What you need to know
- Apple is expected to launch its first foldable iPhone in 2026 with a wider, book-like design and a 4:3 aspect ratio.
- Samsung is reportedly developing a new Wide Fold form factor to directly counter Apple’s upcoming foldable iPhone.
- Samsung may launch three foldables in 2026, adding the Wide Fold alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8.
Apple is rumored to introduce its first foldable smartphone in 2026. And while Samsung has been making foldable phones for over seven years now, the company appears to already be working on a new form factor that would directly compete with the foldable iPhone.
According to previous reports, Apple is taking a different approach with its foldable iPhone. While most foldable phones today are taller than they are wide, Apple’s foldable iPhone is expected to feature a wider design, closer to a passport or book-like form factor. This would reportedly deliver a more tablet-like experience with a 4:3 aspect ratio that is easier to hold and better suited for video and content consumption.
Now, according to a report from ET News (via @jukan05 on X), Samsung has also started working on a Wide Fold with a wider form factor than the Galaxy Z Fold 7 to counter Apple’s foldable iPhone.
The report claims Samsung’s Wide Fold will feature a 7.6-inch inner OLED display, nearly matching Apple’s rumored 7.58-inch inner screen size.
Samsung may be copying Apple’s foldable homework
The inner foldable display is said to use a 4:3 aspect ratio, but the biggest difference will be the outer screen. It is expected to be a 5.4-inch panel that is wider than it is tall, unlike the tall 6.5-inch outer display on the current Galaxy Z Fold 7.
This is not something entirely new. In fact, both Oppo with the Find N2 and the original Google Pixel Fold used a similar form factor. It is not yet clear why both Apple and Samsung are moving in this direction, but the report suggests it offers a greater sense of stability for users.
Additionally, the report says Samsung plans to launch the Wide Fold “in the fall.” The device will reportedly become another addition to Samsung’s Galaxy Z-series lineup. This would mean Samsung could release three foldable phones in 2026, with the Wide Fold joining the Galaxy Z Flip 8 and Galaxy Z Fold 8.
The report also adds that the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is expected to retain the same screen size and aspect ratio as the Galaxy Fold 7, so no major changes, in terms of design, are expected with that particular model.
