Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra appears online with a Messi face and a $13,000 price tag
Russian luxury brand Caviar unveiled a customized Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra “Legends” edition featuring hand-painted artwork of soccer star Lionel Messi, listing it online this week with a starting price of $13,130. According to Android Central, the edition is a third-party luxury modification and not an official Samsung model, whose base Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra starts at $2,099 in the United States.
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra “Legends” edition by Russian luxury brand Caviar features a hand-painted cloisonné enamel artwork of Lionel Messi on the rear panel, rendered in Argentina’s national team colors and accented with 24-karat gold. According to Android Central, this customized edition replaces the standard rear panel of Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra with an artisanal backplate, while retaining the original device’s internal specifications and folding mechanics. The limited-edition model is part of Caviar’s “Legends” collection, which highlights prominent global icons through intricate craftsmanship and precious materials.
Caviar has listed the Messi edition with a starting price of $13,130 for the 256GB variant, nearly six times higher than Samsung’s official base price for the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra.
The company offers optional customization services such as custom engravings, logos, design modifications, and bespoke packaging, which can further increase the total cost. Android Central reported that only 19 units of this edition will be produced worldwide, underscoring its exclusivity as a collector’s item.
By contrast, Samsung announced the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra on July 22, 2026, confirming a starting price of $2,099.99 in the United States for the 12GB RAM and 256GB storage configuration, according to PhoneArena and SamMobile. Higher-capacity models are priced at $2,299 for 12GB RAM with 512GB storage, and $2,699 for 16GB RAM with 1TB storage. European pricing for the standard Fold 8 Ultra ranges from €2,199 to €2,799 depending on storage capacity, according to SamMobile. Samsung’s official release date for the device is August 7, 2026.
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is powered by a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy chipset and offers up to 16GB of RAM, depending on the model. The device features a 5,000 mAh battery supporting 45W wired fast charging and approximately 20W wireless charging. Camera specifications include a 200-megapixel main sensor with 2x optical-quality zoom, a 50-megapixel ultra-wide camera, a 10-megapixel telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom, a 10-megapixel cover camera, and a 10-megapixel inner selfie camera, as detailed by PhoneArena and other tech sources.
Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra introduces a new hinge and display technology called Flex Titanium, which reduces the visibility of the crease on the folding screen. The handset runs One UI 9 based on Android 17 and incorporates Gemini Intelligence features. Official color options include Graphite, Cream, Violet Shadow, and an online-exclusive Green Shadow, according to SamMobile and TechAdvisor. The device is lighter and thinner when unfolded, measuring approximately 4.1 millimeters in thickness.
The Caviar Messi edition overlays Samsung’s industrial design with luxury materials and artwork on the rear panel but maintains the core hardware, software, and folding mechanics of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra. The $13,130 price tag reflects the combination of limited production, handcrafted cloisonné enamel art, and 24-karat gold accents, as reported by Android Central.
Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra represents the latest in foldable smartphone technology, with official availability scheduled for early August 2026. Meanwhile, third-party luxury customizers like Caviar continue to offer exclusive editions that cater to collectors and enthusiasts seeking unique, high-end modifications.
