Samsung has unveiled 3 new additions to its premium foldable Galaxy Z series today at its Summer Unpacked event, with the exciting arrival of a brand new Z Fold8 Ultra model (starting at £1,899).
Also joining the roster is the standard Galaxy Z Fold8, a passport-sized upgrade to last year's Z Fold7, but with an entirely new form factor for easier content consumption (starting at £1,699). The Galaxy Z Flip8 replaces the Flip7, and has a few fun tricks up its sleeve, with prices starting from £1,149 for the 256GB model.
These new devices are all available to pre-order right now from Samsung's website, with pre-order and trade-in deals available. All customers who purchase a new Galaxy Z8 series device will also get Google AI Pro free for 6 months.
Will any of the new foldables join the ranks as some of the best camera phones of 2026? I was offered a hands-on experience to try out these devices in London, and I’m pleased to report there are a ton of exciting upgrades and features worth shouting about for creatives.
The new 4:3 aspect ratio on the Z Fold8 has got everyone talking, and I predict that it might even overtake the Ultra model in terms of compatibility versus affordability for new foldable users. Samsung told me that each of its new phones was designed with a distinct user in mind, and it's no longer a question of why a Galaxy foldable, but which Galaxy foldable is best suited for consumers.
As someone who torments myself every year on whether or not to upgrade, I know it can be tough to decide if a flagship is worth its weight. So let's dive into it.
Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra - productivity for creative pros
This ultra-level foldable from Samsung is technically the first of its kind, despite sort of also replacing last year's Galaxy Z Fold7 model (it's confusing, I know). What's so "Ultra" about it? Primarily the camera system.
It sports a 200MP main camera, plus a new 50MP Ultrawide (previously 12MP on the Z Fold7), with new features optimised for content creators, including lossless editing with APV Codec compatibility and tools introduced with the Galaxy S26 series such as SuperSteady, with horizontal lock. Combine this with an 8-inch display (unfolded) for multi-screen productivity power, and it's easy to see why this is aimed at creative pros.
With the Z Fold8 Ultra, you get the brightest display ever on a Galaxy smartphone, featuring anti-reflective coatings to take productivity outdoors. It's also the slimmest foldable Samsung has made yet, at just 4.1mm thick.
The Z Fold8 Ultra benefits from a new, easy-to-open-and-close design, with upgraded hinge and magnet mechanisms for a smoother experience. To top it off, new FlexTitanium technology sits underneath the OLED panel, resulting in a reduced centre fold crease.
Additionally, Samsung shared that new Galaxy AI features will be rolling out across flagship devices in the coming months, and an in-person demo of the Z Fold8 Ultra in London showed us that smart notifications and Now Nudge tools will be able to work seamlessly in the background with what it calls intelligent automation.
What this means is that your phone could potentially recognise when it's time to book you an Uber, or add lunch dates to your diary based on text messages you receive. This feature can be fine-tuned to your preferences, but I imagine it will still be a love/hate feature on the basis of boundaries and privacy. For busy creatives, however, it sounds like a win.
Galaxy Z Fold8 - for creative consumption
The Galaxy Z Fold8 is arguably the most desirable foldable in the lineup this year, catering to creatives who prioritise content consumption and social media above all else. It has been designed around how we all use our smartphones in everyday life, offering a 7.6-inch display when unfolded, and a new 4:3 aspect ratio. When closed, it has a 5.5-inch cover screen with a 16: 10 ratio for comfortable scrolling.
After around 10 minutes of hands-on testing, I'd say the Z Fold 8 feels really nice to hold and scroll with when closed, though admittedly, it's an unusual experience at first as you'll most likely be accustomed to holding a taller and slimmer phone. When unfolded, the device gives the impression of a miniaturised tablet, and I actually think it works beautifully from a design perspective.
This strong vertical composition makes the new passport-like shape excellent for viewing social content (it's perfectly designed for watching YouTube Shorts), reading ebooks, web browsing, or watching movies, as you get to see more on screen without needing to scroll. Plus, the compact size in comparison to the Z Fold8 Ultra will suit those who don't necessarily need a premium-powered tablet form factor, and still desire a portable phone.
While not as specced out as the Z Fold8 Ultra, you still get a great camera system with the Z Fold8, with dual 50-megapixel wide and ultra-wide lenses, so there's minimal compromise in that area. It boasts pro performance thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 processor, and just like the Ultra, it has 3,000 nits of peak brightness as well as anti-reflective coatings on the display paired with Samsung's VisionBoost technology for the ultimate viewing experience.
It's also the lightest Galaxy Fold yet at only 201 grams, and only 4.5 mm's thin when unfolded. As far as software, the Z Fold8 has some great features for content creators like dual recording, where you can film yourself and your friends all at the same time and save them as separate files. There's improved battery life too, as the Z Fold8 has a 4,800 mAh battery that will give you a 26-hour video playback time.
The highlights for creators: 8k video capability, plus a brand new My Fan Cam feature which can be used to create social-ready videos from your existing footage in just a few taps, prioritising aspect ratio and an app-optimised crop to make a singular person the star – my first thought was how this could be used for filming your child's school play, or while at the park, keeping other children safely out of the scene.
Galaxy Z Flip8 - for creative personalisation
Samsung calls this one the portability hero device, as it packs a ton of incredible features and hardware into a pocket-sized device. The Z Flip8 is the thinnest Galaxy Z Flip ever, at just 6.1mm when unfolded, and weighing in at 180 grams.
It has a 50MP main camera with features like Horizontal Lock for super smooth video. As a photographer, I love that this phone is essentially its own tripod thanks to the FlexCam design, and can be used in a plethora of different scenarios with timed capture to take effortless group shots.
It also comes equipped with Samsung's ProVisual Engine for enhanced image quality using Galaxy AI. I know, not everyone is a fan of AI tools in photography or the idea of intense image processing, but as someone who has spent some time with the Z Flip8, the photos really do look gorgeous.
The hinge has been upgraded to make the Flip8 even more durable than its predecessor, thanks to Samsung's advanced aluminium frame. It also boasts improved flexibility and immersiveness by making the bezels thinner, and intuitive AI tools mean that from the brand new Flex Window Home – you have a dedicated area to view all of your notifications, with quick app access and widgets, all optimised for that display.
I think the Z Flip8 will appeal to teens and the younger generations the most thanks to its quirky folding design and unique FlexWindow that now offers over 115 widgets for creative customisation.
If you're someone who loves to express themselves and be creative, without needing a 200MP main camera to do it, then I highly recommend opting for the Z Flip8 and embracing the Y2K aesthetic of flip phones, but in a modern AI era.
