Samsung sets July 22nd date for Unpacked to launch Galaxy Z Fold 8 series of foldable phones
Samsung has just announced the date of its next Galaxy Unpacked event, where the company is expected to unveil a new slate of foldable phones and wearable devices. This time, the event is scheduled for July 22, and will move to London. As usual, it will also be broadcast live for those watching at home via Samsung’s official website, newsroom portal, and the brand’s official YouTube channel. The event will start at 2 pm BST, 9 am EDT, and 3 pm CEST.
What can you expect from Galaxy Unpacked 2026?
In its official blog post, Samsung talks about foldable smartphones, but this time, the focus will not only be on the form but also on the new software that will be driven by AI features. “Combining smart capabilities with new form factors, the next generation of Galaxy devices is set to deliver a personalized and flexible experience and set a new standard for the AI era,” the company said.
Unlike a few years ago, we won’t see two, but three foldable phone designs, if the leak is anything to go by. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra will be the flagship foldable phone offered this year. The Galaxy Z Flip 8 will attract clamshell foldable phones. A new addition to the portfolio, this time it will be the Galaxy Z Fold 8, or, as some leaks say, it could be presented as the Galaxy Z Fold Wide.
This one will be slightly wider and shorter than Samsung’s book-style foldable phones, and may look similar to Microsoft’s Surface Duo or Oppo’s Find N2 foldable phones that were introduced years ago. More importantly, Samsung’s upcoming wide-style foldable phone will serve as a precursor to Apple’s foldable iPhone which is expected to launch later this year.
Juicy bits, and bad news
Not much is expected to change in terms of the design language of other Galaxy foldable phones. The most notable change, however, will come from the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra. According to a recent leak, it will use the same technology as the Oppo Find N6, which has managed to dramatically reduce the crease in the internal flexible display panel. For years, the crease has been one of the most persistent issues with foldable phones, and it looks like Samsung has finally cracked the formula. It won’t shrink by 100%, as some rumors predict about the iPhone Fold, but the improvement will be noticeable.
The bad news, however, is that prices can go up significantly. For example, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is expected to cost around $2,500, which equates to an increase of around $114 based on current conversion rates. As you go higher and grab the 1TB storage model, you can end up paying more than $319 more than what the current generation Galaxy Z Fold 7 costs. Similarly, the asking price of the Galaxy Z 8 Flip may increase by almost $200 compared to its predecessor. The ongoing memory shortage is likely the cause of the price hike, and it doesn’t look like the problem is going away anytime soon.
