July 22, 2026 witnessed a major tech event as Samsung unveiled at Galaxy Unpacked a wide range of foldable and wearable devices, aiming to strengthen its leadership in the mobile technology market. The new phones feature thinner and lighter designs with improvements in batteries and processors, alongside smartwatches and smart glasses integrating artificial intelligence. On the other hand, Huawei continued to achieve strong sales figures in China and launched a global flagship phone.

These developments reflect the fierce competition among industry giants, as each company strives to offer innovative features that meet users' growing demand for connected devices and wearable technologies.

Lighter foldable phones and revolutionary battery technologies

Samsung revealed three foldable phones at the event: the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, and Galaxy Z Flip 8. The Fold 8 earns the title of Samsung’s lightest foldable phone at just 201 grams, with a wider and shorter design that makes it closer to traditional phones when folded. The Flip 8 is the lightest in the history of foldable phones at 180 grams, with a smart external display.

The Fold 8 Ultra comes as the first phone to bear the Ultra badge in the series, with a 6.5-inch external display and an 8-inch internal display with brightness up to 3000 nits. The Flip 8 is equipped with the Exynos 2600 processor built on a 2nm process, the first of its kind in smartphones, delivering 30% higher CPU performance and 50% higher GPU performance.

For the first time, Samsung uses silicon-carbon batteries instead of lithium-ion in its foldable phones, increasing energy density and enabling larger capacities without changing dimensions. Samsung aims to produce 2.8 million units of the Fold 8 in the first three months, outpacing the Ultra and Flip.

Samsung Launches the Lightest Galaxy Z Fold 8 with a Wider Design and Larger Battery

Samsung Unveils Galaxy Z Flip 8 with a Thinner Design and Smart External Display

Samsung Reveals the Light Galaxy Z Flip 8 with 2nm Processor

Samsung Unveils Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra with Brighter Display, Larger Battery, and Better Camera

Samsung Unveils Galaxy Z Fold 8 with a Wider Screen and Lighter Frame

Samsung Expects Galaxy Z Fold 8 to Lead Its Foldable Phone Sales in 2026

Samsung Adopts Silicon-Carbon Batteries for the First Time with Galaxy Z Fold 8, Fold 8 Ultra, and Flip 8

Samsung Switches to Silicon-Carbon Batteries in New Galaxy Foldable Phones

Smartwatches with Faster Performance and Longer Battery Life

Samsung launched the Galaxy Watch 9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 at the event, with significant improvements in performance, battery, and health features. The Watch 9 runs on the Snapdragon Wear Elite processor built on a 3nm process, delivering 32% faster CPU performance and 19% improved graphics performance. It is available in 40mm and 44mm sizes with Sapphire Crystal displays.

The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 features a titanium design, is 12% thinner and 26% lighter than the previous generation, with a 34% thinner strap. Both watches support enhanced health features and advanced fitness tracking, with longer battery life thanks to new power management technologies.

Samsung Unveils Galaxy Watch 9 with Faster Performance, Larger Battery, and Smarter Health Features

Samsung Launches Galaxy Watch 9 on July 22 with Advanced Performance and Larger Battery

Samsung Launches Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 with Extensive Improvements in Design, Battery, and Display

Smart Glasses from Samsung and Google with Gemini Technology

Samsung and Google revealed the final design of the Intelligent Eyewear glasses, developed in partnership with Gentle Monster and Warby Parker. The glasses run on the Snapdragon AR1 Gen1 processor and Android XR, and support Gemini AI features such as real-time translation and message summarization. They feature light, slim frames suitable for daily use, with two designs: an elegant black from Gentle Monster and brown with slanted edges from Warby Parker.

Samsung and Google Unveil Smart Glasses with Gemini Technology and Modern Designs

Huawei Continues Competition with Strong Sales and Global Launch

On another front, Huawei’s Nova 16 series achieved sales of over one million units in China in just 39 days, despite the overall decline in the smartphone market. This success is attributed to the attractive design, Kirin 9010S processor, and HarmonyOS 6.1.

Huawei also globally launched the Pura 90s Pro Max, featuring an anti-reflective and scratch-resistant display using the new Kunlun glass, and a 200-megapixel telephoto camera with an ultra-large sensor, making it a strong competitor in the flagship phone category for 2026.

Huawei Nova 16 Series Sales Exceed One Million Units in China in 39 Days

Huawei Launches Its Flagship Phone Pura 90s Pro Max Globally with Five Advanced Features

Amid this technological momentum, both Samsung and Huawei emphasize the importance of innovation in foldable and wearable devices, with tangible improvements in performance, battery, and design. Expectations indicate that these releases will shape the smartphone and smart device market in the second half of the year.