The Galaxy Z Fold 8 is official, and it changes what Samsung's foldable lineup looks like

(Image credit: Sanuj Bhatia / Android Central) What you need to knowSamsung's new Galaxy Z Fold 8 adopts a wider passport-style design that feels much closer to a compact tablet when unfolded.The Galaxy Z Fold 8 shares the same Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip as the Ultra while starting $200 cheaper.The standard Fold 8 trades the Ultra's triple cameras and larger battery for a lighter design and wider inner display.Samsung has just taken the wraps off the Galaxy Z Fold 8 at its Unpacked event in London, and if you've been following the leaks, you already know the twist: this isn't the direct successor to the Galaxy Z Fold 7.That phone is now called the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra. Instead, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 name has been given to something entirely new: a wider, squatter foldable that Samsung has built to go head-to-head with Apple's rumored iPhone Ultra foldable phone.The wide Galaxy Z Fold 8 ditches the tall, narrow proportions that have defined every Z Fold since 2019. Instead, it unfolds into a 7.6-inch inner display with a 4:3 aspect ratio, making it feel much closer to a compact tablet than a stretched-out phone.Samsung is positioning this new form factor as the key differentiator. While the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra sticks with the familiar tall cover display and book-style design, the wide Galaxy Z Fold 8 is aimed at people who want a wider, more usable screen for multitasking, split-screen apps, and reading.It also means you'll see smaller black bars when watching videos with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 unfolded. (Image credit: Sanuj Bhatia / Android Central)Both Fold models are powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, so you're not giving up any performance by choosing the wide model over the Ultra. The biggest hardware difference comes down to the battery.The Galaxy Z Fold 8 packs a 4,800mAh battery with 45W wired and 25W wireless charging, while the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra steps up to a 5,000mAh cell.Get the latest news from Android Central, your trusted companion in the world of AndroidThe cameras are another key difference. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 features a dual-camera setup consisting of a 50MP primary sensor and a 50MP ultrawide camera, while the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra gets a more capable triple-camera system. Both the cover and inner selfie cameras on the Galaxy Z Fold 8 are 10MP.As for pricing, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 sits just below the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, starting at $1,900 in the U.S. for the base model with 256GB of storage. Samsung is also offering 512GB and 1TB storage options.The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 is available for pre-order now, with general availability beginning on August 7, 2026. Sanuj is a tech writer who loves exploring smartphones, tablets, and wearables. He began his journey with a Nokia Lumia and later dived deep into Android and iPhone. He's been writing about tech since 2018, with bylines at Pocketnow, Android Police, Pocket-Lint, and MakeUseOf. When he's not testing gadgets, he's either sipping chai, watching football, or playing cricket.