Samsung unveils Galaxy Z Fold8, Z Fold8 Ultra, and Z Flip8 with Gemini AI and new form factors

A split strategy for book-style foldables

Samsung is no longer offering a single large foldable. The Galaxy Z Fold8 and Z Fold8 Ultra represent two distinct approaches. The standard Fold8 adopts a shorter, wider 4:3 aspect ratio for both its 7.6-inch inner and 5.5-inch outer displays, while the Ultra retains the 8-inch screen and 6.5-inch cover of last year's model. This split, as IDC VP Francisco Jeronimo noted, lets Samsung define the format ahead of Apple's expected foldable iPhone.

By bringing a new format to market ahead of Apple, Samsung gets to define the new format on its own terms rather than reacting to it later.

Galaxy Z Fold8: lighter, passport-sized

The Z Fold8 weighs 201g, Samsung's lightest Fold yet, and its folded dimensions resemble a passport. The titanium-backed folding screen virtually eliminates the crease and supports 3,000 nits peak brightness with an anti-reflective coating. A 4,800mAh silicon-carbon battery enables 45W wired charging, reaching 69% in 30 minutes, and 20W Qi2 wireless. The main camera is 50MP, but there is no telephoto lens. Storage options go up to 1TB with 16GB of RAM, starting at $1,899.99.

Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra: power at a premium

The Ultra is aimed at power users, with a 200MP main camera, a new 50MP ultrawide, and 3x telephoto optical zoom. Its 5,000mAh battery also supports 45W wired and 20W wireless charging. The top-tier 1TB model costs $2,699.99, while the base 256GB version is $2,099.99. It includes a privacy screen not found on the standard Fold8. The 8-inch display makes multitasking feel productive, according to hands-on reports.

Galaxy Z Flip8: iterative refinement

The clamshell Flip8 starts at $1,199.99 and sees modest hardware changes. It is thinner at 6.1mm unfolded and 13.1mm folded, and 8g lighter at 180g. The hinge has been reworked to make the crease less noticeable. The 6.9-inch inner display and 4,300mAh battery are unchanged, but the processor moves to Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. Preorder deals include a $200 Amazon gift card and up to $200 trade-in value.

Gemini Intelligence and AI features

All three phones ship with Android 17 and One UI 9, introducing Gemini Intelligence. The assistant can book restaurants, order food, buy tickets, and complete tasks across more than 40 apps, showing progress on screen and requiring user confirmation for payments. Gemini Notebook (formerly NotebookLM) is preinstalled, letting users drag documents, photos, and voice notes into a split-screen workspace on the Fold8's large display.

Pricing and availability

Preorders are open now, with devices launching August 7. Amazon offers a $350 gift card with Fold8 and Ultra preorders, and $200 with the Flip8. Best Buy provides a $200 gift card for the Ultra, while Samsung's own store includes $200 credit plus a $30 reservation credit and a $100 PayPal discount. Trade-in values reach up to $400 for the Fold8 series and $200 for the Flip8. Amazon estimates deliveries starting August 10.