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Caviar is selling a ridiculous Lionel Messi-themed Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra a week before its official unveiling
Luxury phone customiser Caviar is selling a Lionel Messi-themed version of Samsung's unannounced Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, nearly a week before Samsung's official Unpacked launch event. The listing is notable both for its extravagance and because it inadvertently reveals a few details about Samsung's next foldable ahead of the formal reveal, including that the device will carry an "Ultra" name distinct from a rumoured standard Z Fold 8 model.
The custom handset features hand-crafted cloisonné enamel artwork of Messi in Argentina's national colours, 24-karat gold plating, a FIFA World Cup badge marking Argentina's 2022 win, the Adidas logo and a bespoke royal-blue box, priced at $13,130 for one of just 19 units. Caviar's listing also indicates 256GB base storage with 512GB and 1TB options, and suggests the Ultra model resembles last year's Z Fold 7 in design, while a separate, wider standard Z Fold 8 is expected to offer a better aspect ratio for video viewing. Caviar says production only begins after full payment, meaning buyers could face a long wait for their gold-plated handset.
In short
- Caviar sells a $13,130 Messi-themed Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra pre-launch.
- Only 19 units made, featuring gold plating and enamel artwork.
- Listing hints Samsung will launch both standard and Ultra Z Fold 8 models.
Explained simply
Caviar is a luxury phone customiser that applies precious metals, bespoke artwork and premium materials to high-end smartphones, then sells them at substantial markups to collectors and enthusiasts. Samsung manufactures the Galaxy Z Fold, a foldable smartphone that opens like a book, and typically reveals each new model at a dedicated announcement event. The story is notable because Caviar is now selling a Messi-themed customised version of the unreleased Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra nearly a week before Samsung's official unveiling.
Luxury customisers like Caviar obtain unreleased devices through supply chain channels and begin production once customers pre-order, sometimes well before the manufacturer announces the product publicly. In doing so, they can expose technical details such as storage options and design changes that companies typically keep confidential until their own launch event. The Messi-themed version costs $13,130 for one of only 19 units and features 24-karat gold plating alongside hand-crafted enamel artwork depicting the footballer in Argentina's national colours.