Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 pre-order alert – you may not get the free perk you were hoping for

Samsung is reportedly folding one of its greatest perks and it might cost you more

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 review
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
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Samsung might reduce its traditional pre-order offer for its forthcoming foldable phones, changing the popular double storage deal.

Instead, customers might be asked to pay 50% of the price difference for a higher storage model.

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.

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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.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 review

(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)

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.

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Chris Hall
Freelance contributor

Chris has been writing about consumer tech for over 15 years. Formerly the Editor-in-Chief of Pocket-lint, he's covered just about every product launched, witnessed the birth of Android, the evolution of 5G, and the drive towards electric cars. You name it and Chris has written about it, driven it or reviewed it. Now working as a freelance technology expert, Chris' experience sees him covering all aspects of smartphones, smart homes and anything else connected. Chris has been published in titles as diverse as Computer Active and Autocar, and regularly appears on BBC News, BBC Radio, Sky, Monocle and Times Radio. He was once even on The Apprentice... but we don't talk about that.

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