Wide foldables may soon become the norm in the industry

Samsung’s launch of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 last month revived the idea of a wide-screen foldable phone, which had last been seen on the first-gen Google Pixel Fold. Rumors also suggest that Apple will launch its first-ever foldable iPhone later this fall. There’s now another phone brand we can add to the list.

Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi has seemingly shown off its wide foldable as part of a beta update announcement. It’s hard to determine whether this was a slip-up or a deliberate move by the manufacturer. However, this is the strongest evidence yet that a wide-screen foldable from Xiaomi is on the horizon (via GizmoChina).

This image was published by Xiaomi as part of its Hyper OS 4 beta update, revealing the thick bezels and camera placement on the inner display of a wide-screen foldable.

We’re also seeing software that appears to be optimized for this specific form factor, in what appears to be the native Notes app. While this is the first time we’re seeing an image of Xiaomi’s upcoming foldable, rumors about it have been circulating for a while, as GizmoChina notes.

Leaker Digital Chat Station also points to an uptick in wide-body foldable phones across the industry, and names Xiaomi and Apple’s upcoming offerings. The leaker also claims the two brands will position their foldables as a premium offering, whereas Samsung and HUAWEI’s wide foldables serve as more affordable alternatives to their taller counterparts.

Samsung recently said that the Galaxy Z Fold 8 accounted for around 70% of the total pre-orders, helping the Galaxy Z8 series break a record the company had held since the Galaxy Note 10.

Having said that, Apple’s upcoming iPhone Ultra/Fold could open up new challenges for the Galaxy Z Fold 8. Xiaomi now potentially joining that list won’t make it any easier for Samsung, either. Keeping these factors in mind, we wouldn’t be surprised to see more brands releasing wide-screen foldables in the near future.