The launch, announced at the second Galaxy Unpacked event of 2026, marks Samsung’s first-ever Ultra-branded foldable. Besides the smartphones, the company also introduced the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 and Galaxy Watch 9.
With Chinese smartphone makers launching thinner foldables at aggressive prices and Apple widely expected to enter the foldable segment, Samsung is betting that a redesigned lineup, AI-powered software and new hardware innovations will help expand the category further.
Speaking to CNBC-TV18, Akshay Gupta, Head of Products (Mobile Experience Business) at Samsung India, said the company’s focus this year is on driving adoption rather than chasing shipment targets.
“We have introduced three new devices and one completely new form factor. The Fold has now completed seven generations, and we have fine-tuned the experience significantly. The new Galaxy Z Fold 8 is a step towards disrupting the foldable category. We want consumers to truly unlock the potential of these devices,” Gupta said.
Fold 8 Ultra headlines the lineup
The biggest addition this year is the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, which Samsung says is its slimmest foldable yet at just 4.1 mm when unfolded.
The flagship device features a new display technology that significantly reduces crease visibility while making opening and closing smoother. It also gets Samsung’s brightest-ever foldable display with a peak brightness of 3,000 nits.
The Fold 8 Ultra is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy Gen 5 processor and packs a 5,000 mAh battery with 45 W fast charging – the largest battery Samsung has offered on a Fold device so far.
A new ‘passport-sized’ foldable
Besides the Ultra model, Samsung introduced what it calls a completely new form factor with the Galaxy Z Fold 8.
Designed to be compact enough to resemble the size of a passport when folded, the device weighs just 201 grams, making it what Samsung claims is the world’s lightest foldable smartphone.
Gupta said the device has been designed around changing consumer behaviour.
“Consumers are consuming content in different aspect ratios. On the cover screen they scroll through reels and short videos, while opening the device gives them an immersive 7.6-inch display for OTT content. In portrait mode, it becomes ideal for reading books or articles,” he said.
Samsung also unveiled the Galaxy Z Flip 8, which weighs around 180 grams and features a 50 MP camera, making it the company’s thinnest and lightest Flip smartphone to date.
AI at the center
The Galaxy Z8 series ships with One UI 9 based on Android 17 and comes with seven years of Android OS upgrades and seven years of security updates.
Samsung said Galaxy AI has been optimized for each foldable form factor. Larger displays on the Fold models improve multitasking, while the Flip 8’s FlexWindow is designed to surface AI-powered information and shortcuts without opening the device. The phones also integrate partner AI experiences, including Gemini Intelligence.
“As AI becomes more agentic, mobile devices will become the most personal entry point to experiences that understand and adapt to each user,” said TM Roh, Chief Executive Officer, President and Head of the Device eXperience (DX) Division at Samsung Electronics.
Premium market remains a key focus
Gupta said premium smartphones continue to outperform the broader smartphone market, giving Samsung confidence despite increasing competition.
“Competition is always good for the industry, but ultimately consumers will decide. Galaxy Z Fold 7 was hugely successful in India, and we believe the new Galaxy Z8 series will continue that momentum,” he said.
On rising memory and component costs, Gupta acknowledged that it remains an industry-wide challenge but said Samsung plans to rely on affordability programs rather than pass on costs immediately.
“We will take certain steps to ensure these devices remain affordable through our affordability partnerships and make them easily accessible to consumers,” he said.
Gupta also said all Samsung smartphones, including the newly launched Galaxy Z Fold 8 series, are manufactured in India. The company’s premium portfolio now spans from the Galaxy S25 FE series to the new Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, offering consumers options across multiple price points.
