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Samsung's second big phone launch of the year is almost here — and while the leaks have given us lots of hints, we're here to untangle all of the official news on the its new foldables and smartwatches. And who knows, maybe Samsung will have a surprise in store too.

According to the rumors, it's going to be a particularly big day for foldables. We're expecting to see the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, Galaxy Z Flip 8, , and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra all make their debuts — and the Z Fold 8 could also be a sneak peak of what to expect from the incoming iPhone Ultra.

But if you've been waiting for a sequel to the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra or Galaxy Watch 8, it'll worth tuning in for those too. Both are expected to get successors today, when the event kicks off at 9am ET / 6am PT / 2pm BST / 11pm AEST on July 22.

So if you want to see what Samsung has in store today, join us for all of our live reactions and first impressions from inside the London event...

Welcome to Galaxy Unpacked 2026 (the sequel)

Hello, and welcome to our liveblog for Samsung's second big phone launch of the year, Galaxy Unpacked 2026.

We'll be reporting live from the London event, which kicks off at 9am ET / 6am PT / 2pm BST / 11pm AEST. But first, it's time to take you through all of the last-minute rumors on what we're expecting to see — and we certainly haven't been short of leaks...

The Z Fold 8 is winning the hype battle

Hey guys, let's guess what he's holding? pic.twitter.com/H9jwX1OCPt July 21, 2026

The Galazy Z Fold 8 is emerging as the potential star of today's Unpacked event — and the foldable has just appeared in a new teaser poster (above).

It's the Z Fold 8's wider, passport-style design, which will likely separate it from the taller Fold 8 Ultra, that makes it the one I'm most interested in from today's launches. Partly because it also probably gives us an early peak of the iPhone Ultra's likely form factor.

We're expecting to see a 5.5-inch cover display and 7.6-inch inner display, both with a 120Hz refresh rate. The teaser poster matches some of the leaked dummy units that we saw earlier this year (below).

First look at dummy units of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8, Z Fold8 Wide, and Z Flip8. The Fold8 Wide lines up closely with the expected size of the iPhone Fold. pic.twitter.com/NVP3agwsrM April 27, 2026

What are you most excited to see?

We've done a full rundown of everything we're expecting to see at Unpacked 2026 , so that's worth a read as we get closer to kick-off (in just over two hours).

But the short version is that we're expecting three foldables (a Z Fold 8, Z Fold 8 Ultra and Z Flip 8), plus two Galaxy Watches (the Watch Ultra 2 and Watch 9), and (potentially) also Samsung's first smart glasses.

Which one are you most excited about? Let us know in the poll below...

We've landed at Unpacked

Future Future We're very keen here at TechRadar, so we've already arrived at the Galaxy Unpacked event in London, and it's very... quiet.

That's understandable, as we're still two hours away from kick-off and many international attendees will be coming from hotels much closer to the start time.

A London-based Unpacked is a rarity — last year, Samsung did a mix of US-based and virtual events, while this year's earlier Unpacked in February was in San Francisco.

You have to go back to 2012 for the last time London hosted Samsung's main event, which saw the arrival of the Galaxy S III...

Future Future Will Samsung finally solve foldable creases?

pic.twitter.com/Ck4rIXaXxA July 22, 2026

There's a good chance that we'll see another big step towards crease-free foldables today. We recently visited Samsung Display's secret labs where it talked to us, among many other things, about its new "Flex Titanium Technology".

This includes a special structure at the fold to give added flexibility and help reduce crease visibility. We've recently more leaks on that theme — and while the image above doesn't look like a particularly fair comparison in terms of lighting, I'm hoping this new feature lives up to the hyper when we see it in person later.

If you host an event in London...

(Image credit: Future) The umbrellas are already out at the Galaxy Unpacked 2026 queue. We've had what feels like months without rain in London, but right on queue the dark clouds are forming.

It's now just over 90 minutes till kick-off time, so hopefully we'll be ushered inside soon...

Brace yourself for price hikes

(Image credit: Future) Some slightly less positive news from today's Galaxy Unpacked 2026 event is likely to be price hikes for the Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8.

A recent report from Korea (via Phone Arena ) suggested that both foldables could be about $130 pricier than their predecessors. In the grand scheme of RAMageddon, that wouldn't be too bad — and the Fold and Flip series have never been the most affordable phones anyway.

Samsung has also already increased the prices of the Z Fold and Flip 7 series over the past year, so hopefully that will soften today's potential price rises...

A self-healing crease?

Exclusive!Galaxy Z Fold8 series creases are self-healing. July 22, 2026

Samsung's upcoming foldables might not just have smaller creases than their predecessors, they could also have self-healing ones if the latest leak (above) is to be believed.

It's unclear how this would work, but perhaps it would ensure the crease doesn't become more visible over time. It also reminds us of the self-healing finish on the LG G Flex series, which could automatically fill in minor scratches.

It will be interesting to see how Samsung's take on this works, but if this leak is accurate then it could be Samsung's secret weapon against the upcoming foldable iPhone Ultra.

All the specs have already leaked

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future) Samsung might not have too many surprises today if you've been following the leaks and rumors, as WinFuture.de recently leaked complete specs lists for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, Z Fold 8 Ultra, and Z Flip 8.

Highlights if this leak is accurate include a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset for the two Z Folds and — at least in Europe — an Exynos 2600 for the Galaxy Z Flip 8.

We'll also apparently get a higher-capacity and faster charging 5,000mAh / 45W battery in the Z Fold 8 Ultra, but the real highlight could be the base Z Fold 8, since this is widely expected to have a new shorter, wider form factor, which according to this leak will allow for a 7.6-inch foldable screen and a 5.5-inch cover display.

The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 might live up to its name

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra (Image credit: Future) We're also expecting various wearables today, and WinFuture has spilled the beans on the Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 and Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 in a detailed leak.

The latter could have a slightly larger and much brighter display than its predecessor, coming in at 1.52 inches and 5,000 nits, and joined by a colossal — by smartwatch standards — 800mAh battery, along with a build that's designed with divers in mind.

This is sure to be expensive, but the standard Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 should be a cheaper option for anyone who doesn't need all the bells and whistles offered by the Ultra. Sadly though we're not expecting a new Classic model this year.

Samsung's first smart glasses sound like Ray-Ban Meta rivals

Ray-Ban Meta glasses (Image credit: Future) Samsung could be about to make smart glasses more mainstream, as its first pair is rumored to be included in today's announcements, and the Samsung Galaxy Glasses as we're calling them for now have been extensively leaked.

A detailed new leak on WinFuture tallies with what we've heard before, including that these apparently won't have a screen, and will instead rely on cameras and access to Gemini, which should be able to see what you can.

They sound a lot like the Ray-Ban Meta glasses, and like those they apparently use a Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 chipset, which is now three years old. Still, with supposedly 9 hours of battery life, Gemini access, and a big brand name behind them, they could be a hit.

These last-minute leaks are looking quite official

The official promotional materials for the Fold 8 series have been leaked by KT. pic.twitter.com/qzIvOTc6Dh July 22, 2026

We're now less than 30 minutes away from Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2026, and the leaks are looking ever more convincing, with what appears to be official marketing imagery having now leaked too, as you can see above.

This shows off all three expected foldables — the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8.

The purple Z Fold 8 Ultra looks quite appealing, but hopefully the pink background is a sign that we'll get some brighter colors too.

A subtle hint?

(Image credit: Future) We're taking our seats at London's Galaxy Unpacked 2026 event and noticed a nice little touch from Samsung.

When you remove the perforated portion of our lanyards, it's remarkably close to the expected shape of the Z Fold 8 that we've seen in leaks.

Still, if you want an even clearer idea of what's coming, check out the leaked marketing materials that have just landed for the Fold 8 series. Or you could just wait 15 minutes to see the real thing...

What about the Galaxy Ring 2?

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar) What's TechRadar's Senior Fitness & Wearables Editor Matt Evans most excited about at today's Unpacked?

"I'm most looking forward to the wearables — the Watch 8 was outstanding last year, and I’m hoping for more of the same on that front. But the hotly-rumored Watch Ultra 2 is going to be the real star. Plus, who knows? We may event get a hint about a Ring 2…", he says.

Samsung has already confirmed it's working on the Galaxy Ring 2 — and while it isn't expected to get a full launch today, we could well get a teaser at the end of the event (just as Samsung did for the original Ring).

Five minutes to go...

Future Future It's now just five minutes till kick off, and TechRadar's Lance Ulanoff has shared some final thoughts on this year's second Unpacked.

"We pretty much all know the shape of things to come, but I'm super curious to see the reaction from the crowd here and online. Is different better or just different? Can more fold shapes expand the market? Or can only Apple do that?" he says.

We won't have to wait long to find out...

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Satellite imagery independently confirms a Russian Tu-95MS strategic bomber was destroyed in Ukraine SBU drone strike on Engels-2 air base

The Tu-95 is essentially an impossible-to-replace Cold War-era asset with approximately only 60 in service and at least 10 photo-confirmed losses since the Russia-Ukraine conflict began in 2022

The loss is damning for Russian armed forces, which have deployed new hardened shelters and painted decoy bombers in a bid to trick drone operators who successfully destroyed the aircraft from an 800 km range

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that the country's Security Service had recently destroyed a Tu-95 strategic bomber at Russia's Engels-2 air base, but the missing piece was a lack of independent proof confirming the strike.

With the Ukrainian side claiming an 800 km deep strike at one of Russia's most important airfields, many often ask for proof in a war that sees both sides exaggerate kills and attempt to hide losses to further their own narratives.

This time, however, receipts did come in the form of satellite imagery published by the open-source intelligence group AviVector and corroborated by Planet Labs satellite images obtained by Schemes, the investigative project of Radio Free Europe & Radio Liberty, showing a destroyed TU-95MS on the tarmac at Engels-2 Air Base.

An expensive loss for Russia and why it matters

The Tu-95 is a machine from another age: a swept-wing turboprop that first flew in 1952, powered by NK-12 engines that remain the most powerful turboprops ever built and make it one of the loudest aircraft in the sky.

The Tu-95MS variant, adapted from the Tu-142 maritime patrol airframe, is Russia's primary carrier of the Kh-101 cruise missiles that have battered Ukrainian cities throughout the war, hauling up to six missiles on an internal rotary launcher, with the modernized Tu-95MSM adding new engines, avionics, and pylons for up to eight externally mounted Kh-101s or nuclear-tipped Kh-102s.

While the Kh-102s have never actually been used in war, given their non-conventional capabilities, the fact that the Tu-95MS is capable of essentially conducting a nuclear war from an airborne position highlights how central it is to Russia's overall deterrence, even as it can no longer replace its losses: the production infrastructure that created them is gone, while the promised replacement, the PAK DA stealth bomber program exists only on paper for now.

The move is important in a war that is psychological as much as it is asymmetric between the two foes: it demonstrates that Ukraine can strike deep into Russian territory and target even its most remote airfields. In addition, the Tu-95MS is one of the more important workhorses of Russia's strike campaign against Ukraine, often used to lob missiles at the latter's cities and positions alike; the attack essentially neuters Russian capabilities, with only ~60 of them currently in operation.

The Ukrainians have wasted no time highlighting both the financial aspect of the hit as well as its psychological impact, stating on Telegram (translated):

"The SBU systematically destroys important elements of the Russian military machine. Each liquidated strategic bomber means dozens of unlaunched missiles over Ukrainian cities, saved Ukrainian lives, and tens of millions of dollars in irretrievable losses for the enemy. Russian strategic aviation can no longer feel safe even at its most remote military airfields."

On the flipside, a single bomber being taken out does not change the war; Russia launched cruise missile salvos before July 16 and will probably launch them after despite the small loss in capability. It will also continue hardening its air defenses and hangars alike while painting decoys to mislead drone operators who manage to make it through, even as its jammers grow increasingly sophisticated.

But a fleet capped by a 34-year-old production shutdown, already down double digits thanks to successful strikes such as Ukraine's Operation Spiderweb , losing airframes at a base it has spent months fortifying, is a fleet whose every remaining mission carries a quietly rising price. Ukraine cannot build Tu-95s either. The difference is that a drone-touting Ukraine on the defensive doesn't need to.

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As we descend ever further into an AI-fueled dystopia, one question about our future becomes ever more pressing: When the internet is dominated by machines, who's going to be around to continue its long-standing tradition of fetishizing Japanese culture and media?

Well, there's no reason to worry, because it turns out the AIs are weebs, too. According to a white paper published back in April , experiments indicated that—when asked open-ended questions about culture—frontier LLMs like Claude, Gemini, and DeepSeek display a "disproportionate prominence of Japan" in their responses.

(Image credit: Getty Images) The study, conducted by a team of University of the Basque Country and Cardiff University researchers, was designed to assess the cultural and regional biases of LLMs. To do so, they constructed a multilingual set of 31,680 "open-ended yet culturally grounded questions," including prompts in 24 languages that spanned "66 cultural subtopics grouped into 11 higher-level domains."

The prompts included questions about belief and society, asking "What legends explain the land?" and "What is the role of neighbors?" They asked which subjects are most valued in school, what types of traditional dances exist, what foods are eaten during daily meals—all without directly referencing specific countries and cultures. After being given the initial prompt, the LLMs were then instructed to explicitly select a country or region to provide examples in their response.

"To reduce prompt variability, all questions follow a standardized template, and no explicit regional cues are provided," the researchers write. "This ensures that any regional or cultural assumptions arise from the model’s internal priors rather than prompt design."

(Image credit: NurPhoto via Getty Images) After prompting eight models—ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Meta Llama, Command-r, Magistral, Qwen, and DeepSeek—the most apparent bias is an unsurprising one: Across all models, LLMs will most often answer cultural prompts with whichever country or region is associated with the language used in the prompt. In other words, when asked cultural questions in French, LLMs will tend to give responses referencing France and French culture.

However, whenever LLMs provided an exogenous reference—that is, answers referencing a different country than the one associated with the language used—they had a clear favorite: AI loves talking about Japan.

On average, six out of the eight evaluated models preferred to reference Japan during exogenous responses. The United States came in second, followed by India, China, and France—but across all models, in all 24 languages, LLMs overwhelmingly preferred referencing Japan in seven out of 11 cultural prompt topics when excluding own-country mentions.

(Image credit: 2K) "This pattern suggests an uneven regional representation in frontier model outputs, with a strong concentration on a small set of dominant regions," the researchers say.

The study wasn't just intended to assess LLM bias, but also when that bias emerges during LLM training. To do so, they compared the English responses of Meta Llama, Qwen, and Gemma, and Mistral models both before and after instruction tuning —the fine-tuning of a pre-trained LLM intended to optimize its ability to provide responses that are useful to the user and not just grammatically correct.

The researchers' findings indicate that, before instruction tuning, base models displayed a broader set of cultural associations: "While the United States remains prominent" in base model responses to English-language cultural prompts, "substantial references are also made to Japan, India, China, and several European countries."

(Image credit: hapabapa via Getty Images) After instruction tuning, however, LLMs show more marked cultural preference.

"Across all examined model families, instruction tuning sharply increases alignment with the United States and Japan while reducing references to most other countries," the researchers write. "This convergence toward culturally dominant regions occurs even in models developed outside Western contexts, indicating that post-training induces a homogenization of cultural perspectives rather than merely reflecting model origin."

The disparity is particularly pronounced for model variants that have undergone supervised fine-tuning, a type of LLM optimization in which the model is further trained on examples of correct responses—often using human-generated or human-curated datasets.

The researchers found that "SFT sharply increases concentration on a small number of dominant regions (most notably the United States and Japan)"—an effect that's "only marginally" mitigated by additional instruction alignment. Those findings suggest that the process of curating or authoring "correct" responses injects a cultural bias into the model's response criteria.

"Taken together, these results demonstrate that instruction tuning systematically reduces cultural diversity in model outputs, steering responses toward a limited set of culturally dominant perspectives, particularly those associated with the United States and Japan," the study reads. "This finding has important implications for the deployment of instruction-tuned models in cross-cultural or global applications, where preserving diverse cultural viewpoints may be critical."

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There's nothing more disorienting than falling asleep in transit only to wake up and find you've somehow drifted billions of miles beyond the orbit of Pluto .

Fortunately for NASA's New Horizon spacecraft, which scientists just awakened from a nearly yearlong hibernation at the solar system's edge, all systems are in "good health," according to a NASA statement . Now, with the probe recovered from its 321-day sleep and beginning to transmit science data again, New Horizons appears ready to continue its mission of studying the mysterious boundary where the sun's realm ends and interstellar space begins.

"Every status report through this hibernation period was 'green,' meaning all was well aboard New Horizons each and every week," Alice Bowman , the New Horizons mission operations manager at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Maryland, said in the statement.

New Horizons launched in 2006, breaking the record for fastest-ever space launch at roughly 36,400 mph (58,500 km/h). On its way to the edge of the solar system , the spacecraft picked up speed during a flyby of Jupiter in 2007 and then again while passing Pluto in 2015. Today, New Horizons is about 5.9 billion miles (9.5 billion kilometers) from Earth, or roughly 64 times the distance from Earth to the sun (64 astronomical units, or AU).

With the exception of the twin Voyager probes that launched in 1977, New Horizons is the farthest working spacecraft in the universe. (Two other probes, Pioneer 10 and 11, have traveled farther, but each stopped working several decades ago.)

An illustration of the Kuiper Belt object Arrokoth, the farthest-ever solar system object to receive a close flyby. New Horizons whizzed past it in 2019. (Image credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Southwest Research Institute/Steve Gribben) Like the Voyager twins, New Horizons is on a trajectory toward the heliopause — the extreme outer edge of the sun's influence, where solar wind collides with the interstellar medium.

The Voyager probes proved that this dividing line is a measurable, physical boundary in space, marked by a hot, thick plasma barrier . However, New Horizons will eventually pass this boundary with far more sensitive instruments than the Voyagers held, enabling it to collect the most detailed data about this region ever.

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But there's still a long way to go. The heliopause is estimated to begin about 120 AU from the sun — nearly twice as far as New Horizons has traveled so far. In the meantime, a long and lonely journey through the Kuiper Belt awaits. In the coming weeks, the spacecraft will begin conducting a study of hydrogen in the outer reaches of the heliosphere as it sends back the hoarded trove of data from its year in hibernation.

According to NASA, each transmission between New Horizons and Earth takes about 8 hours and 52 minutes, with that delay growing all the time.

In the Kuiper Belt, New Horizons may also have the chance to study peculiar, icy objects similar to the peanut-shaped space rock Arrokoth , which the probe flew by in 2019. This was the furthest object in the solar system ever to receive a close spacecraft flyby; whether New Horizons will break its own record again in the coming years is an open question.