More of a good thing
The Galaxy Z Flip 8 is set to be the next flip phone launch from Samsung, which we expect will be powered by the latest AI chip and sporting welcome upgrades over its predecessors.
Pros
- Newer, more capable Exynos chipset
- 4.1-inch cover screen
- Larger battery with Qi2 support
- The latest Galaxy AI features and Gemini automation
- Thinner design
Cons
- Missing out on Snapdragon benefits
- Cover screen likely limited in functionality
- Smaller battery than competition
- Potential price increase
A solid choice
The Galaxy Z Flip 6 may be nearly two years old, but it is still a solid choice for anyone looking for a powerful flip phone, thanks to the Snapdragon chipset and up to seven years of software support.
Pros
- More affordable
- Snapdragon chip is very capable
- Decent battery life
- Software updates for years to come
Cons
- No Qi2 support
- May not receive the latest Galaxy AI features
- Smaller cover screen
- Discontinued; only available used/refurbished
Now that the Galaxy S26 series has landed, it's time to look at Samsung's next major launch for foldables, such as the Galaxy Z Flip 8. The flip phone, which we're likely to see this summer, will compete with the likes of Motorola in the U.S. and in much of the world, but what can we expect from the device?
More importantly, will the Galaxy Z Flip 8 give Galaxy Z Flip 6 owners enough reasons to upgrade? The Galaxy Z Flip 6 will be two years old at this point, which can feel like an eternity in smartphone terms, as technology moves fast. Generative AI wasn't nearly as ubiquitous back then as it is now, and the Galaxy Z Flip 6 may miss out on the latest and greatest.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 vs. Galaxy Z Flip 6: Price and availability
The Galaxy Z Flip 8 is expected to launch later this year, likely in the summer. Rumors point to a release on July 22, which aligns with expectations. That means a launch will likely occur in early July, likely two weeks ahead. As for pricing, it's unclear whether Samsung will retain the price of the Galaxy Z Flip 7, which started at $ 1,099, but given the ongoing RAM crisis, it's possible Samsung could raise the price by $50 or $100. Otherwise, Samsung may have to risk minimizing internal upgrades to keep prices down.
As for the Galaxy Z Flip 6, it was launched on July 10, 2024, and released roughly two weeks later. At launch, it was priced $100 above its predecessor, costing $1,099. However, the phone is currently discontinued, although you may be able to find refurbished versions for less.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 vs. Galaxy Z Flip 6: Design & hardware
Samsung's design language hasn't deviated too much, so the Galaxy Z Flip 8 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 may look very similar. According to leaked renders, Samsung may not change much when compared to the Galaxy Z Flip 7, so the phone may be pretty identical to its predecessor. That means a relatively square body, a thin chassis, and a large cover screen.
The Galaxy Z Flip 7 is actually one of the thinnest flip phones on the market, but the Z Flip 8 may be .1mm thicker, which isn't a horrible thing, especially if it means we might get a larger battery. Rumors suggest Samsung may not improve the battery, but nothing's official until we hear it from Samsung, so fingers crossed!
The Galaxy Z Flip 6 is quite a bit thicker than the Z Flip 8 at 6.9mm, but it's not terrible, especially when compared to the Motorola Razr 2025 series. It has an equally boxy design, although the cover screen is smaller at 3.4 inches, compared to 4.1 inches we expect on the Z Flip 8. The Z FLip 8 will also likely have a wider aspect ratio, which some people may prefer over the tall aspect ratio many flip phones have adopted, including the Z Flip 6.
The Z Flip 8 will likely be powered by the Exynos 2600, the same chip powering international versions of the Galaxy S26 and S26 Plus. It's a very capable chipset, and should provide a welcome boost in performance over the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 powering the Galaxy Z Flip 6.
Samsung will likely retain the 12GB of RAM found in the Galaxy Z Flip 6, as increasing it would probably drive the price way up.
The Z Flip 8 may also have a 4,300mAh battery, which is 300mAh more than the Z Flip 6. That said, we don't know if the more efficient 2nm Exynos chip will offset its power demands, so we can't say whether battery life will be comparable, but it'll likely get you through a full day.
Qi2 support is expected, although we don't expect Samsung to include built-in magnets.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 vs. Galaxy Z Flip 6: Specs
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 vs. Galaxy Z Flip 6: Software and AI
The Galaxy Z Flip 8 is likely to be powered by Samsung's One UI 8.5 based on Android 16. That said, depending on the timing, the phone could also run One UI 9 based on Android 17. Google is expected to launch Android 17 sometime before July, so it's kind of up in the air, but we know Samsung is testing the software on its devices.
As for what to expect with Android 17, we've seen early builds with the new Tap to Share feature in Quick Share, which will let users tap phones to swap content, contact information, and more. There are also other changes, such as large controls in the Quick Settings panel and more accessibility features. However, it's still early, so there may be even more to come.
Otherwise, we expect many of the same Galaxy AI features we see today, including Gemini screen automation.
The Galaxy Z Flip 6 was launched with One UI 6.1.1 based on Android 14, but has since been updated to Android 15 and Android 16. The phone will receive updates for a total of seven years, so we expect Android 17 to arrive at some point. That said, it's likely not all features will come to the device, especially more complex AI features like screen automation.
That said, the chipset is still pretty capable, so the Galaxy Z Flip 6 will likely receive a good amount of Android 17 features.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 vs. Galaxy Z Flip 6: Cameras
The Galaxy Z Flip 6 sports two rear cameras and a single selfie camera. In fact, its 50MP+12MP rear camera setup was adopted by the Galaxy Z Flip 7, and we don't expect there to be any changes on that front with the Galaxy Z Flip 8. Samsung may improve the image quality in certain ways, given the newer ISP, but we don't expect any significant upgrades in this area.
That said, we can expect some fun AI features to help users make the most out of their images. Photo Assist is one such feature that uses natural language to edit photos on-device.
The Galaxy Z Flip 6 may receive new photo-editing features, but its on-device AI processing capabilities are pretty limited, so there may be a connection required to make things happen, or editing may be much slower.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 vs. Galaxy Z Flip 6: Which should you buy?
The Galaxy Z Flip 7 was already a pretty worthy upgrade over the Galaxy Z Flip 6, so if you're holding onto the nearly two-year-old phone, the Galaxy Z Flip 8 will likely be a good upgrade. It'll come with a much faster chipset, a larger cover screen, a thinner chassis, and more AI capabilities. It also means you'll be eligible for later versions of Android once support ends for the Galaxy Z Flip 6.
Meanwhile, if you don't have the Galaxy Z Flip 6 and you're trying to choose between this and the Galaxy Z Flip 8, you should know that the Galaxy Z Flip 6 is currently discontinued at Samsung, so your only bet will be to buy it refurbished or from a carrier if you can find one still carrying the device. In which case, you may be better off with the newer Galaxy Z Flip 8 when it launches, or you can try your luck with the Galaxy Z Flip 7, which will likely end up being cheaper.
Worth the wait
The Galaxy Z Flip 8 is expected to be powered by the latest Exynos chip for more powerful AI features. Add that to a winning design and excellent software, and the Galaxy Z Flip 8 looks like it could be a winner!
Like a wine wine
The two-year-old Galaxy Z Flip 6 may be discontinued, but if you can find a refurbished unit for cheap, you could have a smartphone with powerful specs and years of software support, ensuring you won't be completely left out when Android 17 hits.
