Samsung Electronics boosts its latest Galaxy Z8 series and new Galaxy Watch models into South-East Asia and Oceania, driven by rising demand among younger consumers and record pre-orders, signalling a shift towards mainstream adoption of foldables and AI-enhanced wearables in the region.
Samsung Electronics is expanding its latest foldable phones and wearables into South-East Asia and Oceania, betting that demand in the region will help sustain momentum for its premium mobile range. The company said on 14 August that the Galaxy Z8 series and new Galaxy Watch models are going on sale across the two regions, with early interest strongest in the larger foldable models.
The launch covers the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold8 and Galaxy Z Flip8. Samsung said pre-orders for the Fold8 Ultra and Fold8 in South-East Asia and Oceania were 60% higher than the previous generation, a record for the market and a sign that foldable phones remain especially popular there. Globally, the Galaxy Z8 series has drawn more than 30% more pre-orders than its predecessor, according to the company. Samsung also said 6 in 10 local pre-order customers chose the Fold8, underlining the pull of the book-style model over the more expensive Ultra variant.
The early sales pattern fits a wider trend. Reports from SamMobile and 9to5Google indicated that Samsung increased production of the base Fold8 before launch, yet it is still selling faster than expected and has at times run short of stock. That suggests the standard model’s lower price and new form factor are drawing more buyers than Samsung may have anticipated, even as the Ultra remains in supply. Samsung said 60% of buyers who ordered through Samsung.com were in their 10s, 20s or 30s, pointing to stronger interest from younger consumers.
Samsung is also pairing the phones with new wearables. According to Samsung Mobile Press, the Galaxy Watch Ultra2 and Galaxy Watch9 were unveiled at Galaxy Unpacked 2026 in London, with the Ultra2 aimed at demanding outdoor use through its 47mm case, 800mAh battery and 5,000 nits display brightness, while the Watch9 is built for day-to-day health tracking with a slimmer design and continuous monitoring. Both use Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Wear Elite platform and connect with Samsung Health. Samsung said the combined product line is intended to deepen its Galaxy AI ecosystem in South-East Asia and Oceania, where it sees foldables and AI features becoming more closely tied to everyday mobile use.
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