SAN DIEGO (GNP): Qualcomm and Samsung showcased a new generation of Galaxy smartphones and wearables at Galaxy Unpacked 2026, with every device in the lineup built around Qualcomm’s Snapdragon platform, extending a partnership between the two companies that Qualcomm President and CEO Cristiano Amon said has spanned nearly three decades.
Speaking at the event, Amon said the collaboration was expanding beyond smartphones for the first time, with Snapdragon now powering Samsung wearables as well, bringing what he described as intelligent computing to a wider range of devices in consumers’ daily lives.
The centerpiece of the announcement was the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8, a foldable device powered globally by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy. The company said the device is built for immersive media consumption, with a redesigned form factor intended for streaming, reading and gaming, while Qualcomm’s next-generation Hexagon NPU supports Galaxy AI features such as Nightography and AI Zoom. Samsung is marketing the device as the world’s lightest fold.
A premium variant, the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, also runs on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, which Qualcomm describes as its fastest processor to date. The device supports a Multi-Window View allowing up to three apps simultaneously, and pairs a 200-megapixel main camera with a 50-megapixel ultra-wide lens. It is also the first mobile platform to enable the Advanced Professional Video codec, allowing near-lossless video capture with expanded post-production control over highlights, shadows and color grading. The device additionally features Qualcomm’s next-generation Adreno GPU for gaming and supports Ultra-Wideband connectivity.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8, also powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, is positioned around photo and video capture, featuring Super Steady video and a horizontal lock function enabled by dedicated image-stabilization hardware for 360-degree leveling. Its FlexWindow display allows users to check notifications and manage tasks while the phone is closed. Samsung is marketing it as the world’s lightest and thinnest flip phone, though the device is currently confirmed for availability only in the United States, China and Japan.
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On the wearable side, Samsung introduced the Galaxy Watch Ultra2 and Galaxy Watch9, the first wearables built on the new Snapdragon Wear Elite Platform. The Watch Ultra2 is designed for outdoor use, including route, elevation and trail tracking, while the Watch9 emphasizes health monitoring with personalized fitness insights. Both devices include a “Raise to Talk” feature enabling hands-free AI assistance without a wake word, alongside fast charging and extended battery life.
Following the event, technology reviewer Marques Brownlee (MKBHD) shared hands-on impressions of the Galaxy Z Fold8, Z Fold8 Ultra and Z Flip8 via Samsung Mobile’s official account on X, highlighting his early observations on the devices’ design and Galaxy AI features.
