Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3 reach the end of the line

Published Sep 8, 2026, 6:52 PM EDT Timi is the news and deals reporter for Android Police, who has been reporting on technology since 2008. He has worked in tech retail and also the IT space, providing hardware and software support, which gives him a unique perspective on the tech that he covers. This allows him to effectively break down complex subjects into easy-to-read pieces that even casual readers can enjoy. Before joining Android Police, he was a news writer for XDA, where he eventually transitioned to covering deals. He also worked as an editor and reporter for Neowin, where he covered news and attended major tech events like CES. He also reviewed phones, tablets, PC products, and other devices. In addition, he also created video content for the Neowin YouTube channel. Sign in to your Android Police account Despite how good the current generation of foldable phones are, people will always have something to complain about. But if you look back just a few years, you can really appreciate how massive a jump these devices have made in such a short time. The Z Fold 8 will be one of this year's biggest sellers, and the Z Flip 8 is refined to the point where Samsung really can't take it any further. That said, Samsung is officially sunsetting the Galaxy Z Flip 3 and Z Fold 3, as they no longer appear on the brand's software support page (via Android Authority). Good, but things got so much better Unlike more modern devices, Samsung promised only three years of major updates and five years of security updates for these phones. As a Galaxy Z Flip 3 owner, unboxing the phone for the first time felt absolutely magical. I held off on buying a foldable phone because I felt like the refinements just weren't there. With the Z Flip 3, Samsung made a huge jump, upping the inner display refresh rate to 120Hz for the first time. It also featured a much larger 1.9-inch external display that was actually useful. Furthermore, the Z Flip 3 introduced an IPX8 rating, making it a bit more durable than previous models, and it also had dual speakers. It really was a huge leap forward from the previous models. Naturally, things kept getting better with each iteration. And while the Z Flip 8 is good, it seems Samsung has hit a wall, offering very few changes over its predecessor. It's fantastic to see the technology evolve, but once a phone is refined to a point, do we really need yearly revisions? Of course, if you're a Z Flip or Z Fold 3 owner, now's a good time to check out what's new. You can always stick with what you have, but sooner or later the software just isn't going to cut it anymore. This matters for security, because you don't want something bad to happen if your phone isn't up-to-date. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 SoC Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy RAM 12GB / 16GB Storage 256GB / 512GB / 1TB Battery 4,800mAh Operating System Android 17 / One UI 9 Front camera 10MP main / 10MP cover The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 has a 4:3 aspect ratio open screen, making it great for video and reading books, and when closed the device is compact, with apps on the cover screen appearing normally. It joins Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, which has a more traditional tall-and-thin design. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra SoC Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy RAM 12GB / 16GB Storage 256GB / 512GB / 1TB Battery 5,000mAh Operating System Android 17 / One UI 9 Front camera 10MP main / 10MP cover The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is a productivity-focused big-screen folding phone, with an emphasis on power and performance over the more media-focused Galaxy Z Fold 8. However, the specification is similar, with the camera and battery being the standout upgrades over the Z Fold 8. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 SoC Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy RAM 12GB Storage 256GB / 512GB Battery 4,300mAh Operating System Android 17 / One UI 9 Front camera 10MP The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 takes the long-established compact folding phone formula and refines it further, reducing the weight and thickness to make the phone even more convenient to hold and carry. The rest of the specification is not a huge jump over previous models though.