Samsung announced three foldables at its Unpacked event on July 22, according to Frandroid: the Galaxy Z Fold 8, the Z Fold 8 Ultra and the Z Flip 8. Two watches, the Galaxy Watch 9 and Watch Ultra 2, launched alongside them. Pre-orders are open and early deals are circulating. The question for buyers is whether to commit now or wait, and the answer depends on which compromises you can live with.
Galaxy Z Fold 8: easier to open, but it loses Flex mode
The headline change is physical. 9to5Google reports that Samsung made the Z Fold 8 easier to open, addressing a common complaint about the Z Fold 7. That is a genuine day-to-day improvement, not a spec-sheet flourish.
The catch: Frandroid notes that the Z Fold 8, in its passport format, drops Flex mode — the feature that holds the phone half-folded so you can prop it up for video calls or hands-free viewing. On a device built around versatility, that is a real subtraction. Whether it matters depends on how you use the fold. Treat it as a pocketable tablet and rarely stand it up, and you will not miss it. If Flex mode was part of your daily routine, weigh that before ordering.
Tom's Guide spoke to a Samsung designer about the passport shape and the prototypes scrapped along the way, which confirms the new form factor was a deliberate direction. The redesign explains both the improved hinge and the feature that got cut.
Galaxy Z Flip 8: a better cover screen, up to a point
The Z Flip 8's improvement is on the outside. 9to5Google reports better cover screen app support, but only modestly. The cover display remains the Flip's defining feature, and any step toward running full apps without opening the phone is welcome. Temper expectations: this is incremental, not a reinvention.
Competition matters here. ZDNet put the Z Flip 8 against the Moto Razr Ultra and found the Razr stronger on software. If cover-screen capability is your priority, the Flip 8's modest step may not settle the decision on its own. Cross-shop first. Our best foldables guide and the mobile comparison tool are the place to line them up.
The watches: free, if you time it right
The most concrete value in this launch is on the wrist. Tom's Guide reports that early pre-order deals on the Galaxy Watch 9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 include offers to get the smartwatches for free. If you were already buying a foldable, a free watch materially changes the math.
Timing is the catch. Pre-order windows are when Samsung and its partners are most aggressive on incentives, and the free-watch offers tend to disappear once general availability arrives.
Pre-order deals: read the fine print
Tom's Guide confirms the Z Fold 8 and Z Fold 8 Ultra are available for pre-order, with carrier and retailer deals highlighted in Australia. Availability and offers vary by market, so check what applies where you are.
The usual caution holds. Bundled extras and trade-in headline numbers are designed to look large at the register. What matters is the net cost after the trade-in you will actually qualify for, and whether the free accessory is something you would have bought anyway. A free Galaxy Watch you wanted is real value. A discount that requires a trade-in worth more than your old phone is not.
Who should pre-order — and who should wait
- Pre-order the Z Fold 8 if the easier-opening hinge appeals and you rarely used Flex mode. A bundled watch offer strengthens the case.
- Wait on the Z Flip 8 if cover-screen software is your deciding factor. The improvement is modest, and the Razr Ultra is competitive on software — worth a direct comparison first.
- Move quickly on the watches if a Galaxy Watch 9 or Ultra 2 was already on your list. The free-watch offers are the strongest value here and are unlikely to last.
Judge these devices on what they still do months from now, not on the launch-day deal. The Z Fold 8's hinge and the Z Flip 8's cover screen are the features you will live with. The pre-order discount is a one-time event.
For the latest as full reviews land, follow our mobile coverage. If terms like Flex mode or cover screen are new to you, the glossary explains them plainly.