Do you remember the first time you ever saw a foldable mobile phone?

Modern foldables of today have evolved far beyond just a screen that folds. Samsung’s line-up now combines intelligent features with large displays for productivity, entertainment, and communication.

Since the introduction of the first Galaxy Fold in 2019, Samsung has been leveraging a deep understanding of consumer needs and strengthening expertise in this category. Valuable insights and experiences gained from seven generations of foldable innovation has resulted in the most complete line-up yet – the all-new Galaxy Z8 series.

This exciting line-up is resonating with consumers globally, including those in Southeast Asia and Oceania. The new series is also compelling more people in the region to embrace Samsung foldables.

From the latest innovations unveiled in 2026, let’s trace Samsung’s evolution of foldable technology through the years – from its newest breakthroughs, all the way back to the debut of its very first foldable phone. Here’s how the journey unfolded.

2026: Three distinct foldables built for immersion, productivity and self-expression

The latest foldable line-up presents a broad portfolio designed to meet distinct user needs. The Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold8 and Galaxy Z Flip8 bring together advancements across form factor, display engineering, camera features, and Galaxy AI[1], empowering users with more choice than ever to pick a foldable that best suits their needs.

2024 to 2025: Bigger possibilities for everyone with mobile AI

In 2024, the Galaxy Z series was first equipped with Galaxy AI, offering users AI-powered experiences tailored to each form factor.

2021-2023: Bringing foldables into everyone’s everyday life

As the category developed, Samsung continued to refine foldables and increase versatility, enabling the form factor to better fit into everyday life.

2019-2020: Can you fold a mobile phone?

Long before foldables became familiar in everyday mobile experiences, Samsung took the bold step of reimagining what the category could look like. And after launching a foldable for the first time in 2019, Samsung continued to show that foldables were not just phones with flexible screens, but devices that could support entirely new ways to enjoy mobile experiences. With relentless innovation over the years, Samsung has driven the technology from concept to mainstream adoption.

More still to come for the Galaxy Z series

What began as a bold idea in 2019 has evolved into a comprehensive Galaxy Z portfolio shaped by relentless innovation and improvements. The journey is far from over. Across the Galaxy Z series, Samsung will continue to make the foldable experience even more intuitive, capable, and seamless for everyone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is the difference between Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold8 and Galaxy Z Flip8?

The three devices are designed around different foldable experiences. Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra brings Ultra-level productivity and content creation to an expansive foldable display, Galaxy Z Fold8 focuses on immersive content discovery and consumption through its new form factor, while Galaxy Z Flip8 centres on self-expression and quick interactions through its AI-native FlexWindow.

Q. Is Galaxy Z Fold8 one of the lightest foldable phones available?

The Galaxy Z Fold8 is the Samsung’s lightest book-style foldable phone, combining the portability with an expansive screen when you want more. Weighing just 201g[5], the device is easy to carry throughout your day and its slim profile fits comfortably in your hand. You can slip it into your pocket smoothly or unfold whenever you want more room to watch, read, work, or play on the spacious main screen.

Q. How do I transfer my data over from another phone to Galaxy?

Bringing your data over is easier than ever with the upgraded Smart Switch[15] experience on Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold8 and Galaxy Z Flip8. There is no need for an extra app and data can be transferred wirelessly to make the move over to Galaxy even simpler. Migrate data including passwords and passkeys, call history, accessibility settings, eSIM data and more.

[1] Galaxy AI basic features provided by Samsung are free. Future releases may include enhanced features or new services that are offered on a paid basis. Different terms may apply for AI features provided by third parties. Galaxy AI basic features are those listed under “Advanced Intelligence” in the current Samsung T&C’s. For details visit www.samsung.com/au/.

[2] Measured diagonally, Galaxy Z Fold8’s cover screen size is 5.5” in the full rectangle and 5.4” accounting for the rounded corners. The Main Screen size is 7.6” in the full rectangle and 7.6” accounting for the rounded corners; actual viewable area is smaller due to the rounded corners and camera hole. Aspect ratios shown are approximate, based on representative model values.

[3] Compared to previous Galaxy Z Fold models, including Z Fold and Z Fold Ultra models. The Galaxy Z Fold8 measures 201g in weight.

[4] Snapdragon branded products are products of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. Snapdragon is a trademark or registered trademark of Qualcomm Incorporated.

[5] Typical value tested under third-party laboratory conditions. Typical value is the estimated average value considering the deviation in battery capacity among the battery samples tested under IEC 61960 standard. Rated capacity is 4660 mAh for Galaxy Z Fold8.

[6] Measured diagonally, Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra’s cover screen size is 6.5” in the full rectangle and 6.5” accounting for the rounded corners. The main screen size is 8.0” in the full rectangle and 8.0” accounting for the rounded corners; actual viewable area is smaller due to the rounded corners and camera hole.

[7] Results may vary depending on light condition and/or shooting conditions including multiple subjects, being out of focus or moving subjects.

[8] Now Brief feature requires Samsung Account login. Service availability may vary by country, language, device model and apps. Some features may require a network connection. Modes and Routines need to be enabled to use Personal Data Engine for context-based Routines suggestions. User needs to consent to access permissions such as photos, videos, audio files, and calendar events. May not display moments depending upon exposure policy. The description of photos provided by moments may not align with the user’s intent. Events schedule notification is supported with calendar apps that utilize Android calendar database and available if Samsung Calendar is installed. Notifications for coupons only available for coupons added to Samsung Wallet with expiration date.

[9] Compared to previous Galaxy Z Flip models. Galaxy Z Flip8 measures 13.1mm when folded and 6.1mm when unfolded. Thickness measured from top to bottom of the glass at the thinnest point. The Z Flip8 measures 180g in weight and the Z Flip7 measures 188g.

[10] The thickness of Galaxy Z Fold7 when unfolded does not include the frame of the Main Screen.

[11] Measured diagonally, Galaxy Z Flip7’s Cover Screen size is 4.1 inch in the full rectangular form; actual viewable area is less due to the rounded corners and camera hole.

[12] Measured diagonally, Galaxy Z Flip7’s cover screen size is 4.1-inch in the full rectangular form; actual viewable area is less due to the rounded corners and camera hole.

[13] Results may vary depending on light condition and/or shooting conditions including multiple subjects, being out of focus or moving subjects.

[14] IPX8 is based on test conditions for submersion in up to 1.5 meters of freshwater for up to 30 minutes. Not advised for beach or pool use. Not dust-resistant.

[15] Transferable data may vary depending on the device OS (Android or iOS), OS version and connection method. Data transfer from an iOS device to a Galaxy device using the upgraded method is available on devices running Android 17 or later and iOS 26.6 or later in regions outside mainland China

As those technologies evolved, Samsung focused on another challenge: making a large-screen foldable easier to carry every day, without losing the experiences that make the form factor unique.

And through that pursuit, Galaxy Z Fold5 weighed 253 grams, and Galaxy Z Fold6 reduced its weight further to 239 grams.

With Galaxy Z Fold7 came an even more ambitious goal:

“Could a foldable be lighter than a bar-type flagship smartphone?”

At the time, Galaxy S25 Ultra — one of Samsung’s flagship bar-type smartphones — weighed 218 grams. The development team set an even lighter target for Galaxy Z Fold7: 215 grams.

Galaxy Z Fold7 reached that goal at 215 grams. Building on years of foldable innovation, Galaxy Z Fold8 combines a new form factor with advances in core technologies, materials and internal architecture to weigh just 201 grams[1] — 52 grams lighter than Galaxy Z Fold5. At 201 grams, Galaxy Z Fold8 is the world’s lightest foldable. [2]

Galaxy Z Fold’s weight and thickness by generation

But consumers expected more than just a lighter foldable.

A 2024 YouGov survey found that a bulky or heavy design remained a concern among consumers not planning to purchase foldables, while battery life, durability and display quality ranked as top priorities for those considering them[3].

This insight shaped a core engineering goal for Samsung: make foldables thinner and lighter, while maintaining the core experiences users value most.

Battery life, camera performance, thermal management and durability still had to advance.

That could not be achieved by changing a single component. Samsung engineers had to reimagine the entire device — advancing fundamental foldable technologies, introducing new materials and revisiting hundreds of components and auxiliary parts to the fraction-of-a-gram level.

From 253 grams to 201 grams. Three engineering innovations enabled that transformation.

The Thinner and Lighter a Foldable Gets, the More Precise the Engineering Must Become

Making a foldable thinner and lighter brings a new set of engineering challenges.

The layers inside the display need to become thinner while still meeting Samsung’s durability and reliability requirements.The metal plate supporting the display needs to stay extremely flat even as it becomes thinner. And the hinge has to manage the forces created every time the device folds and unfolds, while being designed around the size and structure of each product.

Across generations, Samsung has continued to advance the display layers, ultra-thin metal precision machining and hinge technologies central to its foldable devices.

One example is Flex Titanium.

The displays in Galaxy Z Fold8 and Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra use Flex Titanium technology featuring a Titanium Alloy Film designed for the foldable display structure.

The film is just tens of micrometers thick — roughly one-third the width of a human hair. Its material and structure work together to maintain performance at this extreme thickness.

The metal plate that supports the display presents a different challenge.

Some metal plates are machined to approximately 0.2 millimeters thick, with the thinnest sections reaching 0.15 millimeters. At that level, simply making the metal thinner is not enough. Thin metal can bend or warp more easily during machining, and even a small change in shape can affect assembly precision or the surface quality of the display.

What matters is the ability to machine ultra-thin metal at around 0.2 millimeters while consistently achieving the required shape and flatness.

Samsung refined the machining sequence, tooling, cooling conditions and process parameters, breaking the process into multiple stages to maintain precision.

The hinge requires the same level of care.

Beyond simply opening and closing the phone, it must distribute the forces created by repeated folding and unfolding across the device while maintaining structural stability.

And these requirements vary by product size and architecture.

Samsung engineers the hinge for each form factor, carefully balancing load distribution, strength, durability, internal space and weight rather than just scaling it down from one generation to the next.

Creating a thinner and lighter foldable requires more than downsizing individual parts.

It comes from greater precision in how materials are machined, how forces are managed and how structures are designed within a limited space.

Lighter, Built for Strength — Starting With the Materials

The second area is materials innovation.

Different parts of a foldable have very different jobs. Some demand high rigidity. Some must withstand repeated movement. Others need to spread heat efficiently.

Samsung selects and develops materials around those specific needs, delivering the performance each requires while optimising weight and space.

In Galaxy Z Fold8 and Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Flex Titanium incorporates a Titanium Alloy Film to support the foldable display structure.

For the exterior, Samsung uses Advanced Armour Aluminum[4], helping provide the strength and durability needed in a thin and lightweight frame.

Materials also play an important role in thermal management.

As a device gets thinner, there is less room to manage the heat generated inside. Samsung uses graphite with improved thermal performance, while tailoring the overall thermal structure to the size and performance requirements of each product.

In Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, which has similar overall dimensions to Galaxy Z Fold7, the volume of the graphite heat-dissipation layer was increased by approximately 7% to help support its enhanced performance.

Samsung also applies Clad Metal inside the rear of the device. By combining the characteristics of different metals, the material helps reduce weight while providing the thermal performance required within a thin structure.

Materials innovation is therefore not just about choosing lighter options, but about using the right material in the right place to deliver the performance each part needs with less weight and space.

Looking Again at the Entire Device — Down to 0.001 Grams

Only so much can be achieved through core technologies and new materials alone.

In a foldable already packed with highly integrated components, finding the next few grams means looking again at almost everything inside the device.

Samsung engineers reviewed approximately 270 components and more than 180 types of auxiliary parts.

This spanned everything from the display, hinge and cameras to circuit boards, antennas, brackets, tapes and fasteners.

The precision extended to reductions of 0.1 grams and 0.1 millimeters, and in some auxiliary parts, as little as 0.001 grams.

The printed circuit board, or PCB, was redesigned to remove unnecessary circuits, improve component layout and minimise its footprint.

The MFC(Magnetic Flux Channel) antenna was also reimagined to reduce unnecessary overlap and interference with surrounding components, allowing the limited internal space to be used more efficiently.

Every auxiliary part, no matter how small, was examined.

Of the more than 180 types previously used, approximately 15 were eliminated.

Engineers then reviewed the remaining 170 types trimming oversized areas, refining shapes and optimising dimensions. Multiple parts were consolidated into single structures where possible.

In some cases, the savings were measured in increments as small as 0.001 grams.

Each change seems minor in isolation, but repeated across the device, fractions of a gram become tenths of a gram, then whole grams.

The weight savings on a finished device result from hundreds of small engineering decisions.

Finding 6 Grams Again to Make Room for More

The goal was to reinvest the weight and space recovered through engineering into the capabilities people actually experience — including the battery, cameras and thermal system.

Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra provides a separate example of how this approach can be applied.

Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra and Galaxy Z Fold7 have similar overall dimensions and both weigh 215 grams. But within that same weight, Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra increases battery capacity from 4,400 mAh[5] to 5,000 mAh[6]

That larger battery brought its own challenge: the battery itself added approximately 6 grams.

So the development team faced a new question:

“Where could we find those 6 grams again?”

There was no single component that could provide the answer.

Instead, engineers applied the same systematic approach across the entire device — materials and structures, circuit layouts and component placement, down to the smallest auxiliary parts — identifying weight savings across all components.

This strategy extended to internal space optimisation.

By reducing unnecessary overlap between the display, circuits, antennas and surrounding components, and by improving packaging efficiency, Samsung created room for a larger battery and enhanced thermal and camera systems.

As a result, Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra accommodates a 5,000 mAh battery[5]while increasing the volume of its graphite heat-dissipation layer by approximately 7% compared with the similarly sized Galaxy Z Fold7.

Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra features a 200 MP main camera and introduces the first 50 MP Ultra-Wide camera on a Galaxy Z Fold device.

[Visual | Galaxy Z Fold7 → Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra / Battery +6g → Finding the Weight Back Across the Device]

Samsung’s approach to a thinner and lighter foldable is therefore not about removing capabilities.

It is about redirecting weight and space savings toward the flagship experiences users value most.

From 253 Grams to 201 Grams: Redefining the Weight Standard for Foldables

The journey began with the first Galaxy Fold at 276 grams in 2019. Across eight generations, Samsung has continued to advance the technologies, materials and internal architecture behind the foldable experience.

In recent generations, that progress accelerated — from 253 grams with Galaxy Z Fold5 to 201 grams with Galaxy Z Fold8.

But the story isn’t just about reducing weight.

Samsung’s goal has been to make a large-screen foldable easier to carry without giving up the qualities users expect from a flagship smartphone.

The weight and space recovered through advances in core technologies, materials and component design were put back into the battery, cameras, thermal system and other flagship experiences users value most.

From 253 grams to 201 grams.

No single material or component made that transformation possible.

Eight generations of engineering enabled this, advancing core technologies, introducing new materials and rethinking the entire device to make Galaxy Z Fold easier to carry without compromising the flagship experience.

Galaxy Z Fold Series: A Thinner, Lighter Journey in Numbers

-52g
Galaxy Z Fold8 is 52g lighter than Galaxy Z Fold5.

1/3, 0.2mm
The Titanium Alloy Film used in Flex Titanium is approximately one-third the width of a human hair, while ultra-thin metal structures supporting the display are precision-machined to around 0.2mm.

~270 / 180+ / 0.001g
Samsung re-examined approximately 270 components and more than 180 types of auxiliary parts, optimizing some down to 0.001g.

5,000mAh / +~7% / 200MP + 50MP
Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra features a 5,000mAh battery5, approximately 7% more graphite heat-dissipation volume, and a 200MP main camera with a 50MP ultra-wide camera.

[1] Weight may vary by country or region.

[2] Based on internal research as of July 22, 2026, comparing commercially available book-style foldable smartphones globally. Exact weight may vary by model, configuration, and manufacturing process. Weight measured excluding protective cases or accessories.

[3] Based on a 2024 YouGov Research which surveyed 1,002 adults in the USA, https://yougov.com/en-us/articles/50945-foldable-phones-high-interest-among-young-adults-durability-a-major-concern.

[4] Armour Aluminium frame does not include volume and side keys, SIM tray or camera lens barrel.

[5] Typical value tested under third-party laboratory condition. Typical value is the estimated average value considering the deviation in battery capacity among the battery samples tested under IEC 61960 standard. Rated capacity is 4272mAh for Galaxy Z Fold7. Actual battery life may vary depending on network environment, usage patterns and other factors.

[6] Typical value tested under third-party laboratory condition. Typical value is the estimated average value considering the deviation in battery capacity among the battery samples tested under IEC 61960 standard. Rated capacity is 4854 mAh for Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra.