What you need to know

• Samsung has officially ended software support for the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3 after five years.
• Both foldables received four years of OS upgrades and five years of security updates, as Samsung originally promised.
• Samsung has removed both phones from its security update page, meaning they won't receive regular security patches anymore.

Samsung's foldable phones that launched in the summer of 2021 have officially reached the end of their software support cycle.

Most Samsung flagship smartphones today, including the Galaxy S26 Ultra and even 2024's Galaxy S24 Ultra, come with seven years of software support. But Samsung hasn't always offered updates for this long. Older flagships came with shorter support promises, and now the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3 have officially reached the end of theirs.

As spotted by Android Authority, the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3 have received their final software updates. At launch, Samsung promised four years of OS upgrades and five years of security updates for both foldables, and the company has now fulfilled that promise. Samsung has also removed both devices from its security updates page.

This means Samsung won't be releasing any further regular software or security updates for these devices. The oldest foldables officially supported by the company are now the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Z Flip 4. Even those devices have moved to a quarterly update schedule, unlike newer Samsung phones that continue to receive monthly updates.

So, if you're still using a Galaxy Z Fold 3 or Galaxy Z Flip 3, your phone won't receive any new regular security patches from Samsung going forward. That means any new security vulnerabilities discovered from here on may remain unpatched on these devices.

If you're still holding onto one of these foldables, this might finally be the time to start thinking about an upgrade. Samsung recently introduced a completely new form factor with the Galaxy Z Fold 8, while its latest foldables also come with a much longer software support promise.

If you've managed to keep your Fold 3 or Flip 3 running for five years, one of Samsung's newer foldables should last you considerably longer.

What you need to know

• Samsung highlights achievements by its Galaxy Z8 series in 2026, stating the Fold 8 and Fold 8 Ultra sales are topping the Fold 7 by 30% with "high demand."
• While the Flip 8's sales are far lower, Samsung states the clamshell is succeeding as an entry into foldables, and it's also successfully getting users to switch to the Korean OEM.
• The company also highlights hardware changes in the series, such as the Fold 8's light 201g weight, the bigger 5,600mAh battery in the Fold 8 Ultra, and more.

Samsung is highlighting the achievements of the Galaxy Z8 series, as it notes higher sales and the "highest share of buyers" for one phone.

Today (Sept 8), Samsung published its official insights into the Galaxy Z8 series following the trio's launch this summer. Among its shopper analytics, Samsung states consumers have enjoyed the Galaxy Z Fold 8's "thin and light design for greater portability." Alternatively, consumers preferred the Fold 8 Ultra for its larger display. It seems the most common feedback Samsung received was that the Fold 8 Ultra's display reduced the need to carry a tablet.

As a result, Samsung observed "high demand" during the strong pre-order period for these foldables.

Together, the post states the Fold 8 and Fold 8 Ultra are outpacing the Fold 7's sales by 30%. Additionally, these book-style foldables account for 80% of all (current) foldable sales this year.

The Galaxy Z Flip 8 has seemed to fall by the wayside this year, but Samsung has excelled in other areas. According to its data, the Flip 8 has reportedly succeeded in getting consumers to switch from other brands. Samsung states 30% of Flip 8 buyers come from competing brands. What's more, "most of those buyers are first-time foldable owners."

Samsung goes down an interesting route. It states that the Flip 8 (or the Flip series in general) serves as a springboard for consumers new to foldables. With that in mind, there are reportedly "more than three times" the number of Z Flip users trading in for a Fold 8 or Fold 8 Ultra in 2026. These numbers are up compared to the Flip 7.

Samsung has observed positivity and growth for its foldables this year. Alongside its sales overview, it also detailed key engineering facts about the devices. The Galaxy Z Fold 8, for example, is just as thin as the Fold 7 (8.9mm); however, it's lighter at 201g. Flex Titanium is a technology Samsung uses for the Fold 8 and Fold 8 Ultra. The post states this tech utilizes Titanium Alloy Film, which is "one-third the width of a human hair."

The materials and structure used reportedly maintain foldable performance despite its thinness. What's more, the Fold 8 Ultra features a 5,000mAh battery (up from 4,400mAh last year) with greater heat-dissipation capabilities. Samsung says it increased this by 7% over the Fold 7.

Samsung's 2026 foldables

This isn't the first time we've heard about Samsung's foldable sales performance. Rumors started late in July, after Unpacked, that the Galaxy Z Fold 8 sales had skyrocketed. We were only in the pre-order phase, but that reportedly didn't stop websites overseas from crashing in the rush of consumers. Sites were crashing within 30 minutes after the product became available for pre-order. Additionally, reports said that shipping dates were delayed, as companies needed more inventory to meet demand.

We're now seeing the whole picture from Samsung. Sales have clearly turned positive for the company. While the Flip 8 has totalled far less than the Fold 8/Fold 8 Ultra, it's found success in another area that Samsung might feel satisfied with.

What you need to know

• Reports have appeared online, as users state the corner's of their Fold 8's display bends or "indents" when pressed.
• This most commonly occurs with the top right corner; however, there are others who haven't experienced this.
• Samsung provided an official statement, stating this is intentional to help avoid damage if thin, fine particles become stuck on the screen.

Galaxy Z Fold 8 consumers have noticed something strange with the device's screen, and it's caused a stir. Samsung has explained the situation, stating the reality is much better than it seems.

Tipster Lanzuk on Naver highlighted users experiencing the Galaxy Z Fold 8's screen bend or "indentation" (via SamMobile). Their post states that one side of the phone's display can be pressed "more severely than the other." They add that this most commonly happens in the upper right corner of the foldable. Lanzuk offered video evidence, showing the Fold 8's unfolded display nightmarishly bending when pressed.

The way it dips into the phone has startled consumers, forcing them to believe something is wrong. It's stirred quality control conversations online. The video highlights other corners without this indentation. Lanzuk says reports vary: some users experience at least one corner bending in when pressed, while others don't.

Samsung might have something to say about this, as a report by Business Post cites an official statement (via 9to5Google). According to Samsung, everything is normal. It adds, "We designed it so the display indents slightly to provide a cushioning effect and prevent damage." The sort of damage Samsung is looking to help users avoid involves very fine or thin particles, such as sand. It explained that if something were to get stuck on the display and it's then folded, it could cause damage.

The small bend or dip helps avoid damage, so you can remove the substance without worry.

Where the Fold 8 could go

It might help settle the rapidly beating hearts of consumers who've noticed their screen bend. It's not something pleasant to see, and the reactions are understandable.

Elsewhere, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 has remained quite popular for Samsung since its launch. It's become so popular that rumors suggest the company could restart its "luxury foldable strategy" with the Fold 8. A "special edition" Galaxy Z Fold 8 could be on the horizon for the second half of 2026, with Thom Browne as a purported top contender. This would return the previous partnership that occurred with the Fold 5.

Samsung paired the device with a matching smartwatch, exclusive accessories, and a custom finish. While Thom Browne is a "top contender," Samsung could also look to Maison Margiela, which it previously worked with.

Android Central's Take

The tipster from Naver mentioned that many of these Fold 8 reports got started as September got rolling. Consumers from South Korea, as well as other international countries (like the U.S.) have reported similar findings. It's good that Samsung has been rather timely with a response. I'd freak out, too, if I pressed by screen and I saw it bend. I'd think something was wrong with it. Hopefully, this is the response people were looking for to settle their worries.

TL;DR: the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra just scored a rare 27% discount during Amazon's Labor Day sale, but the deal expires in less than 24 hours!

It's no secret that the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is one of the best phones ever built, but its steep price tag has been a major barrier for a lot of Android fans. Fortunately, Amazon's Labor Day sale is live and slashing 27% off the unlocked flagship, dropping the price to a much more reasonable $953.

The only catch is that the deal ends at midnight tonight, so you better act fast if you're interested. We probably won't see another discount like this until the fall sales begin in earnest next month.

• Amazon's Labor Day sale ends TONIGHT: see the full list of deals

The nearly perfect Galaxy S26 Ultra just scored a hefty discount during Amazon's Labor Day sale

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is pure luxury inside and out, with a stunning 6.9-inch AMOLED display (with built-in stylus), IP68 ingress protection with an aluminum and Gorilla Glass build, and a slimmer, more lightweight design than its predecessor.

Under the hood, the phone is equipped with the excellent Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, plus you get 12GB of RAM, a seven-year software promise, and all of the latest AI-boosted software features from Galaxy AI. The S26 Ultra also has the innovative Privacy Display feature that prevents people from seeing your screen unless they're looking at it straight on.

Indeed, even with this discount, $953 is a lot for a phone. But if you've had your eye on the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra for a while and you prefer the simplicity of an unlocked device, this deal is tough to beat. Just don't wait too long: once this offer is gone, it's going to be at least a month before the Galaxy S26 Ultra gets another discount this good.

Looking for more? Check out my guide to the best Samsung Galaxy S26 deals of September 2026.

Samsung's latest 'Fan Edition' smartphone has just hit store shelves, and you can already find some solid Galaxy S26 FE deals during Labor Day sales this weekend. Buy the midrange masterpiece unlocked from Amazon, for instance, and you'll get a free $200 gift card with your purchase. No strings attached!

You can even claim an additional gift card worth up to $600 if you trade in an old or broken device on the retailer's website. Not too shabby for an Android phone that was literally just announced last week! No Prime membership is required to receive the gift card, but be aware that Amazon's deal ends on September 20th — so you don't have very long to claim your free cash.

• See my TOP 20+ favorite deals during Amazon's Labor Day sale

The 'Fan Edition' Galaxy S26 FE comes with a free $200 gift card at Amazon

Don't let its unassuming design fool you: the Galaxy S26 FE is one of the best 'Fan Edition' smartphones that Samsung has produced in years. Starting at $699.99 for the 128GB version, the device comes equipped with a lovely 6.7-inch AMOLED display constructed from durable Gorilla Glass Victus+, while under the hood you get a powerful Exynos chipset and a 4,900mAh battery that should easily last a full day on a single charge.

Looking at the camera tech, the Galaxy S26 FE boasts a 50MP main lens, plus you get all of the brand's latest AI-boosted software features, such as Nightography and My FanCam. The midrange smartphone also comes with Android 17 straight out of the box, making the Galaxy S26 FE the first Samsung phone to launch with One UI 9. You even get seven years of OS and security updates guaranteed, which is extremely unusual for phones in this price range.

So what's the catch?

Well, the problem with Samsung's FE series always comes down to timing and price. The midrange phones generally launch months after the release of the company's S-series lineup, which means the flagship devices are often getting discounted by the time the new FE arrives. For example, you can currently buy an unlocked Samsung Galaxy S26 256GB for $721 at Amazon, which is only $21 more expensive than the S26 FE. Although, of course, you won't get the $200 gift card.

If you want a great smartphone with Android 17 out of the box AND $200 of Amazon spending money, this Galaxy S26 FE promotion is an awesome deal. If, on the other hand, you're simply looking for the best Android phone deal imaginable, it might be worth waiting a few weeks to see what the fall sale season has in store for us.

TL;DR: I just found some Labor Day deals that carve up to $350 off the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, no strings attached.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra has only been out since August 7th, but you can already score some impressive discounts if you know where to look. The best part is that these are straight discounts, which means you don't need to worry about meeting any kind of eligibility requirements to receive the savings.

No confusing contracts, no trade-in process: just good old-fashioned discounts on a powerful Android phone. Considering that the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra starts at a steep $2,099.99, these straightforward Labor Day deals are a very welcome sight.

• See my guide to the best Galaxy Z Fold 8 / Z Fold 8 Ultra deals of September 2026

Starting at $2,099.99, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is both a follow-up to last year's great Galaxy Z Fold 7 and a major upgrade upon it. This impressive foldable phone takes its predecessor's thin and lightweight build and adds a huge 5,000mAh battery, the latest Qualcomm chip, and all of the latest AI-boosted software features from Galaxy AI.

As promised, the center crease is less visible than ever before, plus the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra comes with all of the powerful specs you'd expect from a 2026 Samsung foldable, including great cameras, two gorgeous AMOLED displays, and seven years of guaranteed OS and security upgrades.

Indeed, the biggest problem that I have with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is probably its price. Spending over $2,000 on a smartphone simply isn't realistic for many folks, which is why deals like the offer above are so essential. A $350 price reduction may seem like a drop in the bucket for such an expensive phone, but if you want a straightforward offer without any confusing fine print, these discounts are going to be pretty tough to beat (until Black Friday, at least).

Samsung didn't change too many things with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, but a key area of differentiation is silicon-carbon battery tech. This is one of the reasons how Samsung managed to slot in a bigger 5,000mAh battery in the foldable while retaining a similar svelte design as the Z Fold 7. In fact, all of Samsung's latest foldables use silicon batteries, but it's the Z Fold 8 and Fold 8 Ultra where the difference is immediately noticeable. I asked Samsung a list of questions around its implementation of silicon-carbon tech, and it is interesting to see how the brand is going about integrating the tech into its latest foldables.

As a refresher, a silicon battery has a small mixture of a silicon-carbon material in the anode, leading to an increased energy density. The amount of silicon content in the anode varies by brand, and Samsung didn't share how much it is using in its foldables. To give you some context, most brands use around a mixture of 10% silicon by weight in the anode, with some — like Xiaomi's Redmi Note 17 Pro Max that has a 9,210mAh battery — going with a slightly higher 16% silicon ratio to provide greater energy density.

Why don't brands just use an anode that's entirely made out of silicon-carbon? That's because while silicon has much better energy density — ten times as much as graphite — it undergoes expansion and contraction during charging, something you don't want in a phone battery. As there is a greater risk of long-term stability or battery swelling with extended use, it is mixed with carbon to deliver a mechanically stable structure while offering better electrical conductivity.

Brands are being (justifiably) cautious of the tech, and a Samsung spokesperson said the brand "reengineering the battery system" to facilitate the use of silicon-carbon in the anode, and to ensure that the higher-density batteries it is using this year are just as safe to use as traditional lithium-ion batteries:

"On the anode side, a thin carbon coating helps manage the reactivity of silicon-carbon particles, helping mitigate sudden volume changes during charge and discharge and supporting long-term stability," said Samsung. "On the cathode side, coating and doping help maintain surface stability and structural integrity, even under higher voltage conditions."

Another thing to consider is long-term durability, and Samsung says it added "additives" to the electrolyte to "help form a protective layer on the silicon surface, reducing silicon reactivity and supporting long-term cell stability."

Samsung also made tweaks to the separator — a polymer sheet that sits between the cathode and anode — which has a "high-porosity structure" to "improve ion movement while maintaining strength and thermal stability."

What's interesting is that Samsung is using different battery architectures for its foldables. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Fold 8 Ultra use a "dual-path charging architecture that distributes power more efficiently across the battery system, enabling faster, more stable and reliable charging while improving heat management." This system enables 45W charging on both devices, but with the Flip 8, Samsung "separately optimized for the unique spatial and thermal requirements" of the compact foldable, so it has a battery size and charging tech that's unchanged to last year.

With Samsung just getting started with silicon-carbon batteries, it's understandable that it is playing it safe. While foldables like the Razr Fold, Vivo X Fold 5, and the Find N6 come with 6,000mAh silicon batteries, the Z Fold 8 Ultra has a much more modest 5,000mAh unit. It is still considerable progress from last year, and I'm glad to see Samsung leveraging this tech — I can't wait to see how it evolves with the Galaxy S27 next year.