The best is already here
The Galaxy Z Fold 7 brought a major overhaul for Samsung's big-screen foldable, and the Galaxy Z Fold 8 could be a more modest upgrade. It might have a larger battery, faster charging, and perhaps a "crease-less" foldable display panel. However, there's always a chance the price could go up.
Pros
- Could be powered by Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip
- Battery life might finally get a boost with 5,000mAh capacity
- Display could be improved with crease-less design
- Build quality could get even thinner and lighter
Cons
- General design language might match Galaxy Z Fold 7
- The RAM shortage might lead to higher prices
- Still won't have the biggest battery or most durable form factor
For the S Pen lovers
On its merits alone, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 doesn't have much that'll help it beat the Galaxy Z Fold 8. The one exception is its support of the S Pen. If you want a phone with a stylus, this is the Samsung foldable to get. Another perk is the price, which is about $500 refurbished.
Pros
- Still has many years of upgrades left
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy processor is still capable
- Last Samsung foldable to support the S Pen
- Excellent deals on used and refurbished Galaxy Z Fold 6 phones
Cons
- Much thicker than Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Fold 8
- Less comfortable display aspect ratios
- Worse camera hardware; no 200MP main sensor
- Smaller battery, slow charging, no Qi2 support of any kind.
Samsung found a hit with the Galaxy Z Fold 7 last year, but the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 8 needs to do even more to solidify its spot as the best North American foldable. Since the Galaxy Z Fold 7's release, Google has launched the Pixel 10 Pro Fold with magnetic Qi2 support and IP68 certification. Motorola is launching the Razr Fold with optional stylus support, adding the feature Samsung removed from the Galaxy Z Fold 7.
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 needs to be good enough to not only beat older Samsung foldables but also the latest from Google and Motorola. If it lives up to that standard, it could prove to be a major upgrade over the Galaxy Z Fold 6 — the last Samsung foldable to support the S Pen. If you're a Galaxy Z Fold 6 user wondering if it'll be soon time to upgrade, this is how the two-year-old foldable will compare to the Galaxy Z Fold 8.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 vs. Galaxy Z Fold 6: Pricing and availability
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 is expected to be released sometime in July 2026 at an upcoming Galaxy Unpacked event. Current leaks point to the foldable's release date being July 22, 2026. That puts the Galaxy Unpacked event and pre-order window opening roughly a week or two earlier. The unveiling will take place in London this year, according to rumors.
The price of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is worth watching. With the volatile smartphone market being rocked by rising costs and component shortages, it wouldn't be shocking if Samsung had to raise foldable prices. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 started at $1,999 for the 256GB model, with 512GB and 1TB models costing even more.
That was already an increase over the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, which was released July 10, 2024, for $1,899. It was available in Pink, Navy, Silver Shadow, Crafted Black, and White colorways, with the latter two being Samsung online exclusives. Now, the phone is mostly unavailable in new condition, but refurbished and used models are enticing — they'll only run you about $500.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 vs. Galaxy Z Fold 6: Design and display
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 will likely keep the same general design language as the Galaxy Z Fold 7, according to leaks. Compared to the Galaxy Z Fold 6, though, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 should still be considerably thinner and lighter. The new model should measure 4.2mm thick opened and about 8.9mm closed. That's quite the jump from the Galaxy Z Fold 6, which is 12.1mm folded and 5.6mm unfolded.
The Galaxy Z Fold 6 is also heavier than the Galaxy Z Fold 8 will be, with the older foldable measuring 239 grams. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 weighed only 215 grams by comparison. Even if the Galaxy Z Fold 8 tacks on a few extra grams with a bigger battery or Qi2 magnets, it'll likely still come in lighter than the Galaxy Z Fold 6.
The newer model should also feature a larger display, with the main screen spanning eight inches. The screen will be a foldable OLED supporting 120Hz refresh rates, and it could even use a crease-less design. Compared to newer models, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 has a more visible crease.
The older foldable's main screen is only 7.6 inches in size, but it supports the same 120Hz refresh rates and uses identical OLED technology. The outer screen is narrower than the Galaxy Z Fold 8 will likely be, as Samsung has finally settled into its wider cover screen aspect ratio. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 features a 6.3-inch outer screen, while the Galaxy Z Fold 8 should come with a 6.5-inch cover screen.
The Galaxy Z Fold 6 has an IP48 rating against dust and liquid ingress. As other foldables support higher IP ratings, there's a chance the Galaxy Z Fold 8 offers bolstered IP68 certification. This is unconfirmed, though.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 vs. Galaxy Z Fold 6: Hardware and specs
The Galaxy Z Fold 6 is still supported with Android OS upgrades and has a capable Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy processor with 12GB of memory. However, the latest Qualcomm chips are major leaps over older Snapdragon platforms. It's reasonable to expect that the Galaxy Z Fold 8 will be faster and more capable than the Galaxy Z Fold 6, thanks to the presumed Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy chipset.
Category |
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 (Rumored) |
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 |
|---|---|---|
Operating System |
One UI 9 (Android 17) |
One UI 6.1.1 (Android 14) [upgradeable] |
Display |
Inner: 8-inch LTPO AMOLED, 120Hz, crease-less Outer: 6.5-inch, LTPO AMOLED, 120Hz |
Inner: 7.6-inch LTPO AMOLED, 120Hz, 2160 x 1856 resolution, 20.9:18 aspect ratio, 374 ppi, 2600 nits peak brightness Outer: 6.3-inch, LTPO AMOLED, 120Hz, 2376 x 968 resolution, 22.1:9 aspect ratio, 410 ppi, 2600 nits peak brightness |
Stylus support |
No |
Yes |
Processor |
Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy |
Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy |
RAM |
12GB |
12GB |
Storage |
256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
Rear cameras |
200MP wide camera, 50MP ultrawide, 12MP telephoto 3x zoom |
50MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 10MP telephoto (3x optical zoom) |
Front camera |
Unknown |
10MP (cover display) + 4MP (folding display) |
Battery |
5,000mAh |
4,400mAh |
Charging |
45W wired |
25W wired charging, 15W wireless charging, 4.5 reverse wireless |
IP rating |
IP48 |
IP48 |
Weight |
Unknown |
239g |
Dimensions |
Unfolded: 155.2 x 150.4 x 5.2 mm Folded: 155.2 x 76.3 x 10.8 mm |
Unfolded: 132.6 x 153.5 x 5.6 mm Folded: Folded 68.1 x 153.5 x 12.1 mm |
Colors |
Unknown |
Silver, Shadow, Pink, Navy |
Samsung could upgrade the Galaxy Z Fold 8's battery by increasing the capacity or adding built-in Qi2 magnets. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 has a 4,400mAh capacity, which is the same as the Galaxy Z Fold 7. It also has slower charging, supporting 25W speeds over a cable and 15W wirelessly.
The Galaxy Z Fold 6's camera system is already behind the curve. It offers a 50MP main camera, a 12MP ultrawide sensor, and a 10MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom capabilities. By comparison, the Galaxy Z Fold 7's primary camera is a 200MP sensor. Even the secondary lenses are better, with a 50MP ultrawide camera and a 12MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom.
If the Galaxy Z Fold 8 keeps everything the same, it'll still be an upgrade over the Galaxy Z Fold 6.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 vs. Galaxy Z Fold 6: Which should you buy?
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 is quite capable for 2026, even though its form factor might feel outdated as foldables chase thinner and lighter designs. In fact, the thicker build does make the Galaxy Z Fold 6 feel more premium, and allows its hinge to remain open at more angles without tipping over. The S Pen support is an added bonus, since the Galaxy Z Fold 8 likely will ship without it.
Meanwhile, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is expected to build upon the upgrades already introduced with the Galaxy Z Fold 7. That means you can expect great performance, a thin and light design, a superb camera system, and excellent software. It may be tough — if not impossible — to justify spending $2,000 or more on a new foldable if you already shelled out for the Galaxy Z Fold 6 two years ago. As such, it's probably best to wait and see what exactly the Galaxy Z Fold 8 brings.
A worthy upgrade
Packing all the Galaxy Z Fold 7's improvements, plus potentially a bigger battery and a refined design, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 could be a slam-dunk upgrade for Galaxy Z Fold 6 owners. The price could be off-putting to some, especially if Samsung decides a price hike is in order.
All about the S Pen
The Galaxy Z Fold 6 is by no means outdated, even if the Galaxy Z Fold 8 will beat it in almost every way. The phone still has a decent chipset and is receiving updates for years to come. Plus, it has the added perk of supporting the S Pen on the main display.
