Samsung Unveils Groundbreaking Foldable Smartphones, Smartwatches, and Cutting-Edge Battery Technology

Samsung officially launched its latest suite of innovative devices, including the highly anticipated Galaxy Z Fold8, Z Fold8 Ultra, and Z Flip8 foldable smartphones, alongside the Galaxy Watch9 and Watch Ultra2 smartwatches, and the new Galaxy Glasses, at a grand event held in London on July 22nd. The unveiling marks a significant step forward for the tech giant, introducing advancements in display technology, processing power, and battery innovation, particularly the widespread adoption of silicon-carbon battery technology. Pre-orders for the five featured devices commenced on July 23rd, with delivery expected for consumers by August 8th.

Redefined Display for the Galaxy Z Fold8 Series

The Galaxy Z Fold8 line introduces a revolutionary approach to foldable display design, aiming to address long-standing user pain points. For years, the external display of foldable phones has been a subject of debate, often criticized for being too narrow or difficult to use one-handed, while the main internal screen, though expansive, could feel unwieldy when unfolded. Samsung’s latest iteration directly tackles this by adopting a more balanced aspect ratio.

The Galaxy Z Fold8 features a primary 7.6-inch internal display with a near-square 4:3 aspect ratio, a departure from previous generations, designed to offer a more comfortable and intuitive viewing and interaction experience. Complementing this is a 5.5-inch external display with a more standard 10:16 aspect ratio. Initial hands-on experiences suggest that this revised external screen provides a more comfortable typing and swiping experience, allowing for effective one-handed use. When unfolded, the device’s display configuration also promises an enhanced experience for media consumption and gaming. Weighing in at 201 grams, the Z Fold8 is notably lighter than many traditional flagship smartphones, making it more comfortable for prolonged handling and portability.

While the Z Fold8 represents a significant upgrade, it is positioned below the premium Z Fold8 Ultra in the lineup. The Z Fold8 Ultra serves as the successor to last year’s Z Fold7, boasting an enhanced battery, a more advanced telephoto camera, and powered by the cutting-edge Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 Elite chip. It will be available with 12GB of RAM and storage options up to 1TB, positioning it as the ultimate foldable device in Samsung’s current portfolio.

The strategic introduction of the Z Fold8 with its refined display aspect ratio is seen by industry analysts as a move to challenge Apple’s dominance in the premium smartphone market. With rumors of Apple potentially introducing a foldable iPhone in the coming years, Samsung’s innovative design choices could create significant market pressure, forcing competitors to adopt similar advancements if they wish to remain competitive. Experts suggest that if Apple deviates from a truly groundbreaking foldable design, it may struggle to match the pace set by South Korean tech giant.

The Dawn of Silicon-Carbon Battery Technology

A major technological leap across the new foldable lineup, including the Galaxy Z Fold8, Fold8 Ultra, and Z Flip8, is the integration of silicon-carbon (Si-C) battery technology. This represents Samsung’s first mass adoption of this next-generation power source in its foldable devices.

The Z Fold8 Ultra stands out with its impressive 5,000 mAh battery, the largest ever seen in a Fold series device, offering a substantial increase over its predecessors without compromising the device’s overall design. The standard Z Fold8 is equipped with a slightly smaller, yet still robust, 4,800 mAh battery.

According to BD Yang, Vice President of the Mobile Component Technology Development Group at Samsung, the company has been meticulously researching and tracking the development of silicon-carbon battery technology for an extended period. Yang emphasized that Samsung has been keenly aware of advancements in the field and has set rigorous standards for performance and safety before implementing this technology into their consumer devices. This cautious approach underscores Samsung’s commitment to delivering reliable and high-performing products.

The strategic decision to incorporate Si-C batteries, even with a relatively lower silicon content of 5% in the Galaxy Z Fold8, highlights Samsung’s commitment to leveraging advanced materials. Unlike traditional graphite anodes in lithium-ion batteries, silicon-carbon composite materials can store a significantly higher number of lithium ions within the same volume, thereby increasing energy density and extending battery life. However, silicon undergoes substantial expansion (up to 300%) during charging, a challenge that necessitates advanced engineering to mitigate potential issues like reduced lifespan and battery swelling. This technological hurdle requires sophisticated engineering solutions to manage effectively.

Galaxy Z Flip8: Powering the Future with a 2nm Chip

The Galaxy Z Flip8 is set to impress users with its cutting-edge performance, powered by Samsung’s proprietary Exynos 2600 chip. This processor, manufactured using a 2nm fabrication process, marks a significant advancement in mobile processing technology, especially for the Vietnamese market where it will be available. While the Z Fold8 and Fold8 Ultra are equipped with the Snapdragon Elite Gen 5, the Exynos 2600 in the Z Flip8 signifies Samsung’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of its in-house silicon capabilities.

Samsung officially unveiled the Exynos 2600 chip in late 2025, positioning it as a flagship processor for the next generation of mobile devices. This chip represents a pivotal shift from traditional FinFET transistor architecture to the more advanced 2nm Gate-All-Around (GAA) process. The Exynos 2600 features a 10-core CPU configuration, meticulously optimized to balance high performance with energy efficiency. It is further complemented by the Xclipse 960 GPU, leveraging the advanced RDNA architecture for enhanced graphics capabilities.

A key differentiator of the Exynos 2600 is its integrated Neural Processing Unit (NPU). This dedicated neural processing hardware is designed to handle complex artificial intelligence tasks with unprecedented speed and efficiency. It is expected to serve as the central processing hub for advanced "Agentic AI" functionalities, enabling devices to perform complex reasoning and execute sophisticated tasks in real-time, thereby transforming the user experience.

Smartwatches with Brighter Displays and Enhanced Health Monitoring

The new Galaxy smartwatches, the Watch9 and Watch Ultra2, are poised to redefine wearable technology with significant upgrades in display technology and health monitoring capabilities.

The Galaxy Watch Ultra2 boasts a standout feature: a luminous display capable of reaching 5,000 nits of brightness. This far surpasses the typical 3,000 nits found in other high-end smartwatches, offering unparalleled visibility even in the brightest outdoor conditions. The device features a 1.52-inch Super AMOLED display with high resolution, ensuring crisp visuals and vibrant colors.

Beyond its display, the Watch Ultra2 is equipped with an 800 mAh battery, providing approximately 2.5 days of use with the always-on display (AOD) active, or up to 100 hours in a power-saving mode. It also adheres to rigorous durability standards, including an IP69K rating, the highest available for protection against high-pressure water jets and dust ingress. Furthermore, it meets EN13319 certification, allowing for dives up to 40 meters.

The Galaxy Watch9 series, powered by the Snapdragon Wear Elite chip manufactured on a 3nm process, offers improved power efficiency and heat dissipation. This efficiency contributes to a thinner design, with the Watch9 measuring a mere 8.6 mm and weighing just 31.5 grams. Both the Watch9 and Watch Ultra2 feature an upgraded BioActive sensor, enhancing their health monitoring capabilities. This sensor now provides more comprehensive insights into physiological signals such as heart rate, skin temperature, and blood oxygen levels. The system is designed to detect early signs of potential health issues, such as Atrial Fibrillation (AFib), Irregular Heart Rhythm Notifications (IHRN), and even Sleep Apnea, alerting users to seek medical attention proactively.

Pricing and Availability

The new range of Samsung devices sees a notable increase in pricing compared to their predecessors, reflecting the advanced technology and features introduced. The Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra is priced at 53 million Vietnamese Dong for the 12GB RAM and 256GB storage variant, a 6 million Dong increase from the previous generation. The 512GB model is priced at 59 million Dong, while the top-tier 1TB model with 16GB RAM is set at 68 million Dong.

The Galaxy Z Fold8 is available starting at 47 million Vietnamese Dong, with the 1TB variant priced at 62 million Dong. The more compact Galaxy Z Flip8 is priced at 32 million Dong for the 12GB/256GB configuration and 38 million Dong for the 12GB/512GB model, representing a 5 million Dong increase over the previous version.

In the smartwatch category, the Galaxy Watch Ultra2, available in a 47mm size, is priced at 18.99 million Vietnamese Dong. The Galaxy Watch9 comes in two sizes: 40mm at 9.99 million Dong and 44mm at 10.99 million Dong. Pre-orders have commenced, with devices expected to reach consumers by August 8th.

The launch of these devices underscores Samsung’s ongoing commitment to innovation and its strategy to maintain a leading edge in the competitive global technology market. The introduction of silicon-carbon batteries, advanced chipset manufacturing, and refined foldable display designs signals a new era for mobile technology, promising enhanced performance, extended battery life, and more intuitive user experiences.

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