Samsung Unpacked 2026: Z Fold 8, Flip 8, Galaxy Watch 9 & Ultra 2

Samsung held its Galaxy Unpacked event on July 22, 2026, in London, pulling the wraps off a new generation of foldables and wearables. The company promised to “introduce its latest Galaxy innovations that build on its leadership in foldables, combining intelligent capabilities and new form factors to deliver more personal, adaptive experiences and set a new standard for the AI era.” The headline acts: the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Z Fold 8 Ultra, Z Flip 8, Galaxy Watch 9, and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2. But as the hardware gets wider, thinner, and more capable, the price tags are climbing — and some familiar compromises remain.

• Galaxy Z Fold 8: Wider design, $1,900, no telephoto camera
• Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra: Significant improvement, higher price
• Galaxy Z Flip 8: Cover screen nearly a full phone; may be last Flip model
• Galaxy Watch 9 & Watch Ultra 2: Better battery, new chips, health metrics, price hikes
• AI & Future: Deeper Gemini integration, possible Galaxy Glasses

The Z Fold 8: Wider, Pricier, and Missing a Key Lens

The standard Galaxy Z Fold 8 adopts a wider design that early hands-on reports describe as feeling “just right.” One ZDNET editor called it their favorite product of Unpacked 2026. The form factor shift addresses a long-standing criticism of Samsung’s book-style foldables: the narrow front display. By expanding the cover screen, Samsung makes the Fold 8 more usable when closed, bringing it closer to the feel of a traditional slab phone.

But the wider body comes with a notable omission. The Verge reports that the Z Fold 8 carries a $1,900 price tag and lacks a telephoto camera. For a device that costs nearly two thousand dollars, the absence of a dedicated zoom lens is a head-scratcher. Samsung seems to be positioning the Fold 8 as an entertainment-first device — ZDNET’s headline “Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 places entertainment over productivity” reinforces that shift. If you want a true camera flagship, the Ultra model is the obvious alternative.

Z Fold 8 Ultra: Finally Getting It Right

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is the device that a seven-year foldable user at ZDNET says “finally gets it right.” It’s being compared favorably against the Motorola Razr Fold, Google Pixel Fold 10 Pro, and even Samsung’s own Galaxy Z Fold 6, with one reviewer claiming the Ultra is better “in every conceivable way” than the Fold 6. The Ultra model appears to address the hardware shortcomings that plagued earlier generations, offering a more polished, premium experience.

That said, the Ultra commands a higher price — a recurring theme across the entire Unpacked lineup. And while the Ultra is impressive, not every reviewer is sold on it as the flagship to buy. One ZDNET writer noted that the Ultra is “impressive, but it’s not the flagship I’m drawn to,” suggesting that the standard Fold 8’s wider design may appeal to a broader audience despite its camera trade-off.

Z Flip 8: Cover Screen as a Full Phone

The Galaxy Z Flip 8 continues Samsung’s clamshell foldable line, and early impressions are striking. The Verge’s David Imel wrote, “I almost forgot Samsung’s Z Flip 8 was a foldable. Cover screen? More like cover phone.” The cover display has grown so large and functional that it effectively serves as a standalone phone for many tasks, reducing the need to flip open the device.

However, a rumor circulating ahead of the event suggests this could be the last Flip model. TechRadar reports that Samsung is “reportedly planning to abandon small-screen foldables after the Galaxy Z Flip 8.” If true, the Flip 8 may be the final chapter for Samsung’s clamshell form factor. Samsung has not confirmed this, and the company’s official messaging at Unpacked focused on the Flip 8’s capabilities, not its future.

Galaxy Watch 9 and Watch Ultra 2: Battery First

Samsung’s wearable lineup also got a refresh. The Galaxy Watch 9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 both “bet big on battery,” according to The Verge. The watches sport a new chip, larger batteries, and new health metrics. ZDNET’s first look describes them as “Better Battery, Better AI, Higher Price.” The Watch Ultra 2 is being positioned as a true rival to the Apple Watch Ultra 3, with one reviewer calling it a “true Apple Watch Ultra 3 rival” after a week of use.

The battery improvements are welcome, but the price hikes are hard to ignore. Samsung is clearly pushing its wearables upmarket, and the Watch Ultra 2 in particular targets the premium segment. For existing Galaxy Watch 8 owners, ZDNET has published a comparison advising whether the upgrade is worth it.

What the Z Fold 7 Taught Us About the Fold 8

A year-long review of the Galaxy Z Fold 7, published the day before Unpacked, offers a useful lens for evaluating the Fold 8. The reviewer, Ben Schoon of 9to5Google, called the Fold 7 “the first one that, as a reviewer, I’ve actually managed to keep in my pocket all year long.” He praised the hardware, saying it “stood the test of time, with only a couple of scars.” He used the Fold 7 without a case — just a skin and screen protector — and reported only minor scuffs on the chassis.

But the review also flagged persistent issues. The Fold 7’s “lack of grip in opening the display” and “that godawful camera bump that makes it impossible to use this thing on a table without sending out alerts in Morse code” are design flaws that the Fold 8 may or may not have addressed. The wider body of the Fold 8 could improve grip, but early hands-on reports haven’t specifically addressed the camera bump wobble. The missing telephoto on the Fold 8 is a separate concern — one that the Fold 7 also lacked, and one that the Ultra model solves.

The reviewer’s worry heading into Unpacked was that the Fold 8 would “make the same mistakes.” Based on what we’ve seen so far, Samsung has made meaningful strides in form factor and display size, but the camera compromise on the base Fold 8 and the high prices across the board suggest that not every lesson from the Fold 7 has been fully applied.

AI and the Bigger Picture

Samsung is leaning heavily into AI as a differentiator. The company promises “more full-fledged Gemini intelligence” for its new foldables, with deeper integration of Google’s AI assistant. The event also hinted at possible Galaxy Glasses, though Samsung has not confirmed any details. The broader strategy is clear: Samsung wants its foldables to be seen as AI-first devices, not just bendable screens.

Competition is fierce. Motorola’s Razr Fold and Razr Ultra, Google’s Pixel Fold 10 Pro, and the Oppo Find N6 and Honor Magic V6 are all vying for attention in the premium foldable space. Samsung’s advantage remains its hardware polish and ecosystem integration, but the price increases and the potential end of the Flip line could reshape the market.

Should You Upgrade?

For Z Fold 6 and earlier owners, the Z Fold 8 Ultra appears to be a compelling upgrade. For Z Fold 7 owners, the decision is less clear — the Fold 7 hardware held up well, and the Fold 8’s wider design may not justify the cost unless the Ultra’s camera and performance gains matter to you. Flip 7 owners face an even tougher call: if this is indeed the last Flip, the Flip 8 might be worth grabbing for the expanded cover screen alone, but the uncertainty around the line’s future is a risk.

Galaxy Watch 8 owners will see meaningful battery and health metric improvements in the Watch 9 and Watch Ultra 2, but the price hike means the upgrade is more about need than want. For anyone coming from an older watch, the new chips and larger batteries make the Watch 9 a solid choice, and the Watch Ultra 2 is a genuine competitor to Apple’s premium wearable.

Samsung Unpacked 2026 delivered iterative but meaningful hardware updates, a wider Fold 8 that feels right, an Ultra that finally satisfies long-time foldable users, and a Flip 8 that may be the last of its kind. The trade-offs — missing telephoto, higher prices, uncertain Flip future — are real. But for those ready to buy, the choices are clearer than ever.