Samsung plans to take on Apple’s rumored first foldable iPhone, expected to launch in September 2026, with a “Wide Fold.” This new model will seemingly launch alongside the Z Fold 8, instead of replacing the latter.
An ET News report has shed more light on Samsung’s wide-body foldable. It will seemingly feature the same wide aspect ratio design as the foldable iPhone, with a rumored display aspect ratio of 4:3. This would give the device a wider look compared to regular smartphones and foldables that feature a 20:9 or 18:20 aspect ratio.
One advantage of the 4:3 aspect ratio is that it will reduce the black bars and cropping at the top and bottom when viewing pictures or browsing websites.
The inner folding screen size of the foldable Galaxy will purportedly be similar to the foldable iPhone and measure 7.6 inches. For comparison, the iPhone Fold will supposedly house a 7.58-inch panel. Citing industry sources, the report claims the wide Galaxy foldable will sport a 5.4-inch cover display, again similar to the foldable iPhone.
The report reiterates that the “Wide Fold” will not replace the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and will instead launch alongside it. With Apple set to enter the foldable segment next year, it appears Samsung wants to expand its lineup and give customers more choice. Plus, by launching the device a few months before the foldable iPhone, the company could lock in buyers before Apple’s entry.
Samsung’s foldable lineup may expand in 2026
While other specs of the foldable are unclear, it should be similar to the Z Fold 8. So, expect it to pack high-end internals, including the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and 12GB of RAM. The leak further suggests that the wide-body fold will support 25W wireless charging.
Current Galaxy phones top out at 15W, but rumors point to the Galaxy S26 Ultra adopting the faster wireless charging speeds. Samsung also apparently plans to upgrade the “battery technology.” It’s unclear what this means, though: will the company finally switch to higher-density silicon-carbon cells? Or it might simply mean ditching the 4,400mAh cell that the Z Fold lineup has used for years in favor of a larger capacity battery.
