Samsung Unveils Three Foldable Flagships at Once! Z Fold8 Expected to Capture 55% of Pre-orders, Ultra Model's Price Tops NT$83,900

Samsung’s foldable smartphones this year are not just adding one new Ultra model—the product focus is clearly shifting toward book-style foldable devices. Samsung Taiwan, a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics (KRX: 005930), unveiled the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold8, and Galaxy Z Flip8 in Taiwan today (29th). Pre-order estimates for the three models are 35%, 55%, and 10% respectively. The two book-style models combined account for 90% of pre-orders, with the Z Fold8—featuring an outer display ideal for general web browsing and a 4:3 inner screen optimized for e-books and content reading—being positioned by Samsung as the main volume driver for this year.

Chen Chi-Meng, General Manager of Samsung Taiwan’s Mobile Communications Business, stated that Samsung is launching three foldable devices at once for the first time this year. The goal is to offer a more comprehensive product lineup so that consumers with different needs can find a suitable foldable model, thereby expanding the market penetration of foldable products.

Fold8 Ultra's highest price reaches NT$83,900, raising the price ceiling for foldable phones

Among the three new models, the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra targets business users, multitaskers, and video creators. When unfolded, it features an 8-inch inner display, powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy processor, a 5,000mAh battery, and 45W charging, all packed into a body just 4.1mm thick when unfolded.

On the camera front, the Fold8 Ultra features a 200-megapixel wide-angle main camera and a 50-megapixel ultra-wide lens, supporting 8K video recording, APV encoding, and Cine LUT color grading. Samsung aims to position this device as a top-tier model capable of handling both mobile office tasks and content creation, thanks to its multi-window functionality, large screen, and high-end camera.

Pricing-wise, the 12GB RAM + 256GB storage version of the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra is priced at NT$65,900, the 12GB + 512GB version at NT$71,900, and the top-tier 16GB + 1TB version reaches NT$83,900—further pushing the price ceiling for Samsung’s foldable smartphones.

However, Samsung estimates that the Fold8 Ultra will account for only 35% of pre-orders, not making it the sales leader among the three. The model truly expected to drive volume is the more affordably priced Galaxy Z Fold8 with a redesigned screen ratio.

Outer display ideal for web browsing, 4:3 inner screen optimized for e-book reading

The 12GB + 256GB version of the Galaxy Z Fold8 is priced at NT$59,900, and the 512GB version at NT$65,900—matching the entry-level price of the Fold8 Ultra. Samsung expects the Z Fold8 to capture 55% of total pre-orders across the three models, making it the primary sales driver for this generation of foldable devices.

Samsung’s optimism for the Z Fold8 stems from the redefined usage scenarios of its inner and outer displays. When folded, the 10:16 aspect ratio of the cover display aligns more closely with typical smartphone usage, making it ideal for browsing websites, checking social media, and watching vertical short videos—eliminating the need to frequently unfold the device for daily tasks.

The inner display, when unfolded, adopts a new 4:3 aspect ratio. In landscape mode, it’s suitable for videos, gaming, and multi-window operations; in portrait mode, the screen ratio closely matches the reading interface of e-books, magazines, and comics. Samsung believes this new size specification not only improves real-world usability but also offers existing Fold users a fresh experience different from previous generations, thereby stimulating upgrade demand.

The Z Fold8 weighs 201 grams, features a screen peak brightness of 3,000 nits, a 4,800mAh battery, and 50-megapixel wide and ultra-wide cameras. Compared to the Fold8 Ultra, which emphasizes ultimate specifications, the standard Fold8 focuses more on balancing everyday portability, content consumption, and pricing—this is the main reason Samsung expects its sales to scale significantly.

Book-style models expected to capture 90% of pre-orders

According to Samsung’s internal estimates, the combined pre-order share of the Fold8 Ultra and Fold8 is expected to reach 90% (a significant upward revision from earlier forecasts), while the Z Flip8 accounts for only 10%. This suggests that demand for foldable phones in Taiwan may be further concentrating on book-style devices.

The 12GB + 256GB version of the Galaxy Z Flip8 is priced at NT$38,900, and the 512GB version at NT$44,900—the lowest among the three models. It features a 4.1-inch cover display, allowing users to check information or operate certain AI functions without unfolding the phone. For photography, it includes a 50-megapixel main camera, FlexCam, and horizon lock features, targeting users who prioritize portability, selfies, and social media content creation.

However, the Flip8’s pre-order share is estimated at only 10%, reflecting that despite the vertical foldable’s lower price and compact design, high-end consumers in Taiwan still show stronger demand for large screens, multitasking, and reading experiences—primarily centered on the Fold series.

Samsung also observes that around 70% of current Fold users are upgrading from existing Z series devices, 20% are switching from Galaxy S series phones, and about 10% are coming from competing brands. Whether the new-sized Z Fold8 can attract both existing users to upgrade and entice mainstream smartphone users into the foldable market will determine if the projected 55% pre-order share materializes.

Galaxy AI begins redesigning for foldable screens

Beyond hardware specs, Samsung is also adapting Galaxy AI features to better suit the multi-window and large-screen capabilities of foldable devices. Now Nudge can recognize conversation content—for example, when users discuss travel plans with friends, it proactively suggests opening maps, pinning locations, or creating reminders, and displays relevant information in split windows.

Gemini Intelligence can assist in planning itineraries based on restaurant and travel information displayed on screen. The Photo Smart Assistant on the Fold8 and Fold8 Ultra allows users to view original and edited photos side by side, enabling direct comparison of before-and-after adjustments.

Samsung hopes that through such foldable-optimized AI operations, it can demonstrate that foldable phones are not just about larger screens, but offer fundamentally different experiences in reading, multitasking, and content processing compared to conventional slab-style flagships.

The Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Z Fold8, and Z Flip8 will open for pre-orders at noon on July 30. According to Samsung’s official announcement, they will officially launch starting August 14. Pre-order customers from Samsung Smart Stores, Samsung Online Store, and select partner channels can begin priority pickup as early as August 11.

Samsung also launched the Galaxy Watch9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra2 simultaneously. The Galaxy Watch9 starts at NT$12,900, featuring monitoring of five vital signs during sleep: heart rate, heart rate variability, blood oxygen, body temperature, and respiratory rate. The Galaxy Watch Ultra2 is priced at NT$22,900, certified under EN13319 for diving, and supports underwater activities up to 40 meters deep.