Samsung Galaxy W27 leaks in navy and gold, and I want one badly
With the iPhone Duo’s shipping dates pushed back to January just hours after preorders opened, even as reports of cracked screens roll in, rivals have a rare chance to grab some attention. Samsung is stepping in today with a new foldable in China, dressed in gold.
It’s called the Galaxy W27, a luxury China-only take on the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra. Samsung confirmed the launch on Weibo, while two well-known leakers spoiled the look days ahead of time. Buying one outside China means braving the import market. I’m tempted anyway.
Navy and gold: the Galaxy W27 up close
The gold frame has already caught my eye in Samsung’s teaser images. There’s more to pick apart on the registration page, where the URL reads “W2026” and a poll asks visitors about their interest in the W series. Ice Universe posted a photo of the handset, and Evan Blass gave us several more views in his renders.
Deep navy on the back. Gold around the frame. Three lenses in a long gold camera pill. The seal near the bottom carries Chinese characters instead of a familiar logo, and Samsung’s wordmark sits on the hinge. Ice Universe’s photo shows a glossy finish that Blass’s renders don’t quite capture. I’m going with the photo.
16 GB of RAM and 1 TB, going by history
Inside, the W27 appears to copy the Ultra. Ice Universe’s leak points to a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy chip and a 200 MP main camera, with 50 MP and 10 MP lenses beside it. That sensor alone makes the W27 more than a pretty shell. The 5,000 mAh battery with 45 W charging is fine, and fine is a strange word for a phone at this price.
Memory is where the W series tends to break from its global sibling. Last year’s W26 packed more RAM than the Galaxy Z Fold7, and past form suggests the W27 arrives in one 16 GB/1 TB configuration. The regular Ultra stops at 12 GB.
Samsung hasn’t shared a price. I’d brace for well past the $2,099.99 the 512GB Ultra already costs, and the iPhone Duo’s $1,999 starting price suddenly looks sensible next to it. The W26 also shipped with a charger in the box, a perk I’d love to see return.
Samsung picked the Ultra, and I’d have gone wide
My Gadget Flow teammates know I’m the person who keeps bringing up foldables. And yet, Samsung’s choice for the W27 leaves me scratching my head.
The wider Galaxy Z Fold8 already exists, and the market seems to be moving in that direction. Apple’s iPhone Duo has brought more attention to the category, while Xiaomi and Huawei have wide foldables on sale in China. Why go near-square with the Ultra when Samsung could have taken the wider route?
Analysts expect foldable display shipments to jump 44% this year. You’d think Samsung would want its showpiece riding that wave in its newest shape. Still, the Ultra is Samsung’s top foldable this year, and a luxury badge wants the top spec sheet. Maybe that’s the point.
Background: a gold Fold every year
Every year, Samsung rebrands its top foldable for China and wraps it in fancier packaging. The one exception came in 2024, when the Galaxy Z Fold6 Special Edition reached more markets and paved the way for the Galaxy Z Fold7.
The W27 is Samsung’s fourth foldable in 2026, following the Galaxy Z Flip8 and both Fold8 models. Its official reveal should fill in the gaps. Tell me in the comments whether you’d pay import prices for a gold Fold, because I’m leaning toward yes.
