Samsung opens India pre-reservations as new Galaxy foldables and Watch 9 debut

Samsung is set to unveil its next Galaxy Z Fold, Z Flip and Watch 9 devices at a London launch event, while India pre-reservations are already open. Reported expected prices start near Rs 1.05 lakh for the Flip model and may reach Rs 1.85 lakh for an Ultra Fold variant.

— Source publishedWed, 22 Jul, 2026, 15:15 IST·First seen Wed, 22 Jul, 2026, 15:42 IST·Source Financial Express · BrandWagon

What happened

Samsung is unveiling Galaxy Z Fold 8, Fold 8 Ultra, Z Flip 8 and Watch 9 devices, with India pre-reservations open. Expected Indian prices range from Rs 1.05

Key facts

  • 5.5-inch
  • 7.6-inch
  • 4:3
  • 200 MP
  • Rs 1,05,000
  • Rs 1,85,000
  • 800 mAh
  • Rs 20,000
  • 6:30 PM IST

Why this matters

Samsung’s simultaneous foldable and smartwatch push reinforces an ecosystem-led premium strategy, raising the value of partnerships that improve financing, trade-ins, distribution and wearable-device engagement.

What to watch

  • India-specific final pricing, storage configurations and any Ultra Fold availability at launch.
  • Pre-reservation volume and the mix between Z Flip, Z Fold and Watch orders.
  • Bank cashback, no-cost EMI tenure, trade-in uplift and free-accessory offers relative to the prior foldable generation.
  • Evidence of hardware differentiation in thinness, battery life, cameras, crease visibility, durability and Galaxy AI features.
  • Initial sell-through in Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and other premium-heavy markets versus broader tier-2 demand.
  • Competitor responses from Apple, Google, OnePlus, Vivo and Chinese foldable brands, especially around financing and flagship discounts.
  • Post-launch cancellation rates and the speed at which unauthorized or retailer discounts emerge.
  • Use pre-reservation data by city, device and price band to allocate launch inventory toward high-intent metro stores and online fulfillment hubs.
  • Bundle Watch 9, Galaxy Buds, Samsung Care+ and upgrade financing with foldable orders to raise attachment rates rather than relying solely on handset discounting.
  • Sharpen exchange offers for prior Galaxy S, Fold and Flip owners, where upgrade conversion is likely to be materially higher than first-time foldable adoption.
  • Equip retail demonstrators to address durability, crease, battery, repairability and productivity concerns, which will be key barriers at premium price points.
  • Prepare a second promotional wave for the post-launch period if reservation-to-purchase conversion weakens after final prices and specifications are revealed.