Samsung announced three new folding phones at an event in London: the Galaxy Z Fold 8, the Z Fold 8 Ultra, and the Galaxy Z Flip 8. The Fold models open like a book to reveal a larger screen inside, while the Flip folds in half to become more compact. (Engadget, Samsung Newsroom)

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 starts at $1,899.99. The Z Fold 8 Ultra starts at $2,099.99. (Engadget)

The two Fold models have very different shapes. The Z Fold 8 is shorter and wider when folded, while the Ultra is taller and narrower. Think of it this way: the Z Fold 8 is closer to a square in your pocket, while the Ultra is closer to a traditional phone shape when closed. Samsung says the Ultra's size is similar to last year's Galaxy Z Fold 7. (Engadget)

The screens tell the same story. The Z Fold 8 has a 5.5-inch screen on the outside and a 7.6-inch screen on the inside. The Ultra is bigger in both: a 6.5-inch outside screen and an 8-inch inside screen. The Ultra's screens are also sharper. (Engadget)

Both phones use a new screen material Samsung calls Flex Titanium. Folding phones have always had a visible crease — a line down the middle where the screen bends. Samsung says this new panel makes that crease less noticeable and the screen more flexible. The Z Fold 8 weighs 201 grams; the Ultra weighs 215 grams. (Engadget)

The Z Fold 8 has a 4,800mAh battery. Samsung has not yet shared the Ultra's battery size. (Engadget)

Both phones come in Graphite and Cream. The Z Fold 8 also comes in Lavender and an online-only Pistachio color. The Ultra offers Violet Shadow and an online-only Green Shadow. (Engadget)

The Galaxy Z Flip 8 is also available in an online-only Mint color through Samsung.com. (Samsung Newsroom)

Pricing in other countries is starting to appear. In India, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 starts at Rs. 1,79,999 for the 12GB + 256GB version. (Gadgets 360) The Ultra will come in three different storage options. (Times of India) The Galaxy Z Fold 8 goes on sale August 7. (Times of India)

The biggest detail here is that Samsung made two folding phones in different shapes on purpose. Until now, every Galaxy Z Fold used the same tall, narrow design. The Ultra keeps that familiar shape. The standard Z Fold 8 changes direction with a shorter, wider body and a smaller outside screen.

Samsung is essentially asking two different questions at once: do people want a folding phone that feels like a regular phone when closed, or one that trades some usability for a shape that fits more easily in a pocket? The $200 price difference between the two models is small enough that the choice comes down to which shape you prefer, not which one you can afford.

The new Flex Titanium screen material is the other thing to watch. Samsung's claim about a less noticeable crease is a marketing statement, not a tested fact. But it points to where Samsung is putting its engineering effort, and giving the material a name suggests the company sees it as a real improvement, not just a minor tweak.

In my view, the two-model approach tackles a problem that has been growing in the folding phone category for years. One design cannot serve both the person who wants a phone that occasionally opens into a tablet, and the person who wants a tablet that folds down to carry around. The Ultra's bigger screen and taller shape suit the second group. The Z Fold 8's compact size and smaller outside screen suit the first. Whether customers actually split along those lines, or most simply buy the Ultra because the price difference is small, is something the August 7 launch and the following months of sales will start to show.