Hands-On with Samsung’s Next-Gen Galaxy Foldables & Wearables
Samsung has officially unveiled their next-gen Galaxy foldables. This year, Samsung is fundamentally rethinking its foldable strategy with two distinct book-style foldables—the ultra-thin Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and the wider Galaxy Z Fold 8—alongside the Galaxy Z Flip 8, Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, and Galaxy Watch 9.
Here are our initial hands-on impressions and technical details from the briefing and Q&A session.
1. Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra & Z Fold 8: A Strategic Split
Samsung has separated its Z Fold line into two models. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra focuses on cutting-edge materials and flagship optics, while the Galaxy Z Fold 8 shifts to a shorter, wider aspect ratio designed for landscape productivity and social media viewing.
Quick Spec Comparison
| Feature | Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra | Galaxy Z Fold 8 |
| Main Display | 8.0” Dynamic AMOLED (422 ppi, 120Hz) | 7.6” Dynamic AMOLED (4:3 ratio, 120Hz) |
| Cover Display | 6.5” Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic3 | 5.5” Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic3 |
| Back Glass | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| Unfolded / Folded | 4.1 mm / 8.9 mm | 4.5 mm / 9.7 mm |
| Weight | 215 g | 201 g |
| Malaysian SoC | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy |
| RAM & Storage | 12GB+256GB / 12GB+512GB / 16GB+1TB | 12GB+256GB / 12GB+512GB / 16GB+1TB |
| Rear Cameras | 200MP Main (f/1.7) + 50MP UW (f/2.2) + 10MP 3x Tele (f/2.4) | 50MP Main (f/1.9) + 50MP UW (f/1.8) |
| Front Cameras | 10MP (Cover) + 10MP (Inner) | 10MP (Cover) + 10MP (Inner) |
| APV Codec | Yes (Advanced Professional Video) | No |
| S-Pen Support | No | No |
| Battery & Charge | 5,000 mAh (45W wired, 67% in 30 mins / 20W wireless) | 4,800 mAh (45W wired, 63% in 30 mins / 20W wireless) |
| Software | One UI 9.0 (Android 17) | One UI 9.0 (Android 17) |
| Hero Colors | Violet Shadow (Hero), Graphite, Cream, Green Shadow (Online Exclusive) | Lavender (Hero), Graphite, Cream, Pistachio (Online Exclusive) |
Hands-On Highlights: Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra
- Ultra-Thin Structural Design: Unfolded at 4.1mm and folded at 8.9mm, the Ultra feels remarkably slim. Beneath the 8.0-inch main panel, Samsung incorporated a titanium alloy film support and a titanium plate structure. In hand, this makes the display surface feel considerably flatter with reduced crease reflections and better structural rigidity.
- Pro Video Capabilities: The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra features the Advanced Professional Video (APV) codec feature, providing higher bitrates and lower compression for videographers.
Hands-On Highlights: Galaxy Z Fold 8
- Passport-Style Aspect Ratio: The standard Galaxy Z Fold 8 moves to a shorter, wider form factor with a 7.6-inch 4:3 inner screen and a 5.5-inch cover screen. Switching between portrait and landscape modes feels far more natural when reading documents or multi-tasking side-by-side.
- Lightweight Profile: Weighing just 201g and measuring 4.5mm unfolded, it feels noticeably lighter in the hand while retaining a substantial 4,800 mAh battery.
2. Galaxy Z Flip 8: Refined Creator Tool
The Galaxy Z Flip 8 focuses on ergonomic handling, cover-screen AI integration, and steady video shooting tools.
Galaxy Z Flip 8 Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
| Main Screen | 6.9-inch (Unfolded) |
| Cover Screen | 4.1-inch |
| Dimensions / Weight | 6.1 mm thin (Unfolded) / 180 g |
| Peak Brightness | 2,600 nits |
| Glass & Materials | GFRP Back, Gorilla Glass 3 (Camera Window) |
| Processor (Malaysia) | Exynos 2600 |
| RAM & Storage | 12GB + 256GB / 12GB + 512GB |
| Rear Cameras | 50MP Main + 12MP Ultra-Wide |
| Battery & Charging | 4,300 mAh (25W Wired / 15W Wireless) |
| Colors | Pink (Hero), Graphite, Cream, Mint (Online Exclusive) |
Hands-On Highlights:
- AI-Native FlexWindow & “Now Brief”: The 4.1-inch outer display introduces Now Brief, offering context-aware widgets and automated summaries without needing to flip the device open.
- FlexCam Features: Samsung continues to lean into creator workflows with multi-angle preview, Dual Preview for subject framing, and a Camcorder Grip mode when holding the device partially folded.
- Malaysian Hardware: For the Malaysian market, the Galaxy Z Flip 8 is powered by Samsung’s 4nm Exynos 2600 processor paired with 12GB RAM across all storage tiers.
3. Galaxy Wearables: Ultra-Bright Displays & Pro Telemetry
Samsung’s smartwatch lineup branches into two distinct categories: extreme outdoor endurance and daily preventive health monitoring.
Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 vs. Galaxy Watch 9 Specifications
| Feature | Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 | Galaxy Watch 9 |
| Display Brightness | 5,000 nits (1.52-inch) | 3,000 nits |
| Case Profile | 10.7 mm thin (vs. 12.1 mm older model) | Sleek design, 25% lighter band |
| Battery Capacity | 800 mAh (+35% increase) | 390 mAh |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear Elite | Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear Elite |
| Key Tracking Features | Trail Run & Dive Computer (MARES app integration) | Preventive VITALS early warning system & Daily Cardio Load |
| Sizing & Finish | 47mm: Titanium Gray, Titanium Silver | 44mm: Graphite, Silver 40mm: Graphite, Cream |
Galaxy Watch Ultra 2
- Sleeker & Brighter: Case thickness drops from 12.1mm to 10.7mm, while peak brightness reaches an eye-searing 5,000 nits on its 1.52-inch display.
- Diving & Trail Running: Built with official dive certification and integrated with a co-developed MARES app to act as a standalone dive computer. Trail running mode adds real-time elevation profile mapping and breadcrumb route tracking.
- Battery: Features an expanded 800 mAh battery powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Wear Elite chipset.
Galaxy Watch 9
- VITALS Early Warning System: Introduces an intelligent telemetry engine monitoring five key biomarkers—Blood Oxygen, Heart Rate Variability (HRV), Heart Rate, Skin Temperature, and Respiratory Rate—to flag potential health fatigue or illness early.
- Comprehensive Metrics: Calculates a Daily HR Score, Daily Cardio Load, and an overall Fitness Index (synthesizing strength, flexibility, endurance, cardio, and body composition data).
- Ergonomics: Ships with a redesigned fabric band that is 25% lighter for better sleep-tracking comfort.
Initial Takeaways
Samsung’s next generation isn’t just an incremental refresh. The addition of titanium reinforcement in the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra effectively addresses display crease stiffness, while the redesigned aspect ratio of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 caters directly to users who want a wider typing and reading surface. Meanwhile, the addition of dedicated dive tools on the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 and early-warning health telemetry on the Galaxy Watch 9 show a clear focus on hardware specialization.
