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ZDNET's key takeaways
- A Korean outlet has hinted that Samsung may launch a wider foldable phone next year.
- The new model will feature a 4:3 aspect ratio when unfolded.
- Adding more foldable options will fuel what is expected to be a bustling market in 2026.
2025 was a great year for Samsung in foldable phones. It redesigned the Galaxy Z Fold 7 to become the lightest book-style folding phone of the year, and announced an all-new two-hinge-equipped Galaxy Z TriFold.
It appears that the Korean company is returning to its era of hardware innovation and won't stop anytime soon. A new report claims that Samsung is developing a wide-screen Galaxy Fold, which will differ from all existing Galaxy foldable phones.
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According to a report from ETnews, Samsung is developing a device internally referred to as the “Wide Fold” (directly translated from Google Translate). It will be a shorter and wider version of the current Galaxy Z Fold 7 — like the 2021-launched Oppo Find N and the original Google Pixel Fold.
The perfect hybrid of foldable form factors
The Google Pixel Fold was a wide-screen mini-tablet when unfolded.
Max Buondonno/ZDNET
The upcoming wide-screen Galaxy Fold is said to have a 7.6-inch OLED screen on the inside, which is 0.4 inches less than the Fold 7. It may not seem significant on paper, but the primary difference lies in the aspect ratio.
Instead of Fold 7's squarish design, the wide-screen Fold will open into a 4:3 aspect ratio. And I believe this would be a great alternative for those who want a foldable phone primarily for watching videos, but don't want to get a thick Galaxy Z TriFold.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 is my favorite phone of 2025 because I love browsing and reading on the web on it. However, it may not be the first choice for someone seeking a foldable phone for consuming video content. When watching videos on an unfolded Galaxy Z Fold 7, you get massive letterboxing (thick borders on top and bottom).
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I usually use half the screen as a kickstand to prop up my Fold 7 and watch videos on the other half. It reduces letterboxing to a minimum, but the usable video area remains the same as that of a regular slab phone.
This letterboxing issue could be solved by a wide-screen folding phone, like the Pixel Fold, Oppo Find N, and this rumored wide-screen Galaxy Fold. You can always rotate the device by 90 degrees if you prefer a vertical orientation for browsing the web. It won't offer the same split-screen experience, but I'd love to have a folding phone that's good for both my reading and video consumption needs.
The Galaxy Z Fold 7's inner screen is great for browsing but not so good for watching videos.
Prakhar Khanna/ZDNET
This reminds me of the new Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold — a 10-inch wide-screen tablet that fits inside your pocket! It'll surely please the wide-screen Galaxy Fold audience, no? From my brief hands-on experience with the new Samsung folding phone, I view it as a productivity powerhouse that can also serve as an entertainment device.
However, the reported wide-screen Galaxy Fold will undoubtedly be slimmer (it'll fold only once) and more pocketable. I think all of these foldable phone designs can exist simultaneously because they have their own unique use cases:
- Z Flip: A small phone that unfolds into a slab phone. It is best suited for those who want the most compact device.
- Z Fold: A regular phone that unfolds into a mini-tablet. It is for those of us who want to stay productive on the go.
- Z TriFold: A 10-inch tablet that folds to fit inside your pocket. The best combination of a portable productivity and entertainment device.
- Reported “Wide Fold”: A passport-style foldable that unfolds into a 4:3 screen. This would be best suited for watching videos and can be rotated by 90 degrees for web browsing.
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The rumored new Samsung foldable is said to have a 5.4-inch cover screen and support 25W wireless charging. The latter is said to debut with the Galaxy S26 Ultra next year.
How does this compare to iPhone Fold?
It is also interesting to note how many aspects of the rumored wide-screen Galaxy Fold align with speculation around Apple's iPhone Fold, which is expected to be released alongside the iPhone 18 Pro in September 2026. For context, Apple is reportedly working on a foldable device with a similar 4:3 unfolded display, measuring around 7.7 inches.
If Samsung announces this new phone alongside the expected Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Flip 8, it could beat Apple in launching a wide-screen foldable phone next year. While we've seen such designs in the past, I think better folding screens, improved hinge designs, and silicon-carbon battery tech could finally legitimize the 4:3 foldable phone format.
