Samsung in London on July 22: new Fold 8, AI glasses and prices that surprise

Samsung has locked in the date: Galaxy Unpacked takes place on July 22, 2026 in London. The invite's slogan, "A New Shape Unfolds," hints rather directly that the stars of the show are foldable phones — and that at least one of them arrives with entirely new proportions. The livestream starts at 2:00 PM London time, which is 4:00 PM in Tallinn. You can watch on samsung.com and the YouTube channel.

Officially, though, Samsung has confirmed only the date, the city and the general theme. The models, specs and prices so far come from leaks (SamMobile, Android Authority, 9to5Google). We flag them separately, because the official figures will only become clear after the presentation.

Galaxy Z Fold 8: wider and lighter

The biggest leaked news: for the first time Samsung is bringing two different flagship "books" to market at once. What sets the models apart is the body's shape, not the storage size.

The regular Galaxy Z Fold 8 gets a completely new form — a wider, shorter body, an inner screen with roughly a 4:3 aspect ratio (7.6 inches) and an outer screen of 5.4–5.5 inches. According to leaks the device weighs just ~201 grams, 14 grams less than the Fold 7. Anyone who has held a Google Pixel Fold knows what the wider format delivers in real life: one-handed use feels more natural and more content fits on the screen at once.

The chip: it's almost official

Both Fold 8 models will reportedly use the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy. A rare case: Samsung and Qualcomm already showed the chip together in a Galaxy teaser, albeit without a specific phone. The "for Galaxy" version runs at higher clock speeds — a CPU core up to 4.74 GHz instead of the usual 4.61 GHz.

Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra: familiar shape, new capabilities

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra sticks with the classic vertical form but gains larger screens (outer ~6.5", inner ~8"), a 5000 mAh battery and fast charging up to 45 W — the previous model had 25 W. Separate leaks talk of an unfolded thickness as low as 4.1 mm. If that holds true, this would be Samsung's thinnest foldable phone ever.

The camera draws a sharp line between the models. The regular Fold 8 is said to settle for a 50+50 MP combination. The Ultra keeps its 200 MP main sensor and adds a 50 MP ultrawide and a 3x telephoto. So the Ultra remains the photo phone, while the standard model bets on shape and weight.

European prices (leaked, unconfirmed)

European prices have already leaked ahead of time via SamMobile; official confirmation is still pending:

According to the leaks, the top models get €180–280 more expensive. The reason reaches out to the world market: DRAM memory contract prices jumped nearly 90–95% in a single quarter in early 2026, because Samsung, SK Hynix and Micron are steering factory capacity toward HBM memory for AI servers. If you're planning an upgrade, it's worth also looking at last year's models, since their price-to-capability ratio is currently more attractive.

Galaxy Glasses: AI eyewear that "sees" what you see

The evening's second big theme is Samsung's first smart glasses. The factual foundation here is stronger: the Android XR platform and the collaboration with Google were officially shown back at Google I/O 2026. Two well-known brands make the frames — Warby Parker (classic everyday style) and Gentle Monster (bolder design).

According to leaks, the glasses pack a Qualcomm Snapdragon AR1 chip, a 12 MP camera (Sony IMX681 sensor), a ~155 mAh battery and a total weight of just ~50 grams. One interesting detail: the glasses reportedly work with the iPhone too — a rare gesture from Samsung. The built-in Gemini assistant "sees" through the camera the same thing the wearer does — translating text in real time, guiding you on the map and bundling notifications.

An important caveat: the first-generation glasses have no built-in display. This is a combination of camera, audio and AI, not an image moving before your eyes. A version with a display is expected roughly in 2027. The leaked price range is ~€379–499, and sales will likely start in autumn 2026. The direct rival is the Meta Ray-Ban, which already has a considerable user base.

Galaxy Z Flip 8 and smartwatches

In the leaks, the Galaxy Z Flip 8 looks like a refinement of the Flip 7 — the same compact format, an improved hinge design and a less noticeable crease. Some leaks speculate it could be the last model in the line, as Samsung shifts focus to wider premium forms. That's precisely the angle from which to watch the event.

The phones are expected to be joined by the Galaxy Watch 9 and Watch Ultra 2 — the first with a brighter screen, the second with a bigger battery. Smartwatches are currently one of the fastest-growing tech categories.

What to watch on July 22 at 16:00

• The Fold 8's new shape. Whether the wider 4:3 format is actually more comfortable in real life — that's the evening's key question.
• The Ultra's thinness. If Samsung shows the promised ~4.1 mm unfolded thickness, it raises the bar for the whole market.
• The Flip's future. Whether the compact foldable stays in the line or makes its final appearance.
• The glasses demo. Real Gemini use cases count for more than spec numbers.
• Official prices. Whether Samsung confirms the price hike and how it reaches European retail.

The official specs and local prices will become clear right after the presentation, and then the leaks can be measured against reality. Until then it's enough to set an alarm for the evening of July 22: foldable phones and smart glasses on one stage is a rare coincidence.