[DigitalToday reporter Jin-ho Lee] Samsung Electronics is targeting the premium foldable phone market by unveiling the Galaxy Z series with an added "Ultra" model. It is further segmenting its foldable lineup and bolstering leadership in the foldable market by putting agentic AI at the forefront.

Samsung Electronics on July 22 (local time) unveiled the Galaxy Z Fold8, Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra and Galaxy Z Flip8 at its Galaxy Unpacked 2026 event in London.

◆'Ultra' added to Z series... lineup expands to three models

The Galaxy Z Fold8 is a model focused on content viewing. It offers a 5.5-inch cover display when folded and a 7.6-inch main display in a 4:3 ratio when unfolded. It weighs 201 grams, the lightest among Fold models to date, and has a 4,800 mAh battery.

It applies 50-megapixel cameras for both wide-angle and ultra-wide. It also supports Dual Recording, which captures front and rear cameras at the same time, and My Fan Cam, which automatically tracks a specific person and edits video.

The Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra is the first top-end model applied to the foldable lineup. It has an 8-inch main display, a 200-megapixel main camera and a 5,000 mAh battery. When unfolded, it is 4.1 mm thick, the thinnest among Fold models to date, and weighs 215 grams.

For the first time in the Fold series, it applies a 50-megapixel ultra-wide camera and supports 8K video recording and Cine LUT, which delivers a film-like color tone. It also introduces up to 45W fast charging and a dual pass charging system for the first time in the Galaxy Z series.

The Galaxy Z Flip8 is designed to be the thinnest and lightest Flip model to date at 180 grams and 6.1 mm thick when unfolded. Through its cover screen, FlexWindow, users can check apps and customised information or use AI features without unfolding the device. It also adds new features including Camcorder Grip for filming while holding the device like a camcorder, Zoom Rocker to adjust zoom speed and Mirror View to use the screen like a hand mirror.

Samsung Electronics first applied its Flex Titanium technology to the Fold8 and Fold8 Ultra, combining a titanium alloy film with a reinforced titanium plate. It said the technology enhances durability while reducing creases on the foldable display.

◆From delivery to shopping... agentic AI improves user experience

The core of the Galaxy Z 8 series is agentic AI. Galaxy AI and Google’s Gemini Intelligence understand the context of the screen and content a user is viewing and automatically run more than 40 apps for delivery, reservations and shopping.

It also offers a feature called Now Nudge that suggests registering a schedule when a user makes plans with a friend and recommends saving a location when a user searches for a place. On the large screen, the AI’s work process is shown along with a chat window so users can see everything at a glance, from searching for information to actual execution.

Security features were also strengthened. It applied Personal Data Engine, which processes personalised AI functions on the device, along with KEEP, which separates encrypted storage spaces by app, and Knox Vault, which stores key information in a separate security area.

The new operating system, One UI 9, adds a dashboard that lets users check the execution history of AI automation features. It also provides privacy protection alerts that detect and notify users of sensitive information or unnecessary background permission access.

Roh Tae-moon (노태문), president and head of the DX Division at Samsung Electronics, said the new Galaxy Z series is Samsung Electronics’ most complete foldable product. He said it will provide customised services to open an era of next-generation intelligence.

Pre-orders in South Korea will run from July 28 to Aug. 3, and the official release is Aug. 7. Based on the 256GB model, prices are 2,577,300 won for the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, 2,278,100 won for the Galaxy Z Fold8 and 1,683,000 won for the Galaxy Z Flip8.