Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2026: What to expect

Samsung is reportedly adopting a dual-chip strategy for its foldable lineup. The Galaxy Z Fold8 is tipped to be powered by Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon flagship platform, while the Galaxy Z Flip8 could ship in Snapdragon and Exynos variants, depending on the market. This could be a calculated move to balance performance, supply chain flexibility, and profitability, especially at a time when component costs continue to rise across the industry.

A wider Galaxy Z Fold8

Rumours of a second Galaxy Z Fold8 variant first emerged last year. Reports suggest the Galaxy Z Fold8 Wide will adopt a noticeably shorter but wider footprint than Samsung’s conventional book-style foldables, resulting in a more smartphone-like cover display.

Purported renders of the device have since surfaced, appearing to corroborate these earlier leaks. The introduction of a Galaxy Z Fold8 with a wider form factor is widely believed to be Samsung’s answer to the growing list of wider foldable smartphones from Chinese brands, and to counter Apple’s highly anticipated entry into the space this year.

The Galaxy Z Fold8 Wide is expected to feature these specs:

• 7.6-inch QHD+ foldable display
• 5.5-inch QHD+ cover display
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy
• 12GB of RAM
• 4,800mAh battery
• 50MP main camera
• 50MP ultra-wide camera
• 10MP cover and selfie cameras
• 123.9 x 81.9 x 9.7 mm (folded)
• 123.9 x 161.4 x 4.9 mm (unfolded)
• 201g

Samsung’s first pair of smart glasses

Besides the Galaxy Z Fold8 Wide, Samsung could also take the opportunity to unveil its first pair of smart glasses.

Samsung and Google have already offered a glimpse of the smart glasses at Google I/O 2026, signalling that the devices are nearing their official debut. The wearable is expected to become one of the first consumer products built on Android XR, Google’s new platform for extended reality devices.

The wearable is expected to support several Gemini AI features such as live translation and navigation overlays. Google also announced partnerships with eyewear brands, including Warby Parker and Gentle Monster.

On the hardware front, rumours suggest the Galaxy Glasses will be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon AR1 platform, the same chipset designed specifically for lightweight AI smart glasses. The wearable is also tipped to pack a 155mAh battery, a 12MP camera for capturing photos, and support for Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi-Fi connectivity.

While Samsung has yet to confirm pricing, industry reports estimate the Galaxy Glasses will retail between US$379 (~ S$482) and US$499 (~S$635).

Galaxy Watch9 Series and Ultra 2

Samsung is also expected to refresh its smartwatch lineup at Galaxy Unpacked, although this year’s updates are likely to be evolutionary rather than revolutionary.

For the Galaxy Watch9 series, recent leaks suggest Samsung will offer new case finishes and an expanded selection of watch bands. However, Samsung might not release a Classic model this year. The Classic model is known for its iconic rotating bezel and has long been favoured by enthusiasts.

Rumours point to a slightly boxier design for the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 with slimmer display bezels and a redesigned side button with an orange outline.

Samsung recently rolled out a major update to the Samsung Health app, introducing a redesigned interface and several AI-powered wellness features. The rollout of the updated Samsung Health app strongly hints that these new features were designed for the Galaxy Watch9 series and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2. The upcoming wearables are expected to combine next-generation health sensors with Galaxy AI to offer more precise monitoring and smarter, personalised health recommendations.

Pre-order and retail availability

The rumour mill currently points to 22 July as the date for Samsung’s next Galaxy Unpacked event, with London tipped to host the global launch. If previous launch cycles are anything to go by, pre-orders for the Galaxy Z Fold8, Galaxy Z Flip8, Galaxy Watch9 series, and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 are likely to open shortly after the keynote, followed by retail availability within the next few weeks.

That said, not every product is expected to follow the same release schedule. Reports suggest the Galaxy Z Fold8 Wide could launch in limited numbers in select markets. Meanwhile, the Galaxy Glasses could only arrive later in the quarter.