- 0-20%: Unlikely - Lacks credible sources
- 21-40%: Questionable - Some concerns remain
- 41-60%: Plausible - Reasonable evidence
- 61-80%: Probable - Strong evidence
- 81-100%: Highly Likely - Multiple reliable sources
50%
Plausible
A series of price cuts will be enforced on Samsung’s premium smartphone lineup as part of its strategy to maintain profitability during the DRAM crisis, but that also means the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 8 is going to be downgraded to the extent that the Galaxy S26 Ultra becomes a more salivating option for buyers. After all, Samsung’s next foldable flagship isn’t just going to be expensive, but it will miss out on features that you’ll find on the company’s premium ‘candy bar’ offering.
No privacy screen and lack of S Pen support on the Galaxy Z Fold 8 should make the Galaxy S26 Ultra an ‘instant buy’ for customers
A fresh rumor from notable tipster Ice Universe claims that Samsung will bring three trade-offs to the Galaxy Z Fold 8. First, the upcoming foldable won’t be treated to the Privacy Display, which was one of the premier upgrades belonging to the Galaxy S26 Ultra. Based on multiple reviews, this feature wasn’t like any third-party privacy screen protectors and offered a ton of software control to users, making it one of the best additions to witness in a smartphone.
It’s possible the Privacy Display is omitted from the Galaxy Z Fold 8 because Samsung is facing technical challenges, not to mention the increased cost of applying this upgrade to the Ultra-Thin Glass layer will be complicated. Ice Universe also states that there will be no S Pen support on the Galaxy Z Fold 8, and judging by the tipster’s words, the stylus simply won’t work with the foldable flagship as it may not sport a digitizer.
Lastly, the crease isn’t expected to be greatly improved on the Galaxy Z Fold 8, suggesting that Samsung may simply reuse the older hinge materials it incorporated on the Galaxy Z Fold 7. Looking at the advancements Apple is rumored to make with the liquid metal hinge to eliminate the crease from the iPhone Fold, not to mention its rivals expected to mimic this approach, it’s disappointing that Samsung would resort to such downgrades.
Then again, the Korean giant is said to purchase BOE’s OLED panels for the base Galaxy S27 instead of its own display manufacturing arm to reduce its components expenditure in an effort to boost its margins, but it should be noted that Samsung will receive quite a bit of criticism for downgrading one of its most expensive smartphone releases of 2026.
From a business perspective, it’s the right move, since the company hasn’t had nearly as much success shipping foldable smartphones as it has with its traditional-shaped flagships. Given that the Galaxy S26 Ultra continues to sell in droves, the company would prefer to focus on its workhorse. If you don’t want to be disappointed later this year, but still want a capable flagship, we recommend grabbing the Galaxy S26 Ultra from Amazon at a $250 discount, making it a steal of a deal.
News Source: Ice Universe
About the author: Omar Sohail is a reporter and analyst for Wccftech's mobile section, specializing in the technology and business of the mobile industry. His expertise lies in the intricate hardware supply chain, covering developments in semiconductor manufacturing, chip lithography, and camera sensor technology.
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