Samsung has announced the latest updates in its Z Series Phones and Galaxy Watches for 2026. The big news is the introduction of a new category of Fold, but there are some impressive updates all round. Want to know if you need to upgrade from last year's updates? Here's exactly what's changed.
Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra
This year's changes to the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra solidify its place in the Samsung lineup: a genuine alternative to a flagship S Series phone, not just a gimmick with features that don't quite measure up. It's worth noting that the Fold 8 Ultra is the direct successor to the Fold 7. As for this year's Fold 8, it's a different category of phone. More on that below.
It's thinner
Samsung has shaved off another 0.1mm. This means that when unfolded, the phone is the thickness of it's USB-C port.
The hinge is smoother
It's now easier to open the Fold, with an easier-to-use opening and closing action.
The display received and upgrade
Introducing 'flex titanium' display construction. Parts of the internal display have been replaced with titanium components that are stronger and also help reduce the obviousness of the fold line. There's also a brighter 3,000-nit display, higher pixel density and, importantly, an anti-reflective coating for the first time on a foldable.
Camera improvements are more modest
Last year, the Fold 7 camera received a big update: the same camera system at the flagship S Series. This year Samsung adds the S26 Ultra's ultra-wide camera, rounding out the photography experience rather than fundamentally changing it. If you have a Fold 7, the differences will be minimal. But if you have an earlier iteration, you'll notice a high-impact difference.
Battery life is better
We're introduced to Samsung's first silicon-carbon battery in a foldable. What does this mean? Higher capacity without increasing size. Charging also jumps to 45W wired charging alongside faster wireless charging.
Deeper AI integration
If AI integration is something you value, this phone comes with more of it. Samsung's AI systems are able to penetrate deeper into your apps and the operating system to offer you ambient suggests that allegedly help you multitask and organise your day. We have not confirmed if these can be turned off.
Introducing the new Galaxy Z Fold 8
This is arguably the most exciting announcement of the Galaxy Z line up. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 is a smaller and more compact version of the Fold 8 Ultra. This phone is not the new version of the Fold 7, it's an entirely new device designed to service a market that loveds the idea of a Fold, but finds the previous iterations to bulk. It's a streamlined and light (just 201 grams) size that fits more ergonomically into smaller hands, while also offering the same impactful big fold out screen.
The Fold 8 Ultra is positioned as a productivity device, where as the Fold 8 has been designed around content consumption, whether that's movies, YouTube videos, TikTok or even books. When unfolded, it's the right size for landscape content consumption, or it can be turned portrait to transform into perfectly-sized e-reader.
How does the tech compare to the Fold 8 Ultra?
Yes, this device is technically positioned below the Ultra, but it has most of the same premium tech and features. The titanium display construction, anti-reflective display coating, 3,000-nit brightness, Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, 4,800mAh battery and 45W charging can all be found on the Fold 8 too.
The one gentle compromise is the camera. It uses dual 50MP cameras rather than the Ultra's more advanced setup.
Galaxy Z Flip 8
Looking at the new Galaxy Z Flip 8, Samsung's focus has clearly been on the outer display. You can see the work that has been put into making the outer display genuinely useful. But there have still been some hardware changes worth mentioning.
It's thinner and lighter
The Flip has been made thinner and lighter, with a stronger aluminium hinge improving durability.
The front display gets a makeover
The standout update is the complete redesign of the outer Flex Window. On previous models the external display primarily showed widgets like weather and time. But Now you can have native apps to run directly on the outer display without requiring third-party workarounds. This means apps like calendars, browsers, Netflix, YouTube are now useable without flipping the phone open. It also receives the same AI assistant treatment as the Folds, with ambient AI-driven suggestions appearing on the screen.
The camera has usability improvements
Rather than sensor upgrades, the Flip camera improvements are centred around usability . Horizontal Lock transforms the folded Flip into a camcorder-style device while automatically stabilising orientation regardless of how users rotate it. It's a nostalgic feature, but also practical for content creators. Samsung has also introduced something called My Fan Cam, a software tool that allows you to record a group of people, but later in editing focus in on one solo person. Essentially, allowing you to create your own fan cam. This tool is available on all the new Galaxy Z phones.
Galaxy Watch Ultra 2
Of all the products announced in this update, the Watch Ultra 2 arguably receives the largest year-on-year hardware upgrade. It's a significant leap over the previous Ultra rather than a routine refresh.
Battery life is extended
The battery capacity of the Watch Ultra 2 increases by roughly 35 per cent. Combined with the introduction of Qualcomm's new Wear Elite chipset, this watch offers substantially better performance alongside longer battery life.
The display is better
It's increased from 3,000 nits to 5,000 nits—making it one of the brightest smartwatch displays available. And, this means it's particularly suited to outdoor activities.
Durability is improved
The titanium construction is still here, as is the military-grade protection. But we also see IP69K dust resistance and a dedicated diving certification supporting dives up to 40 metres.
Health and fitness is front and centre
Health and fitness become much more specialised through dedicated trail-running tools, hydration guidance during exercise and a partnership with Mares to create an integrated dive computer. These features move the Ultra further into serious outdoor sports territory than previous Galaxy Watches.
Galaxy Watch 9
While the Ultra targets athletes and hardcore watch users, the Galaxy Watch 9 is better suited to your regular smart watch user as an everyday health companion. Compared with last year's model, the biggest changes are about making health data easier to understand.
The hardware gets a light touch
Expect a 20 per cent larger battery, Qualcomm's new Wear Elite chipset, a brighter 3,000-nit display and a lighter, more comfortable design.
Samsung Health is the big story
Rather than overwhelming users with individual metrics, Samsung has introduced AI-powered summaries including Vitals, Heart Health Score, Cardio Load and Fitness Index. These combine multiple health indicators into easier-to-understand scores alongside personalised recommendations.
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