Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip series has consistently offered hot phones to compete with Motorola’s Razr. When I reviewed the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 last year, I recommended it over the Motorola Razr Ultra 2025. Despite the raw performance and lack of multitasking software of the Galaxy Z Flip 7, it felt polished, premium, and durable. Almost a year later, the Motorola Razr 2026 family is already here, and we are waiting for the official launch of the Galaxy Z Flip 8.
If you were thinking of buying an Android flip phone before the expected launch, I would recommend you wait and see what happens. This year is different. Part shortages are driving up prices across the board, and the Galaxy Z Flip 8 could be affected. In theory, every model of the Razr 2026 — including the base, Plus, and Ultra variants — received a price increase of at least $100 this year. Could the recent launch of a flip phone be a sign of what’s to come with the Galaxy Z Flip 8?
There’s no perfect answer to whether you should wait for the Galaxy Z Flip 8 or buy one of its competitors today. With so many unknowns, we don’t know for sure how the Galaxy Z Flip 8 will stack up. That said, there’s as good a reason as ever to buy now and avoid the risk of price increases or sales.
Why you should wait for Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8
Price aside, this could be a big year for the Galaxy Z Flip line. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 is expected to feature many improvements, starting with the chipset. It will be powered by the Samsung Exynos 2600, which uses a small 2nm Gate-All-Around (GAA) architecture. Compared to the Galaxy Z Flip 7’s Exynos 2500 platform, the new chip offers up to 39% faster CPU performance while delivering better power efficiency.
We know this because the Exynos 2600 is already powering the Samsung Galaxy S26 in some regions, giving us a taste of what the Galaxy Z Flip 8 can do. That processor is rumored to be paired with 12GB of memory and 256GB or 512GB of storage. The operating system will be One UI 9 based on Android 17, and we hope that Samsung finally opens the cover screen to use full-screen applications without installing Good Lock.
There is room for Samsung to build on the Galaxy Z Flip 7. The IP48 rating may be upgraded to IP68, and the Qi2 Ready wireless charging may be replaced by a magnetic version. The device may be smaller or lighter, too. Unfortunately, none of these improvements can be a sure thing for the Galaxy Z Flip 8. In fact, there may be a Galaxy Z Flip 8. this is not the case include this upgrade, so keep this in mind as you make your choice.
For those who care about software support, the Galaxy Z Flip 8 will start with Android 17 and get a full seven years of guaranteed Android OS upgrades. While you can go with the Galaxy Z Flip 7 instead, it will have a shorter software support window of a year once it gets the Android 17 upgrade. The situation on Motorola Razr phones is even worse, as you only get three years of Android OS upgrades, even on the top Ultra models.
You can also expect the Galaxy Z Flip 8 to get software features that may remain exclusive to Samsung’s latest phones, at least to begin with. There’s a new Gemini Intelligence system of premium AI features that will be featured on the Galaxy S26 and Google Pixel 10 series later this summer. Could the Galaxy Z Flip 8 also be included? It certainly makes sense.
So, there are a few strong reasons to wait for the Galaxy Z Flip 8. You’ll likely get a new processor and major software upgrades, with some uncertain hardware upgrades possible as a bonus. If the price is the same or just a bit more than the Galaxy Z Flip 7, the new model will be worth the wait.
Why you shouldn’t wait for the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8
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The biggest question mark surrounding the Galaxy Z Flip 8 is the phone’s potential price point. If it launches at the same $1,099 sticker price as the Galaxy Z Flip 7, there may be enough improvements to justify the purchase. After all, a new processor and a special software add-on are all guaranteed. That may be a dream, though.
We recently saw Motorola increase its phone prices, and Samsung increased the cost of both the Galaxy S26 and Galaxy S26 Plus earlier this year. Given the precedent, I’m going to assume the Galaxy Z Flip 8 will cost more until proven otherwise. To be clear, I hope I’m wrong. Reports from Korean news outlets such as Newspim suggest the same.
The upcoming Galaxy Z Flip 8 model with 256GB of storage could cost, say, $100 or $200 more and still be reasonable with carrier discounts. Those who buy their phones unlocked and pay full price can get the $1,199 or $1,299 Galaxy Z Flip 8, and I wouldn’t really blame them.
Normally, I would recommend that interested buyers consider grabbing a discounted current-generation model before the first new one, but market conditions have put a damper on that as well. The Galaxy Z Flip 7 was not discounted at all by Samsung, Best Buy, or Amazon, perhaps due to the pricing challenges we’ve covered. If you’re worried about the Galaxy Z Flip 8 being too expensive, it might still make sense to keep an eye out for a Galaxy Z Flip 7 deal instead of waiting.
An outside competitor is the Motorola Razr Ultra 2025. The phone’s successor, the Razr Ultra 2026, costs a cheaper $1,500. It’s not a serious option for people on many budgets. Meanwhile, the Razr Ultra 2025 is available for $800 and comes with 1TB of storage, and will make you think twice about waiting for the Galaxy Z Flip 8.
You’ll need to accept a year-old processor and a very short software support window. Those who can get past those hurdles can find themselves getting an outstanding flip phone at an even better price.
What about the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 FE?
Last year brought us the cheaper Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE, but will we get two Galaxy Z Flip 8 models this time around? It doesn’t seem likely, as we haven’t heard anything about the Galaxy Z Flip 8 FE, and we keep hearing about the Galaxy Z Flip 8, Galaxy Z Fold 8 (wide), and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra. Samsung may be skipping the “Fan Edition” version this year, so hold your breath and wait for it.
We won’t have to wait long to see what the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 has in store. Rumors point to the Galaxy Unpacked event in London set for July 22, 2026. This is where we will see Samsung’s new folders for the first time, general availability will come two weeks later.
The best, yet
If you need the best Samsung phone today, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 is your best bet. It features a large 4.1-inch cover screen, a capable Exynos 2500 processor, and one UI software. However, you may still want to wait for the Galaxy Z Flip 8 or opt for the Motorola Razr instead.