Samsung is planning to release the Galaxy Z Fold 8, a new wide-format foldable, and the Galaxy Z Flip 8 on July 22, 2026, according to a report from Korea Economic Times. Samsung is also planning to reintroduce the S Pen stylus alongside the new lineup, marking a significant reversal from last year’s decision to drop it entirely.
London to Host Samsung’s Summer Unpacked Event
The report indicates that Samsung’s summer Unpacked event will take place in London, UK, ahead of the July 22 release date. Since the report specifies a release date rather than an announcement date, Samsung will likely hold the Unpacked event a few days earlier, following its standard practice of unveiling devices before making them publicly available.
London would be a first for Samsung’s foldable launches. The company has made a habit of rotating its major unveilings across global cities in recent years. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Flip 5 were announced in South Korea, the Fold 6 and Flip 6 debuted in Paris, and last year’s Fold 7 and Flip 7 were revealed in New York City. The Korea Economic Times report describes London as a “key factor” in Samsung’s efforts to strengthen its position in the European market, where the premium smartphone segment has grown increasingly competitive.
Three Foldables and a Smartwatch Expected
While Samsung has not officially confirmed any details about its summer Unpacked plans, the report points to three foldable devices: the Galaxy Z Fold 8, the Galaxy Z Fold Wide, and the Galaxy Z Flip 8. Most analysts also widely expect a Galaxy Watch 9 appearance, as Samsung has consistently paired its latest smartwatch with the summer foldable launch.
Galaxy Z Fold Wide: A Different Kind of Foldable
The Galaxy Z Fold Wide is the most notable new addition to the lineup. Unlike the standard Fold 8, which leaked renders suggest will look largely similar to its predecessor, Samsung is positioning the Wide as a genuinely different kind of foldable. Rumors point to a 7.6-inch inner display with a 4:3 aspect ratio, meaning it unfolds into a shape that is closer to a square than the tall, narrow format Samsung’s book-style foldables have used until now. Leaked specs also point to a 4,800mAh battery. That wider, more tablet-like form factor could make the device more practical for reading, multitasking, and working with documents on a large screen.
S Pen Returns After One Year Absence
The return of the S Pen is arguably the most significant claim in the report. Samsung quietly removed stylus support from the Galaxy Z Fold 7 when it launched in 2025, explaining at the time that eliminating the digitizer layer from the display was necessary to achieve a thinner and lighter design. Productivity-focused users met the decision with frustration, as many had come to rely on the S Pen for note-taking, sketching, and annotation.
After the Fold 7 launched, Samsung’s executive director of the MX business division, Kang Min-seok, publicly acknowledged the feedback. He said Samsung was “thinking about” investing in research and development to bring the stylus back, but made clear it would not be straightforward. The new S Pen, he stressed, would need to be thinner and built around what he called “innovative tech,” since the traditional digitizer-based approach would no longer be compatible with the slimmer foldable chassis.
That engineering work now appears to be bearing fruit. The Korea Economic Times report states that Samsung is developing a stylus that operates without relying on a digitizer layer, allowing it to work with the thinner display construction used in recent foldables. The report also notes that Samsung plans to “sequentially introduce” the S Pen after unveiling the Wide Fold, though it remains unclear whether this means both the Wide and the Fold 8 will support the stylus, or whether the rollout will be staggered between the two devices.
If the S Pen does return, it would restore one of Samsung’s most distinctive productivity tools to its flagship foldable lineup at a time when several other Android foldables have been actively embracing stylus support. Samsung itself recently hinted at a renewed interest in the stylus, and the Korea Economic Times report suggests that the expected arrival of a high-profile competing foldable in September 2026 may have accelerated that timeline.
Samsung has not responded to requests for comment, and none of the details in the report have been officially verified. With July 22 still several months away, further leaks and official teasers are likely before Samsung makes anything public.
