Samsung’s upcoming foldable and wearable smartphone launches, including the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, Galaxy Z Flip 8 and Galaxy Watch 9, have obtained FCC certification. Regulatory approval signals the arrival of these devices on the United States market for July 22nd. Recent information indicates that the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide model, which promises to be more affordable, may have a screen with more robust glass, although the impact on crease visibility remains uncertain.
Samsung’s line of flexible devices and smart accessories, consisting of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide, Galaxy Z Flip 8 and Galaxy Watch 9, is approaching its official debut, following approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
Although the regulatory agency’s records do not reveal great details about the devices’ characteristics, they guarantee that three models of foldable cell phones will be presented during the summer, including the unprecedented “Wide” version of the Fold.
The FCC approval indicates that the products’ hardware configuration has been completed ahead of the Unpacked event scheduled for next month, and could offer crucial clues about mitigating screen bending in one of the new flexible smartphones.
Impact of FCC certification on the launch of the Galaxy Z Fold 8
As already anticipated by several recent leaks, the FCC documentation did not bring any major surprises in terms of specifications. However, it ensures that the development of the hardware is practically complete, covering the names of the devices and their connectivity features, such as 5G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and NFC. This regulatory step suggests that significant changes to the design of these components are unlikely from now on, which represents a fundamental step towards mass production and reaching the market.
The certification also confirms the joint launch of several devices in the United States. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, Galaxy Z Flip 8, Galaxy Watch 9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 received authorization together, eliminating the possibility of a phased launch.
Details known about the new generation Galaxy Z Fold 8
Despite the profusion of rumors about the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and the Wide Fold model, the main uncertainty still hangs over sales values. It remains to be seen whether Samsung will maintain the cost of the 256 GB version of the Ultra, while raising the prices of variants with greater storage, following the strategy adopted with the Galaxy S26. Another concern is whether the current shortage of RAM memory on the market will cause devices to become more expensive.
Recently, well-known leaker Lanzuk indicated on his Naver blog that a price increase is “confirmed”, but did not detail which storage models would be affected. Looking at the Galaxy S26 launch scenario, the pricing policy for the new line remains uncertain. With the Unpacked event less than a month away, Samsung must explore alternatives to minimize costs for the consumer.
As for technical characteristics, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra should feature a 5,000 mAh battery and support 45 W charging. Opened, its thickness will be just 4.1 mm, a milestone that positions it among the thinnest foldable smartphones ever developed by Samsung.
It is worth remembering that the Galaxy Z Fold 7 already had a minimum thickness, limited by the size of the USB-C port when the device was open. It will be remarkable to see how Samsung managed to further optimize the design to achieve this dimensional reduction.
The weight of the Z Fold 8 Ultra will be 215 grams, remaining the same as its predecessor, the Galaxy Z Fold 7. Additionally, the device will not include a privacy screen feature.
In contrast, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide is expected to be lighter, at 201 grams, and will come equipped with a 4,800 mAh battery, 45 W fast charging and a 50 MP main camera. Its external screen, measuring 5.4 inches and with a 4:3 aspect ratio, is more similar to a traditional smartphone. The internal screen, measuring 7.6 inches, will be wider and designed to display videos in widescreen format without the black bands on the sides, which are common in other taller folding models.
A highlight reported by ZDNet Korea this week is that the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide will incorporate a layer of ultra-thin glass on its internal screen that is 30% denser than that of the Ultra model. Specifically, the Fold Wide will employ a 60 micrometer (μm) glass, compared to the 45 μm on the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and the upcoming Ultra.
Although ZDNet highlights that thicker glass can offer more resistance to daily wear and tear, there is also a small increase in the risk of spontaneous cracking. However, considering Samsung’s rigorous testing of its foldable panels, this concern may be minimized for consumers. The big question is how this difference in screen thickness will impact the visibility of the fold.
At this year’s CES, Samsung Display had already presented a prototype of a crease-free folding panel, but it has not yet been confirmed whether this innovation will be applied to the South Korean company’s new models. The variation in screen thickness between devices may be an indication that one of them may exhibit a less noticeable crease compared to the other.
Additionally, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 will hit the market with the One UI 9 interface and Gemini artificial intelligence already integrated from the factory. The July 22 launch will mark the debut of the full AI suite developed by Samsung and Google on new hardware, promising a wide range of advanced artificial intelligence capabilities.