All articles tagged with #galaxy z fold 8
Apple's entry into the foldable market with the iPhone Duo is unexpectedly boosting sales for Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8. While Apple's device launches on October 23, the hype has drawn broader attention to the niche category, prompting Samsung to lower prices and increasing consumer interest in its existing foldables.
A Korean report says Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8 saw a 10% sales uptick after Apple's iPhone Duo reveal, driven by price comparisons and timing. In Korea, the Fold 8 is cheaper than the iPhone Duo (which lacks a 1TB option and has a higher price for the 2TB model), helping Fold 8's momentum. The Fold 8 had already shattered pre-order records and sold out, outperforming the Fold 8 Ultra and Flip 8. Apple’s event sets US pre-orders for Oct 16 and a US release on Oct 23, illustrating a wait‑and‑see mood among buyers comparing the premium foldables.
Samsung has kicked off internal development of One UI 9.5, with early builds spotted for Galaxy Z Fold 8, Z Fold 8 Ultra, and Z Flip 8 on Samsung's servers. The company has tested 9.5 on the Galaxy S26 line, and a beta program could roll out later this year or early next year to S26 and Z8 devices. The update won’t add an Android version but will bring new One UI features as part of Samsung's x.0/x.5 release pattern.
9to5Mac compares Apple's iPhone Duo with Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8, noting similar foldable form factors and prices within about $100 but key trade‑offs: the Fold 8 is slightly thinner yet carries durability concerns for dust; the Duo is fully dustproof and offers MagSafe wireless charging, while the Fold 8 supports faster wired charging; cameras are broadly similar (50MP on Fold 8 vs 48MP on Duo) with different front‑camera setups and limited inner-camera details; overall, durability, ecosystem, and preference for iOS vs Android will drive the choice, with the Duo potentially appealing to Android users who like Apple’s UI, despite Samsung’s durability track record.
This week’s deals centerpiece Samsung flagships: Galaxy S26 Ultra is $1,049.99 with $250 off and $300 Samsung Store credit; Galaxy Z Fold 8 is $1,599.99 with $300 off and $400 credit; Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is $1,749.99 with $350 off and $400 credit. A broad lineup of other Android phones, tablets, and wearables is discounted, including Google Pixel 11 series, Motorola Razr, and Lenovo tablets, while iPhone 18 Pro/Pro Max see fewer discounts. Lenovo’s Idea Tab Pro Gen 2 stands out as especially strong value among tablets.
Samsung’s new New Zealand ad features a Tim Cook lookalike from Palmerston North promoting the Galaxy Z Fold 8, spoofing Apple’s cinematic launch style and poking fun at Cook’s updated profile picture as Apple unveils the iPhone Duo.
Samsung slashes $300 off the Galaxy Z Fold 8 to $1,600 (with 512GB and 1TB variants also on sale); Amazon also discounts the 256GB model by $250 and offers up to $600 in trade-in credits, though you can't combine Samsung's discount with trade-ins. The Fold 8 remains a phone-and-tablet hybrid with a large fold-out display, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, and a 4,800 mAh battery. Apple is rumored to reveal a foldable iPhone at a high price point later, while the Galaxy Z Flip 8 offers a cheaper alternative for similar features.
Samsung unveils substantial discounts on its Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and Galaxy Z Fold 8: $300 off (no trade-in required) for the Ultra starting at $1,799.99 for 256GB (with 512GB and 1TB also $300 off), and $250 off for the Galaxy Z Fold 8 starting at $1,649.99 for 256GB. Trade-ins can still yield up to $800 off, plus a $200 accessory credit from Samsung.
Samsung says US sales for the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Fold 8 Ultra are about 30% higher than the Fold 7, now accounting for roughly 80% of Z-series purchases. The 201g Fold 8 result comes from eight generations of engineering and new materials, aiming to keep flagship feel while trimming bulk. About 30% of Fold 8 buyers switched from competing brands, and the company frames the weight loss against rivals like the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
Samsung says the Z Fold 8 and Z Fold 8 Ultra have a cushioning structure at the outer display corners for durability, which can cause a slight indentation when pressed. It’s an intentional design feature to protect internals and does not affect performance. If concerned, customers can get a professional diagnostic at a Samsung service center.
Samsung has confirmed that the slight sinking of the inner display corners on the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Fold 8 Ultra is intentional. The corners include a cushioning structure to absorb pressure and protect the flexible display, making this behavior a durability feature rather than a defect.
Global foldable shipments are forecast to exceed 100 million by end-2026, driven by Apple’s iPhone Ultra and Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8. Counterpoint Research projects Samsung to hold about 38% of shipments, Apple around 25%, and Huawei about 22%, with Apple potentially narrowing Samsung’s lead in 2027 and shipping roughly 6 million iPhone Ultras during the early availability window.
A minority of Galaxy Z Fold 8 owners report the foldable display sinks slightly when pressed at the corners. Samsung’s Flex Titanium layer is designed to improve panel rigidity, but the company has not publicly commented on the issue yet; if verified, it could impact consumer confidence and sales momentum for Samsung’s leading foldable.
A subset of Galaxy Z Fold 8 owners report that the inner screen corners have more give when pressed, suggesting weak corner support. It’s unclear if this is a defect or intended design, and Samsung has not issued an official statement yet. Reports are not universal, with mixed observations and references to teardowns, despite the Fold 8’s Flex Titanium structure intended to improve stiffness.
Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8 is selling faster than expected and facing production bottlenecks, while Samsung has attracted more younger iPhone users to its foldables in the US, aided by the improved Smart Switch data-migration tool; the market watches whether ex-iPhone users will stay after Apple potentially launches a foldable iPhone, with Samsung holding a price edge for the Z Fold 8 starting at $1,899.