Samsung is reportedly launching three foldables this cycle instead of the usual two—splitting the Fold line into two distinct tiers for the first time. But the big deal here is that Samsung’s all-new “Wide” device is going to be cheaper than the “Ultra,” which is getting a price hike for no obvious reason.
- Galaxy Z Fold 8 / "Wide" (new, wider 4:3-ish form factor): 256GB for €1,999, 512GB for €2,199, and 1TB for €2,599.
- Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra (the actual Fold 7 successor, traditional shape): 256GB for €2,199 (+€100 vs Fold 7), 512GB for €2,399 (+€180), and 1TB for €2,799 (+€280).
- Galaxy Z Flip 8: 256GB for €1,299 (+€100) and 512GB for €1,499 (+€180).
As you can see, the new Wide/standard model is a flat €200 cheaper than the Ultra at every storage tier. There is also some genuine disagreement across leakers about what's actually called what. Some reports say the wider model will just be called the plain "Galaxy Z Fold 8," with the Ultra name going to the traditional Fold 7 successor.
So, if it is so, the "Fold 8" will actually be the new experimental device, and "Ultra" is the familiar one, which is the reverse of normal naming conventions. Interestingly, case boxes reportedly show "Galaxy New Fold" branding instead of either name, suggesting Samsung might use completely different branding at launch.
Why the Ultra costs more despite seemingly less innovation
This is the "no obvious reason" part people are mocking. The Ultra's camera system is reportedly staying the same, which critics note should have been improved to justify the "Ultra" tag—it's rumored to get a 5000mAh battery with 45W charging, but not much else new. Secondly, Samsung may reuse the same M13 OLED panel material for a third consecutive year rather than the newer M14 panels debuting on the S26 Ultra, which reportedly deliver 30% better brightness and improved efficiency.
According to Gadget Hacks, the price increases are attributed to the ongoing memory chip shortage and rising component costs rather than any hardware upgrades or new features. Meanwhile, the wide/base model gets substantive upgrades: an ultra-wide camera jumping from 12MP to 50MP and a telephoto moving from 10MP to 12MP, plus a bigger 5,000mAh battery (up 14% from the Fold 7's 4,400mAh) and 45W wired charging up from 25W—so it's arguably getting the flashier spec bump for less money.
Certainly
— Ahmed Qwaider (@AhmedQwaider888) June 30, 2026
These are the new colors that the Galaxy Z Fold 8 will come in
Which color did you like 🤔#galaxyzfold8 #galaxyai pic.twitter.com/39pZPMLXqT
Final Notes
The "Galaxy Z Fold 8" you'll actually be able to buy new this year—the wider one—is staying at the exact same price as last year's Fold 7, even though it's a completely fresh device Samsung has never sold before. Meanwhile, the "Fold 8 Ultra," which is really just last year's Fold 7 with a few tweaks, is the one getting hit with a price increase. That's the part that doesn't sit right — you'd expect the untested newcomer to cost more, not the recycled model.
To be fair, the Ultra isn't getting more expensive for nothing. It keeps a third camera (the telephoto lens) that the Wide model skips entirely, and it's packing a bigger battery too, so there's at least some hardware backing the higher price tag. Still, it's a tough trade to accept: you're paying extra for a phone that barely changed, while the genuinely new design slides in at last year's price.
And honestly, at this point it's hard to be shocked—practically everything Samsung sells is going up, with even the Galaxy Watch 9 and Watch Ultra 2 seeing roughly a 10% bump across the board. The Galaxy Watch9 that is reportedly climbing across every configuration will cost from €409 (+€40) for the base 40mm Bluetooth model up to €489 (+€30) for the 44mm LTE version, while the Watch Ultra 2 LTE is expected to land at €749 (+€50).
