In classic Samsung fashion, we’ve been drip-fed “Ultra” teasers for weeks now, despite the only thing actually called "Ultra" being a new blue Galaxy Watch. After a month of hints, blurry promo shots, and speculative tweets, the curtain’s finally lifted. The Galaxy Z Fold 7, Z Flip 7, Z Flip 7 FE, and the Watch 8 series are officially out in the world.
All the new gear is running One UI 8, Samsung’s latest Android 16 skin, now sprinkled with more Gemini AI magic than ever before. Features include a souped-up Circle to Search, camera-based Gemini Live, and a side of Google AI Pro for the first six months. If you're wondering where One UI 7 is, it's still trickling down to last year's models.
Galaxy Z Fold 7: Foldable Gets a Makeover (and a Price Hike 🥲)
Samsung reckons the Z Fold 7 is the best foldable it has ever made. It’s thinner than a protein bar, lighter than your Sunday Herald, and somehow fits the same powerhouse camera as the S25 Ultra – a 200MP main shooter with bonus ultra-wide, telephoto and selfie cams.
You still get the same battery as last year, but now it runs the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, and Gemini AI can live on the cover screen for quick access. Apps are finally catching up with foldable optimisation, so your email won’t look like a glitchy spreadsheet anymore.
But here’s the catch – it starts at a wallet-scorching NZD $3,299 (based on global pricing). Comes in black, silver, blue, and a leafy green. Preorders are open now, shipping by month’s end.
Galaxy Z Flip 7 & 7 FE: Flip Fancy or Flip Frugal
The Z Flip 7 gets a slick redesign. It’s slimmer when open, with a 4.1-inch cover screen that’s actually usable now (120Hz, bright as heck), and a 6.9-inch main display with a 4,300mAh battery. You get the same camera combo as the Flip 6, but with smarter photo features, 10-bit HDR, and better portrait modes.
Then there’s the Z Flip 7 FE – the "Fan Edition" in name, but really it's Samsung saying "how low can we price this without it looking too obvious?" It borrows bits from the Flip 6, swaps in the Exynos 2400 chip for better thermal control, and cuts the storage down to 128GB.
Preorders are up, and they ship July 25.
Galaxy Watch 8 & Watch 8 Classic: Spinning Bezel is Back, Baby
The Galaxy Watch 8 series finally looks like it means business. The new models borrow styling cues from the Watch Ultra, with circular faces, flatter bodies, and an improved rotating bezel on the Classic. They’re thinner and lighter, with bigger batteries and double the storage which needed to handle those chunky AI models.
The sensors now hug your wrist more snugly, helping track everything from workouts to wild dreams. New health features include an Antioxidant Index, Vascular Load, and AI-powered sleep coaching. The Running Coach adds Apple-style motivation with Samsung flair.
Gemini runs through Wear OS 5, but you’ll still need a phone or LTE version to stay connected.
Should You Upgrade?
If you’re already in the Samsung ecosystem and have a flip phone obsession or a love for spinning bezels, these might be worth a look. But if your current device still works and you’re not blown away by AI that might help you circle things on the internet, maybe hold off until prices drop.
