TL;DR / At a Glance:
Samsung unveiled three new foldable devices at its latest Unpacked event, led by the ultra-slim Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, the passport-shaped standard Z Fold8, and the compact Z Flip8. Alongside the new foldables, Samsung introduced the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 featuring a 5,000 nits display and advanced biometric tracking, reinforcing its market leadership in wearable and foldable technology.

Samsung didn’t just launch one new foldable today. They launched three. And one of them isn’t even trying to be a flagship; it’s a completely new shape that Samsung has never made before. So is this the most “confusing” foldable lineup they’ve ever released, or the smartest move they’ve made? Let’s break down what’s new.

Context

Okay, quick history lesson before we get into it. Almost 8 years ago, Samsung was the first brand to launch a foldable phone. They created a foldable that was not a concept but an actual device you could buy, and nobody else was even close back then. Last year, while every competitor was shouting “We’re the new number one in foldables,” Samsung actually grew market share. They are still the king of the hill here.

Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra

First up is the Z Fold8 Ultra. This is the more familiar foldable form factor, and it serves as the definitive flagship for this year’s lineup, boasting the biggest screen and the best cameras.

Just when you thought last year’s model was thin, Samsung made this one even thinner. It measures just 4.1mm unfolded and 8.9mm folded, with a light weight profile of 215g. That’s slimmer than a stack of credit cards.

The big engineering flex here is something called Titanium Flex technology. Essentially, there’s a super thin layer of titanium sitting right under the OLED screen to help everything hold its shape even after thousands of folds, preventing a deep crease from forming down the middle over time. There is also a titanium plate underneath for extra stability, which means fewer air pockets between the layers and a stronger screen that doesn’t feel mushy when you press it. The exterior uses Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic3 on the front cover and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the back.

Samsung also fixed a common design complaint regarding opening the device. If you keep your fingernails short, opening previous folds could feel like trying to open a new pack of sliced cheese. To fix this, the inside edge is now curved with a 20% wider design, and the hinge features magnetic power optimization so it glides open and snaps shut easily.

On the camera front, the ultra-wide lenses jumped from 12MP all the way up to 50MP, which is a major upgrade.

On the productivity side, they’ve added a Now Nudge feature. If a friend messages you asking if you are free next week, the device splits your screen right there instead of forcing you to jump into a separate calendar app, giving you the chat on one side and your calendar on the other. There is also a Notification Nudge button that pops up directly from notifications so you can add events instantly.

The battery is finally bumped up too: 5,000 mAh, with Samsung claims 27 hours of video playback. 45W wired and 20W wireless charging.

And all of that… in the slimmest, lightest Z Fold Samsung has ever made. The Fold Ultra remains very much the ultimate flagship.

Galaxy Z Fold8

The standard Galaxy Z Fold8 is not trying to be the Ultra’s “little brother.” It features a completely different shape, utilizing a 7.6-inch screen at a 4:3 aspect ratio. You can think of it like a passport. It measures 4.5mm unfolded and 9.7mm folded.

This passport shape makes total sense because the aspect ratio changes how you consume media. When closed, it features a 5.5-inch cover display with a 16:10 aspect ratio that is great for watching content. For those who dislike display creases, the crease on this model is barely visible and can hardly be felt.

Battery sits at 4,800 mAh, with the same charging speeds as the Ultra. And weight-wise, 201 grams, the world’s lightest foldable currently out there.

The cameras are simpler here with a 50MP ultra-wide and a 50MP main, making it a solid, lighter option centered around everyday readability and viewing.

Comparing the Folds: Z Fold8 vs. Z Fold8 Ultra

To help you decide which device fits your workflow better, here is a direct breakdown of how the passport-shaped Z Fold8 compares to the ultimate Z Fold8 Ultra flagship:

Feature	Galaxy Z Fold8	Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra
Unfolded Display	7.6-inch display (120Hz, 4:3 aspect ratio)	8.0-inch display (120Hz, anti-reflective)
Folded (Cover) Display	5.5-inch display (16:10 aspect ratio)	6.5-inch display
Processor	Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy	Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy
RAM & Storage	12GB / 16GB RAM, up to 1TB	12GB / 16GB RAM, up to 1TB
Thickness	4.5mm unfolded, 9.7mm folded	4.1mm unfolded, 8.9mm folded
Weight	201g (World’s lightest foldable)	215g
Glass / Materials	Gorilla Glass Ceramic3 / Victus 2	Titanium Flex tech, Ceramic3 / Victus 2
Main Camera	50MP (f/1.9)	200MP (f/1.7) with APV Codec
Ultra-wide Camera	50MP (f/1.8)	50MP (f/2.2) (0.6x zoom optimized)
Telephoto Camera	None	10MP (f/2.4) with 3x optical zoom
Battery & Charging	4,800 mAh (45W wired, 63% in 30 mins)	5,000 mAh (45W wired, 67% in 30 mins)
S-Pen Support	No	No
Color Options	Lavender, Graphite, Cream, Pistachio	Violet Shadow, Graphite, Cream, Green Shadow

Galaxy Z Flip8

Then there is the Z Flip8. While it might look visually identical to its predecessor at first glance, it breaks new records as the world’s thinnest flip phone at only 6.1mm unfolded. It weighs just 180 grams, making it the lightest as well.

The Flip8 features the same curved interior design as the new Folds, making it much easier to pry open. The flip format has always been about pocketability, and this continues that streak.

On the camera front, Samsung brought over the horizontal lock video recording feature from the S26 series. They have also introduced new software capabilities like the Fan Cam feature. When you record a video with multiple people in the frame, you can lock onto one person during editing, and the software will crop and follow them throughout the video. This means you can take one video of five friends and walk away with five separate, individualized videos.

Galaxy Watch Ultra 2

Shifting gears to wearables, Samsung introduced two new wrist devices. First is the premium Galaxy Watch Ultra 2.

The body is made of titanium, making it highly shock-resistant, while the updated band is 25% lighter. The watch body is also 12% thinner overall compared to the previous generation, addressing criticisms that the original version was too thick.

New fitness tracking features include Trail Running with dedicated elevation tracking and terrain impact metrics. It even offers real-time hydration guidance that tracks sweat loss to tell you exactly when and how much to drink. There is also a professional diving mode built in partnership with Mares, offering depth monitoring and tracking capabilities that mirror a dedicated dive computer.

Galaxy Watch 9

For a more everyday option, there is the Galaxy Watch 9. It includes a 25% lighter band, a 390 mAh battery, the same flagship Snapdragon Wear Elite chip, and a highly readable 3,000 nits display.

The standout upgrade here lies in the health software. Samsung is introducing Vitals, a software system that tracks key biometric markers like heart rate variability, skin temperature, blood oxygen, and respiratory rate to build your personal baseline. If your body metrics start drifting from that baseline, it warns you before you actually feel sick, acting as an early warning system.

It also includes Raise to Talk, allowing you to lift your wrist and speak directly to Gemini without needing to tap the screen or unlock your phone.

Conclusion

Samsung didn’t just refresh a lineup this year; they built three different foldables for three completely different lifestyles:

• The Z Fold8 Ultra for power users who want the best of everything.
• The new passport-shaped Z Fold8 for people who live on their screens reading, browsing, and watching videos.
• The Z Flip8 for users who want something light, pocketable, and fun to create content with.

Combined with two heavily upgraded smartwatches aimed at preventive health and performance, Samsung isn’t just defending its eight-year foldable lead. They are widening it, literally.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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