Samsung reshapes the smartphone with the Galaxy Z Fold8

Sometimes the world of smartphones is entirely predictable, other times there are changes in design or features that feel like a leap forward for devices and therefore consumers.  

Samsung’s latest foldable smartphone taps into the latter with an all-new design that’s set to not just reshape the industry but draw a line in the sand ahead of a likely entrance into the market segment by its No.1 competitor, Apple.

At an event in London on Wednesday, Samsung revealed its Galaxy Z range of smartphones with foldable screens, including two designs now into their eighth iteration and one very new-look device that’s set to capture most of the attention.

These devices follow on from a remarkably successful year for Samsung’s Fold smartphone.  Launched this time last year, the Galaxy Z Fold7 was the most successful foldable for Samsung to date. Fold device sales grew 48 per cent compared to the previous Fold6, helping fuel a tripling of the user base since 2021.

What’s remarkable is Samsung’s own data shows 62 per cent of Fold7 buyers last year were new to the Fold series and 21 per cent were new to Samsung.

In fact, 9News can reveal that 17 per cent of Samsung’s Z series sales come from iOS (Apple) smartphone owners, demonstrating a genuine desirability of this “new” foldable smartphone.

In reality though, it’s anything but new. Samsung’s first Fold launched in 2019. But a strong market segment already containing competitors like Motorola, Oppo and Honor has driven demand while the strong rumours that Apple will launch a foldable phone for the first time simply cannot be ignored. 

So 2026 looks set to be the year of the foldable, despite Samsung basically creating the category seven years ago.

Samsung head of product for mobile in Australia Nathan Rigger is ready for whatever comes.

“We welcome competition, this is our eighth generation, building off seven previous generations we go that extra mile to listen to what our customers want, what they use devices for, and making sure we continue to refine our user experience based on actual user feedback both in Australia and around the world as well,” he told 9News.

Putting it bluntly, he said, “We’ve created this category”.

“We’ve seen a lot of success over the last few years, especially last year with the Z Fold7,  it makes sense that others want to be a part of that growth,” he said.

To shake things up in its own range and cater to an even wider audience, in 2026 the traditional Fold device from Samsung is known as the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra – that Ultra tag leaning into the premium camera and performance features.

Samsung’s Flip continues as the entry level on both size and price. Its more traditional smartphone look when in use is combined with an old-school flip shut hinge for instant pocketability.

New to the range this year, and in a first for Australia, Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold8 is, in fact, an all-new form factor, a wider body with a shorter overall height.  

In the hand, it is about the size of a passport yet it is remarkably usable in almost all normal smartphone functions this way.

When “open” or “unfolded” it has a wider aspect ratio, making it ideal for viewing content like YouTube, Stan or Netflix.  

Turn it on its side, and you get a “taller” aspect, great for reading, browsing and other online uses.

This form factor is the same that was first leaked as the likely specifications for Apple’s upcoming release.  

While there’s no confirmation of this other than the usual leaks and “dummy” models, Samsung isn’t holding back. The Z Fold8 is the first of this kind in Australia and the company certainly doesn’t see this as any form of copycat design, just innovation aimed at consumers.

Consumers will also find tweaks to the Fold8 and Fold8 Ultra, like an improved opening mechanism and hinge making it quite simply easier. There’s also an outstanding internal screen with a higher resolution (422 ppi), increased brightness (3000 nits) and the first anti-reflective finish on a foldable. This screen is stunning.

At 201 grams, the passport-style Z Fold8 is aimed at people who are all-in on portability, something Samsung says 84 per cent of Australians consider important.

Like all consumer electronics at the moment, Samsung hasn’t been able to avoid price challenges due to the global memory shortage.  

The Premium Z Fold8 Ultra will start at $2999, the new look Z Fold8 at $2699 and the Z Flip8 starts at $1949.

All three devices, along with new Smartwatches from Samsung go on sale on August 14 with pre-orders starting today.

Trevor Long travelled to London as a guest of Samsung Australia