the best is already here
The Galaxy Z Fold 7 brought a major overhaul to Samsung’s big-screen foldables, and the Galaxy Z Fold 8 could be a more modest upgrade. It may have a larger battery, faster charging, and perhaps a “crease-less” foldable display panel. However, there is always a possibility that the price may rise.
Pros
- Snapdragon 8 Elite may be powered by Gen 5 chip
- Battery life may finally get a boost with 5,000mAh capacity
- The display can be improved with a crease-less design
- Build quality could be even thinner and lighter
Shortcoming
- The general design language may match that of the Galaxy Z Fold 7
- Prices may be higher due to lack of RAM
- Still won’t have the biggest battery or most durable form factor
For S Pen lovers
On its own merits alone, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 doesn’t have anything to help it beat the Galaxy Z Fold 8. The one exception is its S Pen support. If you want a phone with a stylus, this Samsung foldable is it. Another advantage is its price, with an upgrade costing around $500.
Pros
- Still have years of upgrades left
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 still capable for Galaxy processors
- The last Samsung foldable to support S Pen
- Best deals on used and refurbished Galaxy Z Fold 6 phones
Shortcoming
- Much thicker than the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Fold 8
- Less comfortable display aspect ratio
- faulty camera hardware; No 200MP main sensor
- Small battery, slow charging, no Qi2 support of any kind.
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 should be good enough to beat not only older Samsung foldables but also the latest foldables 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 and wondering if it’ll be time to upgrade soon, here’s how the two-year-old foldable compares to the Galaxy Z Fold 8.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 vs Galaxy Z Fold 6: Price and availability
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 is expected to be released at the upcoming Galaxy Unpacked event in July 2026. Current leaks point towards this The release date of the foldable is July 22, 2026. This opens the Galaxy Unpacked event and pre-order window about a week or two earlier. According to rumors, the unveiling will take place in London this year.
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The price of Galaxy Z Fold 8 is worth looking at. With rising costs and component shortages roiling the volatile smartphone market, it wouldn’t be surprising if Samsung had to raise foldable prices. The 256GB model of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 started at $1,999, with the 512GB and 1TB models costing even more.
This was already more than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, which was released on July 10, 2024, for $1,899. It was available in Pink, Navy, Silver Shadow, Crafted Black and White colors, the latter two being Samsung Online exclusives. Now, the phone is mostly not available in like-new condition, but refurbished and used models are attractive – they’ll only run you about $500.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 vs Galaxy Z Fold 6: Design and display
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 will likely keep the same general design language Galaxy Z Fold 7 as per leak. However, compared to the Galaxy Z Fold 6, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 should still be significantly thinner and lighter. The thickness of the new model should be 4.2 mm open and approximately 8.9 mm closed. That’s a jump from the Galaxy Z Fold 6, which measures 12.1mm folded and 5.6mm unfolded.
The Galaxy Z Fold 6 is also heavier than the Galaxy Z Fold 8, with the older foldable measuring 239 grams. The Galaxy Z Fold 7, by comparison, weighed just 215 grams. Even if the Galaxy Z Fold 8 makes do with a bigger battery or a few extra grams with Qi2 magnets, it will still likely be lighter than the Galaxy Z Fold 6.
The new model should also have a larger display, with the main screen measuring eight inches. The screen will be a foldable OLED that will support a 120Hz refresh rate, and may also use a crease-less design. Compared to newer models, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 has a more visible crease.
The main screen size of the older foldable is only 7.6 inches, but it supports the same 120Hz refresh rates and uses the same OLED technology. The outer screen is presumably narrower than that of the Galaxy Z Fold 8, as Samsung has finally embraced its wider cover screen aspect ratio. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 is tipped to have a 6.3-inch exterior screen, while the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is tipped to have a 6.5-inch cover screen.
The Galaxy Z Fold 6 has an IP48 rating against dust and liquid ingress. Since other foldables support higher IP ratings, it’s likely that the Galaxy Z Fold 8 offers a stronger IP68 certification. However this is unconfirmed.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 vs Galaxy Z Fold 6: Hardware and specs
Galaxy Z Fold 6 is still supported and capable of Android OS upgrades Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy processor with 12GB memory. However, the latest Qualcomm chips are a big leap over the older Snapdragon platforms. It’s fair to expect the Galaxy Z Fold 8 to be faster and more capable than the Galaxy Z Fold 6, thanks to the rumored Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for the Galaxy chipset.
|
Social class |
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 |
Internal: 8-inch LTPO AMOLED, 120Hz, crease-free External: 6.5-inch, LTPO AMOLED, 120Hz |
Internal: 7.6-inch LTPO AMOLED, 120 Hz, 2160 x 1856 resolution, 20.9:18 aspect ratio, 374 ppi, 2600 nits peak brightness External: 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 |
|
to hit |
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 |
|
charge |
45W wired |
25W wired charging, 15W wireless charging, 4.5 reverse wireless |
|
ip rating |
ip48 |
ip48 |
|
weight |
unknown |
239 grams |
|
DIMENSIONS |
Open: 155.2 x 150.4 x 5.2 mm Folded: 155.2 x 76.3 x 10.8 mm |
Open: 132.6 x 153.5 x 5.6 mm Folded: 68.1 x 153.5 x 12.1 mm |
|
Colour |
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 capacity of 4,400mAh, which is the same as the Galaxy Z Fold 7. It also has slow charging, supporting 25W speeds over cable and 15W wirelessly.
The camera system on the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is already on the back. It features a 50MP main camera, a 12MP ultrawide sensor, and a 10MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom capabilities. By comparison, the primary camera on the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is a 200MP sensor. Even the secondary lenses are better, with a 50MP ultrawide camera and a 12MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom.
Even if the Galaxy Z Fold 8 keeps everything the same, it will still be an upgrade to the Galaxy Z Fold 6.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 vs Galaxy Z Fold 6: Which one should you buy?
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 is quite capable for 2026, even if its form factor may look dated as foldables pursue thinner and lighter designs. In fact, the thicker construction makes the Galaxy Z Fold 6 feel more premium, and allows its hinge to stay open at more angles without bending. S Pen support is an added bonus, as the Galaxy Z Fold 8 will likely ship without it.
Meanwhile, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is expected to be based on the upgrades already introduced with the Galaxy Z Fold 7. This means you can expect great performance, thin and light design, great camera systems, and excellent software. If you’ve already paid for the Galaxy Z Fold 6 two years ago, it may be hard, if not impossible, to justify spending $2,000 or more on a new foldable. As such, it’s probably best to wait and see what the Galaxy Z Fold 8 actually brings.
a worthy upgrade
Packing all the improvements of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 as well as potentially a larger battery and a refined design, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 could be a slam-dunk upgrade for Galaxy Z Fold 6 owners. The price may be off-putting to some, especially if Samsung decides that a price increase is justified.
All about S Pen
The Galaxy Z Fold 6 is by no means outdated, even though the Galaxy Z Fold 8 will beat it in almost every way. The phone still has a good chipset and will continue to get updates in the years to come. Plus, it also has the added benefit of supporting the S Pen on the main display.
