Samsung's foldable lineup now has three tiers. The Galaxy Z Fold8, Z Fold8 Ultra and Z Flip8, unveiled at a Galaxy Unpacked event in London on July 22 and on sale since Aug. 7, split what was once a single Fold model into a wider range of prices and screen sizes, according to Samsung's newsroom.
The Z Fold8 Ultra is the first "Ultra" branding applied to a Samsung foldable, aimed at buyers who want the biggest screen and the most processing power. It starts at $2,099.99 and pairs an 8-inch inner display with a titanium frame, a 200-megapixel main camera, a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy chip, and a 5,000mAh battery, per GSMArena's specifications listing. The standard Z Fold8 undercuts it at $1,899 for the 256GB model, with a 7.6-inch inner display Samsung describes as "near crease-free," a lighter 201-gram body — the lightest Fold yet — dual 50-megapixel main and ultrawide cameras, and a 4,800mAh battery. The Z Flip8 rounds out the range as the compact, clamshell-style option built around everyday portability rather than screen real estate.
The tiered approach mirrors what Samsung has already done with its Galaxy S phones, where a base model, a Plus and an Ultra serve different budgets and use cases under one release cycle. Positioning the Fold8 Ultra as a productivity-first device and the standard Fold8 around media and creativity gives Samsung two price points to compete against Apple's rumored foldable iPhone and China's Honor and Huawei foldables, both of which have gained ground in the segment over the past two years.
All three devices are now shipping through Samsung's website and major US carriers. The split lineup arrives as rivals close in on the foldable category Samsung has led since 2019: Honor, Huawei and other Chinese manufacturers have pushed thinner and lighter folding phones in recent product cycles, and Apple has been widely rumored to be preparing its first folding iPhone. For now, Samsung's bet is that offering three distinct foldable price points and screen sizes — rather than one — will hold on to buyers who might otherwise wait for a competitor's design or trade down to a conventional flagship.