Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked July 2026 event: Invitations are out, here’s what to expect
The Samsung Galaxy Unpacked summer keynote is set for July 22 in London. This mid-year event is where the company unveils its latest generation of foldable devices — like the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 — but this year things could take, shall we say, a different shape. Last week, the company started using Instagram posts teasing the rectangular shape.
“Samsung will introduce the latest Galaxy products that build on its leadership in foldables, combining smart capabilities and new form factors to deliver a personalized, flexible experience and set a new standard for the AI era,” the company said in a statement announcing the event.
This story is part of Samsung eventCNET’s collection of news, tips and advice about Samsung’s most popular products.
The event comes a few months before Apple’s annual fall event, giving Samsung time to test its foldable phone capabilities before the rumored foldable iPhone launch in September. Although there have been rumors that Apple has been working on an iPhone Fold for years, I’ll believe it when I see it. It will be interesting to see what Samsung does with its latest generation of folders for now.
We’ll be down in London to see everything Samsung has to offer, but for those impatient to wait, the rumor mill has been full of predictions about what new devices could be unveiled, such as the Galaxy Z Fold 8 (wide) and the Z Fold Ultra. We could see Galaxy smart glasses. Let’s dive into what the rumors suggest we’ll see.
Watch this: The Future of Smart Glasses Is Coming This Fall
Galaxy ‘wide’ is collapsible
The Galaxy Z TriFold isn’t the only oddly shaped foldable Samsung seems to be working on.
Samsung is currently on its 7th generation of Galaxy Fold devices, and we expect that both the Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 will be updated with new processors, a few more tweaks and the number eight in their lineup. But it seems that the company’s designers may be bored, as they tried to bend the form enough to bring new designs to the market.
We already had the Galaxy Z TriFold in the wild with its tablet-sized display released back in January, and now rumors suggest a wider version of the Fold packing a 7.6-inch internal display with a 4:3 aspect ratio. That would make it wider and narrower than the current nearly square 1:1 aspect ratio of the Z Fold 7’s internal screen, which would make the new foldable internal display better for watching movies without the wasted space of the black bars at the top and bottom.
There is expected to be a more “normal” version of the Z Fold 8, which is said to follow in the footsteps of the Galaxy Z Fold 7. However, rumors suggest that it will be rebranded with the “Ultra” moniker to distinguish it from its wider (and less powerful) sibling.
Galaxy XR glasses
Samsung and Google glasses have been announced, but we’re still waiting for more details.
Google talked for a while about its mixed reality glasses at its I/O event earlier this summer, including showing off Samsung’s upcoming glasses made in collaboration with Warby Parker and Gentle Monster. But details about the glasses themselves have been scant, and the size of Samsung’s role has been held back — possibly at a summer Unpacked event.
So while we know the glasses exist — and CNET’s Scott Stein has already tried some other uses — we’re excited to hear more details. The glasses will include cameras and microphones (how will they work with Google’s Gemini AI?), but we don’t know exactly how much they’ll cost or when they’ll go on sale.
There may be more talk about features and usability in Unpacked, and I hope there will be a fun trial phase where I can show it to my face and see if my wife can still look at me.
Galaxy Watch 9 and Watch Ultra 2
The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 may be launched at the Samsung event.
Rumors fueled by firmware updates and certifications suggest that Samsung will showcase two new smartwatches at this year’s Unpacked event. The Watch Ultra 2 — the company’s rugged, outdoor-focused model — is rumored to get a massive 800 mAh battery. That would be the largest watch of any Wear OS watch and should help it keep tracking your wilderness adventure long after your legs have stopped tiring.
The Galaxy Watch 9 is also rumored to get a slight battery upgrade, with both models featuring new processors and potentially redesigned designs.
Galaxy Ring 2 — but maybe not
Samsung has confirmed its work on the new Galaxy Ring, but it may be too early to see it this summer.
In a Forbes report, Samsung has confirmed that they are officially working on the Galaxy Ring 2, a 2024 finger-based health tracker. The company’s next ring is expected to improve on battery life, include more advanced tracking and possibly come with a refreshed design.
But it’s important to note that while the ring may be upgraded, it likely won’t be unveiled at July’s Unpacked event. While I wouldn’t be surprised to see a teaser of some sort, it’s possible that Samsung will launch its next Galaxy Ring at CES in early 2027 or at Mobile World Congress in the near future.
How to watch Galaxy Unpacked
The Samsung event will be streamed live on Samsung’s website and Samsung’s YouTube channel, starting at 9 am ET/ 6 am PT/2 pm BST on July 22.
