things out with Cream, Graphite, and Pink, plus a Mint variant sold only through Samsung’s website.
Pricing
Here’s the part that stings a little: prices went up across the board. The Z Flip8 and Z Fold8 Ultra are each $100 (or the local currency equivalent) more expensive than the phones they replace, while the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 arrives as a brand-new SKU with its own pricing tier that slots neatly between the two.
| Model | 12GB/256GB | 12GB/512GB | 16GB/1TB |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galaxy Z Flip8 | $1,200 / £1,150 / €1,300 | $1,400 / £1,320 / €1,500 | Not offered |
| Galaxy Z Fold8 (new) | $1,900 / £1,700 / €2,000 | $2,100 / £1,870 / €2,200 | $2,500 / £2,120 / €2,600 |
| Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra | $2,100 / £1,900 / €2,200 | $2,300 / £2,070 / €2,400 | $2,700 / £2,320 / €2,800 |
Samsung is softening the blow with regional discounts. US buyers can get $200 off the Fold models and $150 off the Flip8, plus an extra $100 with a PayPal code. UK, German, and Indian buyers get their own promo codes and bank offers, and every purchase includes that six-month Google AI Pro trial mentioned earlier.
Expected Pakistan Price
Samsung Pakistan has not published official local pricing for the new lineup at the time of writing, but early estimates from local retailers and tech marketplaces put the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 in the range of roughly PKR 620,000 to PKR 710,000 for the base 256GB model, depending on import channel and warranty terms. The Z Fold8 Ultra is expected to land somewhat higher, likely starting north of PKR 650,000, while the Z Flip8 should slot in as the most affordable of the three.
Many buyers are waiting for the official Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 launch in Pakistan before making a purchase decision. Local pricing will play a major role in its popularity.
Treat these figures as estimates rather than confirmed retail prices, since grey-market importers often list phones before Samsung’s local pricing goes live, and in-store prices can shift once import duties are finalized.
Availability in Pakistan
Globally, pre-orders for the new foldable lineup opened on July 22, with wider retail availability beginning August 7. Pakistani buyers typically see two waves of availability: grey-market units imported privately within days of the global launch, followed by Samsung Pakistan’s own authorized retail rollout. Buyers who want manufacturer warranty coverage are generally better off waiting for the local listing rather than importing early.
Comparison With Previous Generation
It helps to see the generational jump in one place, especially since this year’s lineup restructures the family rather than simply refreshing it.
| Feature | Z Fold7 (2025) | Galaxy Z Fold8 (new) | Z Fold8 Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|
| Role in lineup | Previous flagship Fold | New wide-format model | True Z Fold7 successor |
| Battery | 4,400mAh | 4,800mAh | 5,000mAh (Silicon-Carbon) |
| Wired charging | 25W | 45W | 45W |
| Main camera | 50MP | 50MP | 200MP |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Elite | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 |
The takeaway is simple: the Z Fold8 Ultra picks up nearly every upgrade long-time Fold owners were hoping for, from the bigger battery to the vastly improved main camera, while the new wide Fold8 gives Samsung an entirely new price point and shape to compete with rivals building wider foldables of their own. For users seeking a premium foldable experience, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 brings a fresh design with flagship-level features that stand out in Samsung’s latest lineup.
Should You Upgrade
If you’re using a Z Fold6 or Z Fold7, the Z Fold8 Ultra is the more logical upgrade, thanks to its larger battery, faster charging, and dramatically improved main camera. Owners of an older Z Flip should also find the Z Flip8 a reasonable step up, mainly for the newer chipset.
The new wide-format Fold8 is a different conversation entirely. It isn’t really an upgrade path for existing Fold owners; it’s a new option for people who never liked the tall, narrow shape of Samsung’s traditional Fold line but always wanted more screen than a Flip provides. Buyers deciding between a wider, video-friendly foldable and one with flagship-grade cameras should weigh their priorities before choosing between the Fold8 and the Fold8 Ultra.
Final Verdict
Samsung’s foldable strategy this year is less about chasing bigger numbers and more about covering every shape a buyer might want. The Z Flip8 keeps the compact clamshell format alive with a faster chip, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra pushes the camera and battery envelope, and the new wide Fold8 opens up a middle ground that didn’t exist in Samsung’s lineup before this launch. Higher prices are a real downside, and the modest telephoto camera on the Ultra is a fair criticism from early reviewers, but the overall package still ranks among the most interesting foldable launches Samsung has delivered in years.
For readers who want to keep following how the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 performs once full reviews land, along with ongoing coverage of Android updates and foldable comparisons, Phonixy remains a solid destination to bookmark.
Whether you land on the compact Flip8, the camera-focused Fold8 Ultra, or the genre-bending new wide-format Fold8, this year’s Galaxy Unpacked event has given Android fans and Pakistani buyers alike a genuinely broader set of foldables to choose from.
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