Samsung Electronics unveiled its 2026 foldable smartphone lineup in London, dividing its book-style devices into two distinct models. According to the company’s hardware announcements, the standard Galaxy Z Fold8 features a shorter and wider 4:3 aspect ratio tailored for media consumption, while the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra maintains a taller, productivity-focused design. Both devices run on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, with pre-orders open ahead of an August 7 global release.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Versus Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra Pricing and Specifications
The standard Galaxy Z Fold8 starts at €1,999 or $1,899.99, sporting a 3:4 cover display and a 16:10 inner display. Meanwhile, the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, serving as the direct successor to the Z Fold7, starts at €2,200 or $2,099.99. According to Samsung, the Ultra model incorporates upgraded cameras and a larger physical battery to position itself as the brand’s premier foldable option for power users. Global retail availability for both models begins on August 7.
Galaxy Watch Ultra2 and Galaxy Watch9 Wearables Debut
Alongside its new smartphones, Samsung introduced two smartwatch lines during the London event. According to the company’s product disclosures, the Galaxy Watch Ultra2 maintains a single 47mm size and titanium construction while featuring a thinner profile despite housing a larger 800mAh battery. The accompanying Galaxy Watch9 arrives in 40mm and 44mm sizes, bringing brighter displays, modest battery gains, the Snapdragon Wear Elite chipset, and expanded artificial intelligence health tracking tools. Samsung confirmed that the Classic watch tier is taking a year off from the product rotation.
Pro Tip: Buyers comparing the new smartwatch line should note that the Galaxy Watch9 focuses on daily biometric tracking upgrades and display brightness, whereas the Watch2 Ultra prioritizes structural titanium durability and extended longevity via its 800mAh cell.
HMD Expands Rugged Options With Nokia 123 Shield
HMD announced the Nokia 123 Shield, a rugged feature phone priced at €49. According to product specifications, the device includes IP68 water and dust resistance, a 2.4-inch display, a removable 2,000mAh battery rated for up to 19 days of standby time, a built-in flashlight, FM radio, Bluetooth, USB-C charging, and expandable storage through a microSD slot. HMD plans to release the phone in late July across select markets.
Vivo X300 E and iQOO 16T Hardware Pipelines
Vivo officially confirmed the upcoming release of the vivo X300 E ahead of its July 27 launch event in China. According to company previews, the phone includes a 7,200mAh battery and a Zeiss-branded triple-camera array featuring a periscope telephoto lens. Pre-orders are currently active in China in black, orange, and white colorways. Concurrently, tipster Digital Chat Station reported that the upcoming iQOO 16T gaming flagship is currently undergoing internal testing with either Qualcomm’s rumored 2nm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 or MediaTek’s Dimensity 9600 chipset, alongside a flat 2K Samsung display and an integrated cooling fan.
Frequently Asked Questions
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When will the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 series be available?
Pre-orders are currently open, with global retail sales starting on August 7, according to Samsung. -
How much does the Nokia 123 Shield cost?
The rugged feature phone is priced at €49 and releases in late July in select markets, according to HMD. -
What are the standout features of the vivo X300 E?
The vivo X300 E features a 7,200mAh battery and a Zeiss-branded triple-camera system with a periscope telephoto lens, according to vivo.
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