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Samsung Electronics (005930) has once again demonstrated the technological prowess that has made it the No. 1 player in the foldable phone market, delivering bold form-factor innovation and powerful artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities simultaneously with its new Galaxy Z series.
The Galaxy Z Fold8, unveiled at "Galaxy Unpacked 2026" held at Old Billingsgate in London on Sept. 22 (local time), significantly improved on weight and screen crease (hinge) issues—long cited as key drawbacks of foldable phones—enhancing both usability and portability.
The new product adopts a 4:3 screen ratio, creating a form similar to a tablet PC when unfolded. It reduces unnecessary margins at the top and bottom of the screen to boost content immersion, and enables multitasking by splitting the screen left and right to use multiple applications, such as AI agents, at the same time. When folded, it applies a 10:16 screen ratio, allowing it to be used like a standard bar-type smartphone such as the Galaxy S series.
The change in screen ratio also altered its dimensions. Designed at 81.9 mm wide and 123.9 mm long, it significantly improves one-handed operation compared with its predecessor (72.8 mm wide, 158.4 mm long). When folded, its size is similar to a passport, and its thickness is just 9.7 mm. At 201 grams, it is also the lightest Fold model ever.
Durability was also strengthened. For the first time, the screen panel employs "Flex Titanium" technology using a titanium alloy material. This increased rigidity 20-fold over the previous model and reduced the screen crease at the hinge to a level that is barely noticeable.
The Galaxy Z Fold8 is equipped with Qualcomm's "Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5," the top-tier application processor (AP, or brain chip) also used in the Galaxy S26 Ultra. Its battery capacity is 4,800 mAh (milliampere-hours), 9% larger than its predecessor, and its photography performance was enhanced with a 50-megapixel wide and ultra-wide dual camera.
Notably, the new product, developed in collaboration with Google, is the first smartphone in the world to feature the new AI agent "Gemini Intelligence." This is an "AI multitasking" function that allows the AI agent to move across multiple applications on its own to carry out tasks according to user commands. Whereas the AI agent introduced in the Galaxy S26 earlier this year automatically operated individual apps such as calling a taxi, this time it has evolved one step further into multitasking that moves across multiple apps.
Indeed, at the event, when a photo of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, was displayed on the Galaxy Z Fold8 screen and the command "Book a hotel" was given, the AI feature "Gemini Intelligence" activated and linked the necessary applications. It then proceeded from hotel search to the booking process in about four minutes.
The Galaxy Z Fold8 can also perform various tasks using more than 40 apps, such as analyzing a shopping list written in a memo app, connecting to shopping and delivery apps, and adding products to the cart. It also supports a "Now Nudge" feature, in which the AI agent automatically searches for and informs the user of meeting locations or needed materials during a conversation with an acquaintance.
In his keynote speech that day, Roh Tae-moon, president of Samsung Electronics' Device eXperience (DX) division, said of the Galaxy Z Fold8, "It is the most powerful, the most versatile, and the most adaptable foldable Samsung Electronics has ever unveiled," emphasizing that "the future of mobile will be determined by an experience that follows the user's daily life on the device best suited to the user."
The new Galaxy Z series consists of, depending on the intended use: the "Galaxy Z Fold8," focused on content immersion; the "Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra," with enhanced productivity; and the "Galaxy Z Flip8," emphasizing individuality and the AI experience.
The top-tier model, the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, is equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 AP and up to 16GB of RAM. It applies the Flex Titanium display, and when unfolded, its thickness of 4.1 mm is the thinnest of any Fold model. Its battery supports 5,000 mAh, the highest level in the foldable phone series. The camera was upgraded from the previous 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera to a 50-megapixel ultra-wide camera, and features a triple camera system including a 200-megapixel wide camera and a 10-megapixel telephoto camera.
The Galaxy Z Flip8 leads with its lightest-ever weight of 180 grams and AI features. By linking AI features to its dedicated cover display "FlexWindow," users can check personalized information such as schedules, weather, and news through features like "Now Brief" without unfolding the device. For the AP, regions such as Korea and Europe are equipped with Samsung's own "Exynos 2600" chip, while some regions including the U.S., China, and Japan use the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5.
The new Galaxy Z series will be released sequentially in major countries, including Korea, starting Oct. 7.
