Samsung’s latest foldables combine thinner hardware, larger displays and agentic AI as the company pushes the category toward mainstream mobile computing.
Samsung has been one of the companies most responsible for turning foldable smartphones from an experiment into a commercial product category.
Its 2026 Galaxy Z generation takes another step toward making foldables practical everyday computers.
The lineup includes the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold8 and Galaxy Z Flip8, alongside Galaxy Watch9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra2. Samsung began rolling out the devices globally in August. (Samsung Global Newsroom)
The Fold8 Ultra Expands the Concept
The Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra is Samsung’s first Ultra-branded foldable.
When unfolded, it has an 8-inch main display, while the device measures only 4.1 millimeters thick when unfolded and weighs 215 grams. (Samsung Global Newsroom)
Those numbers illustrate the direction of foldable engineering.
Manufacturers are trying to provide tablet-sized screens without forcing users to carry tablet-sized devices.
Fold8 Focuses on Flexibility
The standard Galaxy Z Fold8 uses a 7.6-inch internal display and a 5.5-inch cover screen.
Samsung has changed the aspect ratios to make the phone more suitable for different types of content.
The company says users can rotate the unfolded device between orientations depending on whether they are reading, browsing or consuming media. (Samsung Global Newsroom)
That makes the foldable less like a phone that happens to open and more like a flexible computing surface.
AI Is Moving From Assistant to Agent
One of the most important changes is the role of AI.
Samsung’s latest foldables support agentic AI capabilities.
For example, Samsung describes a scenario where a user gives Gemini a photograph of the Eiffel Tower and asks it to find a nearby hotel.
The AI can search for appropriate accommodations while the user continues using other applications, with confirmation required for relevant actions. (Samsung Global Newsroom)
This is a significant shift.
Traditional mobile assistants respond to questions.
Agentic systems are designed to perform multi-step tasks.
The Camera Becomes More Intelligent
Samsung has also introduced My FanCam, which can automatically reframe video around a selected person.
The feature allows users to choose a subject and have the system maintain focus on that person during video editing. (Samsung Global Newsroom)
This is another example of AI becoming embedded in everyday hardware.
The user does not necessarily need to understand how the algorithm works.
They simply select what they want and allow the phone to handle the technical process.
Flip8 Targets a Different Audience
The Galaxy Z Flip8 approaches foldable computing differently.
Instead of becoming a small tablet, it becomes a compact phone that folds down into a smaller object.
Its FlexWindow allows users to view information and access features without opening the phone. (Samsung Global Newsroom)
Samsung therefore has two major foldable concepts:
- Fold: more screen and productivity.
- Flip: portability and compactness.
Samsung Is Building an Ecosystem
The Fold8 launch also includes Galaxy Watch9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra2.
Samsung says its new wearable lineup is designed around deeper health insights and AI-powered experiences. (Samsung Global Newsroom)
That matters because foldables are increasingly part of larger ecosystems rather than standalone products.
A smartphone can interact with a watch, earbuds, tablet, television and other devices.
Early Demand Shows Interest
Samsung said pre-orders for the new Galaxy Z lineup increased by more than 30% compared with the previous generation. (Samsung Global Newsroom)
Pre-order data does not necessarily predict long-term market performance, but it indicates that the foldable category continues to attract substantial consumer interest.
The Bigger Picture
Samsung’s 2026 foldables show that the category is entering a more mature phase.
The focus is no longer simply on proving that a display can fold.
Manufacturers are competing around:
- Thinness
- Durability
- Battery life
- Cameras
- AI agents
- Multitasking
- Ecosystem integration
The next stage of foldable smartphones may therefore be less about novelty and more about making flexible screens genuinely useful for everyday computing.