Galaxy Z Fold 8 Series Sets Korean Preorder Record With 1.44 Million Units
Samsung's newest foldables have set the highest preorder total the company has ever recorded in South Korea. The Galaxy Z Flip 8, Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra drew more than 1.44 million preorders in Samsung's home market, beating a record that had stood since 2019.
The previous holder was the Galaxy Note 10 series, which took 1.38 million Korean preorders in 2019. The Galaxy S26 line, launched earlier in 2026, reached about 1.35 million. Samsung says the new foldables averaged roughly 140 units sold per minute across the preorder window.
This is a Korea-only number
It is worth being precise about what the figure covers, because the headline number travels further than the context usually does. The 1.44 million total is South Korean preorders only. It is not a global sales figure, and Samsung has not published preorder totals for other markets.
Korean preorder counts also work differently from outright sales elsewhere. They include reservations placed through carrier channels, and a preorder is not a completed, delivered sale. The number is a strong demand signal in one large market rather than a verdict on how the generation will perform worldwide.
The Fold took the clear majority
The split is the more interesting detail. The Fold 8 line accounted for more than 70 percent of all preorders, leaving the Flip 8 and the rest of the range to share what was left. That is a reversal of the usual pattern, where the cheaper clamshell tends to carry volume.
Samsung has credited the Fold 8's redesign for the swing, pointing to its new 4:3 aspect ratio and reworked body. The wider closed-state screen addresses the long-standing complaint that book-style foldables are awkward to use one-handed while shut.
On colours, the most-ordered finishes reportedly broke down like this:
- Galaxy Z Fold 8 — Cream and Graphite
- Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra — Graphite and Violet Shadow
- Galaxy Z Flip 8 — Pink and Cream
Clearing up the preorder dates
Published accounts of the preorder window do not agree, so here is the sequence as best it can be reconciled. Samsung unveiled the three phones at its Unpacked event in London on 22 July. Korean preorders then opened on 28 July and closed on 3 August, a seven-day window. Preorder units began reaching Korean buyers on 4 August, and general retail availability is set for 7 August.
Some reports have given the preorder period as starting on 22 July. That date is the Unpacked announcement, not the opening of Korean preorders — a distinction worth keeping straight if you are comparing this generation's window with previous ones.
Why the result is notable
The jump is steep. The previous generation, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7, is reported to have taken around 1.04 million Korean preorders. A move to 1.44 million is close to a 40 percent generational increase.
It also landed despite higher prices. Memory prices have climbed sharply through 2026, and that cost pressure has been feeding into phone pricing across the industry — the same squeeze behind Samsung's first operating loss in its mobile division. Reports out of Korea suggest this generation launched with steeper pricing and thinner preorder incentives than the last, which makes the volume more striking rather than less.
What buyers outside Korea should take from it
Practically, not a great deal changes for you. Retail availability outside Korea follows Samsung's usual staggered pattern by region, and strong home-market demand can occasionally tighten early stock on the most popular configurations — in this case the Fold models in Cream and Graphite.
If you are weighing the range, the split is the useful signal: buyers with hands-on access to all three overwhelmingly picked the book-style Fold this time. Anyone leaning the other way can compare the clamshell field in our roundup of the best flip phones to buy, and the Fold 8's software extras are worth a look too, including the per-app screen zoom hidden in One UI 9 Labs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many preorders did the Galaxy Z Fold 8 series get?
Samsung reported more than 1.44 million preorders for the Galaxy Z Flip 8, Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra combined. That figure covers South Korea only. It works out to an average of roughly 140 units per minute across the preorder window.
What record did the Galaxy Z Fold 8 break?
It broke Samsung's all-time preorder record in South Korea, previously held by the Galaxy Note 10 series with 1.38 million units in 2019. The Galaxy S26 series, launched earlier in 2026, had reached about 1.35 million. No Galaxy line had passed the Note 10 in seven years.
Is 1.44 million a global sales figure?
No. It counts South Korean preorders only, and Samsung has not published preorder totals for other markets. Preorders also include carrier-channel reservations rather than completed, delivered sales, so treat it as a demand signal in one market rather than worldwide performance.
When do the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Flip 8 go on sale?
Korean preorders ran from 28 July to 3 August, with preorder units reaching buyers on 4 August. General retail availability is set for 7 August. Availability in other regions follows Samsung’s usual staggered rollout.
Did the Fold or the Flip sell better?
The Fold 8 line took more than 70 percent of preorders, leaving under 30 percent for the Flip 8 and the rest of the range. Samsung has pointed to the Fold 8’s new 4:3 aspect ratio and redesigned body as the reason for the shift toward the book-style model.
