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You have good reasons to get excited about Samsung's Unpacked event this week. It's clear that Samsung will be unveiling a handful of products, but the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is undoubtedly the most exciting. This will not be yet another boring iterative upgrade.
Galaxy Z Fold 8: Extra-wide and Ultra
Two very different approaches to foldable phones
Samsung is rethinking its foldable phone strategy with two Galaxy Z Fold 8 models, including one in a brand-new form factor.
As the company has not-so-subtly hinted, the standard Z Fold 8 is expected to come in a short but wide design with a 5.5-inch, 16:10 aspect ratio cover display as well as a 7.6-inch, 4:3 ratio folding screen that uses "Flex Titanium" to minimize the usual crease. You'd effectively get a small tablet while the phone is open, making it more useful for side-by-side apps and videos — not to mention people with shallow pockets.
It appears to only have two rear cameras, but it's still poised to be powerful with the Galaxy S26's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, 12GB of RAM, and at least 256GB of storage. You could also get a relatively large 4,800mAh battery, albeit with relatively slow 25W charging.
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, meanwhile, will stick to the tall-but-narrow formula from the Z Fold 7. It should share the same chip, memory, and storage options as the wide phone, but keep the Z Fold 7's three rear cameras (200-megapixel main, 50MP ultrawide, and 10MP 3X telephoto zoom). It's believed to have a larger 5,000mAh battery as well as speedier 45W wired charging.
Both models could be expensive thanks to rising component costs. Samsung is rumored to start the regular Z Fold 8 at $1,899, while the Ultra might cost $2,099. That would make the entry-level phone only $100 less expensive than last year's flagship, but Samsung might not have much choice if it wants to maintain its profits.
Galaxy Z Flip 8: All about the cover display
You could use it as a phone while closed
Hardware-wise, the Galaxy Z Flip 8 is expected to look much like the Z Flip 7 with a 4.1-inch cover display and a 6.9-inch clamshell folding screen. You could get the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy or the Exynos 2600 chip, depending on where you live, as well as a bigger 4,300mAh battery. However, the 50MP main camera and 12MP ultrawide should carry over from last year.
The centerpiece might be the cover display's software. If last-minute leaks are accurate, the Z Flip 8 will give you a full-featured Android experience without installing Good Lock. Much like the Motorola Razr, you might run 'real' apps rather than the widgets and limited software Samsung has allowed until now. That could be vital if you don't have a hand free to open the phone, or just want a small screen to encourage a digital detox.
As with the Z Fold 8, the Z Flip 8 is expected to debut with a higher price of around $1,199 for a 256GB version. That's a $100 increase over last year.
Galaxy Watch 9 and Watch Ultra 2: More power and AI health
A faster chip and a larger battery may reel you in
Samsung is expected to preserve the "squircle" case design with its next-generation Wear OS smartwatches, the Galaxy Watch.9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2. Inside, however, you could see a major overhaul.
The company is expected to replace its usual Exynos processor with a Snapdragon Wear Elite that should be faster and more efficient. You should also see substantially larger batteries at 325mAh in the 40mm Watch 9, 445mAh in the 44mm version, and a full 800mAh in the 47mm Watch Ultra 2.
You can likewise anticipate Bluetooth 6.0 support and a bump in base storage from 16GB to 32GB.
As with the Z Flip 8, the software could be just as much of a draw. Samsung has already previewed a Health app revamp that will focus on AI coaching and insights, such as scheduling workouts and monitoring sleep trends. Your Galaxy Watch 9 could warn you when your lifestyle is hurting your wellbeing, even if the signs aren't obvious.
There aren't leaks for U.S. pricing as of publication, but price hikes are likely. The Galaxy Watch 9 is poised to cost "at least" €409 in Europe (about $469), while the Ultra 2 could cost €749 ($859). These figures include tax.
Potential surprises, and what not to expect
Samsung occasionally brings surprises to Unpacked events, such as a preview of the Galaxy S25 Edge in January 2025. However, there are no teasers or leaks to suggest as much for July 2026 — assume the Galaxy Z Fold, Z Flip, and Watch updates are the only ones coming.
We wouldn't rule out wildcards such as new Galaxy Buds models, and there have been murmurs of a formal reveal for Samsung's Android XR smart glasses. The eyewear isn't officially due until the fall, though, so we wouldn't count on a full-fledged launch.
