Samsung has expanded its foldable smartphone lineup with the launch of the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold8 and Galaxy Z Flip8, as competition in the premium smartphone market continues to heat up ahead of Apple’s expected foldable iPhone debut.
The new devices were unveiled alongside the Galaxy Watch Ultra and Galaxy Watch9, with Samsung focusing on slimmer designs, improved durability and more powerful performance.
The flagship Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra features an 8-inch foldable display, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, up to 16GB of RAM, a 200MP main camera and a 5,000mAh battery. Samsung says a redesigned hinge and titanium-reinforced display improve durability while reducing the visibility of the screen crease.
Meanwhile, the Galaxy Z Fold8 introduces a shorter, wider book-style design that many industry analysts believe is similar to the foldable iPhone Apple is expected to reveal later this year.
Samsung says the new form factor reflects growing consumer demand rather than a response to competitors, with the company expecting book-style foldables to become increasingly mainstream.
The devices also support Wi-Fi 7, run Android 17 with One UI 9, and carry IP48 water resistance ratings.
Samsung executives also warned that rising memory chip costs are likely to push smartphone prices higher across the industry in the coming months.
In South Africa, the Galaxy Z Flip8 starts at R26,999, while the Galaxy Z Fold8 is priced from R40,999. The premium Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra carries a starting price of R50,999.
Samsung expects foldable devices to continue driving growth in the premium smartphone segment, with the Fold series forecast to account for the majority of foldable sales in the local market.
Main Image: NBC News
