This article may contain personal views and opinion from the author.
Yes, the Z Flip 8 looks familiar, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. | Image by MyMobiles
Just like last year, Samsung is widely expected to release three new foldable devices this summer. But the minimally advertised, very poorly distributed, and ultimately not-that-good Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE will reportedly be replaced by a first-of-its-kind Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide model that's already getting a lot of attention due to a potentially strong resemblance to Apple's long-overdue iPhone Ultra.
Some of that attention (at least for the time being) seems to come at the expense of the Galaxy Z Flip 8 rather than the "regular" Z Fold 8 edition, and while we've had a cavalcade of not-very-promising rumors about Samsung's next big clamshell-style foldable these last few months, a new report makes me think the minimal buzz around the Z Flip 7's sequel might be unfair.
The Z Flip 8's crease could go away... even though these leaked renders clearly still have it. | Image by MyMobiles
But that's definitely not reason enough to completely ignore the Galaxy Z Flip 8 or expect it to be disappointing on every level... or else we'd only be talking about the Galaxy S26 Ultra and "vanilla" iPhone 17 as opposed to Samsung and Apple's entire latest high-end handset families right now.
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Yes, a device can be (slightly) less successful than its brother or cousin and still warrant a healthy amount of attention and consideration from its target audience. Especially when said audience might not be able to afford said ultra-popular "cousin."
What if Samsung is cooking up a big Galaxy Z Flip 8 pricing surprise?
I'm obviously talking about a pleasant surprise, and before you discard my theory as a utopia, I'd like you to remember the Galaxy S26 Ultra. While the upper-tier storage variants of the S Pen-wielding 6.9-inch giant are more expensive than their Galaxy S25 Ultra equivalents, the entry-level configuration did manage to retain its predecessor's starting price... as well as score multiple hefty discounts within just a couple of months of its commercial debut.
What would make you more likely to buy the Galaxy Z Flip 8?
That makes me think (or at least hope) that the cheapest Z Flip 8 model could still cost $1,099.99 at launch in the US, with any "slight" price hikes reserved for a 512GB storage configuration and maybe even an entirely new 1TB variant.
What's wrong with a refined Galaxy Z Flip 7 anyway?
Perhaps the most important detail supporting my assumption that the Galaxy Z Flip 8 will keep its predecessor's base price unchanged is... pretty much everything we know about the "new" clamshell powerhouse.
The Z Flip 7 is without a doubt one of the best foldables available right now, so the Z Flip 8 can't be a bad product. | Image by PhoneArena
Following a fairly substantial set of Z Flip 7 upgrades over the Z Flip 6 that include bigger and bolder screens, reduced thickness, and enhanced battery life, the Z Flip 8 sounds like a largely iterative release.
Based on multiple trustworthy rumors and leaks from the last few months, it appears that the Z Flip 8's battery capacity, charging speeds, displays, and cameras will all go unchanged this year, and I'm here today to tell you that that's not (necessarily) a bad thing. Not if the starting price is also retained, and certainly not if the Galaxy Z Flip 8 gets rid of the crease altogether and further reduces its forerunner's weight and (folded) profile.
I still have one big wish that Samsung needs to grant me
Just in case you haven't figured that out yet, I'm definitely more of a flip phone person than a book-style foldable fan. That has a lot to do with the extravagant pricing of devices like the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Motorola Razr Fold, as well as the much more compact size of the Z Flip 7, Razr (2026), or Razr Ultra (2025).
Samsung must treat the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8 equally in terms of processing power. | Image by AndroidHeadlines
But one thing I'm not willing to let slide this year is another Exynos-powered Galaxy Z Flip. If Samsung wants to give the Z Flip 8 a (fair) chance at achieving global mainstream success, the Exynos 2500 SoC must be replaced with the same Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset that will undoubtedly reside under the Galaxy Z Fold 8's hood.
A $1,100 (or pricier) foldable needs the highest available amount of raw power to succeed, and despite Samsung's best efforts to improve its in-house Exynos platform over the years, that's still one or two steps behind Qualcomm's Snapdragon beasts. Hopefully, Samsung will not intentionally cripple the Z Flip 8 to give the Z Fold 8 and Z Fold 8 Wide a better chance at selling like hotcakes, because, well, that wouldn't make a lot of sense.
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Adrian, a mobile technology enthusiast since the Nokia 3310 era, has been a dynamic presence in the tech journalism field, contributing to Android Authority, Digital Trends, and Pocketnow before joining PhoneArena in 2018. His expertise spans across various platforms, with a particular fondness for the diversity of the Android ecosystem. Despite the challenges of balancing full-time parenthood with his work, Adrian's passion for tech trends, running, and movies keeps him energized. His commitment to mid-range smartphones has led to an eclectic collection of devices, saved from personal bankruptcy by his preference for 'adequate' over 'overpriced'.
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