Samsung (005930.KS) is launching three new foldable phones as it pushes deeper into the market that it helped pioneer across seven generations of devices.
The lineup includes the Galaxy Z Fold 8, which sports a new form factor; the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, designed for productivity; and the Galaxy Z Flip 8.
Samsung's smartphones come just two months ahead of the long-rumored September launch of Apple's foldable iPhone, setting up a major showdown between the rivals.
The $1,899 Fold 8 and $2,099 Fold 8 Ultra are book-like foldables, while the $1,199 Flip 8 features a clamshell style. And yes, the prices for the Ultra and Flip are slightly higher this time around. You can likely thank AI for that.
The Fold 8 is a squatter foldable than the Fold 8 Ultra, sporting a slightly smaller 5.5-inch front screen versus the Fold 8 Ultra's 6.5-inch panel. The Fold 8's main inside screen is also a hair short of the Fold 8 Ultra's at 7.6 inches versus 8 inches.
The difference comes down to the Fold 8's aspect ratio, which Samsung says is meant for consuming content like videos and social media, as well as playing games. The Fold 8 Ultra, meanwhile, gets bigger displays for working on spreadsheets, multiple documents, and presentations.
Think of the Fold 8 as a Fold 8 Ultra, but squished. That's not a knock on it, either. I actually preferred how unique the Fold 8 looked and felt during a brief preview hosted by Samsung.
What's especially interesting about the Fold 8's design is that it appears to cut a similar figure to early leaks of Apple's (AAPL) foldable iPhone.
The Fold 8 Ultra gets more premium features than the Fold 8, including a three-camera setup with wide, telephoto, and ultra-wide-angle lenses. The Fold 8 gets wide-angle and ultra-wide-angle lenses.
The Flip 8, my favorite style of foldable, gets a 4.1-inch cover screen, allowing you to quickly glance at apps and alerts, and a larger 6.9-inch main screen. It's meant to be a more portable device that doesn't take up too much space in your pocket or bag. And there's nothing more satisfying than hanging up on someone by snapping it shut.
All three phones get Qualcomm (QCOM) processors, as well as Samsung's Galaxy AI and Google's Gemini AI service.
Samsung is the reigning foldable smartphone leader. Counterpoint Research estimates that the company captured 40% of the global market in 2025, followed by Huawei with 30%.
But the industry is set for a shift as Apple enters the space later this year. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, its device will likely cost more than $2,000, lining up with Samsung's own offerings.