Earlier this week, Samsung confirmed that it could be holding an Unpacked occasion on 22 July to announce its new foldable telephone vary. Numerous trade leaks rendered this announcement virtually comically unsurprising.
Certainly, not solely do we all know the date of Samsung’s launch occasion, we additionally know most of the merchandise to be unveiled. Leak after leak has enabled us to construct a reasonably complete view of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Extremely, and the all-new (trustworthy) Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8.
That’s why I really feel sufficiently assured to exit on a limb and predict that that is the Samsung Galaxy Z foldable you have to be shopping for in 2026.
I ought to stress proper on the outset that I’ve not gained early entry to any of those units. I’m wanting ahead to spending loads of time with all three telephones across the time of their launch, however that point has not but come.
With that mentioned, let’s check out the contenders.
Flipping out of rivalry
Let’s take away the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 from the equation immediately. Leaked renders level to a tool that’s just about unchanged from the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8, which has left a few of us at Tech Advisor feeling distinctly underwhelmed – particularly with the information that it’s going to be topic to a £100 worth bump.
What’s extra, if stories from two separate tipsters are to be believed, this could possibly be the final flip telephone Samsung ever makes. The often dependable Samsung leaker Ice Universe is the most recent to say that there can be no Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 9.
Till the corporate’s plans for this sub-series are set out clearly, I see no cause to put money into it.
Time for a book-off
It comes all the way down to the large two, then. Samsung goes to offer two book-style foldables this 12 months, and if stories are to be believed it’s gone a bit squiffy with the naming.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Extremely would be the title given to the direct successor to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7. In the meantime, a brand new mannequin with a wider side ratio goes to inherit the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 title.
It’s the latter that I’m most excited for. Conceptually, I just like the sound of its new 4:3 internal show, having by no means discovered the sq.(ish) form of most different foldables significantly convincing.
For my cash, Apple’s iPad presents the best large-screen viewing expertise, providing loads of house for multi-tasking and internet searching with out making video content material look too silly. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 (and certainly the forthcoming iPad Extremely) will undertake one thing related, albeit in a flexible format.
Luke Baker
Weighing issues up
Different leaks lend weight (in a opposite approach of talking) to my impression that the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 is the one to purchase.
It appears the brand new foldable goes to come back in at a formidable 201g, making it the lightest full-sized foldable but. That’s lighter than my iPhone 17 Professional.
True, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Extremely gained’t precisely be cumbersome at 215g, nevertheless it’s the broader machine that will get nearer to dipping underneath 200g, which I’ve at all times held to be the ‘simply so’ mark.
Within the curiosity of equity, I ought to level out that the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Extremely is tipped to be thinner than the broader mannequin when closed: 8.9mm vs 9.7mm.
That’s positively some extent within the Extremely’s favour, however in all probability not sufficient to swing my general resolution.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
At what value?
However the true clincher right here is worth. In accordance with one other current leak, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 will begin from £1,699. Hardly low-cost, however in massive foldable phrases that’s fairly interesting.
Extra to the purpose, it’s prone to be £200 cheaper than the equal Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Extremely. That’s a 12% distinction, so by no means insubstantial.
One of many lingering points with foldable telephones is the excessive value of entry, and that’s solely being exacerbated within the present AI-driven element disaster. Samsung’s new foldable mannequin appears to be not less than making an attempt to deal with that.
Many will argue that the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Extremely goes to earn its premium by superior cameras – it’ll have a devoted telephoto digital camera for one factor. As somebody who doesn’t take many zoomed photographs exterior of evaluations, that’s probably not a difficulty.
For me, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 appears to be like to be essentially the most thrilling, the best-value, and essentially the most virtually interesting of Samsung’s forthcoming foldables. It’s the one to purchase (in all probability).
Right here’s the whole lot we all know in regards to the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S27 collection.