What you need to know
- Caviar launched the luxury Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra edition before Samsung even announced the phone.
- The special edition honors Lionel Messi with hand-painted cloisonne enamel artwork and 24-karat gold accents.
- Only 19 units will be produced, with prices starting at $13,130 for the 256GB model.
Samsung’s next foldable devices aren’t expected to be announced until the Galaxy Unpacked event on July 22, but luxury customization brand Caviar has beaten it to the punch with a wildly expensive special edition based on an unreleased model. Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra.
It is part of the special Fold 8 Ultra Caviar’s new Legends collectionreplaces the standard back panel with a hand-drawn portrait of soccer icon Lionel Messi in the colors of the Argentina national team. The piece was created using the centuries-old cloisonne enamel technique, and the outlines, number 10 knitting, national symbols and frame accents are plated in 24 karat gold. Caviar says the craftsmanship and premium materials are meant to help make the foldable a collectible rather than just another smartphone.
It sounds exclusive in terms of design and the production numbers reflect that. Only 19 units of the Caviar will be produced 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 changes, or custom packaging.
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The collection comes ahead of the upcoming FIFA World Cup finals and the launch of Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra phone. It is apt timing as the 2026 tournament is expected to be the last World Cup for both stars.
None of this, of course, tells us anything new about Samsung’s approach folding phone. The flagship phone is still expected to be the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra Samsung will present it on July 22. What Caviar does is take a look at how luxury brands are already betting on Samsung’s next flagship if you’re willing to pay more for a decent used car.
Android Central’s Take
I can personally appreciate the craftsmanship here, and there’s no denying that turning a foldable item into collectible art will have a small niche of deep-pocketed soccer fans eating it up. But for the rest of us, it’s just more proof that fancy phone customizations are more about showing off than improving the actual user experience. I’d like to see Samsung wow me with meaningful hardware upgrades instead of the gold and enamel layer that drives the price of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra into the five-figure range. At the very least, this special edition proves that there are always people willing to pay for exclusivity.
