Samsung’s ‘Wide Fold’ Aims to Beat Apple to Foldable Market
▼ Summary
– Samsung is developing a new “Wide Fold” smartphone with a wider, shorter design and a 4:3 aspect ratio, differing from its previous taller models.
– The device will feature a 7.6-inch display when open and a 5.4-inch display when closed, making it more square-shaped.
– This new design is expected to be more comfortable to hold, similar to a notebook, compared to the taller existing models.
– Samsung plans to release the “Wide Fold” in the fall of 2026, coinciding with the expected launch of Apple’s competing iPhone Fold.
– The “Wide Fold” will join Samsung’s next-generation Galaxy Fold and a flip device, offering a total of two foldable phone models.
Samsung is reportedly developing a new foldable smartphone with a distinctively wider and shorter form factor, aiming to directly challenge Apple’s anticipated entry into the foldable market. This device, tentatively called the “Wide Fold,” represents a significant design shift from Samsung’s previous models and is expected to launch around the same time as Apple’s rumored iPhone Fold in the fall of 2026.
Current Samsung Galaxy Z Fold models, like the Z Fold7, feature a taller, narrower design. When closed, the display measures 6.5 inches with a 21:9 aspect ratio. Opening it reveals an 8-inch screen with a 20:18 aspect ratio. This format has been consistent across the Z Fold series.
In contrast, leaks about Apple’s first foldable suggest a different approach. The iPhone Fold is rumored to have a closed display between 5.3 and 5.5 inches, opening to a screen measuring 7.5 to 7.8 inches. Its defining characteristic is expected to be a squatter, wider build with a 4:3 aspect ratio when fully unfolded.
Samsung’s strategic response appears to be the “Wide Fold.” This model is said to mirror Apple’s rumored proportions, featuring a 7.6-inch display when open and a 5.4-inch screen when closed, also adopting a 4:3 aspect ratio. This creates a more square-like shape, a noticeable departure from the company’s existing foldable lineup. Industry observers believe this wider format could offer a more comfortable and natural grip, similar to holding a small notebook or tablet.
According to the report, Samsung’s plan for 2026 includes launching this new wider foldable alongside its next-generation traditional Galaxy Fold model. This would give the company two distinct “Fold” devices in its portfolio, in addition to its popular Flip-style clamshell phones, creating a broader product range to compete with Apple’s anticipated debut.
(Source: Mac Rumors)
