What you need to know
- Caviar unveiled a luxury edition Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra before Samsung even announced the phone.
- The special edition pays tribute to Lionel Messi with hand-painted cloisonné enamel artwork and 24-karat gold accents.
- Only 19 units will be made, with prices starting at a staggering $13,130 for the 256GB model.
Samsung’s next foldables aren’t expected to be announced until its Galaxy Unpacked event on July 22, but luxury customization brand Caviar has come forward with a wildly expensive special edition based on the unreleased one. Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra.
The custom Fold 8 Ultra is part of The new Legends collection of Caviarswapping the standard rear panel for a hand-painted portrait of soccer icon Lionel Messi in the colors of the Argentine national team. The artwork was created using the centuries-old technique of cloisonné enamel, and the outlines, number 10 jersey, national symbols and frame details are finished with 24-karat gold plating. Caviar says the jewelry’s craftsmanship and premium materials are intended to help make the foldable phone a collector’s item, not just another smartphone.
It sounds exclusive by design and the production figures reflect it. Only 19 units of the Caviar will be made worldwide and pricing starts at $13,130 for the 256GB variant before any optional customization. Buyers can also request additional services such as custom engravings, logos, design modifications or custom packaging.
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The collection launches ahead of the upcoming FIFA World Cup final and the launch of Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra phone, an appropriate time considering the 2026 tournament is expected to be both stars’ last appearance at the World Cup.
None of this, of course, gives us any new information about Samsung’s next launch. folding phone. The base phone is still expected to be the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra which Samsung will present it on July 22. What Caviar has done is give us a glimpse of how luxury brands are already banking on Samsung’s next flagship, if you’re willing to pay more than the price of a decent used car to own one.
Android Central’s opinion
I can personally appreciate the craftsmanship here, and there’s no denying that turning a foldable into a collectible piece of art will make a small niche of deep-pocketed football fans eat it up. But for the rest of us, this is more evidence that luxury phone customizations are less about improving the actual user experience and more about showing off. I’d rather Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra surprise me with significant hardware upgrades rather than a layer of gold and enamel that sends the price soaring into the five-figure range. At the very least, this special edition proves that there is always someone willing to pay for exclusivity.
