Phones launched this week in India: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8, Fold8 Ultra, iQOO Z11 Lite, and more

By
Saloni Tandon
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This week saw smartphone launches across nearly every price segment in India. Samsung grabbed the spotlight with three new foldables, including the all-new Galaxy Z Fold8, the flagship Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, and the Galaxy Z Flip8. Meanwhile, iQOO strengthened its budget portfolio with the battery-focused Z11 Lite, and Lava introduced the Virat V1 series, targeting first-time smartphone buyers with clean software and competitive pricing.

While premium devices are betting on AI, foldable designs and longer software support, budget smartphones continue to compete on battery life, durability and overall value. Here’s a look at the key phones launched this week in the country and what they offer.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8

Even though the name might make it sound like a generational upgrade, Samsung introduced the Galaxy Z Fold8 as a new addition to its foldable lineup with a new, wider form factor for media consumption and everyday usability. Our first impressions called it “a great middle ground between the sleek Flip8 and the serious Fold8 Ultra.” Samsung bumped up the starting price of the Fold8 from the last generation by Rs 5,000, which is not much considering the premiums phones are commanding after the recent price hikes. However, as we go up the storage ladder, the difference starts becoming more glaring as the Fold7 1TB model was Rs 23,000 cheaper than the Fold8 counterpart.

Price in India

  • 12GB + 256GB: Rs 1,79,999
  • 12GB + 512GB: Rs 1,99,999
  • 16GB + 1TB: Rs 2,39,999

The phone features a 7.6-inch 120Hz Dynamic AMOLED 2X inner display and a 5.5-inch 120Hz cover display. It is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, paired with up to 16GB RAM and 1TB storage. Other highlights include a 4,800mAh battery with 45W charging, dual 50MP rear cameras, IP48 protection and One UI 9 based on Android 17.

Samsung has positioned the Fold8 as a lighter, entertainment-first foldable. That gives buyers another choice within Samsung’s lineup with another form factor rather than pushing everyone towards the Ultra model. Those looking for a premium foldable primarily for reading, streaming and multitasking may find the Fold8 a more balanced option than the pricier Ultra.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra

The Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra remains Samsung’s flagship foldable and brings improvements to cameras, durability and AI features. Samsung has employed a new ‘Flex Titanium’ tech that uses a titanium-alloy film with an enhanced titanium plate in the display structure to make the new Fold8 lineup quite slim more durable and almost “creaseless”. Samsung has slapped on the Ultra suffix to indicate that this is the top model in its flagship lineup, and the price conveys that. It starts at the mighty Rs 2 lakh-mark, which is a milestone in the Indian smartphone space.

Price in India

  • 12GB + 256GB: Rs 1,99,999
  • 12GB + 512GB: Rs 2,19,999
  • 16GB + 1TB: Rs 2,59,999

The Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra sports an 8-inch adaptive AMOLED display, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy chipset, 5,000mAh battery, up to 16GB RAM, and a versatile camera setup headlined by a 200MP primary sensor alongside a new 50MP ultrawide camera. Compared to rivals like Vivo’s X Fold series, Samsung still trails on battery capacity but continues to lean on software optimisation, Galaxy AI and long-term software support as differentiators. If you want Samsung’s most feature-rich foldable and don’t mind paying a premium, the Fold8 Ultra remains the company’s most complete offering yet.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8

Probably the most humble of the foldable lot, Samsung also refreshed its clamshell foldable with the Galaxy Z Flip8, focusing on smarter software and a more useful cover display. It’s said to be the lightest and thinnest Flip ever. As we noted in our first impressions, “Apart from its compactness, the beauty of this form factor lies in the unique use cases it offers – FlexCam is a good example. Using the flip design and the cover screen, it provides flexible shooting angles and real-time previews, aiding photography and letting you get creative in ways you couldn’t imagine before.”

Price in India

  • 12GB + 256GB: Rs 1,24,999
  • 12GB + 512GB: Rs 1,44,999

The Flip8 features a 6.9-inch foldable AMOLED display, a 4.1-inch FlexWindow, Samsung’s Exynos 2600 chipset, a 4,300mAh battery, and dual rear cameras led by a 50MP sensor. AI-powered features such as ProVisual Engine, Flex Mode improvements and enhanced cover-screen functionality headline this year’s upgrades. Rather than making sweeping hardware changes, Samsung has focused on refining the overall Flip experience. For buyers considering a premium flip phone, the Galaxy Z Flip8 remains one of the strongest options alongside Motorola’s Razr series.

iQOO Z11 Lite

Moving from the heavy duty super-flagship segment, there’s the iQOO Z11 Lite which has launched in the sub-Rs 20,000 range. The iQOO Z11 Lite expands the brand’s affordable Z-series lineup with an emphasis on battery life and everyday performance. The price in India starts at Rs 19,499 for the 4GB + 128GB variant, Rs 21,499 for the 6GB + 128GB option and Rs 24,499 for the 6GB + 256GB variant.

The iQOO Z11 Lite comes with a 6.74-inch 120Hz HD+ LCD display, MediaTek Dimensity 6300 processor, 6,500mAh battery with 44W fast charging, a 50MP Sony camera, Android 16-based OriginOS and an IP65 rating. Its biggest strength is battery endurance, although the HD+ display and entry-level chipset mean it isn’t designed for demanding gaming or photography. If long battery life and dependable day-to-day performance matter, the Z11 Lite is worth considering.

Lava Virat V1 and Virat V1 5G

Lava rounded off the week’s launches with two budget smartphones aimed at users seeking clean software and reliable everyday performance. The Lava Virat V1 offers a 6.75-inch 90Hz HD+ display, UNISOC SC9863A chipset, 5,000mAh battery and Android 15 Go. The Virat V1 5G upgrades to the UNISOC T8200, a 120Hz display, 6,000mAh battery, Android 16 and 5G connectivity.

Lava Virat V1 series launched in India

Price in India

  • Lava Virat V1 (4GB + 64GB): Rs 9,999
  • Lava Virat V1 5G (4GB + 64GB): Rs 12,999
Lava continues to differentiate itself by offering an ad-free software experience and free home service, two features that remain relatively uncommon in the budget segment. The Virat V1 5G, in particular, looks like the stronger value proposition thanks to its more capable chipset and larger battery. For buyers shopping below Rs 15,000, the Virat V1 5G appears to be the more future-ready choice, while the standard Virat V1 suits those looking to keep costs below Rs 10,000 without sacrificing the basics.