From foldables to smartwatches, Samsung’s latest Galaxy devices take different forms but share the same design philosophy — comfort.

Samsung Newsroom spoke with Hubert Lee, Executive Vice President and Head of the Design Team, Mobile eXperience (MX) Business at Samsung Electronics, to hear how this approach shaped the new line-up.

Hubert Lee

Q: What were the key design considerations for this year’s Galaxy foldable line-up?

Today’s Galaxy devices are faster and more powerful than ever. We considered how we could go one step further to deliver a more natural and comfortable experience.

Slimness and lightness are essential to creating a comfortable user experience, since they influence how naturally a device opens, how comfortable it feels in the hand and how easily it fits into everyday life. That is why we consider not only the product itself, but also every moment of the user experience it creates.

From an aesthetic perspective, we applied the concept of “Emotive Geometry.” This design approach brings human warmth to Galaxy’s simple, refined forms, creating a balanced design that goes beyond powerful performance to connect with users on an emotional level.

Product sketches and design elements on display illustrate the design process behind the new Galaxy Z series

Q: What drove the expansion of the Galaxy Z series portfolio?

Across seven generations of foldable innovation, we’ve gained a deeper understanding of how people use their devices. As user expectations for foldables have become more diverse, we have also recognised that no single foldable can meet every need – one size does not fit all.

Some users prioritise productivity and multitasking, while others value portability. Based on these insights, we expanded the Galaxy Z series line-up so each device could better serve different priorities.

Q: Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra is the slimmest Galaxy Z Fold yet[1]. What shaped its exceptionally slim design?

The design concept behind the newest Galaxy Z series is “Emotive Slim” — an approach that focuses not only on reducing thickness, but also on how slim it looks and feels in everyday use.

We applied a gentle slope to the frame to make the foldable easier to open and created a more curved outer silhouette for a softer, more comfortable grip. We also minimised the flat side profile to create a visually slimmer appearance.

Q: Why was a passport chosen as the design inspiration for the new Galaxy Z Fold8?

The classic passport is designed to be easy to carry, hold with one hand and read at a glance. Those same ergonomic principles shaped Galaxy Z Fold8, extending our focus on comfort throughout the device’s overall layout.

When folded, it features a 16:10 aspect ratio optimiszed for one-handed use. Unfolded, it becomes a more immersive 4:3 display with balanced symmetry.

Q: How were these colours chosen for the new Galaxy Z series?

Each colour was chosen to reflect the lifestyle of the people each device is designed for. Violet Shadow gives Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra a chic, sophisticated look, while Lavender brings freshness and softness to Galaxy Z Fold8. Pink adds vibrant, playful energy to Galaxy Z Flip8. Cream and Graphite round out the palette with timeless versatility.

Q: How did Samsung refine the design of Galaxy Watch Ultra2 and Galaxy Watch9?

If a smartphone lives in the hand, a smartwatch delivers its greatest value when it’s comfortable enough to wear every day. That’s why our approach to the new Galaxy Watch series focused on refinement rather than reinvention, preserving our core design while enhancing the details that matter most.

At the centre of Galaxy Watch is the cushion design. More than a shape, it defines the watch’s identity by balancing presence with softness and precision with comfort. For Galaxy Watch Ultra2, we brought the screen, bezel and cushion body into a seamless form, creating a cleaner profile and a more premium look. We also carefully refined the spacing and tactile separation between the buttons, making each one easier to distinguish by touch and enabling precise control without looking at the screen.

Q: How have the bands on Galaxy Watch Ultra2 and Galaxy Watch9 changed?

Bands play a critical role in wearability. For this generation, we made them lighter, thinner and more breathable with a new air pocket structure.

Because every wrist is different, we used computational design to validate comfort and fit. We refined the balance between the watch body and band for greater stability on the wrist, while expanded band options give users more ways to express their personal style.

Q: What design philosophy ties this year’s Galaxy devices together?

In an era shaped by AI-driven change, human-centered values are more important than ever. Design shouldn’t only be seen — it should also be felt. For design to feel truly human, it must begin with a deep understanding of how people live, work and interact with technology every day. That belief has guided our approach to designing foldables and smartwatches.

[1] Compared to previous Galaxy Z Fold models.

In response, Samsung asked a simple question — can anyone create Hollywood-style videos on a Galaxy mobile phone? The answer is the Cinematic Look-Up Table (Cine LUT) feature on the Galaxy S26 series. While the APV codec provides the foundation for cinema-quality video, Cine LUT brings a distinct colour style to the footage.

Cine LUT makes professional-level colour grading — once reserved for experts — accessible to anyone. Samsung collaborated with internal teams and external specialists to bring the feature to life. The Mobile eXperience (MX) Business led final camera implementation, Samsung Research developed core video processing technologies and U5K Imageworks — a colourist studio behind globally recognised productions — helped shape its visual aesthetic.

Following the introduction of the APV codec, which delivers a visually lossless level of image quality, Samsung Newsroom spoke with three key developers behind Cine LUT — Sugon Baek of the Camera Image Quality R&D Group at the MX Business, Bomi Kim of the Reality Media Lab at Samsung Research and Taesik Eom, CEO of U5K Imageworks — to hear the story of its creation.

▲ (From left) Taesik Eom, Bomi Kim and Sugon Baek

1. What is a LUT? What sets Cine LUT on the Galaxy S26 series apart?

Baek: A LUT is essentially a “map” that transforms one set of colours into a desired look. Unlike conventional filters that simply overlay colour, Cine LUT reinterprets Samsung Log[1] footage to deliver the depth and look of professional filmmaking.

Kim: It’s optimised for Log video. By leveraging its wide gradation,[2] the feature precisely reconstructs colour and brightness to preserve subtle tonal details often lost with conventional filters for richer, more natural depth.

▲ Comparison of Log footage in standard settings and with the Thriller LUT and Blockbuster LUT

▲ Comparison of Log footage in standard settings and with the Coming-of-age LUT and Romance LUT

1. What led to the development of Cine LUT?

Kim: While Galaxy devices supported Log video for high-quality capture, colour grading remained challenging for users. We aimed to make professional-looking results accessible without advanced editing skills.

Baek: We wanted to create an experience that lets users preview cinematic footage at the moment of capture, then apply a LUT and share the video with a single tap in the Gallery.

▲ (From left) Bomi Kim of the Reality Media Lab at Samsung Research and Sugon Baek of the Camera Image Quality R&D Group at MX Business

1. How did the collaboration with U5K Imageworks begin? How was Cine LUT developed?

Eom: Our collaboration began two years ago with Rec. 709 LUT advisory work for Samsung Log video, where we refined strong colours into more natural tones — an experience that led to Cine LUT. For this project, we developed multiple versions across three intensity levels — neutral, soft and strong — and tested them in diverse scenes, ultimately selecting four core styles.

Kim: Building on U5K’s colour direction, we validated the concepts against quantitative criteria to ensure consistent performance in different environments, refining them through testing until creative intent and technical quality aligned.

▲ Taesik Eom, CEO of U5K Imageworks

1. What challenges did you face during development?

Kim: We needed a large dataset to validate performance across diverse conditions. Testing in real-world environments — from natural and indoor lighting to day and night — and close collaboration were key to capturing the nuances of colour.

Baek: Maintaining consistent, undistorted colour in different environments was challenging. Through continuous testing, we developed a LUT that balances subjective preference with objective quality.

1. What was the key consideration in creating looks optimised for mobile phones?

Eom: Ensuring reliable performance in real-world conditions was key. Since lighting, exposure and white balance constantly vary, we focused on creating looks that remain natural in any situation.

Kim: Quality was our top priority. We analysed each frame and validated performance using tools like colour charts, grey balance and vector scopes.

1. Why were these four styles chosen for the Galaxy S26 series?

Baek: We analysed the visual language of popular film genres and identified four representative styles. From the high-contrast Blockbuster to the fresh Coming-of-age, warm Romance and moody Thriller, each colour palette was designed to give everyday scenes an instant cinematic look.

▲ Users can preview Cine LUTs when shooting in Log and easily apply them to recorded footage using editing tools.

1. Which Cine LUT styles do you recommend for different situations?

Eom: There’s no fixed answer — it depends on the situation. Blockbuster suits high-contrast environments like outdoor and urban scenes; Coming-of-age fits soft, trendy settings like cafes or vlogs; Romance adds warmth to character-driven scenes; and Thriller creates a more striking impression.

1. What stood out to you in user feedback?

Baek: We expected it might be seen as just another video effect, but the response exceeded expectations. Users quickly recognised that combining Log shooting with Cine LUTs expands creative possibilities beyond simple filters. We’re also seeing more users choose styles based on the scene, with high-quality videos widely shared on social media — and even inspiring new ways to create content.

1. What are your plans for the future?

Baek: We aim to further establish the Galaxy S26 series as a professional-grade camera. We hope to see more content that resonates with both creators and viewers and will continue to set new standards in video creation.

Kim: As the world changes rapidly, our goal is to identify next-generation technologies. Through close collaboration with business divisions, we will work to bring them into products and deliver innovative experiences to users around the world.

▲ Baek, Eom and Kim watch a video with Cine LUT applied.

Born from close collaboration, Cine LUT on the Galaxy S26 series transforms everyday moments into cinematic visuals. Beyond its technical achievements, the feature marks an important step toward making video creation more accessible — lowering barriers once reserved for professionals and enabling anyone to express themselves.

Heesub Han, a commercial and documentary director, shot a series of short films on Galaxy S26 Ultra using the APV codec and Samsung Log. Explore the videos below to discover the possibilities of Cine LUT through the making-of and short films.

[1] A technique that uses a logarithmic curve to expand detail in darker areas. While camera sensors capture brightness uniformly, the human eye is more sensitive to changes in shadows. Log helps footage better reflect natural perception.

[2] The smoothness and precision of tonal transitions in an image — how it shifts between light and dark.

[i] Results may vary depending on lighting and shooting conditions.