Samsung unveils three foldable phones at London event, including wider Fold 8
Samsung Electronics held its Galaxy Unpacked event in London on Wednesday, announcing a range of new devices including three foldable smartphones, two smartwatches, and a new wearable category called Intelligent Wear. The event showcased the company's evolving strategy in the foldable phone market, as it prepares for potential competition from Apple's anticipated entry into the segment.
The highlight of the event was the Galaxy Z Fold 8, which features a wider aspect ratio compared to its predecessor. The device measures approximately 4:3 when unfolded, offering a squarer inner display that reduces black bars when watching videos and provides a more immersive experience for gaming and multitasking. Samsung has also introduced a titanium hinge designed to minimise the crease on the inner screen. The Fold 8 is priced at $1,900 in the US and Rs 1,79,999 in India.
Alongside the Fold 8, Samsung announced the Fold 8 Ultra, a book-style foldable aimed at productivity users, and the Flip 8, a clamshell foldable for those preferring a compact form factor. This marks the first time Samsung has offered three distinct foldable designs in a single generation, signalling its commitment to catering to different user preferences.
In the wearable segment, Samsung introduced the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, a premium smartwatch with enhanced health tracking features, and the Galaxy Watch 9, which offers a more standard set of capabilities. Additionally, the company unveiled Intelligent Wear, a new category of screenless wearable devices designed for specific use cases such as fitness tracking and notifications without a display.
Samsung emphasised the integration of on-device artificial intelligence across its new products. The foldable phones and wearables are equipped with processors that enable AI features to run locally, reducing reliance on cloud processing and improving response times. Examples include real-time language translation and advanced photo editing capabilities.
The event comes as Samsung faces increasing competition in the foldable market. Huawei recently launched the Pura X Max, a passport-sized foldable, though it is currently limited to the Chinese market. Apple is widely expected to release its first foldable device later this year, which could reshape the competitive landscape.
Samsung's new devices are expected to go on sale in select markets starting next month. The company has not yet announced availability details for India.
