Samsung has introduced its 2026 lineup of mobile devices and wearables, signaling a fashion-forward future. The announcement during the Galaxy Unpacked event in London on Monday, July 20th, highlighted three new hinge-based phones, two smartwatches, and two smart glasses. Samsung described this lineup as its most comprehensive to date, designed to make foldables accessible to a broader audience. The latest Galaxy Z series leverages seven generations of foldable innovation, offering more varied options to meet user needs.
Foldable Phones
The phone collection features the Galaxy Z Fold8, Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, and Galaxy Z Flip8. The Galaxy Z Fold8 and Z Fold8 Ultra open sideways, revealing expansive landscape screens, while the Galaxy Z Flip8 opens vertically into a larger portrait view. This year’s focus is on thinner, brighter, and more durable devices.
The Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra stands out as notably slimmer while maintaining a robust feel due to its new Flex Titanium material. This design ensures better durability with repeated folding. Though an imperceptible crease remains visible in some lighting, the Ultra boasts a 200 MP main camera and a 10mp telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. Improvements in Nightography and enhanced editing capabilities at 8K resolution with a flexible APV codec mark its strengths.
The Galaxy Z Flip8 offers significant advancements over its predecessor, shown through side-by-side comparisons with the Flip7. It is lighter and thinner, featuring Samsung’s redesigned FlexWindow Home, enabling more functionality from the cover screen. You can now book rides, check reminders, and access health settings without opening the device.
Smartwatches
The smartwatch lineup includes the Galaxy Watch Ultra2 and Galaxy Watch9. The Galaxy Watch Ultra2 offers a 35% better battery life, promising multi-day performance. According to Samsung, it is the brightest smartwatch available, with a larger display and 12% thinner casing. This device serves as a gateway to AI-driven health insights, offering detailed, personalized guidance based on biometric data analysis.
Advanced health insights include hydration monitoring for trail runners and diving metrics for enthusiasts, priced at $699.99, reflecting its targeted audience of professional athletes.
The Galaxy Watch9 provides an excellent option for those outside this professional realm but with a health focus. Its features allow for easy health management, such as a Heart Health Score tracking BMI, vascular load, activity, and sleep. A unified fitness index offers a comparative score based on body composition and flexibility.
Smart Eyewear
Samsung has partnered with eyewear brands Gentle Monster and Warby Parker for their smart glasses lineup. According to Won-Joon Choi, Samsung’s Chief Operating Officer of the Mobile eXperience Business, these intelligent eyewears aim to enhance mobile experiences through more intuitive and context-sensitive AI interactions. Though still stylish and appealing for everyday wear, these smart glasses’ features were not ready for demonstration.
Release Dates
The Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Z Fold8, and Z Flip8 become available for pre-order in select markets on July 22, 2026, with a general release expected in early August 2026. Meanwhile, the Galaxy Watch Ultra2 and Galaxy Watch9 are available for pre-order on the same date, with general availability starting on August 7, 2026.