Samsung Splits Foldable Line, Previews AI Glasses at London Unpacked
The Korean giant launches Fold8 Ultra and Watch Ultra2 while pivoting its ecosystem toward preventive digital health.
Samsung Electronics hosted its Galaxy Unpacked event in London on July 22, 2026, unveiling a redesigned foldable lineup, new wearables, and a preview of intelligent eyewear as the company shifts its ecosystem strategy from reactive notifications to preventive health monitoring.
Foldable Redesign
The headline hardware included the Galaxy Z Fold8, Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, and Galaxy Z Flip8. The standard Fold8 weighs 201 grams, making it the lightest Fold to date, and retails at $1,899. The new Fold8 Ultra measures 4.1mm when unfolded—the thinnest Fold Samsung has produced—weighs 215 grams, and carries a $2,099 price tag. The Z Flip8 starts at $1,199.
Both foldables feature Samsung's new Flex Titanium Display, which uses a titanium alloy film and titanium plate to reduce screen creasing and enable thinner device profiles.
Wearables Dive Deeper
Samsung introduced two distinct smartwatch lines. The Galaxy Watch Ultra2 targets serious athletes and divers with a 47mm case, 10ATM water resistance, EN13319 dive certification, and a partnership with Mares for diving functionality, priced at $699. The standard Galaxy Watch9 comes in 40mm and 44mm sizes with 5ATM water resistance, starting at $379.
AI Eyewear Preview
The company previewed its first intelligent eyewear, dubbed Galaxy Glasses, developed in collaboration with Google, Gentle Monster, and Warby Parker. The glasses feature Qualcomm's Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 processor and integrate Google's Gemini AI for contextual assistance.
Software and Health Vision
One UI 9, built on Android 17, introduces an AI Assistant Activity dashboard and Gemini integration across more than 40 apps. The update supports Samsung's broader Connected Care initiative, which the company described as "a future where care moves from reactive treatment toward preventive, personalized and connected experiences."
The July event marks Samsung's attempt to leverage generative AI and clinical partnerships to reposition its wearables as proactive health tools rather than fitness trackers, while the split Fold lineup targets both mainstream and premium segments of the foldable market.