Samsung is preparing three new foldable smartphones: Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Flip 8, as well as the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide, which will serve as a “foldable” complement to the flagship Galaxy S26 series introduced in early 2026. Leaks from recent weeks paint a fairly detailed picture: a bigger battery, faster charging, the return of the S Pen stylus, and a fundamentally new Wide model with tablet-like screen proportions. Let’s find out what exactly is known and who should already be eyeing the new devices.
Renders of Samsung’s new foldable smartphones
Samsung’s 2026 Foldable Smartphones: What Leaks Have Revealed
This year, Samsung is changing its approach to its foldable device lineup. Instead of the usual two models, the company plans to release three at once: the classic book-style Galaxy Z Fold 8, the clamshell Galaxy Z Flip 8, and a newcomer — the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide with a wide screen designed to compete with the anticipated foldable iPhone from Apple.
Samsung will unveil the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide for the first time.
A leak of dummy units from insider Sonny Dickson showed all three devices in open and closed states. The dummies appear to be made of aluminum and give an idea of the real dimensions of each model. An interesting detail: ring magnets are visible on the back panels of all three devices, hinting at built-in magnetic wireless charging support. Until now, Samsung relied on special cases with Qi2 standard support for an effect similar to Apple MagSafe, but now it seems magnets may be built directly into the body.
However, it’s worth noting that these dummies may well be templates for case manufacturers rather than final device samples. There’s no official confirmation from Samsung yet.
Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Fold 8 Wide Specifications
Design of Samsung’s new foldable smartphones
Externally, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 smartphone is virtually indistinguishable from its predecessor: the same contours, flat edges, and similar camera placement. But significant improvements are expected inside. According to leaks, the main upgrade is a battery with a capacity of around 5,000 mAh instead of the 4,400 mAh in the Z Fold 7. This is really important: the battery capacity in Samsung’s book-style foldable devices hadn’t changed for five generations in a row. Additionally, wired charging speed may increase from 25W to 45W, bringing it in line with the flagship Galaxy S26 series.
Expected Galaxy Z Fold 8 specifications:
- Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy processor
- 8-inch internal Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, 120 Hz, up to 2,600 nits brightness
- 6.5-inch external display
- Cameras: 200 MP main, 50 MP ultrawide (was 12 MP), 12 MP telephoto (was 10 MP)
- 12/256 GB, 12/512 GB, or 16 GB/1 TB RAM and storage options
- Possible return of S Pen stylus support
- Approximately 20% reduction in screen crease visibility thanks to dual ultra-thin glass technology and laser-processed metal plate
- One UI 9 based on Android 17
The S Pen stylus deserves special mention. Samsung removed its support from the Z Fold 7 to achieve a thinner body, and many users were unhappy about it. According to rumors, the stylus will return in the Z Fold 8, with the body becoming slightly thicker (by approximately 0.3 mm). In practice, the difference in hand will be hard to notice.
Galaxy Z Fold 8 render based on blueprints. Source: androidauthority.com
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide smartphone offers an entirely new form factor. It’s also a book-style foldable, but in landscape orientation: shorter and wider than the standard Fold 8. The internal screen will have a 4:3 aspect ratio (like an iPad), which is more convenient for working with documents, multitasking, and watching videos. The internal display diagonal will be 7.6 inches, and the external one — 5.4 inches. When folded, the device will be thinner than the HUAWEI Pura X Max: 9.8 mm when folded and 4.3 mm when unfolded. There are two cameras on the back panel: presumably a 200 MP main and a 12 MP ultrawide.
Galaxy Z Flip 8 Specifications and Features
The Galaxy Z Flip 8 smartphone is a clamshell, and here Samsung is betting not on radical changes but on refinement. The main innovation is a thinner body: when folded, the device will be approximately half a millimeter more compact (13.2 mm versus 13.7 mm for the Flip 7). Not much, but noticeable during daily carry in a pocket, as owners of the predecessor can attest.
The processor will be upgraded to the new Samsung Exynos 2600, manufactured on a 2-nanometer process. This is the Koreans’ own chip, and it should be more power-efficient than its predecessor. Meanwhile, the cameras and battery will reportedly remain the same as the Z Flip 7: 50 MP main + 12 MP ultrawide, with unchanged battery capacity.
Dummy units of Samsung’s new foldable smartphones. Source: androidauthority.com
The software platform is One UI 9 based on Android 17. Among the new features of the Samsung shell, Foreign Material Detection may appear (a warning system if something foreign gets caught between the halves of the foldable screen). This is a useful small feature: a grain of sand or crumb getting into the fold is one of the most common causes of screen damage in foldable smartphones. Who should wait for the Z Flip 8: owners of the Z Flip 5 and older, as well as those considering a clamshell for the first time. For Z Flip 7 owners, the upgrade is likely not justified. The difference will be minimal.
Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Flip 8 Release Date
According to information from Korean sources, Samsung plans to unveil all three foldable smartphones at the Galaxy Unpacked event on July 22, 2026. The venue is London, which would be the first time Samsung presents strategic devices in the British capital. Sales are expected to begin in August.
Samsung traditionally announces foldable smartphones in summer: the Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 were presented in July 2025, and previous generations were also announced in July-August. So the stated date looks quite realistic. There are no exact dates for the Russian market yet. Samsung continues to officially sell devices in Russia through authorized partners, but regional sales launch dates are usually announced separately and may differ by several weeks from the global launch.
Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Flip 8 Price in Russia
According to a leak from insider TheGalox_, Galaxy Z Fold 8 prices in the US will be:
- 12/256 GB — $1,999 (approximately from 215,000 ₽ in Russia)
- 12/512 GB — $2,199 (approximately from 237,000 ₽ in Russia)
- 16 GB/1024 GB — $2,499 (approximately from 269,000 ₽ in Russia)
The base price matches the Galaxy Z Fold 7, while the higher-end variants have increased by approximately $80. Considering rising memory component prices and the overall semiconductor market situation, maintaining the starting price is rather good news.
The Galaxy Z Flip 8, according to rumors, will also retain its predecessor’s price: around $1,099 for the base version (approximately from 119,000 ₽ in Russia). However, some sources suggest a slight increase due to rising component costs. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide price has not yet been confirmed from reliable sources. One leak mentioned a starting price of $1,799 (approximately from 194,000 ₽ in Russia), but this information should be taken with caution. Actual Russian prices tend to be higher than direct currency conversion due to logistics, customs duties, and seller markups. Final prices will become known closer to launch.
