Samsung bets a slimmer Galaxy Z Flip 8 will bring more buyers

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7 were a huge hit for Samsung, even forcing it to increase production to meet the additional demand. Building on this momentum, the company reportedly wants to ship 10% more units of the Z Fold 8 and Flip 8 next year. And it will supposedly do this by making the Z Flip 8 thinner and lighter.

Samsung completely overhauled the Galaxy Z Fold 7 this year, making it among the slimmest and lightest foldables on the market. That seems to have worked, as more consumers purchased the Z Fold 7 than any previous Galaxy Z Fold device. In contrast, Samsung did not sell as many units of the Z Flip 7, which is not surprising as it did not include any major design upgrades.

The Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE also failed to attract buyers despite its lower price tag, indicating that consumers prefer cutting-edge foldables over more affordable ones.

For 2026, The Bell reports that Samsung’s mobile division aims to sell a combined 6.7 million units of the Z Fold 8 and Flip 8. That’s 10% higher than its target for 2025. To get there, the company plans to boost Z Flip 8 sales with major upgrades, reportedly making the phone over 10% lighter and slimmer (via @Jukanlosreve). That should translate into a notable difference in real-hand feel. It took a similar playbook with the Z Fold 7 this year, and it worked wonders.

If the Korean giant can replicate the same improvements on the Z Flip 8 next year, it should have a winner on its hands.

As for the Galaxy S26 series, Samsung wants to ship around 36 million in 2026. That’s almost the same as the sales target it had internally set for this year’s S25.

Samsung wants to up its foldable game before Apple’s entry

Samsung aims to strengthen its presence in the foldable space and capture a bigger market share ahead of Apple’s rumored entry into the segment in September next year.

The launch of a foldable iPhone will undoubtedly cut into Samsung’s market share. The company has dominated the foldable segment in the US despite making limited meaningful upgrades to its Galaxy Z lineup in recent years. It only pulled up its socks with the Galaxy Z Fold 7, and its success clearly reflects that.