Samsung Electronics will unveil a widescreen foldable phone with a 4:3 aspect ratio for the first time at “Galaxy Unpacked 2026” in London, UK, on July 22 (local time). The strategy is to further strengthen its dominance in the foldable market by segmenting its existing lineup from standard and flip models into three distinct tiers: standard, Ultra, and Flip.

According to IT and electronics industry sources on July 19, Samsung will showcase three next-generation foldable smartphones — the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, and Galaxy Z Flip 8 — alongside a range of new wearable devices including smartwatches and smart glasses. The most significant changes are the segmentation of the Z Fold lineup and a transformation in physical design.

A ‘Passport-Style’ Foldable with a 4:3 Aspect Ratio Arrives

The newly introduced Galaxy Z Fold 8 is Samsung’s first foldable phone to adopt a 4:3 aspect ratio. With a wider horizontal width and shorter vertical height, its design is reminiscent of a passport. This move is seen as an attempt to address the narrow external screen of previous Fold models when closed, while delivering a user experience closer to that of a tablet.

The device is expected to feature a 5.5-inch cover display and a 7.6-inch internal display. When unfolded, it is anticipated to be 4.1mm thick and weigh around 201g, lighter than its predecessor, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 (215g).

The application processor (AP) will be Qualcomm’s latest chipset, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, supported by 12GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage. Battery capacity has increased by 9% compared to the previous generation to 4,800mAh, with support for 45W wired fast charging.

Ultra Model Differentiation: 200MP Camera and 5,000mAh Battery

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, which inherits the identity of the existing Z Fold series, maintains a 3:2 aspect ratio but features larger displays. It is equipped with an 8-inch main display and a 6.5-inch cover display, and differentiates itself from the standard model with a triple camera system headlined by a 200-megapixel main sensor. The battery capacity is 5,000mAh — the largest ever in a Galaxy Z Fold series device — and supports 45W fast wired charging. The AP is the same Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 as the standard model.

The Galaxy Z Flip 8 will employ a dual-chip strategy, using Qualcomm’s Snapdragon and Samsung’s own Exynos 2600 AP depending on the sales region. The Exynos 2600 is reportedly destined for South Korea and some European countries, while Qualcomm chips will be supplied to North America and China. It features a 4,300mAh battery with 25W wired charging, a 50-megapixel main camera, and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera.

‘Flex Titanium’ Technology Debuts: Reduced Creasing, Enhanced Durability

The entire foldable lineup will feature “Flex Titanium” display technology for the first time. This technology utilizes a titanium alloy material to reduce screen creasing, slim down the device’s thickness, and simultaneously improve durability and power efficiency. The new products will also be the first to ship with the latest operating system, “One UI 9.”

A slight price increase appears inevitable due to rising component costs driven by expanding global demand for AI semiconductors. Overseas, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra 256GB model is mentioned at around $2,099 (approximately 3.1 million won), while the Galaxy Z Fold 8 256GB model is expected to be priced at $1,899 (approximately 2.8 million won). In South Korea, market observers predict the Ultra model’s launch price could range from 2.6 million won (approximately $1,748) to as high as 3 million won (approximately $2,016).

Samsung Semiconductor Eyes Non-Memory Rebound

The new products incorporate a significant number of key components from Samsung affiliates, making them crucial for a second-half earnings rebound. In particular, the Exynos 2600 — designed by System LSI and manufactured using the foundry’s 2-nanometer process — is being adopted for the Flip 8 following the Galaxy S26, signaling a ramp-up in shipments. This has raised expectations for a recovery in the underperforming non-memory sectors, including System LSI and the foundry business. Securities analysts are cautiously projecting a potential turnaround to profitability as early as the first half of next year.

Samsung Display supplied OLED panels with reduced creasing and thinner profiles, while Samsung Electro-Mechanics provided silicon capacitors, camera modules, and semiconductor package substrates, securing performance momentum. The MX (Mobile eXperience) division is also expected to improve profitability by reducing its reliance on expensive Qualcomm chips.

AI Ecosystem Expansion: Smart Glasses and Watch Unveiled

Beyond smartphones, wearable devices encompassing the AI ecosystem will also be revealed. The Galaxy Glass, an Android-based smart glass developed in collaboration with Google, is highly likely to have its detailed specifications, pricing, and release schedule announced at this Unpacked event. Galaxy Glass is generating anticipation as an AI device that supports AI assistant voice conversations, real-time translation, navigation, and camera-based information search without needing a smartphone. The design, created in collaboration with global eyewear brands like Gentle Monster and Warby Parker, focuses on a form factor suitable for everyday wear.

The Galaxy Watch 9 series and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 will also be unveiled. They reportedly feature significantly enhanced AI-powered health management functions, including vital signs monitoring, heart health scores, daily aerobic load, physical fitness index, and hearing measurement, along with improved battery efficiency and performance over previous models.

South Korea’s Three Mobile Carriers Kick Off Pre-Marketing Race

Meanwhile, South Korea’s three major mobile carriers have entered a pre-marketing competition ahead of the new product launch. Starting July 18 through July 26, SK Telecom, KT, and LG Uplus are accepting pre-registration notifications for the “New Galaxy” and offering discount coupons and reward points. SK Telecom will provide vouchers worth up to 300,000 won (approximately $202) and 5,000 Naver Pay points through a lottery. KT is offering an instant 100,000 won (approximately $67) discount coupon without a lottery. LG Uplus is providing discount coupons of up to 150,000 won (approximately $101) on a first-come, first-served basis.