Samsung Is Reshuffling Its Entire Foldable Lineup Because Apple’s Foldable iPhone Is Coming

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TL; DR
  • Samsung is reportedly launching three foldables in 2026: the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra as the Fold 7 successor. 
  • Meanwhile, the standard Galaxy Z Fold 8 has the new wider form factor, and the Galaxy Z Flip 8, with no Fan Edition planned.
  • The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra brings a 5,000mAh battery, 45W charging, and a 50MP ultrawide upgrade, but skips the S Pen, privacy display, and any crease improvements.

Samsung is making one of the most important structural changes to its foldable lineup in years, and believe me, the timing is not a coincidence. The Cupertino giant Apple is widely expected to launch a foldable iPhone later in 2026; whether it be called the iPhone Fold or the iPhone Ultra is a completely different conversation. 

Keeping that in mind, Samsung is repositioning its entire Z Fold family ahead of the July Unpacked event. The result? A naming scheme that raises a few more questions than it answers.

Also Read: Oppo Reno 16 Pro Goes Official In China: A 200MP camera, 7,000mAh Battery, & Affordable Price

Z Fold8

Samsung could rename its mainstream foldable as Ultra

According to a report by SamMobile, Samsung’s 2026 foldable lineup will comprise three devices: the standard Galaxy Z Fold 8 and the Galaxy Z Flip 8, along with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra. The twist, however, is how those names are being distributed. 

Previously, everyone thought that the shorter, broader foldable, designed to compete with the iPhone Fold, would be called the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide. However, the report backtracks on the notion, stating that the Fold 8 Wide would be the new regular or standard variant of the lineup.

Also Read: realme Watch S5 Launched In India: 1.43-Inch AMOLED, GPS, 5ATM, And 20-Day Battery At ₹7,999

It would be the regular Fold 8 vs. iPhone Ultra  

Meanwhile, the direct successor to the Fold 7 (review), which was the ultimate foldable flagship by the company, could be called the Fold 8 Ultra. And yes, unlike Apple’s Ultra foldable, this one will carry the tall foldable form factor instead of Apple’s rumored wide and broad form factor. 

Z Fold8

In a nutshell, the traditional tall foldable will carry Samsung’s foldable lineup under a new badge, and the wider foldable will sit under it in the lineup, of course, above the flip-style foldable that could be called the Flip 8. 

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Samsung might face these problems with the nomenclature

While the Galaxy Z Fold 8 could compete directly with the iPhone Ultra, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra might not be able to justify its ‘Ultra’ moniker. 

First, the S Pen is not coming to the successor of the Fold 7. Second, the Privacy Display, a feature currently available on the S26 Ultra (review), won’t be coming to the Fold 8 Ultra. The main screen crease is not expected to show meaningful improvement, according to tipster Ice Universe.

Most strikingly, a recent leak claims the Fold 8 Ultra will use Samsung’s older M13 OLED panel, while the standard Fold 8, the wider model, might get the newer M14 panel. Charging at 45W also falls short of the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s 60W, meaning the Ultra foldable charges slower than Samsung’s own Ultra slab phone.

Z Fold8

Also Read: Xiaomi 17T: What to Expect Ahead of India Launch on June 4

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra: Tech Specifications (leaked)

SpecificationDetails
Inner display8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz LTPO, dual-layer UTG
Cover display6.5-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz LTPO
ChipsetSnapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
RAM and storage12GB / 16GB LPDDR5X, 256GB / 512GB / 1TB UFS 4.1
Rear cameras200MP primary (OIS) + 50MP ultrawide + 10MP telephoto
Front cameras10MP cover display + 10MP inner display
Battery5,000mAh
Charging45W wired
OSAndroid 16, One UI 8
S PenNot supported
Water resistanceIPX8 (expected)
Launch eventSamsung Unpacked, July 22, 2026, London (unconfirmed)

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Shikhar MehrotraShikhar Mehrotra
Shikhar Mehrotra is a seasoned technology writer and reviewer with over five years of experience covering consumer tech across India and global markets. At Smartprix, he has authored more than 1,700 articles, including news stories, features, comparisons, and product reviews spanning automobiles, smartphones, chipsets, wearables, laptops, home appliances, and operating systems. Shikhar has reviewed flagship devices such as the iPhone 16, Galaxy S25+, and Sennheiser HD 505 Open-Ear headphones. He also contributes regularly to Smartprix’s growing automotive section.

With a deep understanding of both iOS and Android ecosystems, Shikhar specializes in daily tech news, how-to explainers, product comparisons, and in-depth reviews. His DSLR photography in product reviews is recognized as among the best on the team.

Before joining Smartprix, Shikhar wrote for leading publications including Forbes Advisor India, Republic World, and ScreenRant. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication from Amity University, Lucknow.

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