Samsung’s next wave of foldables and smartwatches is arriving with a bigger price tag than expected. A leak published by Roland Quandt at WinFuture reveals European retail pricing for the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, Galaxy Z Flip 8, Galaxy Watch 9, and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, and every model costs more than its 2025 predecessor.
The increases run from roughly 100 euros to 280 euros depending on storage tier. Samsung has not confirmed a single US price, but the pattern matches what Apple just did to the iPhone 18 Pro, hinting at a costlier year for foldable and smartwatch buyers.
TL;DR: Leaked European retail pricing shows the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Fold 8 Ultra, Flip 8, Watch 9, and Watch Ultra 2 all cost more than last year’s models, with hikes running from about 100 to 280 euros. The Fold 8 Ultra’s 1TB model jumps the most, up 280 euros to 2,799 euros. Samsung has not confirmed US pricing, but the trend mirrors Apple’s own component driven increase on the iPhone 18 Pro. The real numbers arrive at Samsung’s Unpacked event on July 22, 2026.
What the leaked European prices actually show
WinFuture’s Roland Quandt published a full retailer pricing breakdown for Samsung’s five upcoming devices this week. Every listed price sits above the equivalent 2025 model, and some of the jumps are substantial.
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra shows the steepest increase. Its 256GB model rises to 2,199 euros, up 100 euros from last year’s tier, and the 1TB version climbs to 2,799 euros, a 280 euro jump.
The standard Galaxy Z Fold 8 costs less by comparison. It starts at 1,999 euros for 256GB, rising to 2,199 euros for 512GB and 2,599 euros for 1TB. That entry price lines up with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 specs Samsung’s own supply chain has already confirmed.
Flip 8 buyers face a smaller but still real hike. The 256GB model reaches 1,299 euros and the 512GB model reaches 1,499 euros, increases of 100 and 180 euros. Samsung’s watches are not exempt either. The Galaxy Watch 9 starts near 409 euros and the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 reaches 749 euros, both roughly 30 to 50 euros above last year’s models.
| Device | Starting price (EUR) | Top storage price (EUR) | Increase vs 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galaxy Z Fold 8 | 1,999 (256GB) | 2,599 (1TB) | — |
| Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra | 2,199 (256GB) | 2,799 (1TB) | +100 to +280 |
| Galaxy Z Flip 8 | 1,299 (256GB) | 1,499 (512GB) | +100 to +180 |
| Galaxy Watch 9 | 409 (40mm BT) | 489 (44mm LTE) | +30 to +50 |
| Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 | 749 (LTE) | — | +50 |
Why this isn’t really about Samsung’s profit margins
Component costs are driving this round of increases, not Samsung padding its margins. DRAM and NAND prices have climbed sharply through 2026 as AI data centers absorb a growing share of global memory supply, and the RAM shortage behind that squeeze is not limited to one manufacturer.
Apple hit the same wall weeks earlier. The iPhone 18 Pro price hike traces back to identical memory market pressure, and two of the industry’s biggest phone makers are now raising prices within the same month.
That timing is not a coincidence. It is the memory shortage arriving exactly when component suppliers said it would.
What this likely means for US pricing
US buyers have one useful data point already. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 launched at $1,999 last July, a $100 increase over the Fold 6, and the Galaxy Watch 8 rose $50 to $349 at the same event.
If Samsung repeats that pattern, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 likely lands close to $2,099, and the Ultra tier could cross $2,300. None of this is official yet.
WinFuture’s European figures cannot convert directly into US retail prices. VAT, import duties, and Samsung’s own regional pricing strategy all shift the math, but the direction is unmistakable.
The two model foldable lineup adds a wrinkle
Samsung is selling two distinct book style foldables for the first time this year. The wider Galaxy Z Fold 8 targets buyers who want a smaller tablet like device, while the Fold 8 Ultra keeps the taller, narrower shape longtime fans expect.
That split means the price comparison is no longer a straight year over year jump. Someone replacing a Fold 7 now has to decide which of two different phones, at two different price points, actually matches what they were using before.
What to actually watch for on July 22
Samsung confirms real pricing at its Galaxy Unpacked event on July 22, 2026, in London, and that announcement is the only number worth trusting. Leaked retailer prices have been accurate in past years, but final US pricing sometimes includes trade in credits or launch promotions that soften the sticker shock.
Anyone holding off on a Fold 7 or Watch 8 upgrade should wait for that keynote before assuming the worst case number is final. Samsung has used aggressive trade in offers before to keep effective prices closer to last year’s, even when the sticker price goes up.
