Samsung Galaxy Unpacked: Fold 8 Ultra, Flip 8 and AI Upgrades Explained

Galaxy Unpacked in London: Foldables Take Center Stage

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2026 is a major launch event held in London where Samsung revealed three new foldable smartphones, two smartwatches, and new AI-powered glasses, marking one of the biggest shake-ups to its Galaxy device ecosystem with upgraded hardware, software, and Galaxy AI features across the lineup. This Unpacked is not about small tweaks; it signals that Samsung now thinks foldables and AI belong in the mainstream, not on the fringe. The company introduced the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, a redesigned Galaxy Z Fold 8, and the Galaxy Z Flip 8, with foldable phone pricing starting at USD 1,199.99 (approx. RM5,520) for the Flip 8 and climbing to USD 2,099.99 (approx. RM9,660) for the Fold 8 Ultra. Alongside these phones come the Galaxy Watch 9, Watch Ultra 2, and a first pair of AI-powered Galaxy Glasses built with Google, expanding the Galaxy ecosystem beyond just phones.

Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra: The Flagship Fold for Power Buyers

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is clearly designed as Samsung’s no‑compromise foldable for buyers who treat their phone as a primary work and entertainment machine. It carries the Ultra branding for the first time in a Fold, and the spec sheet backs that up: an 8‑inch foldable display paired with a 6.5‑inch outer screen, both with 120Hz adaptive refresh rates, plus a thickness of only 4.1 mm when unfolded and a weight of 215 grams, making it Samsung’s thinnest Fold yet. A Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy processor, up to 16 GB RAM and 1 TB storage, a 5,000mAh silicon‑carbon battery with 45W wired charging, and a 200MP main camera anchor the hardware. It runs Android 17 with One UI 9 and includes Galaxy AI tools like Now Nudge, Gemini Intelligence, and Gemini Notebook. Priced from USD 2,099.99 (approx. RM9,660), this is a serious investment and only makes sense if you will exploit its big screen and AI features daily.

Galaxy Z Fold 8: Passport-Style Redesign for Everyday Use

If the Ultra feels like a productivity beast, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 looks tailored for people who want a foldable that behaves more like a practical everyday phone. Samsung has given it a passport‑like design that makes the device shorter while widening the 5.5‑inch cover screen, so more tasks can be completed without unfolding. Inside, you still get a 7.6‑inch foldable OLED display with an adaptive 1–120Hz refresh rate, powered by the same Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip, up to 16 GB RAM, and up to 1 TB of storage. The camera setup includes a 50MP primary, 50MP ultra‑wide, and dual 10MP selfie shooters, while a 4,800mAh silicon‑carbon battery supports 45W fast charging. Galaxy AI tools such as Now Nudge, Gemini Intelligence, and Gemini Notebook are built in, and buyers get six months of Google AI Pro at no extra cost. With pricing starting at USD 1,899.99 (approx. RM8,730), the Fold 8 is the more balanced choice for shoppers who want a large foldable without paying Ultra money.

Galaxy Z Flip 8 Specs and AI: Style Meets Smarter Features

The Galaxy Z Flip 8 targets buyers who care as much about style and pocketability as raw power. Samsung keeps the familiar clamshell look but makes the phone slimmer, while a 6.9‑inch foldable main display and 4.1‑inch FlexWindow cover screen give it more room for content and glanceable info. In America it uses the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor; overseas versions switch to the Exynos 2600, paired with 12 GB RAM and up to 512 GB of storage. The camera system features a 50MP main, 12MP ultra‑wide, and 10MP selfie sensor, backed by a 4,300mAh battery with 25W wired charging. Where the Flip 8 stands out for everyday buyers is its Galaxy AI integration on the FlexWindow: Personalized Now Brief updates and Gemini Intelligence help users complete tasks more quickly right from the cover screen. At a starting price of USD 1,199.99 (approx. RM5,520), it is the least expensive entry into Samsung’s latest foldable generation.

Galaxy Watch 9, Watch Ultra 2 and Glasses: The Ecosystem Play

Samsung did not stop at phones; it used Unpacked to push a broader Galaxy ecosystem argument that matters if you are already locked into its devices. Three foldable handsets arrived alongside the Galaxy Watch 9, the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, and AI‑powered Galaxy Glasses co‑developed with Google. The Watch Ultra 2 brings a thinner titanium body, LTE on all models, a 47mm display with up to 5,000‑nit brightness, 2 GB RAM, 64 GB storage, and an 800mAh battery rated for about 60 hours of use with Always‑On Display enabled, with a starting price of USD 699.99 (approx. RM3,220). The Watch 9 offers 40mm and 44mm options, Bluetooth or LTE, 2 GB RAM, 32 GB storage, and peak brightness of 3,000 nits, with batteries sized at 390mAh and 445mAh respectively. Health‑focused tools like Heart Health Score, Daily Cardio Load, and Nutrition Alert show that Samsung wants its watches to be daily wellness companions, not just notification screens. For buyers, the pitch is clear: the more Galaxy hardware you own, the more value you can pull from Galaxy AI.