Samsung unveiled three new foldable smartphones and two new smartwatches during its Galaxy Unpacked event in London on July 22, 2026 [1, 2, 4].
This product launch signals Samsung's attempt to maintain dominance in the foldable market by integrating advanced artificial intelligence and expanding hardware specifications. The move comes as the company seeks to address industry-wide cost challenges while scaling its device ecosystem [5, 6].
The new smartphone lineup includes the Galaxy Z Fold 8, the Galaxy Z Flip 8, and a high-end Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra [1, 2]. The Ultra model features a main screen size of eight inches [3]. Samsung said the new devices include larger displays, and bigger batteries across the series to improve user experience [2, 3].
Alongside the phones, the company introduced two new smartwatches [1]. These wearables are designed to work within the expanded AI-driven ecosystem that Samsung is promoting across its mobile hardware [2, 6].
The Unpacked event began at 9 a.m. ET, or 2 p.m. BST, in the United Kingdom [4]. While some early reports listed the Galaxy Z Flip 8 as an expected device, Samsung confirmed its release during the event [1, 4].
Samsung said the goal of the launch is to raise the bar for foldable technology [5]. The company is focusing on agentic AI features to differentiate these devices from traditional smartphones, and previous foldable iterations [6].
“Samsung unveiled three new foldable smartphones and two new smartwatches”
The introduction of the Z Fold 8 Ultra with an 8-inch screen suggests Samsung is pushing foldables toward the tablet-hybrid category to capture more professional productivity use. By bundling these hardware upgrades with a deeper AI ecosystem, Samsung is attempting to create a 'moat' around its hardware to deter competitors from gaining market share through software alone.
