At the Unpacked event, Samsung unveiled One UI 8, its latest generational update based on Android 16, while giving a new direction to the smart device ecosystem with the latest foldable devices.

Traditionally, Samsung used to release a new OS update after the foldable phone launch and test it through the third quarter, but recent advancements from Google’s campaign have allowed all Android OEMs to improve the software development and provide a new Android upgrade faster than Android 15.

Similar to the Galaxy S25 series, Samsung will ship the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7 lineup with a new OS out of the box. This is also the first time the Korean tech maker is launching two OS updates in the same year.

One UI 8 is launched with numerous optimizations over the last update, which includes polishing the user interface, smoothing animations and providing more AI-powered personalization features. On the other hand, the update is bringing some exclusive capabilities for foldable phones to make their cover and internal display interactions seamless.

One UI 8 (Source – Samsung)

Speaking of AI, the latest One UI version is built to adopt a multimodal agent, combining large-screen multitasking with smart tools that understand users’ intent. On the other hand, features like Gemini Live will allow users to speak live to AI and understand the world with their phone in real-time.

Galaxy AI brings a new AI Result View in a separate split view or a floating view. Users can also experience improved drag-and-drop AI-generated content, such as images and text, directly from Multi-Window. Don’t forget that Drawing Assist and Writing Assist will also get better, and the same can be said about Now Brief and Now Bar.

Another aspect of the new update is security; Samsung Knox improvements will enhance user data safety with new settings. The update will be available for Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7 series users from day one. Information about expansion to previous devices is still pending.

On July 9, in the heart of New York City, Samsung launched the Galaxy Z Flip 7. The Unpacked event started at 10 AM ET; I wasn’t there in person, but the buzz from the live stream and the flood of back-to-back revealings had me glued to my screen.

This is easily the most meaningful Flip update we’ve seen in years. The design is cleaner, the cover screen is actually useful now, and the new AI features? Surprisingly smart.

The Galaxy Z Flip 7 looks and feels more polished. It’s thinner now – just 6.5mm when unfolded, shaving off a bit from its predecessor. It slides into a pocket like butter, but the real story is the bigger cover screen: 4.1 inches, up from 3.4 inches.

The smartphone’s 6.9-inch main screen is as good as ever; it’s bright, smooth, and perfect for everything. Samsung has also brought in some striking color options, including Blue Shadow, Jet Black, and Silver Shadow.

Samsung’s in-house Exynos 2500 chip powers the Galaxy Z Flip 7 in all countries, including the US. Apps load instantly, games run smoothly, and you’ve got 12GB of RAM backing it all up. Storage comes in 256GB or 512GB flavors; no 1TB option.

There’s no hardware upgrade in terms of optics. The Galaxy Z Flip 7 retains a 50MP main, 12MP ultrawide, and a 10MP selfie camera. But AI ensures Sharper low-light shots, better auto-edits, and smarter scene recognition all make photos better.

Battery got a decent bump to 4,300mAh, with 25W charging to keep things moving. The phone also supports advanced Qi2 charging through compatible cases. There are no magnets inside, but you can spend some money to make it Qi2-ready.

The Galaxy Z Flip 7 runs Android 16 with One UI 8, and Samsung’s new tools are helpful. Now Brief gives you quick notification summaries, and AI-powered Photo Assist helps tweak pics without digging into settings.

Durability also gets a quiet upgrade. The hinge is sturdier, smoother, and still rated IPX8 for water resistance. Samsung also greatly improved the display crease factor, with the Flip 7 featuring the least visible crease ever in the history of foldables.

Samsung officially launched Galaxy Z Flip 7

Samsung’s Z Flip 7 starts at $1,099 (256GB) and jumps to $1,219 for 512GB. It’s not cheap, but compared to earlier Flip models, this one actually feels like it’s worth that premium. Pre-orders start today (July 9), and the phone officially lands on July 25.

Samsung officially unveiled the Galaxy Z Fold 7 at the Unpacked event. The company takes the stage in Brooklyn, New York, and unveils its new yet innovative foldable phones and smartwatches that are setting new standards.

I’ve been diving into the details from live event coverage to bring you the full scoop on this sleek, powerful device. Let’s break it down and see why the Z Fold 7 is turning heads.

Samsung has made the Galaxy Z Fold 7 incredibly thin: 4.2mm when unfolded and 8.9mm when folded. Some folks previously mentioned a slightly thicker 4.5mm when unfolded, but either way, this is the slimmest foldable Samsung’s ever made.

The cover screen is now 6.5 inches, up from the Z Fold 6, making it feel more like a regular phone when closed. Once unfolded, you get an 8-inch main screen, which is perfect for multitasking, gameplay, and streaming on a bigger screen.

One thing that caught my eye was the improved inner display. Samsung’s worked hard to make the crease less noticeable, addressing a longtime gripe with foldables.

Samsung seems to have removed the digitizer from the folding screen. It resulted in a lack of S Pen support, which will disappoint folks who love jotting notes or sketching; however, the IP48 rating is here for dust and water resistance.

Under the hood, the Z Fold 7 is a beast. It’s rocking a Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, which means it’s built to handle everything from gaming to video editing. The 4400mAh battery has been retained, which should keep you going longer.

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 features a 200MP main camera, matching the S25 Ultra’s prowess. The other two lenses (ultrawide and telephoto) haven’t changed, but that main sensor alone is enough to make photography lovers take notice.

Samsung’s Galaxy AI suite is back, too, with enhanced camera tricks and productivity tools. The famous DeX mode functionality has been tweaked for a better desktop-like experience, and multitasking is smoother than ever.

The Z Fold 7 runs on Android 16 with One UI 8, and it’s packed with intelligent features. The new multimodal AI engine is like having a personal assistant in your pocket, handling tasks and predicting what you need before you even ask.

Now, let’s talk money. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is available in 256GB and 512GB variants, as standard, featuring 12GB RAM. The new foldable starts at $2,000 in the US ($100 bump) and £1,799 in the UK and €2,099 in Europe.

If you’ve secured Samsung Reserve Pass, you get up to $1,150 off with trade-ins, a $50 credit just for signing up, and even a $5,000 sweepstakes. Pre-orders are open now, with a release set for July 25, based on Samsung’s timeline.

Samsung fans are talking about the One UI 8 update, based on Android 16 OS. With the Galaxy Unpacked event happening today, July 9, 2025, many are wondering if the rollout starts now.

Let’s break it down.

One UI 8 officially launched at Unpacked with an improved user interface and new features. The official debut of this software aligns with Samsung’s Summer timeline announced in May 2025.

Samsung’s Unpacked event is today, July 9, and the new Galaxy Z Fold7, Z Flip7, and Flip7 FE debuted with One UI 8 pre-installed. This marks the official start of the rollout for these new foldables.

“Launching with the all-new One UI 8 on Android 16, Galaxy Z Fold7 debuts Samsung’s latest AI-powered platform on foldables, delivering the latest Android experience straight out of the box.” – Samsung.

One UI 7 Beta and Stable releases were delayed greatly due to UI changes. Meanwhile, Samsung has fixed most of the issues by advancing its Android version adoption timeline with Google.

Back in May 2025, Samsung started One UI 8 Beta for the Galaxy S25 series flagships. Beta users might get the stable update sooner, but there’s no confirmation it’s rolling out for all today.

Last month, Samsung dropped the second beta for S25 series users. Leaks from internal builds have showcased some big features and UI tweaks that may be provided with Beta 3 or the official release.

If you own a Galaxy S24, S23, or older foldables, you might need to wait. The update for these devices will likely start in August 2025, and the rollout is phased to ensure stability.

Samsung doesn’t stop here; it has been testing the new One UI 8 software on several Galaxy devices from the Galaxy S flagship lineup to the Galaxy A mid-range and budget series.

Usually, Samsung rolls out updates in stages to avoid bugs and ensure compatibility. New devices get priority, while older models follow after testing and verification among a low volume of users.

One UI 7 is the best software update so far, bringing new changes and upgrades that surpass the previous generational OS upgrades, but One UI 8 is unveiling today at Unpacked, and the question is whether Samsung will repeat a mistake with new OS version or it will take this opportunity to redeem the past fallout.

One UI 7 was first unveiled through the beta program in December. Despite spending months in testing, the phone maker kept the existing Galaxy smartphone users waiting. In January, the Galaxy S25 series made its debut with this new OS version.

Samsung took this opportunity to announce the latest software features and AI innovations. However, It completely forgot about sharing expansion details for existing models. This secrecy remained for the next two months, until the stable version finally released for S24 series in April.

Image – SammyFans

This software policy struck many with doubts because the wait was purely unnecessary. I found two reasons responsible for this fallout. The first is the lack of information, and the second is the delay. Samsung is once again in the same spot with the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7 series making a debut with One UI 8. This scenario is identical to the S25 launch, and the aftermath is already explained above.

The One UI 8 beta program first opened in late May, and it is going through the final stages of testing for existing flagship phones and tablets. We’ve been speculating the same with One UI 7 prior to S25 series launch but Samsung played otherwise.

Therefore, it would be interesting to see whether Samsung will repeat the same mistake as One UI 7 and release One UI 8 in August. Or, it will release the update today and share a roadmap for previous devices. We’ll get an answer today at the Unpacked event.