Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Review: Is This the Foldable Samsung Finally Got Right?
Samsung is gearing up for its second big Galaxy Unpacked event of 2026, and this one could be the company's most ambitious foldable showcase yet. While an official date hasn't been confirmed by Samsung itself, mounting evidence — including a promotional offer from Samsung Malaysia — points strongly to July 22, 2026, with the event reportedly being held in London rather than the usual US venue.
The star of the show is expected to be the Galaxy Z Fold 8, and this year Samsung appears to be breaking from tradition. Instead of the tall, narrow form factor fans are used to, leaks suggest the Fold 8 will adopt a shorter, squarer body — already being nicknamed the "Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide" by tech watchers, aimed at rivaling Apple's own rumored squarish foldable iPhone launching later in 2026.
In a surprising twist, respected Samsung leaker Ice Universe has suggested that the Galaxy Z Flip 8 could be the last phone in the Flip lineup, with Samsung possibly shifting full focus to the book-style Fold series. That said, Flip sales reportedly rebounded with the Flip 7 after a dip with the Flip 6, so this remains an unconfirmed rumor for now.
Wearables are also expected to headline the event, with a refreshed Watch lineup alongside Samsung's first-ever Android XR smart glasses — a lighter, cheaper alternative to the Galaxy XR headset with Google Gemini AI built in.
A second-generation Galaxy Ring has been floated as a possibility for this event, though current signals suggest it's unlikely to make an appearance in July. Samsung may be saving it for a later launch window.
| Device | Key Spec | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Galaxy Z Fold 8 / Fold 8 Ultra | Internal Display | 7.6-inch, 4:3 aspect ratio |
| Cover Display | 5.5-inch, 16:10 aspect ratio | |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 | |
| Galaxy Z Flip 8 | Status | Possibly last in the Flip lineup (rumor) |
| Galaxy Watch 9 Series | Models | Watch 9, Watch 9 Classic, Watch Ultra 2 |
| Connectivity | 5G-ready variant possible on Ultra 2 | |
| Galaxy Glasses | Chipset | Snapdragon AR1 |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi + Bluetooth 5.3 | |
| Weight | ~50g | |
| Battery | 155mAh | |
| Camera | 12MP (Sony sensor) | |
| AI Assistant | Google Gemini (built-in) | |
| Controls | Touch panel on right arm, directional speakers | |
| Rumored Price | $379 – $499 | |
| Galaxy Ring 2 | Status | Unlikely to launch at this event |
| Device | Category | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Galaxy Z Fold 8 | Foldable phone | Highly likely |
| Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra | Foldable phone | Highly likely |
| Galaxy Z Flip 8 | Foldable phone | Highly likely (possibly last of its line) |
| Galaxy Watch 9 / 9 Classic | Smartwatch | Likely |
| Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 | Smartwatch | Likely |
| Galaxy Glasses | Smart glasses | Rumored |
| Galaxy Ring 2 | Smart ring | Unlikely this event |
If Samsung sticks to the July 22 timeline, this Unpacked event could mark one of the biggest foldable-category shake-ups in years:
Anyone planning to buy a foldable phone this year would be wise to wait for this event before making a decision, especially with Apple's own foldable iPhone expected to arrive later in 2026.
We'll keep updating this space as Samsung makes things official — stay tuned.
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