Samsung’s next Galaxy Unpacked event is still days away, but luxury device maker Caviar apparently couldn’t wait. The company has already listed a Messi-themed version of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra for sale, nearly a week before Samsung is expected to officially announce the phone.
The phone is positioned as a tribute to Argentine football legend Lionel Messi. It has handcrafted cloisonné enamel artwork of Messi done in the colors of the Argentine national team, 24-karat gold plating, a FIFA badge referencing Argentina’s 2022 World Cup win, and both the official Argentine crest and the Adidas logo. It ships in a royal blue custom box with more gold plating and a custom Caviar Key.
The price is $13,130. Only 19 units will be made. That combination of an eye-watering price tag and extreme scarcity is very much on-brand for Caviar, which has built its business around turning flagship phones into collector’s items for people with money to burn.
For context, Samsung’s current Galaxy Z Fold 7 launched at $2,000. If the Z Fold 8 Ultra lands at a similar price, Caviar’s edition costs roughly six times more than the standard version. That gap isn’t unusual for the brand. Caviar regularly charges a significant premium for its custom work, and its audience isn’t comparison shopping.
Beyond the spectacle, the listing actually tells us a few useful things about the phone itself. Based on what Caviar has shared:
- The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra will come in 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB storage options
- The “Ultra” name in the listing seems to confirm rumors that Samsung will release two Z Fold 8 models this year
- The Ultra model appears to have a design very similar to the Z Fold 7
- A separate base Z Fold 8 model is widely expected to have a wider chassis with a better screen ratio for video
The two-model strategy would be a significant shift for the Galaxy Z Fold line. Samsung has traditionally released one Z Fold per year. Splitting the range into a standard and an Ultra version would mirror what the company does with its Galaxy S phones, and it signals that foldables are no longer a niche experiment for Samsung. They’re a full product category now.
If you’re considering putting down $13,130 for the Messi edition, there’s a catch worth knowing. Caviar says production only starts after full payment is received. Given the amount of custom metalwork and enameling involved, you won’t be getting it quickly. Samsung Unpacked will almost certainly come and go before anyone holding a receipt for one of these actually has it in hand.
As for the rest of the Z Fold 8 Ultra’s specs, Caviar’s listing doesn’t go into detail. Anyone wanting the full picture will have to wait for Samsung’s official event.