Samsung’s Galaxy S26 series is less than two weeks away from making its debut. However, some of the attention has already shifted to the mid-year duo of foldables, expected to be released this summer. In the meantime, reports suggest Samsung is also working on a “wide” screen Galaxy Z Fold model, reminiscent of the original Pixel Fold.
Samsung’s ‘wider’ Galaxy Z Fold may get a US launch after all
Expected to release alongside the Z Fold
All we’ve heard so far about this Galaxy Fold model, reportedly codenamed H8, has come from text-based leaks, with no real understanding of the device’s appearance. Thankfully, that’s changing now.
Looking into recently leaked early One UI 9 test builds, the folks at Android Authority have uncovered evidence of the H8 codename, along with system animations depicting the mystery foldable in both light and dark themes.
While the animations provide a decent look at the overall form factor, we can’t see the rear camera setup. It’s unlikely that Samsung would deviate too much from the existing Galaxy Z Fold models in this area, though we can’t be sure until there’s definitive proof.
The file names of these animations also reference H8, which is perhaps the strongest indicator that this is the real deal. This revelation follows the recent leak of One UI 9 test builds for the Galaxy Z Fold 8/Z Flip 8 and this wide-body foldable.
Given that references for this model are already present in the upcoming Android 17-based One UI software, it seems increasingly likely that Samsung will debut a second book-style foldable this year.
Our first and best look at the foldable so far
Previous reports indicate that Samsung is aiming for the hardware of this wide Z Fold to be similar to Apple’s rumored foldable iPhone. This is reflected in the rumored display sizes as well, with a 5.4-inch cover display and a 7.6-inch inner screen, nearly identical to the 7.58-inch unit expected to be equipped on the foldable iPhone.
A launch alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and the Z Flip 8 in July 2026 would give Samsung a few months’ exclusivity on the wide-foldable form factor, as Apple’s version isn’t expected to launch until fall. Samsung may face stiffer competition in the coming years, though, as Apple is reportedly considering a flip-style foldable to take on the Galaxy Z Flip.
This is certainly not the last we’ll hear about the wide Galaxy Z Fold, and upcoming One UI 9 leaks should paint a clearer picture of its hardware and other features. It will be interesting to see how this model will be priced and whether it will deter users from opting for the regular Galaxy Z Fold 8.
