New smartphones, smartwatches, and intelligent eyewear mark the company's next step toward an AI-first ecosystem
Samsung Electronics has significantly expanded its foldable smartphone portfolio by introducing its first-ever Ultra model, signaling a broader strategy to strengthen its position in the premium mobile market while accelerating the transition toward an AI-driven Galaxy ecosystem.
At Galaxy Unpacked 2026, held on July 22 at Old Billingsgate in London, Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold8, Galaxy Z Flip8, new Galaxy Watch models, and next-generation Intelligent Eyewear, presenting what the company described as its most comprehensive AI-powered device lineup to date.
The centerpiece of the announcement was the restructuring of Samsung's foldable smartphone family. For the first time since pioneering the foldable category in 2019, Samsung has extended its flagship "Ultra" branding to foldable devices, positioning the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra as the company's highest-end productivity smartphone while differentiating the standard Fold and Flip models for distinct user needs.
The Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra is designed for users seeking maximum productivity on a large display. It features an 8-inch (203.1 mm) main screen while reducing weight to just 215 grams and achieving an unfolded thickness of only 4.1 mm, addressing one of the biggest challenges facing large-screen foldable devices: portability.
Samsung also significantly upgraded the camera system. The Fold8 Ultra includes a 200-megapixel main camera and the first-ever 50-megapixel ultra-wide camera in the Fold series. Professional video capabilities include support for the APV codec for 8K recording and Cine LUT color grading, positioning the device as a mobile content creation platform rather than simply a smartphone camera.
Performance has also been enhanced with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Mobile Platform for Galaxy, a 5,000mAh battery, 45W fast charging, and Samsung's first dual-path charging system in the Galaxy Z lineup.
The Galaxy Z Fold8 targets users focused on immersive content consumption. Featuring a 7.6-inch main display with a 4:3 aspect ratio and weighing only 201 grams, the device is optimized for reading, gaming, streaming, and multitasking. Camera features include Dual Recording, which simultaneously uses front and rear cameras, and My Fan Cam, an AI-powered subject tracking system for easier video editing.
Samsung continues to position the Galaxy Z Flip8 as its most portable foldable smartphone. Weighing just 180 grams and measuring 6.1 mm when unfolded, it is the thinnest and lightest Flip model the company has introduced.
The external FlexWindow display has been expanded to support a wider range of AI experiences. Users can access Now Brief for personalized updates on schedules, news, and health information without opening the phone, while Galaxy AI functions are also available directly from the cover display.
Photography features have also evolved, including FlipShot for flexible shooting angles, Camcorder Grip mode for handheld video recording, Zoom Locker for touch-controlled zoom adjustment, and Mirror View for enhanced self-portrait functionality.
Durability was another major focus across the foldable lineup. Samsung introduced Flex Titanium technology, combining titanium alloy film with reinforced titanium plates to improve structural strength while reducing display creasing. Both the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra and Fold8 offer peak brightness of up to 3,000 nits for improved outdoor visibility.
Beyond hardware, Samsung placed artificial intelligence at the center of the Galaxy experience.
Developed in collaboration with Google, the new devices introduce Gemini Intelligence to Samsung smartphones, allowing AI to understand what users are viewing on screen and respond with contextual assistance.
Instead of manually switching between applications, users can ask AI to complete tasks such as food delivery, reservations, or shopping across more than 40 supported apps. Samsung also introduced Now Nudge, which proactively recommends next actions based on user context, and Gemini Notebook, a centralized workspace for organizing notes, images, voice recordings, and documents.
The announcement highlights Samsung's broader shift toward agentic AI, where artificial intelligence moves beyond responding to commands and begins proactively understanding user intent, coordinating multiple services, and completing complex tasks autonomously.
Security has also been strengthened through Samsung Knox. The new Personal Data Engine processes personalized AI functions directly on the device, while Knox Enhanced Encrypted Protection (KEEP) creates isolated encrypted storage environments for individual applications, providing an additional layer of privacy protection.
Samsung also expanded its AI ecosystem beyond smartphones by introducing new Galaxy Watch models and Intelligent Eyewear. The company aims to extend AI experiences from handheld devices to wearable products, enabling users to interact with AI more naturally throughout their daily lives.
The new Galaxy Z series will begin rolling out on August 7 in major markets, including South Korea, the United States, the United Kingdom, India, and Brazil. Pre-orders in South Korea will run from July 28 through August 3.
Industry observers say this year's Galaxy Unpacked reflects Samsung's broader strategy of combining increasingly refined foldable hardware with next-generation AI experiences. As competition in the foldable market shifts beyond device thickness and industrial design toward AI capabilities and ecosystem integration, Samsung is betting that its new Ultra model and expanding AI platform will help reinforce its leadership in the premium smartphone segment.
