Samsung opens preorders for Galaxy Z Fold 8, Fold 8 Ultra and Flip 8 ahead of August launch

Samsung has officially opened preorders for its 2026 foldable smartphone lineup, comprising the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and Galaxy Z Flip 8. The devices are scheduled for an official launch on 7 August, following their unveiling at the second Galaxy Unpacked event in London on 22 July. The announcement marks a strategic pivot in the company’s premium hardware strategy, introducing a wider, shorter "wide-body" design for the Ultra model focused on media consumption, while the standard Fold 8 targets productivity and entertainment.

Pricing has increased across the board, reflecting component shortages and hardware upgrades. The Galaxy Z Flip 8 starts at $1,199.99 for the base model with 256GB of storage and 12GB of RAM, rising to $1,399.99 for the 512GB variant. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 begins at $1,899.99 for the 256GB model, scaling to $2,499.99 for the 1TB version. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, positioned as the most capable device in the series, starts at $2,099.99, with prices reaching $2,699.99 for the 1TB configuration.

All three models are powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy processor and ship with Android 17 and One UI 9. The software update introduces new artificial intelligence features, including Gemini Intelligence task automation and "Now Nudge," which proactively suggests calendar events. Buyers purchasing directly from Samsung also receive a six-month trial of Google AI Pro, integrating further AI capabilities into the device experience.

Hardware specifications vary significantly between the two book-style foldables. The Fold 8 Ultra features a 5,000mAh silicon-carbon battery, 45W wired charging and an upgraded camera system with a 50-megapixel ultrawide sensor alongside its 200-megapixel main camera. In contrast, the standard Fold 8 utilises a 4,800mAh battery and drops the telephoto lens found in previous models in favour of a dual-camera system, while adopting a 4:3 aspect ratio inner display better suited for reading and gaming.

Retailers are offering substantial incentives to drive early adoption. Amazon is providing a $350 gift card for preorders of both the Fold 8 and Fold 8 Ultra, while Best Buy is offering a $200 gift card for all three models. Direct Samsung preorders include $200 in Samsung credit, a $30 reservation credit for early reservers and a $100 discount with the code PAYPAL100. The Flip 8 preorder incentives include a $200 gift card from both Amazon and Best Buy, alongside $150 in Samsung credit for direct buyers.