In the ongoing human pursuit of tools that bend to our will — sometimes literally — Samsung has introduced three foldable smartphones to the Indian market, each designed to meet a different kind of ambition. The Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Fold8, and Flip8 arrived at Galaxy Unpacked 2026 as Samsung's most deliberate attempt yet to move folding devices from the hands of the few into the lives of the many. Priced from ₹1,24,999 to ₹1,99,999, and threaded through with artificial intelligence, these devices ask whether the foldable form factor has finally grown patient enough for an impatient world.
Samsung launches Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Fold8 and Flip8 in India with AI features
Move foldables from niche luxury into the mainstream
Mark
Why does Samsung need three foldables instead of just one or two?
Mimi
Because foldables aren't one thing anymore. The Ultra is for creators and power users who want the biggest screen and the best cameras. The standard Fold is for people who want the foldable experience without paying for features they won't use. The Flip is for people who want something that fits in a pocket. They're solving different problems.
Mark
But aren't they all expensive? The cheapest one is still over a lakh.
Mimi
Yes, they're all premium devices. But the Flip at ₹1,24,999 is cheaper than many flagship phones that don't fold. Samsung is betting that as foldables become more durable and more useful—especially with AI built in—people will see the price as worth it. The six-month AI subscription helps too.
Mark
What's actually different about the AI here? Is it just marketing?
Mimi
It's optimized for the form factor. On the Flip, you can use Gemini without unfolding the phone because the cover screen is now smart enough to handle it. On the Folds, the larger displays let you multitask in ways that make AI features actually useful. It's not just the same AI on a different screen.
Mark
The Fold8 Ultra has a 200-megapixel camera. Who needs that?
Mimi
Content creators. People making videos, doing professional photography. The 8K recording with Cine LUT support is aimed at people who edit on their phone or use it as a production tool. It's a niche, but it's a real one.
Mark
What's the Flex Titanium thing about?
Mimi
It's the internal structure that holds the fold together. Titanium is stronger and lighter than what they used before, so the phone is thinner but more durable. And it reduces the crease you see when you look at the screen—that's been a complaint about foldables since the beginning.
Mark
So Samsung is trying to make foldables normal phones?
Mimi
Not normal—better. They're trying to prove that a phone that folds is worth the premium price because it does things a regular phone can't. Thinner, lighter, more durable, and now with AI that actually takes advantage of the form factor. Whether it works depends on whether people believe that.
Le Pouls
- Samsung is making its most aggressive push yet to pull foldable phones out of the luxury niche, launching three distinct devices at three distinct price points in India simultaneously.
- The Fold8 Ultra raises the stakes for power users with a 200MP camera, 8K video recording, and Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 — a device that competes as much with professional cameras as with rival smartphones.
- AI is not a feature here but a foundation — Galaxy AI and Google Gemini are woven into each device's hardware and form factor, from multitasking on the Fold's large display to running tasks directly from the Flip8's cover screen without ever opening the phone.
- The Flip8 at ₹1,24,999 is Samsung's clearest signal that it wants a new kind of buyer — compact, style-conscious, and unwilling to pay Ultra prices — while the standard Fold8 holds the middle ground at ₹1,79,999.
- A six-month Google AI Pro subscription with 5TB of cloud storage bundled into every purchase suggests Samsung is betting that software value, not just hardware spectacle, will close the deal.
In the ongoing human pursuit of tools that bend to our will — sometimes literally — Samsung has introduced three foldable smartphones to the Indian market, each designed to meet a different kind of ambition. The Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Fold8, and Flip8 arrived at Galaxy Unpacked 2026 as Samsung's most deliberate attempt yet to move folding devices from the hands of the few into the lives of the many. Priced from ₹1,24,999 to ₹1,99,999, and threaded through with artificial intelligence, these devices ask whether the foldable form factor has finally grown patient enough for an impatient world.
Samsung brought three foldable phones to India at once — the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, the Galaxy Z Fold8, and the Galaxy Z Flip8 — each built around a different idea of what a folding device should be. Unveiled at Galaxy Unpacked 2026, the lineup shares three qualities: all three are thinner than their predecessors, all three are built around artificial intelligence, and all three are aimed at buyers who have never owned a foldable before.
At the top sits the Fold8 Ultra, priced from ₹1,99,999. Its 8-inch main display is the largest in the lineup, and its camera system — a 200MP main sensor, 50MP ultra-wide, 8K video with Cine LUT support — is built for professional creative work. A Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip and upgraded cooling system handle the demands of both AI processing and high-end photography. The standard Fold8, starting at ₹1,79,999, takes a lighter path: at 201 grams it is Samsung's lightest Fold yet, with redesigned display ratios, a titanium-based internal structure that reduces the visible crease, and dual 50MP rear cameras.
The Flip8, starting at ₹1,24,999, is the most compact of the three — just 6.1mm thin when unfolded. Its redesigned cover screen now functions as a genuine AI hub, letting users access apps, notifications, and Google Gemini features without opening the phone at all. A 50MP camera with Samsung's ProVisual Engine and new Flex Mode video tools round out a device clearly aimed at buyers who want a foldable without the weight or price of the Fold line.
Artificial intelligence runs through all three. Galaxy AI is tuned to each device's specific hardware and use case, while Google Gemini allows natural language, image-based, and on-screen interaction across the lineup. Personalized features like Now Brief and Now Nudge add a layer of ambient intelligence to daily use. Every device also comes with a six-month Google AI Pro subscription, including 5TB of cloud storage.
Samsung's intent is legible in the structure of the lineup itself: a flagship for power users, a refined middle option, and a compact entry point. Together, they represent the company's clearest argument yet that the foldable market is ready to grow beyond early adopters — and that AI, not just the fold, is what will bring it there.
Samsung has brought three new foldable phones to India, each built around a different vision of what a folding device should do. The Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold8, and Galaxy Z Flip8 arrived at the company's Galaxy Unpacked 2026 event, marking what Samsung calls its most complete foldable lineup to date. The three devices share a common thread: they are thinner than their predecessors, they integrate artificial intelligence at a fundamental level, and they are designed to reach beyond the early adopters who have long been the only foldable buyers.
The Ultra model sits at the top of the range, priced from ₹1,99,999 for the base 12GB and 256GB configuration. It features an 8-inch main display—the largest in the lineup—and what Samsung describes as the slimmest Fold design the company has ever made. The camera system is built for professionals: a 200-megapixel main sensor with HDR support, a 50-megapixel ultra-wide lens, improved low-light performance through Nightography, and the ability to record in 8K with Cine LUT support for color grading. The phone runs on Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, paired with a 5,000mAh battery that supports 45W fast charging. An upgraded cooling system handles the thermal demands of both AI processing and creative work.
The standard Galaxy Z Fold8 takes a different approach. At 201 grams, it is Samsung's lightest Fold phone yet. The company redesigned the display ratios to improve how content looks when reading, gaming, or watching video on either the cover screen or the main display. A new Flex Titanium structure—using titanium-based internal components—reduces the visible crease while improving durability. The rear cameras are dual 50-megapixel sensors. The display reaches 3,000 nits peak brightness. The battery is 4,800mAh. Prices start at ₹1,79,999 for 12GB and 256GB of storage.
The Galaxy Z Flip8 is the most compact device in the trio. When unfolded, it measures just 6.1mm thick and weighs 180 grams, making it Samsung's slimmest Flip phone to date. The redesigned FlexWindow—the cover screen—now handles AI-powered tasks directly, letting users access apps, notifications, and Gemini features without opening the phone. The camera has been upgraded to a 50-megapixel sensor paired with Samsung's ProVisual Engine. Video features include enhanced Flex Mode shooting, Super Steady stabilization, and new selfie capabilities exclusive to the Flip form factor. The Flip8 starts at ₹1,24,999 for 12GB and 256GB.
Artificial intelligence is woven through all three devices. Samsung has optimized Galaxy AI for each phone's specific hardware and use case. Google's Gemini Intelligence is integrated across the lineup, allowing users to complete tasks using natural language, images, or what is currently on screen. Features like Now Brief and Now Nudge deliver personalized recommendations and reminders. On the Fold models, AI-powered multitasking takes advantage of the larger displays. On the Flip8, the focus is on making the cover screen a functional hub rather than just a notification panel.
Samsung is offering a six-month complimentary Google AI Pro subscription with each device, which includes 5TB of cloud storage. The company has opened pre-orders in India. The Fold8 Ultra comes in Graphite, Cream, and Violet for the base model, with Shadow and Green available in the 512GB variant and Shadow as an online exclusive for the 1TB model. The standard Fold8 offers Graphite, Cream, and Lavender at the entry level, with Pistachio for 512GB and an online-exclusive option at 1TB. The Flip8 is available in Graphite, Cream, and Pink, with Mint as an online exclusive in the 512GB variant.
TM Roh, President and Head of Samsung's Device eXperience Division, framed the launch as setting a new standard for foldables while making AI-powered mobile experiences more accessible. The company's strategy is clear: move foldables from niche luxury items into the mainstream by combining thinner designs, practical AI features, and a wider range of price points. The Flip8 at ₹1,24,999 is positioned to attract buyers who want a compact foldable without the premium price tag of the Ultra. The standard Fold8 sits in the middle, offering the large-screen experience at a lower cost than the Ultra. Together, the three devices suggest Samsung believes the foldable market is ready to expand beyond power users and early adopters into the broader premium smartphone segment.
Citations marquantes
Setting a new standard for foldables while making AI-powered mobile experiences more accessible— TM Roh, President and Head of Samsung's Device eXperience Division
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