23/07/2026 10:20 - Tecnologia
July 22, 2026 marked a milestone in the smartphone industry. Samsung presented during its Galaxy Unpacked event in London a new generation of foldable devices that promises to redefine the market. With the arrival of the Galaxy Z Fold8, the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, and the Galaxy Z Flip8, the South Korean company not only renews its flagship line but also sends a clear message to its main rival, Apple, which is preparing to enter this segment in September.
The battle for smartphone dominance enters a new phase. For nearly a decade, Samsung has led the foldable phone market, a category that represents a small but highly profitable portion of the industry. Drew Blackard, senior vice president of mobile product management at Samsung, told CNN that Apple's entry could benefit the industry by bringing more attention to these devices.
People now more or less know what a foldable is, but many consumers in the United States have never even touched or felt one.
The standard model debuts a passport format, wider and shorter than its predecessors. With an outer screen of 5.5 inches and an inner screen of 7.6 inches with a 4:3 aspect ratio, it is designed for reading and video consumption. It weighs only 201 grams and is 4.5 mm thick when unfolded. Its battery is 4,800 mAh.
The top-tier model for productivity. It offers a main screen of 8 inches and an outer screen of 6.5 inches. Despite its size, it is the thinnest Fold to date at 4.1 mm open and 215 grams. It features a 5,000 mAh battery and a 200 MP main camera.
The clamshell format for personal expression. It is the thinnest and lightest of its kind: 6.1 mm thick when open and 180 grams. Its FlexWindow outer screen of 4.1 inches allows multitasking without opening the phone. It has a main screen of 6.9 inches and a 4,300 mAh battery.
One of the biggest historical complaints from foldable users was the visible crease in the center of the screen. Samsung introduces Flex Titanium technology, a titanium alloy layer beneath the panel that absorbs impacts and significantly reduces the visibility of the fold, both visually and to the touch.
Another key advancement is the incorporation of silicon-carbon batteries, a technology that offers higher energy density in smaller spaces. This allows the Fold8 Ultra to pack 5,000 mAh in an extremely thin body, while the standard model reaches 4,800 mAh.
The entire new Galaxy Z series integrates Google's Gemini Nano 4 artificial intelligence model, which runs directly on the device and supports over 140 languages. Through Gemini Intelligence, users can automate routines in over 40 compatible applications, from booking a restaurant to buying tickets for a show.
Furthermore, the Gemini Notebook app allows dragging files, audio, and images into a workspace for the AI to generate summaries, presentations, or podcasts. Each purchase includes six months free of Google AI Pro, with 5 TB of cloud storage.
The new format of the Galaxy Z Fold8 is practically a sneak peek of the much-anticipated foldable iPhone. According to various leaks, Apple will present its first foldable device at its annual September 2026 event, using panels supplied by Samsung Display.
The shift in proportions to a squarer format, with a 4:3 ratio, aims for an experience similar to an iPad mini when unfolded. In fact, according to Counterpoint Research analysts, foldable shipments are estimated to grow 21% annually in 2026, driven largely by Apple's entry, which could capture 25% of the market against Samsung's 32%.
Samsung has not officially confirmed prices, but according to iProfesional, the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra would start at approximately $2,099, the Fold8 at $1,899, and the Flip8 at $1,199. The new devices will hit stores starting August 7, 2026 in selected markets.
The presentation was not limited to phones. Samsung also previewed the Galaxy Watch Ultra2 and the Galaxy Watch9 series, which incorporate the 3-nanometer Snapdragon Wear Elite processor for constant health monitoring, including sleep apnea detection.
The big surprise was the smart glasses, developed alongside Google, Qualcomm, and brands like Warby Parker and Gentle Monster. Weighing just 50 grams and featuring the Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 platform, they offer real-time assistance, translations, and video calls. Their official market launch is scheduled for the Northern Hemisphere's autumn.
Sources: CNN en Español, Samsung Newsroom, Applesfera, iProfesional, Xataka.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
