Samsung's Z Fold 8 Ultra UK Release Date and Price Confirmed

Samsung has confirmed that the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra will go on general sale in the UK on Friday 7 August, starting at £1,899. The standard Galaxy Z Fold 8 will arrive on the same date from £1,699, giving buyers a lower-priced entry into the company’s book-style foldable range.

Pre-orders for both phones opened on 22 July, the day Samsung unveiled its latest Galaxy devices at an Unpacked event in London. As previously reported, that launch introduced the Z Fold 8 Ultra, Z Fold 8, Z Flip 8, Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 and Galaxy Watch 9, while also offering a preview of intelligent eyewear due later this year.

Two Fold models, one new Ultra tier

The 7 August date is significant because 2026 is the first year Samsung has offered two book-style Fold models at launch. The Z Fold 8 Ultra sits above the regular Fold 8, applying the same “Ultra” approach Samsung has used in its Galaxy S phone range.

Samsung says the Ultra is its thinnest Galaxy Z Fold so far, measuring 4.1mm when unfolded and weighing 215g. It has an 8-inch main display, a 5,000mAh battery and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy processor. A new Flex Titanium display layer is intended to remove most of the familiar folding-screen crease, according to Samsung.

The company has also used the Ultra to address a longstanding compromise in its foldable camera hardware. Its rear camera system includes a 200MP f/1.7 main camera with optical image stabilisation, a 10MP f/2.4 3x telephoto and a 50MP f/1.9 ultrawide camera.

Charging is rated at up to 45W wired, 20W fast wireless and 4.5W reverse wireless. Samsung’s new Fold series is also its first to use silicon-carbon batteries.

“Within the Galaxy lineup, the 'Ultra' name represents Samsung's highest level of performance and user experience. As the first Ultra model in the Galaxy Z series, Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra pairs ultra-level performance with an expansive foldable display to elevate productivity through AI-powered multitasking.”

That statement, published by Samsung’s Global Newsroom, sets out the company’s pitch: the Ultra is meant to be the Fold for buyers unwilling to trade camera capability for a tablet-sized inner screen.

The cheaper Fold takes a different direction

The £1,699 Galaxy Z Fold 8 is not simply a cut-down Ultra. It is Samsung’s first wide-screen foldable, with a 5.5-inch cover display and a 7.6-inch main screen. Opened out, it uses a 4:3 aspect ratio designed for films and games; turning it changes the orientation to 3:4 for reading and web browsing.

At 201g and 4.5mm unfolded, Samsung describes it as the lightest book-style foldable. It has a 4,800mAh battery, 45W charging and a claimed maximum of 26 hours of video playback. Unlike the Ultra, it does not have a dedicated telephoto camera, relying instead on a 2x in-sensor crop from its 50MP main camera.

Both Fold models ship with Android 17 and One UI 9, start with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, and are available in a 1TB configuration with 16GB of RAM. Samsung has promised up to seven years of operating system and security updates across the new foldable range.

Offers before the retail launch

Samsung is offering £100 off through PayPal and an additional £100 discount for trade-ins on the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and Z Fold 8 through Samsung.com. The offers apply to purchases made by 6 August, a day before the phones reach general sale.

The pricing creates a notable contrast with last year’s range. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 launched at £1,799, meaning the new standard Fold begins £100 lower despite Samsung adding an Ultra option above it. The Ultra costs £1,899, placing the new £200 gap between the two models squarely around its bigger 8-inch display, 5,000mAh battery and more ambitious camera system.

What UK buyers should consider

For most buyers, the split makes Samsung’s Fold line easier to read than before. The Z Fold 8 is the less expensive route to a large-screen foldable and keeps the same processor, 45W charging, software and update commitment as its pricier sibling. It will be the model to watch for anyone who values the wider design but does not need a telephoto lens.

The Z Fold 8 Ultra is the more complete flagship proposition, particularly for people who want foldable multitasking without accepting a basic camera setup. Its 200MP main sensor and dedicated 3x telephoto are the clearest reasons to pay the extra £200.

Both are still premium devices rather than mainstream upgrades, but Samsung’s decision to bring its summer Unpacked event to London — its first major UK announcement in 14 years — underlines the importance of the market ahead of the autumn phone launches. UK availability now begins on 7 August, with pre-orders already open.