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Latest Galaxy foldables and smartwatches pair slimmer designs with AI-powered productivity, photography and health tracking
Samsung has expanded its foldable smartphone and wearable lineup with the launch of the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold8, Galaxy Z Flip8, Galaxy Watch Ultra2 and Galaxy Watch9, placing artificial intelligence (AI) at the centre of its latest ecosystem while refining hardware across its premium devices.
Launched in Kuala Lumpur on July 22 in line with the global unveiling in London, the new Galaxy Z series introduces three foldable devices aimed at different types of users. Samsung said the lineup is designed to make foldables appeal to a broader audience, with each model focusing on productivity, entertainment or personal expression while integrating Galaxy AI features throughout the experience.
Samsung Electronics CEO, president and device experience division head Roh Tae-Moon said smartphones are becoming the primary gateway for increasingly personalised AI experiences, with the company aiming to make those capabilities more accessible through different form factors.
Foldables perfected for every way of living
Leading the range is the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Samsung’s most advanced foldable to date. Measuring 4.1mm when unfolded and weighing 215g, it features an 8-inch main display, a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Mobile Platform for Galaxy processor and a 5,000mAh battery designed to support demanding workloads such as multitasking, content creation and AI-powered applications.
Photography also receives a significant upgrade. The Fold8 Ultra features a 200-megapixel main camera with HDR support, a new 50MP ultra-wide camera and improved Nightography for low-light photography. For creators, Samsung has added 8K video recording using the APV codec and Cine LUT tools to provide greater control over colour grading directly on the device.
The standard Galaxy Z Fold8 takes a different approach, targeting users who consume large amounts of content. Samsung said redesigned display ratios make messaging on the cover screen more natural while offering a larger canvas for reading, gaming and watching videos once unfolded. The device weighs 201g, making it Samsung’s lightest Fold model yet, while retaining a 4,800mAh battery and the same Snapdragon processor.
Samsung has also introduced Flex Titanium, a new titanium-based display structure that strengthens the folding display while reducing crease visibility over time. Combined with a display capable of reaching up to 3,000 nits of brightness, the Fold8 is designed to remain usable even in bright outdoor conditions.
The Fold8 includes dual 50MP rear cameras, while software features such as Dual Recording allow users to capture footage from both sides of the phone simultaneously. My FanCam can automatically track subjects and reframe videos into social media-friendly aspect ratios.
Completing the smartphone lineup is the Galaxy Z Flip8, Samsung’s slimmest Flip model at 6.1mm thick and weighing 180g. The compact foldable centres on an expanded FlexWindow cover display that brings AI-powered features, notifications and shortcuts to the outside screen without requiring users to unfold the phone.
The Flip8 also introduces FlexCam improvements, including a 50MP camera powered by Samsung’s ProVisual Engine, Flex Mode for hands-free photography, Super Steady video with Horizontal Lock and new selfie-focused features such as FlipShot and Mirror View.
Across the entire Galaxy Z lineup, Samsung is expanding Galaxy AI with features including Now Brief, which provides personalised daily updates, and Now Nudge, which suggests actions based on ongoing conversations. Gemini Intelligence has also been integrated more deeply, allowing users to automate tasks across more than 40 supported apps and services. Notebook combines notes, recordings, documents and images into a single workspace capable of generating summaries, reports, infographics and other AI-assisted content.
Samsung said security remains a key focus as AI capabilities become increasingly personalised. The devices incorporate Samsung Knox, Personal Data Engine, Knox Enhanced Encrypted Protection and Knox Vault, alongside a new AI Assistant Activity dashboard that lets users monitor automated AI actions and manage privacy settings from a central location.
Health companion on the wrist
Alongside the new smartphones, Samsung unveiled two smartwatches aimed at extending those AI experiences to users’ wrists.
The Galaxy Watch Ultra2 is designed for outdoor enthusiasts and athletes, offering dedicated trail running tools, hydration guidance through Nutrition Alert and automatic dive tracking that records depth, time and water temperature. Samsung is also partnering with diving equipment manufacturer Mares to introduce advanced diving features later this year.
The smartwatch is equipped with an 800mAh battery, 5,000-nit display, Snapdragon Wear Elite Platform and a titanium casing while maintaining a slimmer design than its predecessor despite the larger battery.
For everyday users, the Galaxy Watch9 focuses on health monitoring and comfort. Available in 40mm and 44mm sizes, it uses a lightweight aluminium body, a 390mAh battery and a 3,000-nit display while continuously tracking sleep, activity and other health metrics.
Both watches share Samsung’s latest AI-powered health platform, which introduces features such as Vitals, Heart Health Score, Daily Cardio Load, Fitness Index and Hearing monitoring. The company says the system analyses biometric information collected by the BioActive sensor and translates it into personalised recommendations covering sleep, cardiovascular health, fitness and recovery.
Samsung said the new watches are designed to complement the Galaxy Z series, allowing health insights and AI-powered recommendations to flow across smartphones, wearables and future Galaxy devices as part of its broader connected ecosystem.
Pre-orders for the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Fold8, Flip8, Watch Ultra2 and Watch9 started on July 22, with general availability starting on Aug 14.
Prices start from RM5,399 for the Galaxy Z Flip8, RM7,299 for the Galaxy Z Fold8, RM8,099 for the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, RM1,499 for the Galaxy Watch9 and RM3,399 for the Galaxy Watch Ultra2.
