Samsung Electronics opened a new chapter in the artificial intelligence (AI) and extended reality (XR) device market today (22nd) at 'Galaxy Unpacked 2026' held in London, UK, with the establishment of a three-model foldable phone lineup and the debut of its first smart glasses.

At the Unpacked event held this evening local time (10 p.m. Korean time), Samsung Electronics unveiled three new foldable phone models for the first time: 'Galaxy Z Fold 8', 'Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra', and 'Galaxy Z Flip 8'. In particular, the 'Fold 8 Ultra' boasts record-breaking performance with an 8-inch main display, a 200-megapixel main camera, and a 50-megapixel ultra-wide camera, the first of its kind on a foldable phone. Additionally, all new foldable products feature the 'Flex Titanium' display technology that significantly reduces screen wrinkles for the first time, and the new 'One UI 9' that provides a fresh user experience was also unveiled. The 'Fold 8' presents a new aspect ratio optimized for a 5.5-inch cover display and 7.6-inch main display.

The new product that garnered the most attention is Samsung's first smart glasses, 'Intelligent Eyewear'. Developed through close collaboration with Google, these smart glasses strengthen user-customized design through partnerships with global design brands such as Gentle Monster and Warby Parker. This is evaluated as Samsung and Google's joint challenge to Meta, which controls 80% of the global smart glasses market.

[Photo=Yonhapnews]

Additionally, 'Galaxy Watch 9' and 'Galaxy Watch Ultra 2' were also unveiled. Both wearable devices demonstrated a focus on personalized health management by further enhancing AI-based health coaching features.

Samsung Electronics' Unpacked event is significant in that it marks an expansion of the AI and XR device ecosystem through reinforced foldable lineups and the launch of its first smart glasses. Attention is on what impact Samsung Electronics will have in the market dominated by Meta.