SEOUL, July 27 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics will begin taking preorders in South Korea on Tuesday for its latest foldable smartphones, testing whether a broader lineup and storage incentives can sustain demand after last year’s record-breaking launch.
Preorders for the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold8 and Galaxy Z Flip8 will run from July 28 through Aug. 3, Samsung said Monday. Customers can receive and activate the devices from Aug. 4, ahead of their official domestic release on Aug. 7.
The launch faces a high comparison base. Samsung sold 1.04 million Galaxy Z Fold7 and Flip7 devices during their weeklong domestic preorder period last year, the highest tally for any Galaxy foldable generation. That exceeded the 1.02 million units recorded by the Fold5 and Flip5 in 2023 and the 910,000 units booked by the Fold6 and Flip6 in 2024.
The Fold7 accounted for 60 percent of last year’s Korean preorders, overtaking the Flip model for the first time since Samsung introduced its foldable lineup in 2019. The result represented a sharp shift from the previous generation, when the Fold’s share stood at about 40 percent.
Whether Samsung can repeat that performance will be closely watched as the company raises prices and expands its lineup to three models. The Fold8 Ultra starts at 2.58 million won ($1,860) in South Korea, while the standard Fold8 begins at 2.28 million won and the Flip8 at 1.68 million won.
Samsung is also facing intensifying competition from Chinese manufacturers and Apple’s expected entry into the foldable market. Counterpoint Research projects global foldable smartphone shipments will increase 21 percent in 2026, with Samsung expected to retain the largest share.
To stimulate early demand, Samsung will offer buyers of 256-gigabyte models a free upgrade to 512GB. Customers purchasing 512GB versions of the Fold8 Ultra or Fold8 can upgrade to the 1-terabyte model for 310,700 won, about half the standard price difference.
The company will also extend its device-return subscription program to the new foldables. Customers enrolled in the program can receive up to 50 percent of the original device value when returning the handset after a specified period, depending on the subscription plan and device condition.
Samsung will simultaneously open preorders for the Galaxy Watch Ultra2 and Galaxy Watch9. The Watch Ultra2 is priced at 969,100 won, while the Watch9 lineup starts at 499,000 won. Both will also be released domestically on Aug. 7.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.