--- title: "Samsung beats Apple to launch a new foldable smartphone and raises the price" type: "News" locale: "en" url: "https://longbridge.com/en/news/293499593.md" description: "Samsung will launch the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Fold8, and Flip8 foldable smartphones in London on July 22, 2026, with prices set at $2,099, $1,899, and $1,199, respectively. Due to the rising prices of storage chips, Samsung has increased the product prices. This release aims to counter the competition from Apple's impending entry into the foldable screen market and to solidify its leading market position" datetime: "2026-07-22T16:23:21.000Z" locales: - [zh-CN](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/293499593.md) - [en](https://longbridge.com/en/news/293499593.md) - [zh-HK](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/293499593.md) --- # Samsung beats Apple to launch a new foldable smartphone and raises the price Key Points Samsung released three models on Wednesday: Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold8, and Galaxy Z Flip8. Due to the rising prices of storage chips, the South Korean tech giant has increased the prices of its foldable screen products. The new product launch coincides with market expectations that Apple's first foldable iPhone is about to debut. On July 22, 2026, Samsung held a product launch event in London to introduce the Galaxy Z Fold8, the latest product in Samsung's foldable smartphone lineup. On Wednesday, Samsung officially launched the next generation of foldable smartphones. In the face of Apple's potential entry into the market, Samsung aims to maintain its leading position in the foldable smartphone market that it pioneered. The South Korean tech company unveiled three products in the Galaxy Z8 series at the London event, with the following prices: Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra: $2099 Galaxy Z Fold8: $1899 Galaxy Z Flip8: $1199 In the past, Samsung's foldable screen product line typically included two models: the book-style large-screen Fold series and the traditional flip phone-like Flip series. This time, it has expanded to three models, with the Ultra positioned as the flagship of the series, continuing the product form of the previous Galaxy Z Fold7. Ben Wood, Chief Analyst and Chief Marketing Officer at CCS Insight, stated: "2026 will be a crucial year for the foldable screen industry, and it is almost certain that Apple will launch a foldable iPhone later this year." "Therefore, this new product launch is significant for Samsung. As the pioneer of the foldable market, Samsung will see increased industry attention once Apple enters the space." Multiple sources indicate that Apple is expected to launch its first foldable iPhone this year. Since the release of the first foldable phone in 2019, Samsung has long dominated this market, and Apple's entry will bring more intense competition. Price Increase The market had previously anticipated that Samsung's new generation models would be priced higher than their predecessors. The core reason is the rising costs of components, especially storage chips: driven by strong demand from the artificial intelligence industry and supply shortages, the prices of storage chips have surged significantly. These types of storage chips are also used in smartphones. The Z Fold8 Ultra is priced $100 higher than the previous Z Fold7; the Galaxy Z Flip8 is also $100 more expensive than the Z Flip7. Wood from CCS Insight stated that the actual price increase was lower than his expectations, indicating that Samsung did not pass on all the additional costs to consumers. "This is enough to show that Samsung is striving to maintain price competitiveness," Wood said. He also mentioned that the pricing of the Ultra version exceeding $2,000 is bound to spark a lot of discussions. New Models in the Fold Series The Galaxy Z Fold8 features a completely new product design. It retains the inward-folding book form factor but has a smaller body size than the Ultra version. Samsung introduced that the device uses a 4:3 screen ratio, which can provide a better content viewing experience. Wood analyzed that Samsung's launch of a new form factor for the Fold product line is not surprising. The market has long speculated that Apple plans to adopt a widescreen solution for its new foldable iPhone, and Samsung, along with other manufacturers, hopes to seize the first-mover advantage. Both the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra and Galaxy Z Fold8 are equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor. There are configuration differences between the two models: the Ultra features a higher-spec triple-camera system and is equipped with a larger capacity battery. The price difference between the Fold8 and Fold8 Ultra is $200. In the high-end market, consumers are generally willing to pay a higher premium, and a $200 price difference is not considered significant. This also means that Samsung needs to clearly explain to consumers the reasons for choosing the standard Fold8 over the Ultra version. "The Z Fold8 has lower hardware specifications, and Samsung must present sufficiently persuasive selling points to help consumers understand why it is still worth purchasing this model when they can upgrade to the Z Fold8 Ultra for just an additional $200," Wood stated ### Related Stocks - [AAPL.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/AAPL.US.md) - [AAPX.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/AAPX.US.md) - [AAPD.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/AAPD.US.md) - [AAPB.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/AAPB.US.md) - [AAPU.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/AAPU.US.md) - [AAPW.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/AAPW.US.md) - [APLY.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/APLY.US.md) - [AAPY.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/AAPY.US.md) - [MAGX.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/MAGX.US.md) - [SSNGY.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/SSNGY.US.md) - [SMSN.UK](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/SMSN.UK.md) ## Related News & Research - [Samsung unveils wider foldable phone, hikes prices as chip costs rise](https://longbridge.com/en/news/293476953.md) - [AAPL Stock Alert: HSBC Gives Investors Fresh Reasons to Be Bullish on Apple Before Earnings](https://longbridge.com/en/news/293504648.md) - [Apple Inc. $AAPL Stake Decreased by Texas Bank & Trust Co](https://longbridge.com/en/news/293723764.md) - [Top Stories: iOS 27 and macOS Golden Gate Public Betas, Apple Back to School Promo, and More](https://longbridge.com/en/news/293098827.md) - [Hegarty Advisors LLC Takes Position in Apple Inc. $AAPL](https://longbridge.com/en/news/293724354.md)