News

Samsung’s Fold 8 Ultra Costs $2,100 and Flexes Its Crease Away

The new Flex Titanium hinge and silicon-carbon batteries arrive alongside a $100 price hike for both foldables.

Samsung launched its Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8 lineups with a $100 price increase across the board, a new Flex Titanium hinge and promise of a less visible crease, and silicon-carbon batteries that the company says will improve longevity and safety. The Fold 8 Ultra starts at $2,100, making it one of the most expensive mainstream smartphones on the market, while the Flip 8 begins at $1,200.

The hardware upgrades are real: on-hand demos showed a crease that was significantly less perceptible than previous generations. The Verge reports the Flip 8’s cover-screen app support feels closer to a full secondary display than a notification pane.

Samsung is also expanding its ecosystem play with smart glasses developed alongside Google, Warby Parker, and Gentle Monster, signaling that foldables are just one node in a broader ambient-computing strategy.

Flex Titanium and the Quest for a Perfect Crease

Samsung’s Flex Titanium hinge uses a redesigned geometry and a hardened alloy that reduces the gap between display segments when folded. The result, in brief hands-on testing, is a crease that is visible only under direct backlighting and at extreme angles. Wired notes that is a meaningful improvement over the Fold 7.

The engineering change is not purely cosmetic. A flatter crease reduces stress on the display layers, which should translate into fewer burn-in claims and longer panel life. Samsung cited internal durability testing that showed improved cycle counts, though it did not publish specific numbers.

Samsung also teased smart glasses developed with Google, Warby Parker, and Gentle Monster, saying they will include a notably compact design. The glasses product is not shipping alongside the phones and remains in a preview phase.

Silicon-Carbon Batteries and Android 17

Both the Fold 8 and Flip 8 use silicon-carbon battery chemistry, which replaces some graphite anode material with silicon to increase energy density. TechSpot reports that Samsung says the change improves charge retention over time and reduces the risk of swelling.

The phones ship with Android 17 and the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 ‘for Galaxy’ chip, which delivers faster CPU and GPU performance than the previous generation. Benchmarks from early units show meaningful gains in sustained workloads, though battery life improvements are modest.

Pricing remains the sticking point. A $1,900 base Fold and $1,200 base Flip are significant commitments in a market where traditional slab smartphones are improving and foldable durability narratives are still catching up with reality.

FAQ

What is Flex Titanium?

It is Samsung’s redesigned foldable hinge using a hardened titanium alloy that reduces the visible crease and improves display durability.

Are silicon-carbon batteries safer?

Samsung says they offer better longevity and swelling resistance, which is especially important in tight foldable chassis.

Is the $100 price increase justified?

The new hinge, battery chemistry, and chipset upgrades are tangible, but whether they justify a higher price depends on how much buyers value incremental foldable improvements.