Is Samsung finally releasing its Ballie AI home companion robot? While Samsung has kept very quiet about Ballie, a leak was recently spotted that showed a potential app UI design for a Ballie app – here’s what we know so far.

As always, Samsung has had a big year. In July, Samsung held its Unpacked event where it launched the new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, and throughout 2026, the brand has debuted new home appliances, including upgraded smart fridges and robot vacuums.

But one thing that Samsung has been pretty silent about is Ballie. Samsung originally announced Ballie back in 2020, dubbing it as an autonomous, spherical AI companion robot. Since then, Ballie has remained a concept, with Samsung announcing it had delayed Ballie yet again in late 2025, saying it was still working on the technology.

But visuals of Samsung Ballie software was recently spotted by Sammy Guru. While nothing has officially been confirmed or denied, many are speculating that the illustrations show what a Ballie app could look like, although an app name is still unknown.

The illustrations don’t directly state that the app would be for the Ballie robot. However, there are clear sketches of a spherical ball-like device which look a lot like the Ballie concept pictures that have been released over the years, and the ‘app’ refers to it as the Home Robot.

As the visuals show, a main dashboard has the Ballie or Home Robot at front and centre. Icons surround it, showing battery percentage, location, and status, including Ready or Error, and Streaming text sits just below the Ballie illustration. Further down the page is Home Monitor and Greeting cards and a main bar sits at the bottom showing Media and Robot.

These visuals have circulated but nothing has really been made clear about what anything of it means. Many have guessed that Streaming refers to users being able to view the Ballie onboard camera live and remotely, so it can potentially double as a security camera.

Others have speculated that the Greetings section could allow Ballie to detect people and offer personalised greetings when they get home. This has also been shown in Ballie promotion videos that Samsung previously produced when it first announced it.

In general, we don’t really know what the future looks like for Ballie. AI home robots are still new, with brands like LG and SwitchBot having announced their own full-sized models, although neither seem to have come into fruition just yet.

The Samsung Ballie could change this, and offer an easier, more compact way to use this type of technology, as it’s significantly smaller than other home robot concepts. But as always with Ballie, we’ll just have to wait and see what happens.

Two new picture technologies are coming to TVs in the next few months, with both HDR10+ Advanced and Dolby Vision 2 both set for release soon. Indeed, in the case of the former, we could see it in a matter of days

Samsung has announced that it will be rolling out HDR10+ Advanced to its 2026 models this month – August 2026. Or at least, it'll be activating it as the technology is already integrated in select TVs.

Amazon Prime Video will be the first streaming service to adopt the new brighter and more immersive HDR standard. Amazon has been pivotal in the rise of the HDR10 standard in the past, most notably being the first to offer HDR10+ on its movies and shows in 2017. This continues that trend.

"At Prime Video, we’re dedicated to providing the best possible viewing experience and HDR10+ Advanced represents a meaningful step forward for our customers," said Prime Video's vice president of technology, BA Winston.

"With Enhanced Overall Brightness and Intelligent Motion Smoothing, the picture quality adapts to bring out the best details in every scene."

Only Samsung's 2026 models will be compatible with HDR10+ Advanced – that's TVs with "H" at the end of their model name, including the jaw-dropping Samsung S99H and S95H.

Support for other manufacturers should become available over time.

What improvements does HDR10+ Advanced offer?

HDR10 is the de facto standard for HDR (High Dynamic Range) picture technology on many – if not all – TVs and devices. HDR10+ was introduced by Samsung in collaboration with several partners almost a decade ago as a direct response to Dolby Vision.

All HDR technologies expand the available colour gamut and offer a much wider dynamic contrast range, resulting in more realistic and immersive images. However, HDR10 simply applies the same setting for an entire movie or show, while HDR10+ (and Dolby Vision) can adjust the balance on a scene-by-scene basis – frame-by-frame, even.

As the name suggests, HDR10+ Advanced goes a step or two further. It adds Enhanced Overall Brightness, to better utilise modern TV's higher brightness capabilities, while also using AI to better tone map content in real-time. This preserves details at two ends of the spectrum, in the shadows and the brightest scenes.

On top of these, Intelligent Motion Smoothing dynamically adjust motion processing on a scene-by-scene basis, to smooth the action without creating the plastic look of aggressive motion technologies of the past.

The new technology rivals Dolby Vision 2, which will offer similar properties when it arrives soon too.

Samsung has only just revealed its latest folding phones – they're so new they aren’t even on sale yet – but that hasn’t stopped the rumours for its next big devices.

Usually rumours bring good news, whether it’s the leak of a fresh design or a camera upgrade, but the latest speculation surrounding the Galaxy S27 Ultra suggests this flagship phone could see a downgrade instead.

Camera changes incoming for the Galaxy S27 Ultra

According to ETNews (via 9to5Google), the Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra could ditch the 3x telephoto camera lens, reducing it to just three lenses on the rear. This would be a first for the Ultra.

The report claims the 50-megapixel 5x telephoto lens would remain, as would the 200-megapixel main camera and 50-megapixel ultrawide camera, but the 3x telephoto could be no more in order to reduce manufacturing costs.

The Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra isn’t due to launch until early 2027, so there is still time for things to change, and there will no doubt be more leaks that appear between now and then. But for now, you may want to grab a Galaxy S26 Ultra if you really want that telephoto.

What else is new?

The other devices that are rumoured to launch alongside the Galaxy S27 Ultra include the Galaxy S27 and Galaxy S27+, as you would expect, as well as the Galaxy S27 Pro.

The Pro model is rumoured to have a 200-megapixel main camera and 50-megapixel ultrawide camera, like the Galaxy S27 Ultra, but it is claimed it will opt for a 10-megapixel 3x telephoto lens – the one that’s being ditched on the Ultra.

Meanwhile, the standard Galaxy S27 and Galaxy S27+ are said to come with a 50-megapixel main camera, 12-megapixel ultrawide camera, and a 10-megapixel telephoto camera.

As mentioned, we are several months away from the release of these devices, so plenty could change. At the moment it’s looking like some interesting changes are coming.

It took a while but the UK was next in line for the Samsung Galaxy XR after its release in the US and Korea last year, and the wait may well have been to the benefit of Brits. That’s because since its original launch, the headset has been served patches and software tweaks that most certainly make for a better experience.

It is the first Android XR headset to hit the market, while also exhibiting Samsung’s ambitions in the higher-end mixed reality field, and there’s no denying the similarities to Apple’s Vision Pro. But at the same time, it is also something of its own beast, which I found out during the week I spent testing it.

The design and build

Having also played with an Apple Vision Pro and owning a Meta Quest 3, I am no stranger to the wonderful world of augmented reality. Also to the art of strapping a shoe box to your face for hours on end. And while it can never feel truly natural, the Galaxy XR does a great job of balancing its weight.

It’s considerably lighter than the Vision Pro (by around 200g) and is similar to the Quest 3 in that regard.

That’s not to say it is the most comfortable headset in the world. As a thoroughly premium device it is built with thoroughly premium, solid materials and therefore there’s less of a focus on padding. However, it is easy to fit tight to your head shape using the adjustment knob on the rear, so at least you don’t have to worry about wobble.

In the hand it feels sturdy and expensive – which it is – but importantly, it gives the impression that it’s something that’s built to last.

You also get additional forehead spacers in the box, for different sizes of foreheads and glasses wearers, plus silicon nose guards that sit under the lenses to block out ambient light. You don’t have to use them (I find it can get hotter when you do), but they do make for a more immersive experience and as they sit across the bridge of your nose, they also help reduce the pressure.

Then there’s the battery unit, which at 302g, weighs more than half the weight of the headset itself. That attaches via a cable to the side of the Galaxy XR and is designed to sit in a pocket. You can also charge it while during use, which gives you infinite playtime (it’s up to two-and-a-half hours, otherwise).

The display

Once the fit has been adjusted and you enter the experience, the first thing that strikes you about the Galaxy XR is just how incredible the display is. While it features similar Micro-OLED panel technology to the Apple Vision Pro, Samsung’s alternative has a higher resolution and smaller pixel pitch.

That results in a jaw dropping, super sharp image where you simply cannot pick out individual pixels. It’s the best VR/XR display I’ve used to date and makes it very easy to become absorbed without much adjustment. Admittedly, Apple’s alternative is capable of higher refresh rates, but when it comes to clarity, there’s a clear winner.

Of course, the image is nothing without the software and experience, and that’s where it comes down to personal preference.

It’s worth remembering at this stage that Android XR is still a fledgling system. Developed in co-operation between Google, Qualcomm and Samsung, it’ll eventually spread to multiple headsets and smart glasses. But the Galaxy XR is breaking new ground here, and it feels like it, at times.

The software

The in-visor set-up wizard is simple and intuitive, but I did have some issues with validating my Samsung account. The headset has some extra compatibility features if you’re a Samsung Galaxy phone owner and have the official Galaxy XR app, but considering it is a largely autonomous device, it will also work with iPhone and other Android handsets.

My main issue was that to log into a Samsung account using two-factor authorisation, it needed to send me a code by text to my UK number – and that never arrived on my iPhone. It could be that it was my network at fault, but I struggled to get past this hiccup until I finally found I could skip the Samsung account setup entirely. It just took a while to figure that out.

Once in, that’s where you get the full “wow” moment. The headset can be controlled using either pinch gestures on either hand or a combination of eye tracking and gestures. Both work wonderfully.

The cameras on the front of the unit track your hands in real time, even showing an outline that follows your hand movements to show you how accurate it is. There are also cameras that face down from the visor, so if using eye tracking to look at things you want to interact with – such as app icons – you can just pinch your fingers without needing to lift your hand. It’s very clever and intuitive.

On top of this, the outside world is captured and sent to the display in real time too. And while it’s not represented in as high-resolution as the overlays and apps, it is in full colour and still impressive. It helps ground you in an experience, making you feel like you are still in the real world while interacting with the virtual. And that also helps prevent the sort of motion sickness normally associated with the genre.

There is a mode whereby you can block the outside world and enter purely virtual landscapes, and many of the games and apps are VR rather than augmented, but I found myself using the overlays and AR tools more than any of the full VR options – especially when some of the best features are specific to this form.

Google’s renowned Circle to Search AI feature has even more relevance when you can circle anything you can see in the physical world, to get information and even purchase details on items you can see. And you can turn pictures and videos in your Google Photos library into spatial estimations, to look around them in a new perspective.

Then there’s the ability to loom over Google Maps in a god-like mode, exploring streets and buildings as if you were some sort of town planning deity. Indeed, most of my favourite experiences came from the free software provided as part of Android XR, which is not only a highlight of the Galaxy XR, but promising for future devices too.

Handily, if you purchase a Galaxy XR before the end of 2026 you also get a free bundle of apps and subscriptions to some of Google’s best services. This Explorer Pack contains a whole host of essential additions, including a year’s worth of Google AI Pro and 5TB of cloud storage.

There’s 12-months of YouTube Premium too, which gives you YouTube streaming – including spatial videos – without ads, and another great gift is a year’s membership to the Google Play Pass. This offers up hundreds of free Android games that can be played in the headset. I found it essential in my test period, not least thanks to the variety.

Then there is Adobe Pulsar to turn video creations into interactive experiences, including the ability to add 3D depth to them for other headset wearers to also enjoy. And there’s an NFL VR game thrown in too, which is a real standout, if you like that sort of thing. If not, the mindfulness service, Calm Premium, helps you unwind.

The whole bundle is worth over £600, so helps justify the headset cost a touch, but also gives you a decent amount of tools and games to get you started. As I found out, you’ll certainly not be left wanting for something to do.

The caveats

That’s not to say the headset doesn’t come with caveats. Save for its price, which is clearly in the luxury and premium range (although nowhere near the Apple Vision Pro’s hefty ticket in that regard), the headset does have some comfort issues, as previously mentioned. Even when fiddling with the nose pieces and head spacers, you might find it testing for long periods of wear.

Considering the battery life is limited to a little over two hours (when not tethered further to a USB-C charger), that’s almost a moot point anyway.

It’s also worth mentioning that although eye tracking works superbly and helps prevent motion sickness, not all the apps you’ll encounter support it, so you might still suffer at times if you’re prone to such things.

Still, that’s hardly Samsung’s fault – it has done everything it can to help mitigate the traditional issues with virtual and mixed reality, it’s now down to app developers to do their bit too.

Thankfully, that’s where Android XR steps in. It gives developers a solid foundation for a future where multiple headsets and devices will be unified in their offerings. Samsung is blazing a trail with the Galaxy XR, and in style to boot. Hopefully, others will follow in its wake.

In conclusion

So what did I learn in my week with the Samsung Galaxy XR? Well, I'll be honest, I'd almost given up on headsets and multiple mixed realities they promise. Beyond the initial wave of excitement, there was no escaping the sense that they provide a very solo experience – whether it be for work or play.

However, the sharpness and clarity afforded by something so premium made me think again. You can enjoy spending time inside the Galaxy XR because it offers experiences that are familiar yet better than real-world equivalents.

For example, I watched some of the World Cup coverage on an IMAX-sized screen, which filled my entire field of view. And from the comfort of my own living room, to boot. I could even see my beer on a table nearby to pick it up.

And while I haven't yet tried the headset on a long haul flight, I can only imagine how transformative it could be for movie viewing, while also keeping an eye on fellow passengers and airline staff.

My only real gripe is the fit, which can apply pressure across the bridge of the nose during lengthy use. One solution is to add your own top strap, which you can find in 3D printed form from enthusiasts online. Maybe even Samsung will add one to its accessories list at some point.

I hope so. But as it stands, although this headset is admittedly a niche product for a select audience, especially at its "luxury" price point, it fizzles with promise. It excitingly shows what is possible with Android XR in the now and future, and I for one am once again sold.

Samsung Galaxy Watch users will soon be able to access Strava Routes on their wrist through Samsung Health, thanks to a significant expansion of the two companies’ partnership.

Strava will be pre-installed on new Galaxy Watches sold globally, beginning with the latest Galaxy Watch 9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2.

Buyers of either smartwatch will also receive a 60-day trial of Strava’s subscription service, which unlocks a complete selection of premium training and route-planning features.

More importantly, Strava Routes will be integrated natively into Samsung Health later this year, giving you on-wrist access to routes created through Strava without relying solely on the separate Strava watch app.

Strava and Samsung haven’t fully explained how the integration will work, including whether routes will synchronise automatically or which older Galaxy Watch models, such as the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, will be supported.

However, the companies say the Samsung Health integration will begin rolling out globally to Galaxy Watch users in the coming months.

Finding a better way around

Strava Routes uses activity data from the company’s enormous user community to generate courses suited to different sports, distances and preferences.

Strava Premium subscribers can also create their own routes and download them for navigation in areas without a reliable data connection.

The feature could make Galaxy Watch more competitive with outdoor watches from brands such as Garmin, Suunto and Coros, where route creation, synchronisation and on-wrist navigation are already important parts of the experience.

Its arrival is particularly timely after Strava expanded its hiking tools in June.

The recent update introduced improved route planning, navigation and trail-discovery features, reflecting the company’s efforts to become more useful beyond running and cycling.

Samsung is also placing greater emphasis on personalised fitness services across its wearable ecosystem.

Alongside the Strava announcement, the company revealed that iFIT’s Tailor personal trainer will use sleep, heart-rate and recovery information recorded by Galaxy Watch to generate adaptive workouts through Samsung Health.

The two integrations arrive with the new Galaxy Watch 9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2.

The Watch9 is Samsung’s everyday health-focused model, while the Ultra2 adds an 800mAh battery, trail-running metrics, hydration guidance and support for recreational diving.

Strava says the Routes integration is the first of several improvements planned for Samsung users, although it hasn’t revealed what will follow.

Strava Routes requires a paid subscription once the complimentary 60-day trial has ended.

Read more about the integration at Strava.

Samsung is adding an AI-powered personal trainer to Samsung Health that can turn data collected by a Galaxy Watch into personalised workouts and weekly training plans.

Created through a partnership with connected-fitness company iFIT, the new feature combines Samsung’s health and recovery insights with iFIT Tailor, the brand's AI fitness coach.

Tailor builds training plans around your goals, current fitness, workout history, available time and location.

According to the company, it can recommend anything from strength and HIIT sessions to cycling, yoga, Pilates and mindfulness, drawing on workouts created by iFIT’s team of 180 trainers.

The feature can also continually adjust its recommendations as you complete workouts, recover or change your routines.

Samsung says information already captured by Galaxy Watch, including sleep, heart rate and recovery data, will feed into its Fitness Index and help the coach decide what the user should do next.

That could make the partnership considerably more useful than a conventional library of follow-along workout videos.

A coach that travels with you

The feature can also account for where you are training and how much time you have available.

iFIT says Tailor can generate an appropriate workout for home, travelling or when you're heading out onto a trail.

Progress milestones, activity streaks and achievement recognition will of course be included to encourage consistency, while the plans will remain available through Samsung Health on compatible Galaxy devices.

Samsung and iFIT unveiled the expanded integration alongside the new Galaxy Watch 9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2.

The Watch 9 is positioned as Samsung’s everyday health and fitness smartwatch, while the more rugged Ultra 2 introduces an 800mAh battery, specialised trail-running metrics, hydration guidance and support for recreational diving.

There are, however, two catches. iFIT Personal Trainer will require a paid iFIT membership and is not included as a free Samsung Health feature, although monthly and annual subscriptions will be available directly through the app.

The initial rollout will also be limited to India, South Korea and the US later this year.

Samsung and iFIT say other markets covered by their partnership will receive the feature during 2027, meaning Galaxy Watch owners in the UK will have to wait a little longer to try it.

For more information, visit iFIT.

Samsung used Galaxy Unpacked to showcase its new AI glasses (again), but it didn't go as far as telling us when we'll be able to buy them or how much they are going to cost. All we know is that they are still on track for 2026, launching "this fall".

Samsung, Google and Qualcomm announced they were getting together to work on XR devices in 2023. While Qualcomm provides the chip to power these devices, Android supplies the platform – Android XR – with Samsung building the devices themselves.

That's resulted in the Galaxy XR headset, but it's also powering a new wave of AI glasses – what Samsung currently calls "Intelligent Eyewear". That starts with audio glasses, before moving into display glasses at some point in the future.

To nail down the design of these glasses, Samsung worked with Gentle Monster and Warby Parker, so these aren't generic Samsung-branded glasses. They come with a name that some will recognise and will, ultimately, have a range of styles to choose from.

Google stole Samsung's thunder to a certain extent, previously revealing the glasses at Google I/O earlier in the year, mostly as a way of pushing the Android XR platform's progress.

At Unpacked, the AI glasses had a little time on stage, showing how they would slot into the Galaxy ecosystem, offering access to Google's Gemini for AI tasks, while in partnership with the Galaxy phone in your pocket and Galaxy Watch on your wrist.

These glasses are powered by the Snapdragon AR1 Gen1 chip, with Samsung suggesting that they will be able to do things like summarise meeting notes on a whiteboard, provide live translation, give real time information and route guidance, while also sharing and recording what they can see.

Samsung confirmed that the glasses will offer nine hours of battery life, beating Meta's eight hour claim.

Privacy concerns mount when it comes to smart glasses

While AI glasses have seen a huge boom in popularity with influencers and online content creators, they are also getting the attention of lawmakers, with concerns about privacy and surveillance. Filming using the camera is generally only indicated by a small LED on the front of the glasses.

Meta is facing a lawsuit over such concerns, in fact, and the European Parliament is also looking into privacy risks.

Samsung's own plans for smart glasses have been confusing to date, and when I asked what the go-to market name would be for the glasses, I was told that that hadn't been announced yet. Some believe that Samsung will release its own Galaxy AI glasses separate to the Warby Parker and Gentle Monster models that have come out of this collaboration.

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked introduced a slew of new folding phones, including the Galaxy Z Fold 8 which already appears to be winning fans, along with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and refreshed Galaxy Z Flip 8.

Okay, so it wasn't the best-kept secret in world history – Samsung had been openly teasing the new shape of its Galaxy Z Fold 8 for a couple of weeks. So, even without the many leaks that preceded it, we had a pretty good sense that the main Z Fold phone would be getting a new look.

Still, it's one thing to see leaks and another to get an entire Galaxy Unpacked event to check the phone out, and then the hands-on thoughts of our Tech editor, Mike Lowe. The phone looks like it's making a great impression on people in the first instance, although we'll doubtless get more context in the next few weeks.

I'll admit, though, that I've been a bit of a sceptic. The steep price tag attached to foldables makes them a non-starter for me, and I didn't see why a squatter design would change that. What I didn't expect was one moment in Samsung's presentation when they showed the phone opened up, but not in landscape mode – using a portrait orientation instead.

The photo at the top of this article shows that moment exactly, and that Samsung was using it to underline how the Z Fold 8 could be a great little e-reader alongside all the other more phone-like tools it offers. My surprise? I'm won over, at least moreso than before.

I've tested every Kindle released in the last few years, and I still regularly use the Kindle Paperwhite when I'm travelling, to cut down on the weight of a book (especially if I'm reading something chunky). Still, while I like an e-reader as much as the next reader, I'm mostly doing it for that weight reason.

So, if I had a phone that could be as satisfying to hold and as easy to read with, that would indeed be pretty tempting. There's a lot to wonder about in terms of ergonomics, still, and the biggest question for me would be how reliably I'd be able to read on the Z Fold 8 without worrying about battery life, but the concept it still quite a winning one.

The simple reality is that as long as these foldables stay this expensive, there's no way I'd ever commit to them – at £1,699, I just don't think the Z Fold 8 having a more adaptable aspect ratio is enough to move the needle. Still, this is the first time in a few years that I've even really perked my ears up at all in this area.

I'll be super interested in the folding iPhone we're likely getting later this year, but again will almost certainly never get my hands on one, if the rumoured pricing is to be remotely believed. Perhaps in half a decade, though, when folding phones are even more widespread, and the memory crisis has hopefully abated, I could end up not needing a Kindle at all – one less device is rarely a bad thing.

With the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, Samsung is putting forward a compelling reason for tech companies not to rush a new version of their gadgets every year.

If the brand’s new smartwatch is anything to go by, skipping a year does mean the next iteration of the wearable can be significantly different, so much so that it might even entice people who own the previous version.

So what’s the fuss about? The new Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 received some big updates, including a thinner case, lighter strap, and larger battery, and it also has a much brighter screen than before – in fact, it’s probably the brightest of all smartwatch displays out there. The watch now uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear Elite processor for buttery-smooth performance.

Features have also been upgraded. The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 can do turn-by-turn navigation like Garmin watches, track elevation, and provide hydration guidance based on estimated sweat loss. Plus, it now has dedicated diving support, courtesy of Mares. Best of all, the watch still looks pretty cool and performs even better.

Best smartwatch of 2026? Well, it’s not all sunshine and lollipops, but Samsung is certainly trying to better its hardware and software. Should you upgrade if you have an older Samsung watch, and is it worth jumping ecosystems if you have – let’s say – an Apple Watch Ultra 3? Let’s find out.

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 review

Price and availability

The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 was announced on 22 July 2026, the same day pre-orders for the watch opened. The wearables will go on sale on 7 August for the recommended price of £649. EU, US and AU prices and availability TBC. The watch comes in two colours, Titanium Silver and Titanium Grey.

For comparison, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra retailed for £599/ $649.99/ AU$1,299 at launch, but can now be bought for as little as £400. The Apple Watch Ultra 3’s recommended retail price is $799 / £749 / AU$1,399 / €899, a fair amount higher than the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2.

The 44 mm version of the also brand new Galaxy Watch 9, which comes in either Graphite or Silver colour, sells for £349, while the smaller 40 mm version (colour options: Graphite and Cream) retails for £319.

Design and build quality

The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 follows the original Ultra’s blueprint, retaining Samsung’s distinctive “cushion” design, which I like quite a lot. This combines an angular, rounded-square titanium case with a conventional circular display, allowing the screen to look like a traditional watch face while also giving the wearable a unique look.

Case

The 47 mm titanium case is said to be 12% thinner than before, despite the much larger 800mAh battery it houses. For context, the original Galaxy Watch Ultra measured 47.4 x 47.1 x 12.1mm and weighed 60.5g without its strap.

My Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 sample registered 61g on the scales, suggesting Samsung has reduced thickness without making the watch body itself significantly lighter.

I should add that my kitchen scales can’t measure 0.5 grams, so it’s entirely possible that the new watch is exactly the same weight.

(For the record, Samsung didn’t provide a spec sheet or feature list for the review. I will update it once I get hold of them.)

Strap

The new strap makes a more noticeable difference: it weighs 24g on my scales and is claimed to be 25% lighter than its predecessor. The material also feels genuinely softer and more pliable, helping the large watch sit more comfortably against the wrist.

Numerous perforations provide ample adjustment and should improve airflow during exercise, while Samsung’s Dynamic Lug System allows the strap sections to be released using buttons on the underside of the case.

Controls

The three-button layout is back, located at the right edge. It includes the circular Quick Button, distinguished by an orange surround, which provides immediate access to frequently used outdoor and exercise functions. The two flatter buttons above and below handle the usual Home and Back duties.

There is no mechanically rotating bezel, although the fixed bezel gives the display a useful degree of protection and supports Samsung’s touch-bezel navigation.

The numbered markings and orange index add to the watch’s technical, outdoorsy appearance. The bezel itself is touch-sensitive and can be used to navigate menus.

Display

The circular AMOLED display is protected by a sapphire crystal lens, but peak brightness has risen to a whopping 5,000 nits, which exceeds the original Ultra’s and the Apple Watch Ultra 3’s already impressive 3,000-nit maximum.

Other design details

Samsung positioned the original model as its toughest watch, equipping it with 10ATM and IP68 water resistance, MIL-STD-810H certification and an operating range of -20°C to 55°C.

The Ultra 2 is clearly cut from the same rugged cloth, although its final durability ratings will need to be confirmed once Samsung publishes the complete specification sheet.

Health tracking

The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 carries over the extensive health toolkit of its predecessor, including continuous heart-rate monitoring, blood oxygen saturation, sleep and stress tracking, ECG readings, blood-pressure monitoring, and BIA-based body-composition analysis.

That is not necessarily a problem. Samsung Health is exceptionally polished, and both the phone app and watch interface present a considerable amount of information without becoming difficult to navigate. I particularly enjoyed the on-watch body-composition measurements, but sleep tracking was arguably the most impressive part of my testing.

Sleep tracking

I wore the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 alongside the Oura Ring 5, my current benchmark for consumer sleep tracking. Neither can be considered as accurate as a clinical sleep study, but comparing their results provides a useful indication of consistency.

The two devices produced remarkably similar results. The sleep window difference was only 7 minutes, and the total sleep time difference was only 10 minutes (over nearly 9 hours).

The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 detected 32 minutes of awake time, while Oura reported 33 minutes. Deep sleep differed by only five minutes, with Samsung recording one hour and 17 minutes and Oura measuring one hour and 22 minutes.

REM and light sleep showed larger differences, but since sleep stages are all guesswork across wearables, it certainly isn’t a deal-breaker. Sleep latency was 17 minutes according to Samsung and 10 minutes according to Oura.

Both measured an average sleeping heart rate of 48 bpm, while average blood oxygen saturation differed by a single percentage point: 96% on the Galaxy Watch and 97% on the Oura Ring.

That degree of agreement is excellent for two consumer wearables using different form factors and algorithms. It does not prove that either device correctly identified every sleep stage, but it gives me confidence in the Galaxy Watch’s estimates.

Samsung also provides plenty of depth. Alongside sleep duration and stages, the app shows movement, overnight blood oxygen saturation, skin temperature deviation, average heart rate, and respiratory rate.

It offers bedtime guidance, seven-day trends and sleep-consistency analysis, although its presentation is more clinical and less interpretive than Oura’s. The Ring does a better job of connecting sleep to concepts such as efficiency, restfulness, sleep debt, body-clock alignment and readiness.

Snore detection is available, but it relies on the paired phone being positioned near the bed and connected to a charger. That makes it considerably less seamless than the watch’s other overnight measurements.

Body composition tracking

The on-watch body-composition feature uses bioelectrical impedance analysis to estimate skeletal muscle mass, fat mass, body water, body fat percentage, BMI, and basal metabolic rate. To take a reading, you enter your weight and place two fingers against the watch’s buttons while keeping your arms away from your torso.

I compared its results with my Withings Body Comp smart scales. The measurements were taken two days apart, so changes in hydration, food intake and other variables prevent this from being a controlled comparison. Nevertheless, the directly comparable results were impressively close.

The Galaxy Watch estimated my body fat at 17.5%, compared with 18.1% from the Withings scales. Samsung calculated 14.2kg of fat mass (vs 14.6kg on the Withings) with a recorded weight of 80.8kg. A difference of 0.6% is reassuringly small.

Muscle figures cannot be compared directly because Samsung reports skeletal muscle mass, whereas Withings reports it as a percentage. Both devices are also consumer BIA products – not clinical body-composition scanners – so individual readings should be treated as estimates.

Sound exposure tracking

Sound Exposure is one of the genuinely new health additions. It uses the watch’s microphone to estimate cumulative exposure to environmental noise and shows how much of the recommended daily allowance has been consumed.

Samsung Health divides the result into OK, Caution, and Unsafe categories. It also displays the average sound level, periods above 80dB, and exposure trends over the previous seven days.

On one day, the watch recorded an average of 77dB and a cumulative exposure of 101%, which it says was “unsafe”. This was caused by the window of my car being down for approx 4 hours while driving on the motorways – the wind clearly made quite a racket in the car.

Samsung stresses that the figures are estimates affected by device use and fit, and that they are intended for general wellness rather than professional hearing assessment.

Other health features

Elsewhere, the Ultra 2 records heart rate variability, respiratory rate, skin temperature deviation, blood oxygen levels, and other overnight signals to establish a personal Vitals baseline.

Samsung Health also provides Heart Health and Vascular Load scores, the latter of which compares overnight cardiovascular strain against the user’s baseline.

ECG, blood pressure, irregular heart rhythm notifications, sleep apnoea detection, stress monitoring, AGEs Index, and menstrual cycle predictions complete one of the most extensive health suites available on a smartwatch.

Health feature gripes

There are some familiar frustrations. As mentioned above, snore detection only works when the paired phone is positioned near the bed and connected to its charger. Certain regulated health functions also require a SIM card so Samsung Health Monitor can establish which country the device is being used in.

Samsung also talks extensively about AI, but its broader health ecosystem still lacks some tools found in other apps. Food logging from a photograph, for example, would make nutrition tracking much less of a hassle.

Also, while the software is polished, there is bloatware everywhere on the phone that’s required for all the watch functions to operate properly, which I could live without.

Fitness tracking

The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 supports more than 100 exercise types, ranging from everyday walking and strength sessions to multisport events, open-water swimming and trail running. Outdoor tracking is backed by dual-frequency L1 and L5 GPS, with support for GPS, Galileo, Glonass and BeiDou satellite systems, plus onboard elevation and compass sensors.

Samsung says the new Snapdragon Wear Elite processor improves positioning accuracy and efficiency, particularly in challenging environments such as cities, forests and mountains. The watch also offers personalised heart-rate zones, VO₂ max estimates, cardio-load analysis and automatic exercise recognition.

It is a comprehensive package, although the depth of its training analysis remains closer to a premium general-purpose smartwatch than a dedicated Garmin or Coros sports watch.

Automatic exercise recognition

Automatic exercise recognition also works impressively well. The watch can detect walks and less conventional activities after approximately 10 minutes. (It even recorded half an hour of morning housework as exercise, estimating that I had burned around 200 calories.) Running detection is faster, taking roughly four minutes to recognise that a session has begun.

It’s worth noting that auto-logged outdoor workouts, such as walks, don’t trigger the GPS, so if you want to record your route, you’d best start the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 manually.

Samsung’s algorithms can nevertheless be demanding. Despite completing 16,000 steps on one particularly active day, the watch informed me that my cardio load was insufficient. General movement contributes to daily activity, but the system still expects vigorous exercise before awarding a favourable cardio-load score. Is the watch trying to kill me?

I appreciate that the WHO recommends daily moderate-to-vigorous exercise, but surely the algorithm could just determine that multiple walks and 10k+ steps a day are fine? Oh, well.

Trail running

The new trail-running profile records duration, distance, calories, speed, pace, elevation, gradient and heart rate. It covers the fundamentals, but it is not nearly as detailed as the trail-running tools found on comparable Garmin watches.

Samsung is positioning the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 as a serious adventure watch, yet its data and analysis still align more closely with those of a mainstream smartwatch.

Sweat-loss estimation is interesting, although “estimation” is the operative word. The figure is not generated in real time, either, and you have to run for at least 20 minutes and burn 90 calories before the watch produces a result.

Following a hot 45-minute trail run, it estimated that I had lost almost one litre of fluid and recommended drinking 1.5 litres to replenish it. That is potentially useful guidance, but it feels almost too hardcore for the relatively basic analysis surrounding it.

GPX and turn-by-turn navigation

I have not yet tested GPX imports or turn-by-turn navigation, although completed routes can be exported from Samsung Health as GPX files. It is also worth remembering that GPX route guidance and elevation information were already available on the original Galaxy Watch Ultra.

Diving

I was unable to test the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2’s new diving functionality, but it represents one of the watch’s most significant adventure-focused upgrades. Samsung says the dedicated diving app launches automatically when the watch enters the water and records real-time depth, dive duration and water temperature.

A separate app developed with diving-equipment specialist Mares is due later this year, adding more advanced guidance such as descent speed, recommended time at a given depth and safe-ascent information intended to reduce the risk of decompression sickness.

Battery life and charging

The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 has an 800mAh battery, representing a substantial 35% capacity increase over the original Ultra’s 590mAh cell. In my testing, however, the larger battery did not produce an equally dramatic increase in real-world endurance.

Starting from 100%, the watch reached 11% after 57 hours and 10 minutes. This period included a 45-minute trail run, a 42-minute GPS-tracked walk, a manually tracked 20-minute circuit workout and almost two hours of automatically detected walking, housework and other activity.

Based on these results, I estimate a total battery life of approximately 64 hours, or just over two and a half days, with the always-on display enabled. That just about exceeds Samsung’s 60-hour claim for the original Galaxy Watch Ultra under the same display setting.

My testing also included more than three and a half hours of recorded activity, including two GPS workouts, making the result particularly encouraging. The improvement is nowhere near the 35% increase in battery capacity, but the Ultra 2 appears capable of lasting longer than its predecessor under demanding mixed use.

Charging

Charging performance is adequate rather than particularly fast. Starting at 12%, the watch reached 62% after 35 minutes and 100% after 70 minutes. It was initially estimated that the process would take 1 hour and 21 minutes, with an average charging input of around 5W.

More testing is required to see how the watch fares without the always-on screen, and without GPS workouts logged during the discharge period. Also, Samsung hasn’t provided me with specifications, so I don’t know how my results compare with the official numbers.

Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is a superb flagship smartwatch and a meaningful hardware upgrade over its predecessor.

Its dazzling 5,000-nit display, smoother performance, more comfortable strap and larger battery all improve the everyday experience, while sleep and body-composition tracking performed impressively against my Oura Ring 5 and Withings scales.

Samsung Health remains one of the most comprehensive and polished wearable platforms available. New additions such as Sound Exposure, trail running and automatic diving support broaden its appeal, although its training analysis and navigation tools still lack the depth offered by comparable Garmin and Coros watches.

The £649 price is also hard to ignore, especially since the original Galaxy Watch Ultra can now be found for considerably less. If you have one and it’s still functional, you might not need to rush the upgrade unless the brighter display, improved battery life, or diving features are especially appealing.

For anyone with an older Galaxy Watch who wants Samsung’s best wearable, however, the Ultra 2 is the obvious choice. It is not quite the ultimate outdoor watch Samsung wants it to be, but it may be the most complete Android smartwatch of its generation.

Privacy Display made its headlines at the launch of the Galaxy S26 Ultra and it looks like Samsung is boosting its features in a forthcoming software update.

The clever feature that's exclusive to Samsung's flagship Galaxy S phone works by limiting the light output to narrow pixels, limiting the viewing angle of the display. That means that only those right in front of the screen can see what's on it and those to one side can't.

It appears that Samsung is now going to expand the use of the feature to cover another use case, with Privacy Display working on picture-in-picture video too.

That means that if you're watching something that you want to keep private and you leave the source app, the floating miniature version of that video will remain obscured to those spying on your screen. The rest of the display becomes visible as normal.

Previously, if you left the app, the entire phone would stay in Privacy Display because part of that app was still open.

To get it to work you firstly need app support for picture-in-picture video. That list includes some big hitters like YouTube and Netflix, but it also extends to WhatsApp, Zoom and Google Meet, which is where you might have more sensitive video that you want to keep private.

When these apps are playing video, swiping back to the home screen minimises the video to a floating picture-in-picture window, which will then benefit from being private.

There are a couple of things you'd have to ensure to get this to work: first, you'll have to have selected the individual apps that you want Privacy Display to work on. Second, you'll have to ensure you're not using Privacy Display across the entire screen, in which case it would all be private all the time.

It's an interesting move and if you don't want that person next to you on the train watching your videos, this could potentially be useful.

The feature is reportedly included in beta One UI 9 software, according to 9to5Google, so once the launch of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is out of the way, we're sure this will be heading the S26 Ultra in an update.

Samsung will launch its new range of foldable phones today, with the wider Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 being the much talked about newcomer.

It'll be joined by the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and Z Flip 8 at the Galaxy Unpacked presentation being held in London, and you can watch it all unfold live right here on T3.

We also expect to see two new smartwatches announced on stage during the event, with the Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 also heavily leaked in recent times.

And who knows, maybe there'll be a surprise or two along the way? Let's hope so.

Here then is everything you need to know about the summer Samsung Galaxy Unpacked, including when it starts, running time and more.

When does the Galaxy Unpacked launch event start?

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked has a kick off time of 2pm BST – that's earlier than usual thanks to the event being held in London for the first time in years.

Here are the start times for your region:

• US West Coast: 06:00 PDT
• US East Coast: 09:00 EDT
• UK: 14:00 BST
• Central Europe: 15:00 CEST
• India: 18:30 IST
• China (Beijing): 21:00 CST
• Japan: 22:00 JST
• South Korea: 22:00 KST
• Australia (Sydney): 23:00 AEST

How to watch Samsung Galaxy Unpacked live

You can watch the entire event live via the video feed higher up this page.

It will also be available on Samsung's website and YouTube.

What to expect

We expect the main presentation to last around an hour, with the main focus being the launch of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8. This is the wider version of its book style foldable, which pre-empts the Apple iPhone Ultra by a few months.

The idea is that while more square-shaped when folded, the handset unfolds into a mini tablet form factor that's better to view videos on in comparison with conventional foldables.

The more traditionally-shaped Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra will also launch. It'll be a direct replacement for the Galaxy Z Fold 7. It will also have a beefier camera system than the new wider model, and maybe a few extra upgrades, too.

Finally, the Flip 8 will be very similar to the Flip 7, we believe. We're just waiting to see what upgrades it might enjoy.

There will be a couple of smartwatches launched too – the Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 and Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2. Both have leaked extensively in recent times.

As for surprises, we might hear a bit more on Samsung's Android XR ambitions. Watch this space.

Samsung will unveil its new foldable phones later today, during its London Galaxy Unpacked event, but just in case you haven't had enough spoilers already here's another.

One of the most talked about upgrades coming with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is its alleged "crease-less" display. And now we have some evidence. An image shared by an online leaker shows the new flagship device against the model it's replacing and the difference is obvious.

Posted by @kro-roe on X, the hands-on photo looks to have been taken in a factory environment or during an official event. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 on the left has a very visible crease down the middle of the open display, while the Fold 8 Ultra does not.

Admittedly, the Fold 7 in the shot might be a well-used device, as the crease can become more pronounced through wear and tear. However, it does seem that Samsung has made a major breakthrough in its screen technology – as it has suggested during the launch build up.

Of course, this might be a bogus image and we're not that familiar with the leaker, so do take it with a pinch of salt. But it does comply with previous rumours and information we've seen over the last few months.

What else is launching during Samsung Galaxy Unpacked?

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra will be the flagship model launched today, with an upgraded Z Flip 8 expected too.

For many though, the most exciting new foldable to be announced will be the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 (sans the "Ultra"). This is a brand-new device with a wider, more square external display which unfolds to reveal a screen with a traditional tablet aspect ratio.

It is effectively Samsung's push to get ahead of the iPhone Ultra, which should launch in September. That is expected to have a very similar form factor. Indeed, it might even have the exact same display, as Samsung is likely to be supplying it to Apple as well.

Hopefully, the wider Galaxy Z Fold 8 will also feature the crease-less technology we can see in the latest leak (the iPhone Ultra, too). It will have some cutbacks, we understand, in comparison with the Z Fold 8 Ultra – such as a lower-spec'ed camera – but will still be the main focus of Unpacked.

You can also expect new smartwatches today, in the form of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2.

Samsung will unveil several new products during its Galaxy Unpacked event tomorrow, with the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 among them.

It is expected that it'll be joined by the Galaxy Watch 9 and the new line of foldable phones in the presentation in London. However, here's a further look at the flagship smartwatch ahead of time.

Serial leaker Evan Blass has acquired what looks to be official marketing images and posted them on his X feed. They have seemingly come from a Spanish source, considering the text featured on one or two of the pics.

As per previous rumours, the Ultra 2 will reportedly come with a brighter display than its predecessor, rated at 5,000 nits. We can also see a battery size of 800mAh, which can provide up to 60 hours of runtime, according to the leaked images.

Additional images, which were posted on Blass' Substack feed (via 9to5Google), also reveal that the smartwatch will be powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon Wear Elite chipset and be "12% thinner" than the original Galaxy Watch Ultra.

The new model will also be rated IP69K for water and dust resistance.

A whole new colour trend emerges

It's also interesting that Samsung is moving away from the orange trend that it and Apple thrived on with previous watches. It seems to be going for a more natural colours this time.

The green shown in at least one of the images is a better fit, we feel. Although there's still a dash of orange on the dial, to show the range's heritage.

We don't have long to wait to see the final device and all the options, with the Galaxy Unpacked event starting at 2pm BST tomorrow, Wednesday 22 July. T3 will be covering all the announcements extensively, so join us then.

Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked event takes place later this week and we're expecting a packed agenda. This includes new wearables, the Galaxy Watch 9 and the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2. Now new images have just furnished us with more details prior to launch.

The Galaxy Watch 9 is going to be powered by Snapdragon Wear Elite as it shifts over from Samsung's own Exynos hardware for the first time. That Snapdragon chip was announced earlier in the year and it had previously been confirmed that Samsung was using it – but we now have visual evidence too.

Images of the unreleased device, adorned with "Powered by Snapdragon Wear" badges have been posted by Evan Blass, the retired leaker who has thwarted companies attempts to keep launch plans secret for many years.

Shared via Blasses' Leakmail Substack, we have images of the Galaxy Watch 9 in a full selection of colours, showing off a design that's pretty much the same as the previous iteration while focusing on some of the wellness features that it is expected to offer.

Included in that selection is a screen showing Vitals, which looks like it's going to focus on core health features like heart rate and heart rate variability to highlight what state your body is in.

Elsewhere, we see sleep apnoea detection, running coaching, sleep reporting with energy score, all familiar features from other Samsung devices coordinated through Samsung Health.

These high-quality images look like they're designed to illustrate Samsung's product pages.

The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is set for an update as well

In 2026, it looks like we'll be getting the Galaxy Watch 9 and the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, with no Classic this year as normally that device works on a two-year cycle.

We've already seen a lot of the Ultra 2, with claims of a big battery update and a couple of minor tweaks to the design of the watch, most noticeable through the buttons.

Thanks to the same source, we have confirmation of Snapdragon Wear Elite, a battery that offers 800mAh, and watch that's reduced in thickness by 12%.

Additionally, there's an IP69K rating for the titanium-finished watch, which retains its rugged credentials.

On top of that the Watch Ultra 2 has a display that's cited as offering 5,000 nits, which should ensure that it remains visible in the brightest of conditions.

We've previously heard that Samsung will be increasing prices for the new Galaxy Watch devices, which is something of a trend across all technology at the moment. That's the price that AI has put on the market, with increasing demand for components for AI data centre expansion.

Both devices will be fully revealed on 22 July, but thanks to these leaks, we're not sure there's much for Samsung to show us.

Samsung will host its annual foldable phone launch event this week, with Galaxy Unpacked on Wednesday, but there might be nothing left to announce by then. Nothing that will come as a surprise, anyway.

That's because just about everything is either already known or subject to more leaks than the hull of the Titanic. We fully expect a couple of new Galaxy Watches and a trio of new foldables, including the wider Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8.

Samsung itself has not been shy about its ambitions for the latter, revealing a new, more square-like form factor is coming in online teases. And now we have almost everything else, thanks to serial leaker Evan Blass and a regular Samsung collaborator, J-Hope from BTS.

J-Hope's posts on X (via @smasithick) show him using the new device openly during the band's global tour – currently in Paris.

His hands-on clips are likely staged for Samsung, as we never get to see the new phone open. However, you do get to see the device's shape and, as all the videos are recording using it, what the selfie camera is capable of.

Perhaps more revealing are a mighty bunch of marketing images posted by Blass. He has a renowned history of acquiring press images from a number of companies, including Samsung, ahead of launch. And while he's on a self-imposed "retirement" at present, he clearly couldn't resist sharing the latest.

Appearing on his Leakmail newsletter (via 9to5Google) there are official-looking images of all the foldable phones we expect, including the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and Flip 8, too.

The Ultra is the more conventional book-style foldable, but with a few tech tweaks to justify its new moniker.

The Flip 8 looks very similar to the existing Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7, so arguably the most interesting is the wider device, which unfolds into an iPad mini-like tablet.

The rest of the leaked images reveal some details, but not everything. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, for example, will sport dual 50-megapixel cameras on the rear (wide and ultra-wide). The selfie cam on the front will be 10-megapixel. As will the one on the internal screen.

The Z Fold 8 Ultra ups the ante in that regard. It'll have a similar 50-megapixel ultra-wide, but a 200-megapixel wide and a third lens for the 10-megapixel telephoto cam.

The selfie cams will be the same.

Finally, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 will sport a 50-megapixel wide and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera, with a 10-megapixel selfie cam on the "main screen.

All will become more clear this Wednesday, when Galaxy Unpacked starts at 2pm BST in London, but don't be surprised if there are more rumours and leaks in the meantime.

Official-looking images of all the devices expected at Galaxy Unpacked next week have leaked, giving us a good look at the new phones and watches.

The devices are grouped together, posed with hands holding them, providing a really good comparison of the sizes of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and the new more compact folding device that's going to adopt the Galaxy Z Fold 8 name.

In addition to the phones, we also get to see the new Galaxy Watch models on the wrist, also gripping the new phones, although they don't look quite right.

These images come from Android Headlines and they look really detailed, but there's a distinctly unrealistic look to them. The hands look quite cartoony, the textures are really smooth, and the fabrics don't look realistic.

They look a little too clean, so I'd approach them with caution. Although, having seen numerous other leaks for these devices, they look exactly as we'd expect and this is a good opportunity to compare the sizes of those models.

That's not all that this leak contains. There are also images of two colourways that are going to be Samsung.com exclusives, including the Pistachio Galaxy Z Fold 8 and the Mint Z Flip 8.

Samsung always keeps a couple of colours in reserve for those who buy directly from its online store. These colours don't get offered to networks or other retailers.

While buying directly from Samsung might deter some customers, there's often a good deal offered on trade-in, while sometimes there are bundle deals or other offers. It's been said that the pre-order double storage offer is changing for this series, with Samsung instead asking customers to pay 50% of the upgrade cost.

So here we have images for the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8, Z Fold 8, Z Fold 8 Ultra, the Galaxy Watch 9 and the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2. All these devices are expected to be revealed on 22 July at the Galaxy Unpacked event in London.

The event was also rumoured to see a new Galaxy Ring, although that hasn't leaked so might not appear – while rumours pointing to the unveiling of the Galaxy Glasses might also be wide of the mark.

There's only a week until we'll have all the official details from the event.

Samsung's new folding phones will be announced on 22 July, with pre-orders expected to open soon after. However, you might not get the pre-order perk that you were hoping for.

One of the biggest perks that Samsung has offered in the past is its double storage deal. This sees shoppers getting the 512GB model for the price of 256GB, for example. Sadly, that's set to change with the next generation of Galaxy Z devices.

According to Korean outlet Chosun (via 9to5Google), instead of offering a free storage upgrade, Samsung is only going to offer half the usual discount. That means instead of getting the larger storage at no additional cost, customers will be asked to pay 50% of the difference.

This is in response to the component crisis facing the industry at the moment, it's said, as well as declining profits in Samsung's mobile section. That's not only led to increased prices for Samsung's new phones – thought to be about €100 more per model – but the pre-order benefit will be reduced too.

According to the leaked prices we've seen, that might mean that the 512GB Galaxy Z Flip 8 pre-order offer comes in at €1,359 instead of €1,499. While that's only €60 more than the base price, in previous years customers would only pay the €1,299 price for higher storage under the pre-order deal.

The Galaxy Z Flip 8 and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra are expected to be like-for-like replacements of the previous generation, and considering that Samsung offers a seven-year software support promise, that could convince some buyers to opt for older models instead of new.

The model that's going to stand out most this time is the Galaxy Z Fold 8 – the new wider folding phone. As this will introduce a new format, and is expected to be priced lower than the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, it could be the model that defines 2026's sales.

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 is expected to open with a 4:3 internal display while reducing the cameras by dropping the telephoto lens. It might otherwise offer flagship-level power and seeing as it's going to be cheaper than the Ultra, could be the performance phone of choice.

At the moment it's not known if Samsung will have other pre-order incentives: previously there has been the bundling of accessories in some regions, like Galaxy Buds or Galaxy Watch.

According to the source, Samsung will open pre-orders for the new devices on 28 July, with an in-store date of 7 August.

All will be revealed on 22 July at Galaxy Unpacked.

Samsung will be announcing its new portfolio of folding phones on 22 July and there's going to be a change to the display, to reduce the crease and increase durability. Samsung has outlined a new structure for its foldable displays, called Flex Titanium.

While regular displays pose no problem, folding phones have always drawn attention to the fold because of the visible crease. To boost the performance of the folding section of the screen and reduce it, Samsung has turned to titanium.

In the new structure, there's a titanium-alloy film directly behind the OLED panel, replacing a polymer film. Samsung saye that it offers greater mechanical stiffness – up to 20x. This film is said to be a third of the thickness of a human hair.

Beneath the titanium-alloy film is a titanium plate which is flexible, but Samsung says it allows tighter bonding with the rest of the display, eliminating air gaps, and providing more support for the display when unfolded.

Combined, Samsung claims that it "reduces crease visibility", while the OLED panel itself is said to be more efficient with increased performance. Together, the company believes this will set a new standard for folding displays as it looks to fend off rival suppliers BOE.

One thing worth noting, however, is that while these changes take place under the display, the top of the display will still have a protective layer.

I recently wrote about folding phones and their top layer, which is a plastic film. While this can be removed to reveal the ultra-thin glass that sits beneath it, for most phones this will void the warranty and damage the display.

In the past, that top polymer layer has meant that folding displays typically attract lots of reflections, an area where folding screens can't compete with regular displays.

Samsung to launch a trio of folding phones

Samsung is expected to launch three folding phones. The Galaxy Z Flip 8 is expected to be nigh on identical to the Galaxy Z Flip 7, while the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is expected to be the same as 2025's Galaxy Z Fold 7.

The device that's going to attract the most attention is the Galaxy Z Fold 8, which is expected to adopt a wider format, opening with a 4:3 display while making some hardware reductions to be more affordable than the "Ultra".

The wider format of folding phone will likely compete with Apple's much-rumoured iPhone Ultra, that's all but certain to arrive in September.

Rumours have also suggested that the Galaxy Z Flip 8 could be the last of that format, although I much prefer the clamshell-style of folding phone for its compact design over the larger book-style devices.

Samsung has just announced the launch of its new Bespoke AI Washer Dryer, and it might actually make me look forward to doing my laundry! This 2-in-1 appliance conserves space in your home, as well as energy, as the machine comes with plenty of energy-saving features and credentials.

I have a smart meter in my home, and I always notice the days where I’ve done my laundry as my energy usage goes up significantly. Laundry machines, especially tumble dryers, use a lot of electricity which results in higher monthly bills, so a machine that can help manage these costs is a must for many households.

Samsung has clearly seen this, and is addressing this problem with its new Samsung Bespoke AI Washer Dryer. The brand has adapted the washer dryer with AI Ecobubble technology, a circulation pump that reduces your energy use by quickly turning your washing detergent into bubbles.

This action allows your detergent to wash fabrics more deeply and efficiently, so you can remove stubborn stains much quicker. It also means you can wash your clothes at lower temperatures between 20° and 30°, which has been shown to use less energy while avoiding laundry ‘casualties’ like shrinking and fading.

I’ve always been a sceptic when it comes to AI appliances, but the use of AI within the Samsung Bespoke AI Washer Dryer has actually impressed me, especially in terms of fabric care. The machine has two AI-powered cycles – Air Wash and AI Wash – that treat your clothes in a more automatic way.

Starting with AI Wash, it automatically senses the weight, soil level and softness of your washing load before adjusting the amount of water and detergent needed. It continues to make adjustments throughout the cycle, including soaking, rinsing and spinning times to better suit your laundry.

Air Wash is the cycle for your bedding and delicates. It refreshes these more sensitive fabrics without using water or detergent, and instead, blows hot air onto laundry – it’s like having a dry cleaner in your home!

I got to see Samsung’s range of Bespoke AI appliances in Milan earlier this year, including its line-up of washing machines and tumble dryers. I was incredibly impressed by its detergent dispenser and automatic cycles, as it really takes the stress out of washing, while also helping you save energy.

With the costs of appliances getting more expensive, it’s always handy to find a way to cut ongoing prices, and the Samsung Bespoke AI Washer Dryer seems like a good option for this. Its initial price, though, remains a mystery at the time of writing.

Samsung has launched the Samsung Bespoke AI Washer Dryer in 8kg - 11kg options in select markets. It’s expected to roll out globally in phases.

Shock news comes from a reliable source, with the suggestion that the Galaxy Z Flip 8 could be the last in the series. That's right, Samsung could move away from small format folding phones.

That might come as a shock to many, with the Flip offering a nostalgic hook to clamshell phones of the past and popular with buyers because it's a compact device.

The source of the information – Universe Ice – doesn't offer a reason why, but this rumour has to be taken seriously because of the source.

Traditionally, the Z Flip model outsold the Z Fold, although it's said that that situation reversed in 2025 with the launch of the slimmer and lighter Z Fold 7. However, this doesn't take into account that these phones appeal to completely different users.

There isn't a pot of people determined to buy a folding phone, no matter the format: the Flip is attractive because it has retro charm and is really compact, the Fold's appeal is in offering more screen space. Those are totally different traits.

However, despite the Z Flip model outselling the Z Fold, figures that came from IDC early in 2026 told us that in the US, Motorola had over 50% folding phone market share – and at that time, Motorola only offered flip-type folding phones. This, if nothing else, demonstrates appetite for the format.

But Motorola has had tiered folding devices for a couple of years, with a Razr Ultra model at the top (the latest being the Razr 70 Ultra) and a regular Razr 70 lower down. There's even a Plus model in the middle.

This gives buyer more choice, with lower entry prices to such devices. Samsung didn't make this move until 2025, introducing the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE.

Samsung exiting the market would be a gift for Motorola. While both brands (and all brands) are struggling with rising prices because of the demands that AI is putting on the industry, it's currently a market split between two players.

Samsung might, perhaps, be looking at pressing pause on smaller folding phones until it can reduce the costs to make it more profitable, or it might have simply decided that enough is enough.

This is definitely a rumour to keep an eye on: the end of the Galaxy Z Flip would be a sad day indeed.

Samsung will announce three folding phones on 22 July and it's the Galaxy Z Fold 8 that's going to get most of the attention. In a twist to the naming convention, the new phone will just be called Galaxy Z Fold 8, while the update to the Z Fold 7 will have the Ultra name appended.

The two larger format devices will be launched alongside the Galaxy Z Flip 8 with both the Z Flip 8 and Z Fold 8 Ultra looking exactly like the devices they update from 2025. That puts one phone in the focus as it appears to offer something new.

Thanks to leaked renders of all these devices, we can now see what they look like, along with the expected colours that will be revealed at Galaxy Unpacked.

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 sports a wider format, so it's a shorter device, while the cameras on the back have been reduced to two. It's going to miss out on the telephoto camera, but priced cheaper than the Z Fold 8 Ultra. That might be a compromise many will accept.

From the leaked images on Android Headlines (Z Fold 8, Z Fold 8 Ultra, Z Flip 8) we can see Lavender, Graphite and Cream colours, while Pistachio is expected to join the pack. The renders match previous case leaks and dummy leaks.

It's expected that both the Z Fold 8 and the Z Fold 8 Ultra will be powered by Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, after Samsung confirmed that it would be using Snapdragon on Weibo. That could mean that apart from different aspect displays, the camera – and potentially different battery capacities – the two phones will offer very much the same experience.

It's hard to see why you'd pick the Z Fold 8 Ultra.

As for the Ultra, we're expecting to see Cream, Graphite and Purple, with a green colour that's exclusive to Samsung.com.

Looking over these images, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra appears to be exactly the same as the Z Fold 7 from a design perspective and with prices expected to increase over the previous models, some might be deterred, choosing the Z Fold 8 or the older Z Fold 7 instead.

Finally we have the Galaxy Z Flip 8. This, again, looks visually unchanged compared to the Z Flip 7. The expected colours are Cream, Graphite and Pink – while it's also said there could be a Mint version, although that's likely to be a Samsung exclusive.

Samsung exclusives are worthy of your attention if you're buying a phone outright. The manufacturer usually offers competitive trade-in values and is expected to have a double storage offer for preorders, perhaps with other incentives.

Everything will be revealed on 22 July at Galaxy Unpacked, but it's expected that all the attention will be on the new format of Galaxy Z Fold 8.

We've speculated on the date for a fair while but Samsung has finally confirmed its next Galaxy Unpacked, and it promises to be a bumper event.

Taking place in London on Wednesday 22 July 2026, the showcase will be the launch platform for the brand's new foldable phones, smartwatches, and likely earbuds. We might always see the actual Samsung Galaxy Glasses made in collaboration with Google and Qualcomm, and perhaps a surprise or two.

The star of the show though will be the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8. While it's not been fully confirmed as launching, all the marketing teases and even the new invite suggest it's the main attraction.

That's because the Z Fold 8 will be a wider foldable device than we've seen before – unfolding into more of a tablet shape than the square-like aspect ratio of previous Fold models.

The invite to the event even sports the words "a new shape unfolds" down the side (in small letters). While the tearing of the ticket in the graphic – and accompanying video – signifies the longer form factor being reduced to a wider design.

This is all carefully planned, as Samsung is set to gazump Apple, which will launch its own wider foldable in September – the iPhone Ultra.

Confusingly, it is believed that Samsung has opted not to use "Ultra" for its own wide-aspect foldable phone. It will instead use it on the replacement for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7.

So basically, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 will not be like the Fold 7, but the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra will. Yeah, we know.

Of course, they're not the only devices we expect to see on 22 July. There will undoubtedly be a Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8, likely a Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, plus new Galaxy Buds.

The smart glasses were already revealed during Google I/O earlier this year, but we should find out more about them. And maybe we'll see a tease of further Android XR devices – smart glasses with a display, perhaps?

It's certainly not a show to miss, and T3 will be there covering live as usual. You'll be able to follow our reports and watch it live yourself on YouTube and the Samsung Newsroom, starting at 2pm BST (9am EDT).

Samsung launched the Galaxy Fold in 2019 and in the intervening years we've seen progressive improvements to the Fold and Flip formats. The company has invested a lot into the segment as the defining brand for foldables – but 2026 will make or break the folding phone category.

Samsung's Fold, and the Z Fold models that followed, have been an iterative refinement of the same concept. Each has progressively improved the design, while the external display has expanded to offer an experience closer to a traditional phone.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, thanks to its slim design, attracted more interest than previous models, with Samsung confirming record-setting pre-orders and sharing that the Z Fold 7 had exceeded previous generation purchases by 50% in the first few months of sale.

Traditionally, the Z Flip has outsold the fold, with estimates suggesting a 60-70% share taken by the Flip in previous years. But the Z Fold 7 reportedly shifted that balance, making the book-type device more popular.

But while Samsung is the brand in folding phones, surprise information from IDC outlined that Motorola had over half of market share in the US in 2025 – and that's without offering a book-type folding phone.

The Fold is still seeking purpose

This points to something we all already knew: people like flip phones. The Galaxy Z Flip 7 and rival Motorola Razr Edge 70 Ultra have something that the Fold doesn't. It makes for a smaller phone, surfing on a wave of nostalgia for the phones we grew up with, while still delivering an experience that's the same as a regular handset.

The Fold can't claim that: instead of charm it’s looking to technical proficiency, instead of nostalgia it looks to increased functionality. While there's no denying that the Z Fold 7 scores with the former, it's wide of the mark with the latter.

The problem here is multi-faceted: opening the fold you're presented with a bigger screen, close to square, with very little application for square content.

That's seen a scrabble to make better use of screen size, which for some apps doesn't happen (it's just the normal app), some turn into columns, eating space without really aiding functionality, while others (like movies) waste all that space because the screen is letterboxed.

Wider folding phones could hold the answer

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 is thought to move to a wider aspect and that might make for a more usable screen space. That could give you a larger screen with less letterboxing when watching movies, or let you rotate it more like a tablet display for reading, because let's face it, a wide display is not conducive to reading.

The wider aspect will better suit games whether in landscape or portrait, while the whole device could fit into a pocket better.

Don't get me wrong, folding phones aren't bereft of functions: I read and signed a PDF on my Moto Razr Fold just the other day, I used that larger display to show friends the content of another document so all could see and I've found folding phones useful for working on spreadsheets, something that regular devices are terrible at.

But when people who've never used one suggest it might be great for movies, I just want to cry, because it isn't. The Samsung Galaxy S26 UItra will show a larger movie screen than the Z Fold 7. For the Z Fold 8, that may not be the case.

It's going to be an Apple versus Samsung showdown

Ultimately, Samsung will introduce this new format of folding phone, appending the Ultra name to the refreshed taller folding phone. (Samsung was actually using Ultra in 2025, it peppered the announcement of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 with the word ultra.) The new aspect folding phone is expected to take the fight to Apple's similar short and wide device.

But while we know Samsung as a company that throws things out there, often first with a new technology, Apple is more considered. Use case and user experience will be forefront in Apple's software and if it nails it, if Apple gives the iPhone Ultra real purpose, it could change the category forever.

Apple will be able to lean on the iPad experience for the iPhone Ultra and while Samsung is the biggest player in Android tablets, the app experience has never been as good as iPad. There's no shortage of technical brilliance out there, but if Apple can deliver purpose, then folding phones have their place.

The gauntlet will be thrown down and on 22 July we'll see what Samsung has to offer. Apple is expected to follow with its own folding phone in September 2026.

Samsung's smart glasses are on track to launch before the end of 2026, as the collaboration between Samsung, Google and Qualcomm comes to fruition. These will be the first from the partners to compete with Meta's Ray-Ban glasses.

Now we've got a much better idea of how Samsung's smart glasses are going to work, thanks to a leaked video showing them in action. There doesn't appear to be any branding on these glasses, giving this video a sort of generic feel (we've previously seen leaked renders with "Samsung" along the arms), but the details seem accurate.

The new video joins a collection of leaks that point to how Samsung Galaxy Glasses are going to pair and be controlled, although the actual naming of the glasses isn't fully confirmed yet.

The video points out the hardware features and some of the controls, the camera and LED on the front, so people know you're filming. There's also an additional LED inside so you can see that you're filming, too.

We're then shown a button on the top of the right-hand arm, along with the touch area, which appears to support both taps and swipes. The operation of this is expected to be much like it is on headphones.

This corroborates with details that previously appeared from SammyGuru, which appears to have come from the same source.

SammyGuru refers to these as the "Warby Parker version", although comparing these to high quality images on the Warby Parker website, they're a similar but different design – the position of the bridge is entirely different.

Therein lies one of the problems: there's still plenty of confusion about what Samsung is actually launching and where all these smart glasses lie.

A large part of the communication has been about the partnership with Gentle Monster and Warby Parker – shown off at Google I/O as the first devices to use Android XR alongside Xreal Aura.

But some of the leaks we've seen for Samsung Galaxy Glasses have pointed to a slightly different design, along with the talk of One UI XR – the experience that Samsung layers over the top of Android XR.

There's long been talk of Galaxy Glasses as a separate piece of branding from other Google smart glasses, although we also know that the collaboration with Gentle Monster and Warby Parker will result in multiple designs.

Hopefully there will be some clarity soon, with 22 July expected to see Galaxy Unpacked hosted in London, with the potential that Galaxy Glasses will be on stage.

It’s been a couple of years since Samsung launched the Galaxy Ring, and now the company has confirmed it is working on a follow-up.

The current version was made available back in July 2024, competing with the likes of Oura and Ultrahuman by offering a lightweight, concave design made from titanium and no monthly subscription. It’s Android-only, meaning it isn’t compatible with iPhone. And while it will work with Google phones or other Android phones, it plays nicest with Samsung smartphones and smartwatches – understandably so.

The Galaxy Ring 2 might work with iPhone

However, in an interview with Forbes, Samsung’s senior vice president and head of the digital health team, Dr Hon Pak, confirmed the second generation of the smart ring was in development. He told David Phelan: "We are working on the next generation. I can tell you that."

Unfortunately, Pak didn’t reveal timings or any specifications for what we are presuming will be called the Samsung Galaxy Ring 2, though he did hint that iPhone compatibility might be on the cards this time around.

When Phelan asked about iOS compatibility, Pak’s response was: "I’m smiling, but I can’t say anything.

"I think you’ll be very pleased with some of the releases and the upcoming news,” he added.

Hon also told Phelan that he believed the biggest current differentiator in smart rings wasn’t necessarily the hardware, suggesting that most of the sensors are the same.

"If you look at the comparison of other rings, regardless of the competitor, the sensors are not that different right now," he said.

"It’s really about what services you create on the top layer. It’s really the software differentiation that you see."

He added: "One device doesn’t cover all things. Our approach is connected ecosystem, connected devices, that give people choices."

While we will have to wait a little longer to find out when the Samsung Galaxy Ring 2 will officially appear, it’s good news to hear the company is at least working on one.

The Galaxy Ring was great when it launched two years ago, but Oura’s recently announced Ring 5 is significantly smaller and lighter, giving it the title of world’s smallest smart ring – so things are moving in this field.

Samsung is set to hold it’s next Galaxy Unpacked event on 22 July, so we’ll be keeping our fingers crossed for more information on the Galaxy Ring 2 at that. Maybe it'll just be teased for now.

Samsung has now officially started teasing its next folding phone, showing off a shorter stature device. It's expected to launch as the new Galaxy Z Fold 8, a shorter but wider folding phone. And while Samsung hasn't officially confirmed the date of the launch event, a fresh leak gives us a hint.

We first heard details for Galaxy Unpacked in April, with the suggestion that the event would take place in London on 22 July. That's the timeframe that we've been working towards, and that's now corroborated with a leak directly from Samsung.

In this case, Samsung Malaysia (via SamMobile) shared details about a pre-order voucher via the Samsung Members app, which said that the voucher was valid from 22 July through to 4 October.

Through the offer, those pre-registering to buy the Galaxy Z Flip 8, Galaxy Z Fold 8 or Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra could get RM700 off (about £130 / $170 / €150). There also appears to be an offer for wearables too, with the Galaxy Watch 9 and Watch Ultra 2 expected on launch day.

That ties in nicely with what we've been hearing about the launch of Samsung's new devices. While the price may be increased because of rising component costs, it's expected that Samsung will have a range of pre-order offers.

That's expected to include the double storage offer, which represents a real saving and benefit, while trade in values could also be increased.

What is expected at Samsung Galaxy Unpacked?

Samsung is expected to have a busy event come launch day. First of all, we're expecting a complete refresh of its folding phones, including:

• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8
• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra
• Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8

Then we're expecting updates to Galaxy Watch, expected to include:

• Samsung Galaxy Watch 9
• Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2

There might be more on offer too, with the expectation that Samsung will be showing off its Android XR glasses. The models built with Gentle Monster and Warby Parker were briefly demoed at Google I/O, with a launch expected later in the summer.

We're also likely to see the introduction of One UI 9 on Android 17.

While the event is expected to take place on 22 July (a Wednesday), with pre-orders opening immediately, the in-store date is likely to be 31 July at the earliest (Friday the following week). Either way, there's not long to go and the official build-up has started.

While Samsung readies itself to announce its new folding phones on 22 July there's been no shortage of leaks. Now we have images claiming to be the official cases that Samsung will offer, modelled by the new phones.

The phone that everyone is excited about is the Galaxy Z Fold 8. That's thought to be the name for the wider model, with the taller model adopting the Ultra name. Finally, we also have cases for the Galaxy Z Flip 8, which appears to be much the same as the previous version.

These cases where shared by Android Headlines, a site with a reputation to leaking information of this type. These are high quality images, so look believable.

The collections appear to be based around aramid fibre cases, including a kickstand, as well as clear cases. There are also silicon cases including magnetic charging rings.

Starting with the aramid fibre cases, these appear to come in a number of colours, likely to support the colours of the phones, so there should be different options to match the two different Fold models. Above is a selection on cases on the Galaxy Z Fold 8.

Samsung's next-gen folding phones are also going to feature clear case options with artist designs from Esher Kim, Joker and Kakao Corp – which adds a nice touch, as seen below.

Next we have some silicon cases, which aren't as exciting as the previous ones, but give a good look at the three folding phone models that Samsung is going to launch. While the Z Flip 8 and the Z Fold 8 Ultra look the same as they did before, the addition of the Z Fold 8 (the wide one) looks great.

This is just a selection of the cases that Samsung is expected to offer – and there are many more pictures over at the source so you can get an idea of what you might dress your next folding phone in.

Currently, it's believed that Galaxy Unpacked will be taking place in London on 22 July, with the new wider folding model lining up to be the star of the show.

For the better part of the last decade, foldable phones have been the ultimate marker of a phone brand's ingenuity and innovation. That's only set to get more prominent, as it seems Apple will enter the space with its iPhone Ultra later this year.

But Samsung is already looking beyond the world of folding handsets. According to a new report, the brand is working on a device with a rollable display, which could launch in the first half of 2028.

It's not the first time we've seen rollable displays. Lenovo has been a major player in this arena, with many concepts being showcased at trade shows around the world over the last few years.

This feels a little different, though. The report suggests that the device from Samsung will be a full production model, rather than just a concept.

There's also no denying that Samsung is more of a household name brand, and we've already seen what kind of impact that can have. You only need to look at the Samsung Galaxy Ring and the subsequent uptick in smart ring interest to see that.

According to SamMobile, the device is expected to feature a 10-inch OLED panel, with a pixel density of 440ppi. That should make it a bit of a productivity demon, which can blur the lines between a traditional phone and tablet, similarly to how foldable phones have.

Personally, I'm really interested in this. I've always advocated for more innovation in the modern phone space, where things can often feel very one-dimensional.

While I can't possibly say whether or not this would be any good, I already know that it would be markedly different to anything else on the market right now – and that can only ever be a good thing. It's still a little way off, but we'll be keeping a very close eye on how this one develops.

The Samsung Galaxy XR might have taken its sweet, merry time to come to the UK, but a release date is now imminent and I got the chance to spend two hours with one prior to it arriving.

Pre-orders are now open for the £1,699 headset with shipping to start on 8 July, and although it was launched in the US and South Korea last October, this was my first chance to try it personally.

In many ways, prospective UK owners might have had longer to wait, but they are getting a better product. Some of the initial software quirks and bugs have been ironed out, and new features have arrived in post-launch patches. So what are my first impressions?

Well, even from the first minute I was struck by just how sharp the dual Micro-OLED displays are. You cannot see the pixels (3552 × 3840 per eye). The resolution is higher even than the Apple Vision Pro, which I was already impressed by, and it's the first time in any VR or mixed reality headset that I've even stopped looking for flaws.

The field of view is also exceptional – at 109° x 100° – and so you stop thinking that you're looking through a couple of lenses at a virtual scene, but just allow yourself to get swept away in it.

That's enhanced by its relative light weight – 545g – which is impressive considering the build quality and materials used. And also by the lack of latency in its external view mode.

As soon as you put the headset on, you can see the outside world in glorious colour and high resolution 3D, shot through two outward facing, passthrough cameras. It helps ground you, as you see everything in real time around you.

The super low latency continues with gesture sensing, as the additional six cameras on the faceplate and just underneath also track your hands and fingers. It seems extremely responsive and accurate, with fairly light movements tracked accurately.

I'll be going into more detail when I've had even more playtime with the headset for a full review, but interacting with the virtual overlays and utilities was as akin to Minority Report as I've ever got before. Within seconds (thanks to a startup tutorial) I was throwing around windows in the demo room, and bringing up and resizing software like a pro.

Among all the built-in tools I tried, Google Maps was one of the most impressive – allowing me to literally zoom into London's Camden, the place of my childhood, and visit the streets where my parents still live.

I also tested the spatial imaging options in Google Photos, which turn your pictures and videos into 3D to look around in a different perspective. However, arguably the most impressive tryout was with 4K World Cup highlights in YouTube.

Grabbing the corner and expanding the screen to IMAX-like sizing, I was left in no doubt that this was the best way to watch live football. Admittedly, there were fewer friends and pints involved, but I've never seen the action so close and so pin sharp before.

I can only imagine how good it'd be to take a Samsung Galaxy XR on a long-haul flight to catch up on some of the latest blockbusters in a full cinema-style experience.

Of course, there's much more to the headset and I'm looking forward to giving the Android XR software a more robust test in the coming week or so. And I'd like to see just how much playtime I can get from the separate battery pack (up to 2.5-hours, claims Samsung).

Until then, I'll watch the England and other World Cup matches on my 65-inch OLED – albeit with a background feeling that it's no longer the best way possible.

Samsung Galaxy XR UK pre-order deals

The Samsung Galaxy XR is available to pre-order on Samsung's UK webstore for £1,699.

There are also a few deals available for those looking to get in early. For starters, if you order via PayPal, you'll get £100 off. You just need to enter the code PAYPALXR at checkout.

That offer is available until 7 July 2026, the day before the full release.

Other offers do last a bit longer.

Deals until 4 August 2026:

• Get 10% off Galaxy XR when you buy any Samsung Galaxy smartphone.

Deals until 30 September 2026:

• Save 30% on a travel case and controllers, and 10% off any Galaxy Buds or Galaxy Watch when ordered with the Galaxy XR.

Deals until 16 December 2026:

• Redeem an explorer pack for free, containing a bundle of apps and subscriptions (Google AI Pro, YouTube Premium Pass, Google Play Pass, and more).

The UK is the next country to get the Samsung Galaxy XR, after the US and South Korea. It is T3's understanding that it will also become available in other regions over the coming months.

First impressions of Samsung's forthcoming folding phones raise a question over the "Ultra" naming for one of the devices, while the new format device garners more excitement.

Samsung will launch two book-style folding phones soon. The first will be an update to the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and one will be a new wider model. However, the Ultra label that's been added to the replacement for the Galaxy Z Fold 7 – retaining the old style – isn't justified based on the first impressions from one leaker.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra appears to have got its name because it’s a superior device based on the spec sheet. But a familiar leaker – Lanzuk on Naver – says that the crease and the "display pixels" are better on the wider device.

If the display is better on the wide device, then it's going to be harder for the Ultra phone to earn its name.

Elsewhere, Lanzuk says that first impressions of the wide folding phone is how light it is, calling it "unbelievable", before going on to say "the overall perceived weight is really light".

This has been a focus for Samsung, with the Galaxy Z Fold 6 weighing 239g and the Galaxy Z Fold 7 weighing 215g. It's suggested that the wider Galaxy Z Fold 8 will weigh 200g, which is about the weight of a regular candybar phone.

More impressively, the leaker says it "feels like a new beginning".

While talking about the Ultra name, we get the impression that the wide model presents the display better than the updated legacy phone.

What else do we learn about the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra?

While the post gives us snippets of information, it's easy to get the sense that the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is going to be exciting, while the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra isn't.

As a new format device, the wider phone has an advantage, especially if it tackles the two areas of weight (or bulk) as well as the quality of the display and the crease. Those things might overrule the rest of the package and help it appeal to buyers.

From leaks, we've seen that the Galaxy Z Fold 8 will have two cameras, while the Ultra will have a third camera, likely the telephoto. That's probably the distinction that Samsung is drawing between these two phones, which are otherwise expected to have the same core power and offer the same overall experience.

What will really matter is pricing: the Ultra name might attract a higher price handing another advantage to the new device.

While specs and prices are important, Lanzuk nails a key point: first impressions will matter. Some will be drawn to Samsung's folding phones for the first time in 2026 – perhaps spurred on by Apple's forthcoming iPhone Ultra launch – and the lighter weight of the wider device could be what sells it.

Samsung is preparing to launch the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 and a full set of images of this device have leaked from a reliable source.

From the leaks, we can see minor changes that Samsung has made to the design, while much of the watch looks similar to the original 2024 Galaxy Watch Ultra.

The leak comes from Evan Blass who recently announced that he was retiring from leaking forthcoming devices – only for the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 images to appear in my inbox from one of Blass' old mailing lists.

Not a huge amount has changed, with the overall design of the Watch Ultra 2 the same as it was before. There are now numbers on the bezel rather than just sticks. That bezel looks like it might be slimmer and flatter than it was previously.

The button layout appears to be the same, with the orange highlighting now reserved for the central button. We've previously heard that these buttons have been improved on this new model and they do appear to be slightly differently mounted on the Watch Ultra 2.

The body of the watch appears to be a graphite colour, with black and green straps shown (with corresponding faces), with a different design of strap. Previously the Watch Ultra 2 launched with a corrugated style dive strap, but now it appears to be flatter in its design too.

It looks as thought the strap attachment will be the same, suggesting that straps will work with either device.

We already know that Samsung will be using the Snapdragon Wear Elite in its new devices, thank to confirmation by the company at Mobile World Congress.

It's expected that there will also be a bump in the battery capacity, which should see this watch lasting over three days.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is expected to launch alongside the Galaxy Watch 9 at an Unpacked event scheduled for 22 July.

That same event is expected to bring us a trio of folding phones, the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and Galaxy Z Flip 8.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is expected to come with changes to the design, including thinner bezels and better side buttons.

The new watch from Samsung is expected to be launched on 22 July at Galaxy Unpacked, with the event rumoured to be held in London. The new rugged smartwatch is said to be launching alongside the new Galaxy Watch 9.

Both devices are said to have new strap designs as well as new colours and watch faces, with the power thought to come from the new Snapdragon Wear Elite hardware.

The new Watch Ultra 2 is said to be "slightly boxier" while it will also add numbering to the dial, according to Galaxy Techie on X.

The online source continues, saying that there will be a beige colour, as well as black and silver, although it's not clear which watch this refers to.

Galaxy Techie goes on to share some screens that look like they come from One UI 9, showing the compass, watch faces and apps displays.

We previously heard that the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 could have a big battery update with a 784mAh cell, designed to last over three days.

The Galaxy Watch Ultra was launched in July 2024. While Samsung tends to update the Galaxy Watch annually, other devices slip into a two year cycle. That's previously seen the Classic in 2021, 2023 and 2025 – so the lack of a Classic model in 2026 shouldn’t come as a surprise.

The new Galaxy Watches are expected to launch alongside a bumper selection of Galaxy devices, including the Galaxy Z Fold 8, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and the Galaxy Z Flip 8.

There are also rumours that Samsung might be showing off a little more about its anticipated Galaxy Glasses, with Google also teasing that we'll be hearing more about Galaxy XR devices in 2026.

That could set up Galaxy Unpacked as a huge event, packed with devices as Samsung looks to step into new territory. For those looking for a refreshed version of the Galaxy Watch Ultra, it looks like you're going to be in luck.

Others might also find some great deals on the existing model, especially as Prime Day starts on Amazon this week.

Samsung's forthcoming folding phones – the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8 – will come with a higher price than previous years, according to a fresh leak. However, Samsung plans to offset that with more incentives to encourage people to buy.

The details about the increase in price come from Lanzuk on the Naver blog, saying (translated) that "the price increase for the Galaxy Z Fold 8 series models is confirmed", citing sources in European and Asian sales channels.

That news is going to come as a blow for those looking to upgrade or move to a folding phone, but shouldn't come as a surprise. The surging demand for hardware to fuel the AI boom has pushed up component prices.

Current estimates suggest that the Galaxy Z Flip 8 could be around $1,200 (the Z Flip 7 is $1,099) while the Z Fold 8 Ultra could be $2,100 (compared to $1,999). Direct exchange to UK prices don't work, because it's already more expensive in the UK, but it could be a 1:1 exchange, ie., £1,200 and £2,100.

To offset this price increase, Samsung will reportedly look at more pre-order perks and bundles, higher trade-in values and repeat the storage upgrades that it's offered before, according to Phone Arena.

The details of those offers aren't specified, but they do have real value: the pre-order offer for double storage on the Galaxy Z Fold 7 meant that a 512GB phone could be had for the price of a 256GB phone – in the UK that's worth about £200.

Trade-in is also a serious consideration, as your existing phone could be worth hundreds, especially if it's a recent model. When it comes to preorders, those things are definitely worth factoring in.

What is Samsung going to launch?

Samsung is expected to host Galaxy Unpacked on 22 July where the Galaxy Z Fold 8 (the new, wider model), Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, Galaxy Z Flip 8, Galaxy Watch 9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 will likely be launched.

The introduction of a wider folding phone with the standard Galaxy Z Fold 8 name suggests that it's going to be cheaper than the replacement for the Z Fold 7, which will get the Ultra name.

There's the suggestion that the Ultra will have a higher capacity battery than the Z Fold 7, with faster charging, and support for the S Pen will return. Otherwise, we're not expecting huge design changes.

The launch of these new Samsung devices is rapidly approaching, and we'll soon have all the answers.

Samsung could return to its split hardware strategy for the Galaxy Z Flip 8, expected to be announced on 22 July. That could see some versions of the phone equipped with Snapdragon, while others will get the latest Exynos chip.

This shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone who has been following Samsung's phones over the years, but in 2025, Samsung made a departure from the norm and equipped all versions of the Galaxy Z Flip 7 with the Exynos 2500.

That was out of character, especially for buyers in the US, where the phone is typically sitting on a Snapdragon platform. For those in the Europe and India, Exynos is much more typical.

Now it seems that this flip phone will be returning to a split hardware offering. That's said to see some devices using Snapdragon, while others take the Exynos 2600. The Exynos 2600 sits on a 2nm process, while Qualcomm is yet to move its Snapdragon from 3nm.

The report (via SamMobile) points to a leak from a Japanese carrier suggesting that it will get Snapdragon, while other regions – including Korea and Europe – will get Exynos.

While it's fairly predicable that Samsung will use the Exynos 2600 for the device, it's currently not clear what it will use from the Snapdragon range. Currently it's suggested that it will use the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, but there's more hardware for Samsung to choose from.

Samsung typically uses a "for Galaxy" version of Snapdragon hardware, clocked slightly higher to boost performance of phones like the Galaxy S26 Ultra. While performance in this flagship phone is paramount, for folding devices the same level of power might not be needed.

That, potentially, opens the door to the 7-core version of the hardware, or indeed the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5, both of which drop the performance for intensive tasks slightly, while offering better endurance. That might suit a folding phone better.

Meanwhile, Samsung's biggest rival, the Motorola Razr 70 Ultra, comes packed with the older Snapdragon 8 Elite from 2024, so there's some precedence here to avoid top-tier hardware.

The price of phones is also increasing, with component prices like RAM and storage soaring fuelled by demand from AI companies, and that could see Samsung making decisions to keep the price under control.

With the phones expected to launch at a Galaxy Unpacked event on 22 July, there's not long to go before the Galaxy Z Flip 8 will be revealed in all its glory.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 could offer a much longer battery life than its predecessor. According to the latest details, the watch could have a bigger battery as well as running more efficient core hardware.

That might see the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 able to last for over three days, while the previous could only last two to three. Specifically, it's said that the capacity of the battery will be 784mAh and advertised as 800mAh.

That's a 30% increase over the Galaxy Watch Ultra, if the information from SamMobile is accurate.

It's said that the new Galaxy Watch Ultra will use the Snapdragon Wear Elite chip, which itself claims to be 30% more power efficient than previous chips. That could see Samsung's new Galaxy Watch getting double battery benefits.

Alongside the launch of the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 we're expecting to see the Galaxy Watch 9 and Galaxy Watch 9 Classic, which are also expected to see an increase in the battery capacity.

For the Ultra 2, the bigger battery and more efficient chip might not translate directly into a linear increase in battery life because of the features that Samsung packs into the watch.

With more power on offer, Samsung might feel it can use more power hungry features with less concern for battery life, delivering a better experience. That might come in the form of better on-device AI (powered by that new chip) as well as onboard 5G.

Other than that, we don't know a huge amount about the new devices and what to expect. So far we've not seen any design leaks, but we're not expecting a huge change to the design. That might suit those wanting a Watch Ultra, where the rugged design makes for most of the appeal.

It's likely that Samsung will focus on delivering better health and fitness features, with added refinement in the Samsung Health app, with particular AI functions reserved for Galaxy phone users.

It's thought that Samsung's new smartwatches will launch alongside the new Galaxy Z Fold 8, Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and Galaxy Z Flip 8 at an event on 22 July.

The Samsung Galaxy S27 has just appeared in an official capacity for the first time. No, nothing has come from Samsung itself yet, but the model number for the new phone has appeared in the GSMA database.

GSMA is the organisation that manages the global mobile ecosystem. Getting listed on its database brings the Galaxy S27 into the real world and out of the realm of sheer speculation.

That means the phone is real, with the SM-S952U model number listed (via Smartprix). The U indicates that this is a model for the US, but for now, that's all we have. For reference, the Galaxy S26 is SM-S942U.

Of course, we knew that Samsung would be launching the Galaxy S27 without this confirmation: it's one of the world's biggest phone manufacturers and it's not just going to abandon that. And naturally, because we're talking about the internal model number, there's every chance it won't be called the Galaxy S27, but that would be a huge break with tradition.

We're expecting to see the Galaxy S27, Galaxy S27 Plus and Galaxy S27 Ultra as the next run of Samsung's flagship phones, although launch shouldn't be expected until January or February 2027.

What else do we know about the Samsung Galaxy S27?

While this is the first time the model number has appeared somewhere official, it's not the first we've heard about Samsung's plans, although most have focused on the Galaxy S27 Ultra.

There's been a rumour that it might use a LOFIC sensor for the main camera to boost the performance. That's on top of the 3x telephoto camera potentially being dropped from the selection.

But elsewhere we've heard that Samsung could have another model, the Galaxy S27 Pro. This is pitched as sitting above the Plus and below the Ultra, with a large display and premium camera, but without S Pen support – something that could be really popular.

In recent years, Samsung's phones have only seen minor changes from year to year, the biggest introduction in 2026 being Privacy Display on the Galaxy S26 Ultra. And although the Galaxy S25 Edge was a major addition the year before, it didn't continue after that first model.

That might temper expectations for the next generation: will we see a dramatic change from Samsung? It's unlikely.

Samsung's Galaxy S FE range is something of an oddity, offering a mid-year alternative to Samsung's flagship phones. And for 2026, it looks like we'll be getting the Samsung Galaxy S26 FE.

The FE phone – standing for Fan Edition – isn't expected until after the launch of the new Galaxy Z devices, so it's likely that it will appear in August or September. It'll offer a discount on the flagship phones, while still delivering much of the experience of those devices.

Our first look at this phone reveals a design that's pretty much as we expect. It looks just like the Galaxy S26, with the raised camera presentation on the back. The images come from a listing at the Wireless Power Consortium (via 9to5Google), so we know it will have wireless charging at least.

We don't know much else about the Galaxy S26 FE, aside from a previous rumour that suggested that Samsung might be switching from using Samsung Display sourced panels, to CSOT, a change you probably won't even notice.

As Samsung generally continues much of a device's specifications from one year to the next, I'd expect that to be a 6.7-inch screen with 120Hz, with an Exynos 2500 sitting at its core. That's the hardware that powers the Galaxy Z Flip 7.

Elsewhere, the Galaxy S26 FE is expected to have a triple camera as shown in the image, comprised of a 50-megapixel main, 12-megapixel ultrawide and 8-megapixel telephoto with 3x optical zoom.

Samsung is in a bit of a bind with this phone: having kept the same camera hardware on the Galaxy S26 models, it can't really make changes to the Galaxy S26 FE without cannibalising those devices. The weakest camera is that 8-megapixel telephoto, but moving to a 10-megapixel sensor would present the same camera as the more expensive Galaxy S26.

The battery is expected to stick to 4,900mAh with 45W charging, while it would be reasonable to expect it to run Android 17 with One UI 9 out of the box – with seven years of updates.

The Galaxy S25 FE launched at £649.00 / $649.99 and we'd expect the Galaxy S26 FE to arrive with the same price. The Galaxy S26 is priced at £879.00 / $899.99.

The changes, then, apart from the design, are likely to come in the software features that it offers and increased power from the new hardware.

Samsung hasn't made huge hardware changes to recent devices, so it would be entirely typical for the Galaxy S26 FE to be much the same as before, just to offer a slightly cheaper sub-flagship option.

Computex was a pretty big deal this year, full of new chips from the likes of Qualcomm and Intel, but while those will likely change the market in bigger ways, the show also offered up some more particular innovations that I got to see. One of these very precise steps forward was taken by Samsung's displays division, which had a secret to share.

While it wasn't visible on the public-facing booth, Samsung had a genuinely tiny sideroom that I was ushered into at one point this week so that I could see a non-final version of the world's first 4K QD-OLED display with a 360Hz refresh rate. While we've obviously seen plenty of monitors go much higher than those numbers, on OLED displays there's been a fairly hard ceiling at 240Hz for technical reasons.

Samsung isn't the only display centre working hard on the problem, but it might just be the first one to get a monitor on the market to solve that problem and burst through that performance ceiling. The QD-OLED Penta Tandem, as it's labelled for now, uses a blend of Samsung's techniques to make things work. It was suitably vague about exactly how it did so, but the crucial thing is that it's been done.

The panel is 31.5 inches diagonally, so it's close to what many of us might call a small TV, but it has a bunch of obvious gaming features to offer. One is that the 360Hz cap only applies when you're in 4K – drop down to 1080p, and it rises up to 680Hz, making this theoretically adaptable to competitive needs.

It also boasts a DisplayHDR True Black rating of 600, which is hugely impressive and means that its blacks should have that super inky richness that you'd want for immersion. Plus, it brings Samsung's new V-Stripe OLED panel system, which again should boost the vividness of its colours a little.

Some of those specs are more than a little technical, of course, and I'm not sure I'm the one to break them down in crazy detail. What I can do, though, is give you a sense of what the monitor actually looked like in motion. The short version is that it's clearly a monster, but I'd have to test it in a more practical setting to get a better sense of its performance.

The brightness isn't to be questioned – showfloor lighting is always a stress-test for devices, and even in Samsung's side room, things were challenging. The monitor looked super bright and vivid, and that makes me think it should be nice and adaptable to different conditions.

The level of detail was exactly what you expect from a 4K demo, albeit with just a looping F1 25 trailer to go from – again, hardly the most comprehensive sizzle reel for a monitor of this sort, not least because it wasn't a 360Hz trailer.

That also cuts to the real dark heart of this hands-on time, which is that I can't really speak to the monitor's smoothness, because the demo wasn't geared that way. Samsung effectively wanted to put its money where its mouth is, and prove that it wasn't making up the monitor it had announced but not shown.

Well, now I can indeed confirm that it exists, but I'm relatively confident that there will be more occasions on which Samsung shows it off in more detail over the coming months. After all, we don't know the monitor's target price or release date, and the former of those is liable to be fairly frightening.

Early adopters in the world of gaming sometimes end up getting incredible deals that stand the test of time (like if you bought a Steam Deck OLED on release day, for instance). On other occasions, they can end up paying more than anyone else for devices that will only ever be better in subsequent revisions. I'm confident the QD-OLED Penta Tandem will be super polished, reducing any risk, but it's likely to be super expensive when it does arrive.

Samsung will launch the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra at a forthcoming Galaxy Unpacked event, with the name confirmed after a listing appeared on a certification site.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra has been listed on Bluetooth SIG, where all Bluetooth devices are registered, with the listing revealing a range of model numbers. It was uncovered by Sumahodigest in Japan.

The various model numbers listed align with different carriers in Japan, confirming that's it will be available from all the major national networks.

While that's great news for readers in Japan, what's more interesting is confirmation of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra name.

We've previously heard this name, but it's thought that Samsung is going to shuffle the naming of its devices, with the Ultra name getting appended to devices with the exsiting format - i.e., the replacement for the Galaxy Z Fold 7.

That leaves the old name - Galaxy Z Fold 8 - to the new shorter format "wide" model which is where most of the excitement is focused right now.

So, while confirmation of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra name leads us towards Samsung's plans for its next-gen folding phones, while also confirming that launch is imminent, it's the Galaxy Z Fold 8 that we're more interested in, even if that sounds counterintuitive.

The reason for the switch in naming is because the Ultra will be the higher spec device, offering three cameras on the back rather than two. There may be more to set these devices apart, but so far we don't have a full breakdown of other differences.

Samsung is thought to be launching the Galaxy Z Fold series at Galaxy Unpacked on 22 July, with the shorter format of phone pitched to fend off the anticipated iPhone Ultra.

The thing that's likely to differentiate Apple's folding phone from Samsung's is the price: the iPhone Ultra is thought to cost around $2,500.

With Samsung's folding phone previously costing around $2,000, it might be that Samsung's wide model is cheaper than the "Ultra" – making it look like good value compared to Apple.

Samsung has revealed a major update to Samsung Health that transforms its smartwatches from passive fitness trackers into what the company calls a more "proactive health companion."

The update introduces a suite of AI-powered health tools that analyse everything from sleep quality and cardiovascular fitness to overall activity levels.

Samsung says the goal is to make health management simpler by translating complex biometric information into easy-to-understand guidance.

Among the headline additions is a new Vitals feature that monitors several overnight health indicators, including heart rate, heart rate variability, respiratory rate, skin temperature and blood oxygen levels.

The system can then highlight unusual changes and trends that may warrant attention.

If the name sounds familiar, that's because the Apple Watch has a similar feature with the same name, introduced in watchOS 11.

This follows Samsung's strange trend of naming its products after their Apple equivalents (see also: Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra).

Samsung is also introducing a Heart Health Score, which combines cardiovascular metrics into a single assessment, alongside Daily Cardio Load.

The feature, reminiscent of Training Load found on Garmin watches, is designed to help users understand how much strain exercise and daily activities place on their cardiovascular system.

Finally, the new Fitness Index brings together sleep, activity and fitness data to provide a broader view of overall wellbeing.

More than just a glorified health dashboard

The update appears to be part of Samsung's wider push towards preventative health monitoring and AI-driven coaching.

The company wants Samsung Health to identify patterns and offer actionable suggestions that can help improve habits over time.

Samsung has also redesigned the Samsung Health app, introducing dedicated sections for Sleep, Activity, Nutrition, Mindfulness and Vitals.

The company says these categories will work together to deliver more personalised recommendations and daily wellness guidance.

The rollout begins on 8 June, giving you an early look at the health platform ahead of Samsung's next Galaxy Watch launch.

While Samsung hasn't officially named the upcoming wearables in this announcement, the timing suggests these features will play a central role in the next generation of Galaxy Watch devices expected later this year.

Last year's announcement followed a very similar pattern, when the brand televised the new features a few weeks prior to the launch of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic.

Read more about the update at Samsung.

We've reached that point in the rumour cycle where things step into the real world, with the new format Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 spotted out in a restaurant. The excursion helps build confidence that we're going to see this model introduced by Samsung soon.

Following the likes of dummy units appearing online (such as the new shots shared by UniverseIce on X), it's not uncommon for new smartphone models to be spotted in the wild. Now Samsung is doing a turn here. In this case, the source of the images says they were taken at 20x zoom and apologises for the quality.

The Samsung phone appears to be in a protective (or camouflage) case so it looks quite bulky on the table, but we also get a good look at how it might sit in the hand.

From the photos, we can see two cameras on the rear, but that's about all. There are other phones on the table and it's not uncommon for those working on developing devices to use them out in public.

Indeed, this sort of leak is so common, that if you were cynically minded, you might say that it's deliberate to keep the hype rolling, safe in the knowledge that the photos taken don't really reveal anything at all – it certainly wouldn't be the first time that's happened.

For those who haven't kept up with the leaks, it's thought that Samsung is shifting device names around, so the new wider model of phone will be called the Galaxy Z Fold 8, while the conventional aspect model will be called the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra – likely to compete with the iPhone Ultra that's expected later in the year.

Samsung is thought to be announcing its new devices on 22 July at Galaxy Unpacked, with the new compact model shifting the aspect of the folding display, resulting in a shorter but wider device.

Until now, Samsung has focused on a slightly taller type of folding phone that evolved from its original device in 2019. Over the years, this type of device has moved to offer larger displays and got significantly thinner with the launch of the Galaxy Z Fold 7.

It's thought that the change in naming will reflect that Samsung's taller format device will remain the flagship with a triple camera, although Samsung fans will be quick to point out that it doesn't compare to the Galaxy S Ultra that also carries the name.

An image has appeared online showing the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra. It comes from a reliable source, but it's said that these phones are dummy versions of the devices expected at Samsung's next launch event.

Samsung is thought to be announcing a new format of folding phone on 22 July at its Galaxy Unpacked event, which is shorter and wider, taking on the name Galaxy Z Fold 8. The Ultra name will be applied to the larger device, the one with the traditional format.

The change in names is thought to reflect the different positioning of these devices and as this image shows, the Ultra model has an additional camera and is expected to be slightly higher spec.

The image has been shared by UniverseIce and it's not the first time that we've seen these devices side-by-side – although previously it was in graphic from within unreleased Samsung software.

As these are dummy devices, the source is unknown: they could very well have been manufactured to match that previous image and based on leaked measurements, so don't take this as official in any way.

Samsung is thought to be releasing the wider format of folding phone to fend off Apple's arrival in the folding phone space with the iPhone Ultra, which is thought to offer a similar design, more like a folding iPad mini.

While we don't have many details about the design of the new Galaxy Z Fold 8 devices, it's expected that they will continue the thin and light theme from the Galaxy Z Fold 7. This dummy phone certainly looks like the previous device.

It's also thought that the telephoto camera will be dropped on the wide model, part of the motivation behind the switching of the names.

At the same time, the Galaxy Z Fold has never quite had parity with the hardware offered on the Samsung Galaxy S Ultra model, so some might question why the renaming is taking place.

Samsung it thought to be hosting Galaxy Unpacked on 22 July, with a rumour suggesting that the launch will take place in London.

It's expected that there will be a new Galaxy Z Flip model and a Galaxy Watch, as well as more information on Android XR devices developed with Samsung.

The crease in the display has long been a point of contention in folding phones, but it could be much improved on the Galaxy Z Fold 8 series according to an established leaker.

In a recent post on X, UniverseIce claims that the "crease control on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 series is just as impressive as that of the Oppo Find N6".

When we previewed the Oppo Find N6, we said that it has "an unfolded display that feels flat across its entire surface", thanks to an innovative 3D liquid printing solution. That's a great starting point for Samsung's next folding phone.

The solution, it seems, is about supporting the area behind the display. While hinge designs are often talked about, we currently don't know what changes Samsung is going to make for its next folding phones.

As the source refers to the "series", it's expected that the crease control will be impressive in both the Galaxy Z Fold 8 (that's the wide model) as well as the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra (that's the normal/old format). If you didn't get the memo, it's believed that Samsung is shuffling the names around.

So, how will this change the experience? Users of folding phones usually report that they don't notice the crease in the display. Yes, you can feel it when you run your finger over it, but typically, when there's content on the display, you can't really see it.

When the screen is off, the darkness then shows the crease much more prominently, but regardless, it's been a focal point for discussions around folding phones and it's certainly an area that has been progressively improved.

It might be that with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 series, Samsung hits peak crease flatness and we can move on to something else, like usability.

Samsung is expected to launch two Z Fold models in 2026, with a wider version thought to be designed to counter the arrival of Apple with its first folding phone, thought to be called the iPhone Ultra.

Currently, it's believed that Samsung will position the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra as the top model, while the wide model is more affordable, with slightly pared back specs.

Samsung has announced that it has developed the first monitor combining 4K resolution with a 360Hz native refresh rate. The new 31.5-inch OLED monitor will be shown off at Computex 2026.

Samsung is claiming a world's first with its new QD-OLED screen, as previous monitors featuring a 360Hz refresh rate have required a drop in the resolution to 1440p or 1080p, losing some of that essential detail.

Samsung says that optimisation of the panel circuitry and driving system means that this OLED screen can deliver both for the first time, meaning it will be able to produce incredibly smooth and detailed fast-moving graphics better than ever before.

The options for refresh rates don't stop there, because users can drop the resolution to 1080p to benefit from 680Hz, which Samsung says is ideal for competitive first-person shooter gaming.

Beyond the appeal for smooth and detailed graphics, the Samsung monitor doubles-down on picture quality, with support for Vesa's DisplayHDR True Black 600 standard, and higher brightness than existing OLED monitors. That should boost colour performance, give rich contrast and mean that blacks are really well handled.

The panel itself uses a V-stripe pixel structure where red, green and blue sub-pixels are aligned in vertical stripes, allowing sharper edges to text, which boosts readability and clarity.

Samsung has a strong reputation in this category, producing some of the best monitors, especially in its Odyssey family, designed specifically for gamers. Currently, Samsung's Odyssey G7 monitor offers 4K resolution, but to get 360Hz you have to drop it to 1920 x 1080 pixels.

Samsung's new monitor doesn't appear to have a name – it's just the world's first 4K 360Hz QD-OLED monitor – as it's exhibited by Samsung Display rather than the consumer division. That's likely to change though, once Samsung Electronics offers it for sale, probably in the Odyssey range.

It's also unlikely that Samsung will keep this panel as an exclusive, so it's likely to appear from other brands that have Samsung as a display supplier, such as Asus, Dell or Gigabyte.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 – the wide model that's expected to launch alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra – feels more real than ever after appearing in a quick video.

The video is described as using a "low-quality dummy" of the wide folding phone from Samsung, but it has been shared by a reputable source, UniverseIce.

It gives us a much better idea of how the phone will sit in the hand and what it's actually going to be like to grasp, which previous renders have not.

Samsung is thought to be launching a wider format folding phone in response to Apple's entrance to the folding phone market with the iPhone Ultra. Up 'til now, we've mostly been calling this phone the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide, but recent information suggests it's just going to be called the Galaxy Z Fold 8.

The existence of the phone feels pretty certain at this point, with Samsung including it in the One UI 9 beta.

The design of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 appears to use the same language as the Galaxy Z Fold 7, with squared sides that should almost seamlessly meet when the phone is closed.

There are two cameras on the rear, so it's a step down from the three cameras of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, with the expectation that the telephoto camera is the one that's dropped. It looks a little like the Galaxy S25 Edge as a result.

We don't get to see the folding display on the interior, but then this is a dummy model and it's probably just a blank panel.

What's most striking about it is the width: the current candybar design of phone has evolved over the years so that even with larger screens, it's manageable. That was thanks mainly to adopting a 20:9 format, so that it fits comfortably in the hand, even with a larger screen.

The width of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is 77.6mm, while this folding phone could be 82.2mm wide, not to mention that it could be 9.8mm thick. While these are only small increases over a traditional phone, it could be a little harder to use and feel bulky.

Samsung is thought to be hosting Galaxy Unpacked on 22 July which is where we should see both formats of folding phones released.

Ever wished travel could be just that little bit easier? Well, if you're a Samsung Galaxy user, your wish may have just been granted.

As reported by T3's sister publication, Android Central, Samsung phones can now act as a TSA-approved digital passport. The brand has partnered with CLEAR to offer verified Digital IDs in the Samsung Wallet.

The service will be available at over 250 TSA checkpoints and selected sporting venues in the USA, though it's currently only available in that country. To make use of the feature, you'll need a US passport and a Galaxy handset capable of running Android 9.0 or higher.

From there, simply head to the Quick Access section within the Samsung Wallet and click the plus button to add a new option. Under the Digital IDs section, you should now see an option called Samsung ID with CLEAR.

In theory, that then makes travel at any of the approved locations as easy as tapping your phone or scanning a QR code. And there's no need to worry about the safety or security of the system, with the brand's Knox hardware security ensuring everything is kept safe.

Personally, I think this is a really neat addition to the Samsung suite of features. While it's definitely not a catch all solution – you'll only be able to use it for domestic travel, for example – it's a good sign of what's possible with modern technology.

I certainly hope that such a feature could become more commonplace around the world. It would allow us to streamline the process and, potentially, do away with outdated physical documents.

There's still a way to go before we get to that point, though. For now, at least, a large swathe of Android users in the USA can reap the benefits – with the rest of us watching on jealously!

The naming of Samsung's forthcoming folding phones have been leaked from a reliable source, with the claim that we'll be getting the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra. That leads to some irregular naming for Samsung's wide folding phone.

Samsung has long been rumoured to be working on a wider format of folding phone, thought to counter the arrival of Apple into the segment. Apple's folding phone could be called the iPhone Ultra – and Samsung might have an "ultra" foldable of its own.

However, rather than calling the new wider model Ultra, Samsung is said to be renaming its existing format device to be the Ultra model.

The details come from UniverseIce on Weibo and we'd normally dismiss them as nonsense. But given this source's long history of accurate leaks, we have to seriously consider that this is Samsung's next move.

What's more confusing though is that while the Galaxy Z Fold 7's successor could be called the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, the new wider model will reportedly just be called the Galaxy Z Fold 8.

You'll have to be paying attention to what you're ordering, as the shift in naming will mean that many assumptions will go out of the window – while many existing stories about the forthcoming phones will potentially point to the other device.

Why would Samsung change its folding phone names?

Currently, it's thought that the wider folding model will be lower spec than the traditional format of device, which comes with a triple camera and should have a higher capacity battery. It would seem strange to give the Ultra name to the new device, given what Samsung already offers.

However, giving the existing name to a new device will just lead to confusion, especially for those who don't keep up with the latest tech news.

The Ultra name might also be controversial, because of the existing Galaxy S Ultra series. The flagship candybar phone is a higher performer than the Galaxy Z, with a better overall hardware loadout, so the two aren't comparable.

It might just be that Samsung wants an Ultra folding phone to compete directly with Apple's naming, so picking the top folding phone makes sense.

Again, there will be some confusion, because Apple's Ultra and Samsung's Ultra will be totally different formats, with Apple's device more like a folding iPad mini.

It's unlikely that we'll hear anything about Apple's folding phone plans until launch (unless they tease it at WWDC in June), while Samsung is expected to launch its new phones on 22 July.

Samsung watch owners are due for a free treat thanks to the newly announced Wear OS 7 update that's on its way.

Google unveiled Wear OS 7 at its I/O 2026 event this week, meaning Samsung smartwatch owners can expect it on their devices in the future too.

One of the standout features expected to arrive with the new Wear update is improved battery performance. Google says this update can give up to 10% better battery life, which could be all the difference for all day and even multi day use.

Google was cautious to say that "select smartwatches" will also get Gemini Intelligence as a helpful AI upgrade. What was less clear was if this will be supported on current smartwatches, or if this is something that will be reserved only for newer models. There is both the hardware strain and the marketing planning to be thought about here.

It would seem likely that Samsung will use this AI upgrade as a way to sell its newer smartwatches, due out later in the year. But, hardware permitting, perhaps it will roll out to older models following that initial launch - potentially.

Wear Widgets is another new addition coming with Wear OS 7. As the name suggests, this offers a "flexible and dynamic" way to get more "expressiveness and consistency".

As you might imagine, these will be similar to the widgets found on Android phones, only more condensed to offer pertinent information on a smartwatch sized display.

Live Updates is also incoming as a way to offer real-time information – ideal for things like delivery tracking coming in from a connected device.

Customisation is also being improved, with the ability to personalise auto-launch on a per-app basis right from the watch.

This is all Google but, of course, Samsung will skin Wear OS 7 with its own One UI. This could mean we see even more features added to Samsung smartwatches when this arrives.

When will Wear OS 7 be available?

Google hasn't officially given a launch date for Wear OS 7. However, based on previous announcements and launches, we should be able to expect this to start rolling out at the back end of this year.

Samsung continues to look at versatile phone formats, including expandable phones that use a flexible rolling display. Thanks to a patent filing dated 5 May 2026, it's possible to get an insight into some of the development work that Samsung is carrying out.

Much of this patent (via WearView) is about AR applications and calculating the changes to the device beyond the physical. While the system describes how the change in camera position is calculated, it's the technical drawings that are more interesting.

They show a phone with typical Samsung design – it looks like a recent Galaxy S model from the rear – but there are two pieces to the bodywork, with the inner section able to expand the width of the phone and it's that section that has the camera attached to it.

The design has the advantage of keeping the whole phone encased in the body – it opens like a drawer – meaning that the rear of the flexible display isn't exposed. It's similar in design to an unreleased LG rolling phone from a few years back.

The original filing date for this patent is 2023, when there was a little more activity around this type of device. And while we're yet to see any real commercial success for this type of flexible display device, it does have some advantages.

It allows the phone to behave like a regular device, because when "closed" it's just a normal candybar phone. But when expanded, there's a lot more screen space to use.

However, it's also easy to see why Samsung might not be rushing to launch this type of device.

Book-style folding phones already struggle to really make use of that large display effectively and this minor screen expansion might not offer a great advantage considering the complexity and cost of the design.

As is always the case with these sort of patents, it's not clear if this will ever make it to a device that gets launched, so while it's clear that development work still continues on rollable phones, it's not an indication of launch.

Instead, it gives Samsung the opportunity to develop and protect various technologies through the patent process. The renders – drawn up by xleaks – make for a great looking device, however.

As heavily rumoured in the build up, Samsung and Google have partnered for a new smart glasses venture, with Ray-Ban and Meta firmly in their sights.

The new range will be called Intelligent Eyewear and has been created in collaboration with spectacles brands Gentle Monster and Warby Parker.

As with the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, Intelligent Eyewear pairs with a mobile phone and gives wearers access to AI features through voice commands. There is no display (not initially anyway), while the glasses can come in sunglass or clear lens styles.

Each pair will keep the wearer informed with notifications from their phone, guidance through Gemini – such as directions or local attractions – and real-time translations. One neat feature is that the translation will match the speaker's voice, using AI speech.

The glasses feature speakers in the arms, plus a camera unit on the front of the frame – this will see what the user sees, to better enable advice. It can also be used to take photos and, we assume, video.

The Samsung Intelligent Eyewear collection will run on the Android XR platform and will hit stores "this fall". Additional details, including price and exact availability will be announced "in the coming months".

"This intelligent eyewear marks an important step in Samsung’s vision for AI,” said Samsung's head of consumer experience, Jay Kim.

“With this new AI form factor, we are further expanding the Galaxy device ecosystem, where each device is optimised to deliver unique AI experiences that best fit each form.”

The glasses are naturally a direct competitor to the Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2 that are available now. Other brands are also starting to release their own rivals, including L'Atitude 52°N with its Berlin pair having gone on pre-order today.

It's likely to become a busy market soon, especially with additional fashion labels lurking in the background and waiting to unveil their own smart creations.