A foldable phone lineup just out-preordered the Galaxy S series in Samsung’s own backyard. That’s not a small thing. Samsung has announced that the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8 racked up 1.44 million preorders in Korea, breaking the all-time domestic preorder record of 1.38 million units that the Galaxy Note 10 series set back in 2019. Seven years. That record stood for seven years.
To put that in perspective, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Z Fold 7 together hit 1.04 million preorders in Korea. The Galaxy S26 range managed 1.35 million. Both are solid numbers. But the Z8 lineup beat them all, which tells you something real about where consumer interest is heading when it comes to foldables.
The Z Fold 8 was the clear star of the show, accounting for roughly 70% of all preorders. That makes sense when you look at what Samsung changed this time around. The Z Fold 8 moves to a wider form factor with a 4:3 aspect ratio inner screen, which makes it much better for video and feels more natural to hold than the tall, narrow book-fold design Samsung used before. It’s also priced at $1,899.99, which is actually more accessible than previous Fold generations, and it’s running the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 with 45W fast charging and dual 50MP cameras. The Fold 8 Ultra pushes things further with a 5,000mAh battery, Galaxy S26 Ultra cameras, and a $2,099.99 starting price.
On the flip side, the Galaxy Z Flip 8 at $1,199.99 is the more wallet-friendly pick. It’s thinner and lighter than its predecessor, runs a 4,300mAh battery, and expands FlexWindow support so you can actually use more apps without opening the phone. Gemini AI is baked in too, which adds some practical smarts to the cover screen experience.
As for color preferences, Samsung says Cream and Graphite were the top picks for Fold 8 buyers. Fold 8 Ultra buyers leaned toward Graphite and Violet Shadow. Flip 8 fans went for Pink and Cream. Make of that what you will, but the fact that Samsung is sharing this data suggests they’re very happy with how things went.
And the timing matters here. Foldables have spent years being niche, expensive curiosities. Samsung is clearly trying to change that with better pricing, real design improvements, and aggressive trade-in offers. Right now, if you preorder before August 7, you can get up to $1,200 off with an eligible trade-in or a $200 credit without one.
- Galaxy Z Fold 8: $1,899.99, new wider 4:3 form factor, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, 45W charging, dual 50MP cameras
- Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra: $2,099.99, 5,000mAh battery, Galaxy S26 Ultra camera system, slim build
- Galaxy Z Flip 8: $1,199.99, larger 4,300mAh battery, expanded FlexWindow app support, Gemini AI
- Preorder deal: up to $1,200 off with trade-in or $200 credit without one, through August 7
Breaking a seven-year-old preorder record is a genuinely big signal. It suggests that foldables are finally hitting a point where mainstream buyers are paying attention, not just early adopters. Whether that momentum holds once the devices are actually in people’s hands is the real question. But right now, Samsung has to be feeling very good about where the Z8 lineup is headed.