You can already buy the unreleased Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, provided you have $13,000

The unreleased Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra has become available for purchase through Caviar, a luxury customization firm, despite the fact that Samsung has not yet officially introduced the device. These high-end smartphones are being marketed as part of a gold-plated series with football themes. Specifically, one version features a Lionel Messi motif and is priced at $13,000. According to coverage from Android Headlines, this particular Messi-themed edition is extremely limited, with only 19 units scheduled to be produced. The devices are designed to appeal to high-net-worth collectors and sports enthusiasts by combining cutting-edge hardware with luxury materials. Multiple technology and consumer electronics outlets are reporting on this development, including Android Central, SamMobile, and SammyGuru.

Coverage from Gizmochina and TechEBlog highlights that the phones feature 24K gold finishes. The Gadgeteer and Digital Trends emphasize the competitive nature of the release, noting that Caviar has created a choice between football rivals. Specifically, these outlets report that Caviar is offering a choice between a Messi-themed device and a Ronaldo-themed device, framing the product launch as a way to bring football's greatest rivalry into the realm of expensive, five-figure luxury electronics. This trend is significant because it involves the sale of hardware before the original manufacturer, Samsung, has formally launched the product. Stuff South Africa reports that these "Legends" football-themed smartphones are debuting as gold-plated luxury items. The context provided by the coverage suggests that Caviar specializes in transforming standard or upcoming mobile devices into exclusive luxury goods.

By utilizing 24-karat gold and motifs of global icons like Messi and Ronaldo, the firm is targeting a niche market where the brand value of the athlete and the material value of the gold outweigh the standard retail price of a consumer smartphone. Future developments to watch involve whether Samsung will address the early availability of the Z Fold 8 Ultra through third-party customizers like Caviar. Current coverage indicates that the focus remains on the limited production run of 19 units for the Messi edition. Observers can monitor if additional athletes or motifs are added to the "Legends" series or if similar luxury editions of other unreleased hardware appear. The reports from Samsung Magazine and other tech sites confirm the devices are currently on sale, meaning any official Samsung launch will now follow the public availability of these customized, gold-plated versions.