Samsung has expanded its foldable smartphone lineup in India with the launch of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Flip 8. The new generation marks a significant step for the company as it introduces the “Ultra” branding to its foldable series for the first time, aiming to attract users looking for flagship performance, advanced AI capabilities and premium hardware in a foldable design.
The latest devices arrive with Samsung’s One UI 9, based on Android 17, and the company has committed to providing seven years of Android OS upgrades and seven years of security updates. Samsung says Indian consumers are increasingly adopting foldables not only for entertainment but also for multitasking, AI-powered productivity and mobile photography.
A notable hardware improvement across the Fold models is the use of a new Flex Titanium Plate, designed to improve durability while helping keep the devices slimmer. Both the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and Galaxy Z Fold 8 feature brighter Dynamic AMOLED 2X displays with up to 3,000 nits of peak brightness and adaptive 120 Hz refresh rates for smoother scrolling and gaming.
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra sits at the top of the lineup with an 8-inch main display and a 6.5-inch cover screen. Powering the device is Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, paired with up to 16 GB of RAM and 1 TB of storage. It also houses a 5,000 mAh battery with support for 45W wired and 20W wireless charging.
Photography is another major highlight of the Ultra model. Samsung has equipped it with a 200 MP primary camera, accompanied by a 50 MP ultra-wide sensor and a 10 MP telephoto lens. Selfies and video calls are handled by 10 MP cameras on both the cover and inner displays.
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 offers a slightly smaller 7.6-inch folding display while retaining the same Snapdragon chipset, charging speeds and premium build. It features a dual rear camera setup led by a 50 MP main sensor and is backed by a 4,800 mAh battery.
Meanwhile, the Galaxy Z Flip 8 continues Samsung’s clamshell foldable approach with a larger 6.9-inch main display and a 4.1-inch cover screen. Unlike the Fold models, it runs on Samsung’s Exynos 2600 processor and comes with up to 12 GB RAM and 512 GB of storage. The device packs a 4,300 mAh battery with 25W wired charging and includes a 50 MP primary camera alongside a 12 MP ultra-wide sensor.
All three smartphones carry an IP48 rating for water resistance and include upgraded protection through Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic 3 or Gorilla Glass Victus 2, depending on the model.
Alongside the smartphones, Samsung also introduced the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 and Galaxy Watch 9. The wearables feature brighter AMOLED displays, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Wear Elite processor and Samsung’s latest One UI 9 Watch software, with a focus on health tracking, fitness features and improved performance.
In India, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra starts at ₹1,99,999, while the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is priced from ₹1,79,999. The Galaxy Z Flip 8 begins at ₹1,24,999. Samsung will announce the Indian pricing for the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 and Galaxy Watch 9 at a later date.
With slimmer designs, stronger materials, long-term software support, more capable AI features and upgraded camera systems, Samsung is positioning the Galaxy Z8 series as its most refined foldable lineup yet, signalling that foldable smartphones are moving further into the premium mainstream.
Nandita Sharma
