Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2026: Top 6 Highlights Revealed

Samsung kicked off its annual summer showcase with an exciting reveal of new watches and foldable devices. After a flurry of leaks and speculation, the company introduced the Galaxy Z Fold 8, featuring a fresh design that’s both shorter and wider than its predecessor. Alongside it, Samsung unveiled the new “Ultra” Fold, an updated Flip model, and refreshed Galaxy smartwatches.

For those who missed the live event, here’s a rundown of the key announcements from this year’s Galaxy Unpacked.

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 debuts with a new wide design

The star of the show was undoubtedly the Galaxy Z Fold 8, which has undergone a significant redesign compared to the Z Fold 7. This iteration boasts a 7.6-inch internal display and a 5.5-inch external display, making it shorter and wider. It’s slightly thicker, measuring 4.5mm when unfolded and 9.7mm when folded, compared to the previous model’s 4.2mm and 8.9mm.

The Z Fold 8 also introduces an updated hinge design featuring Samsung’s new Flex Titanium display technology. While it doesn’t completely erase the crease on the internal display, it does make it much less noticeable than on earlier foldables. The new Z Fold 8 Ultra and Z Flip 8 also benefit from this Flex Titanium upgrade.

Under the hood, the Z Fold 8 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, with options for up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. The camera setup has been simplified, now featuring two main cameras: a 50MP wide and a 50MP ultra-wide, while the cover and internal cameras remain at 10MP, similar to the Z Fold 7.

The Z Fold 8 starts at $1,899 and is available in four colors: lavender, graphite, cream, and pistachio (online orders only).

Introducing the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra

While the standard Z Fold 8 received a complete redesign, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra retains the design of last year’s Z Fold 7. This premium foldable is also powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, with up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage.

The Ultra model features a larger 5,000mAh battery, an upgrade from the 4,400mAh battery found in the Z Fold 7. It supports faster charging as well, with 45W wired and 20W wireless capabilities, compared to the previous model’s 25W wired and 15W wireless. The camera system mirrors that of the Z Fold 7, including a 200MP wide, 50MP ultra-wide, and 10MP telephoto main cameras, along with 10MP selfie cameras on both displays.

The Z Fold 8 Ultra starts at $2,099 and comes in four colors: graphite, cream, violet shadow, and green shadow (online orders only).

The Galaxy Z Flip 8 gets a refresh

Samsung also introduced the Galaxy Z Flip 8, which features some spec upgrades but maintains a similar design. It now runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, replacing the Exynos 2500 chip from the previous Z Flip 7. The device includes 12GB of RAM and storage options of 256GB or 512GB (still no 1TB option).

The Z Flip 8 retains a 6.9-inch internal display and a 4.1-inch cover display, powered by a 4,300mAh battery. While the overall look remains unchanged, the cover display has gained new gestures and access to an app drawer, enhancing its functionality. It’s also slightly thinner, measuring 13.1mm when folded and 6.1mm when unfolded. However, it comes with a $100 price increase over the Flip 7, starting at $1,199. Color options include pink, graphite, cream, and mint (online orders only).

The Galaxy Watch 9 launches with new health features and a higher price

The Galaxy Watch series received a refresh, featuring a new processor, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Wear Elite. It’s available in two sizes: 44mm and 40mm. The larger model has a 1.47-inch display and a 445mAh battery, while the smaller version features a 1.34-inch display and a 390mAh battery. Both sizes can last up to 30 hours per charge with the always-on display activated, and they include 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage.

This year’s Galaxy Watch refresh highlights four new preventative health metrics: Vitals, Heart Health Score, Daily Cardio Load, and Fitness Index. These features will also be available on the new Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, potentially giving Samsung’s smartwatches a competitive edge against other brands.

Unfortunately, the Galaxy Watch 9 has seen a $30 price increase, now starting at $379. The 44mm version is available in graphite and silver, while the 40mm version comes in graphite and cream.

The new Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 packs an impressive battery

Samsung also announced the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, distinct from the second-generation version of the original Galaxy Watch Ultra. This new model boasts a significantly larger 800mAh battery, up from 590mAh in the previous Ultra, all while fitting into a case that’s 12 percent thinner. Samsung claims it can last up to 60 hours per charge with the always-on display enabled. The updated Ultra will also feature the same new health metrics as the standard Galaxy Watch.

The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear Elite, with 2GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. It’s available in a single size of 47mm, featuring a 1.52-inch display. The price has increased by $50, bringing it to $699, with color options of titanium silver and titanium gray.

Google unveils two new smartglasses frames

In addition to Samsung’s announcements, Google showcased two new frames for its upcoming smartglasses, developed in collaboration with Samsung. The new designs from Gentle Monster and Warby Parker follow two earlier designs revealed in May. The first pairs of Google’s smartglasses are expected to launch later this year.