Samsung is quietly rehearsing a new move in the foldable-phone chess game: a wider, squatter Galaxy Fold that insiders say is designed to square up against Apple’s rumored iPhone Fold.
The basics first. South Korean supply-chain reports point to a device internally called the “Wide Fold” with a 7.6-inch inner OLED that opens to a 4:3 aspect ratio and a roughly 5.4-inch cover display when closed. Samsung is reportedly planning a surprisingly large initial run — about 1 million units — which suggests this won’t be a tiny special edition but a real, scaled product in the Galaxy foldable family.
Why the shape matters
If those specs hold, the Wide Fold will look and feel different from the tall, narrow Fold models that dominated early generations. A 4:3 unfolded panel is closer to an iPad mini ratio than a typical phone. That matters for two reasons:
- Video playback and landscape content will fill more of the screen, cutting down the chunky letterboxing many Fold users still grumble about.
- Rotating the device gives a more natural slab-like reading and browsing experience, trading some split-screen productivity for a noticeably better media canvas.
Reviewers who’ve lived with wider foldables before point out that a single fold with a squatter display can hit a sweet spot: more immersive video than a standard Fold, but far more pocketable than Samsung’s own TriFold device. Early commentary suggests Samsung wants a family of foldables, each serving a distinct use case rather than cannibalizing one another.
Production and timing signal seriousness
Choosing a 1 million-unit production target is the clearest signal yet that Samsung expects demand beyond a niche enthusiast crowd. For context, Samsung’s foldable shipments topped around 6 million last year across its portfolio — so a million-unit debut would be meaningful but not reckless.
Industry whispers also place the Wide Fold at Samsung’s summer Unpacked event in Q3 (July is a likely target). That would put the device on stage alongside the next-generation Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Flip 8, a notable change from Samsung’s previous tactic of staggering special models so they don’t overshadow the core lineup.
Features and a few hardware notes
Alongside the 7.6-inch inner panel and 5.4-inch cover display, rumors mention features like 25W charging support and a compact hinge design. Reports vary on some details — screen size comparisons to the current Fold 7 swing a few tenths of an inch — but the theme is consistent: a slightly smaller, wider interior than the mainline Fold.
If Samsung ships this device as a full member of the Z Fold family rather than a limited-run curiosity, it could shift how buyers think about foldables. Expect the company to price and position it as an alternative for media-first users who still want a premium Galaxy experience.
The Apple angle
Timing isn’t accidental. Apple’s own foldable rumors describe an unfolded display in the same ballpark (roughly 7.7 inches) and a 4:3 ratio — which helps explain why Samsung might fast-track a rival. Being a major OLED supplier to Apple gives Samsung sightlines into the market and the manufacturing muscle to respond. If Samsung launches a Wide Fold in July, it could hit shelves before Apple’s rumored fall reveal.
That said, being first doesn’t guarantee dominance. Apple’s expected scale — analysts have suggested multi-million unit targets if it launches — and its loyal customer base make this a competitive sprint, not a one-off race.
How the Wide Fold fits Samsung’s strategy
This isn’t a surprising pivot so much as an expansion of intent. Samsung has been experimenting with different folding formats from the compact Flip to the productivity-focused Fold and the experimental TriFold. Bringing a wider Fold into the line-up gives consumers a clear choice depending on whether they prioritize pocketability, productivity, or media immersion.
For readers curious about Samsung’s multi‑hinge experiment and how it compares, the company’s recent tri‑fold efforts are worth revisiting in the context of this strategy — the TriFold showed Samsung’s appetite for bold form factors even if its run was limited Samsung’s Tri‑Fold Prototype: A Bold Step — With Compromises — Into Next‑Gen Foldables. And this push ties into Samsung’s broader device rollout plans as it broadens its hardware portfolio in 2026 Samsung Prepares Global Push for Galaxy XR.
Whether the Wide Fold becomes the definitive “media-first” Galaxy or simply another interesting option depends on execution — hinge feel, durability, battery life, and, crucially, price. For customers who’ve felt the Fold was too tall and the TriFold too thick, a 4:3 Fold tuned for video could be exactly the compromise they wanted.
In short: Samsung appears ready to bet that variety — not a single winning shape — will fuel the next wave of foldable adoption. If the Wide Fold ships at the volumes being reported, the competition that matters most this year won’t be about who made foldables first, but who made the one people actually want to use every day.