Samsung Galaxy Wide Fold will be different from the Galaxy Z Fold line.

This is how the Galaxy Wide Fold, which is the first of its kind from Samsung, will be different from the Galaxy Z Fold line.
You’re on a packed subway and trying to respond to an important work email. You have a brand-new foldable phone in your hand, but when you try to type on its thin, “remote-control-shaped” outer screen, your thumbs keep hitting the wrong buttons. You want a little extra space, like a screen that looks like a regular smartphone when it’s closed but a vast canvas when it’s open.
That goal of the perfect screen form could come true as soon as this summer.

A source at Samsung who is usually quite well-informed says that this year we won’t just get the usual updates. We are waiting for the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8, but it looks like a new player will join the field this July.
This device is tentatively called the “Galaxy Wide Fold,” although the name isn’t set in stone yet. Reports say that it has a very different aspect ratio than the popular foldable pair.

Why is Samsung doing this right now? It seems the tech behemoth is looking to launch a strategic power play. People are calling this new type of Galaxy foldable a competitor to the iPhone Fold before it even comes out. By releasing a gadget with a more optimized, bigger aspect ratio, Samsung wants to dominate the market before Apple can even produce a comparable foldable product.

Whether you are a power user who wants extra horizontal room for multitasking or just someone weary with little outer screens, the Galaxy Wide Fold could be the “revolution” we’ve been waiting for.

Is Samsung trying to kill two birds with one stone here?

It certainly looks that way to me, as the first-of-a-kind Galaxy Wide Fold could not just go up against Apple’s long-awaited foldable iPhone in late 2026 but also give some (unorthodox) competition to the industry-leading iPad family.
At 7.6 inches, the Galaxy Wide Fold’s inner screen will naturally fall short of the 8.3-inch size of the iPad mini (A17 Pro), but that 4:3 (or 3:4) aspect ratio tipped by Ice Universe should make the overall user experience extremely similar to what the newest iPad Air and iPad Pro editions offer.

Ironically, Samsung doesn’t currently sell any tablets with a 4:3 (or 3:4) aspect ratio, opting instead for 16:10 on both the high-end Galaxy Tab S11 and Tab S11 Ultra. In fact, going that huge for the Galaxy Fold’s primary display would have seemed a bit abrupt, so this slightly more “conservative” approach definitely makes sense.

Still, something tells me many people will find it highly suspicious if Samsung produces an “iPad-style” foldable the same year the first-ever iPhone Fold is set to come out… even if the Galaxy Wide Fold manages to beat its number one rival to the market.

And yes, in case you’ve missed them, several theories have pointed in the direction of a 7.6- or 7.7-inch main screen with a 4:3 aspect ratio for this year’s foldable iPhone during the last few months.

Where does this leave the Galaxy Z Fold 8?

While nothing is confirmed at the moment, there’s certainly a high likelihood the “standard” Z Fold 8 will preserve both the 8-inch size and 6:5 aspect ratio of its predecessor’s primary screen.
That would clearly be the right call, as Samsung probably doesn’t want to try to fix what’s not broken, merely aiming to diversify its foldable portfolio and make it more attractive for more types of consumers (including Android enthusiasts who may find themselves secretly pining for an iPhone Fold).

Unfortunately, it looks less and less likely that we’ll get a budget-friendly Galaxy Z Fold Fan Edition as well this year, as Samsung seems to think it’s more important for its fans to be able to choose between a wider and a squarer book-type foldable than to save money when buying a new foldable device.

We don’t even know how the cover screen will look, as well as what size and aspect ratio it might sport, although it’s very safe to imagine that Samsung will need to make it “short and fat” (as one X user delightfully points out).
That could prove a huge hurdle on the Galaxy Wide Fold’s way to general success, and if you ask me, the name (assuming it plays out) won’t make it easy for the device to win a lot of hearts either.

Perhaps more critically, the Galaxy S25 Edge has proved that introducing a first-of-a-kind product months before a similar Apple gadget is not a very good idea, so if the Galaxy Wide Fold ends up bearing a close likeness to the iPhone Fold, its destiny could be sealed right off the bat.

Sorry, Samsung, I don’t create the rules.

Samsung’s Wide Fold will include 25W wireless charging.

Elsewhere, the rumor indicates that the new Wide Fold will not replace Samsung’s existing tall Fold model. The firm is apparently intending to expand its Z series portfolio starting next year, which would contain one Galaxy Z Flip, a standard Fold (perhaps the Galaxy Z Fold 8) maintaining the same size and aspect ratio as the Fold 7, and a new Wide Fold.

It seems the choice tries to improve how the tablet feels in the hand. A larger format can look more solid and natural, similar to holding an open book. It also works better for tasks like reading internet pages or looking at photographs.
Another facet of the Wide Fold is charging. It is projected to support 25W wireless charging, the quickest pace yet for a Samsung foldable. This functionality will initially emerge in the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra.

This is not something totally new. In fact, both the Oppo Find N2 and the initial Google Pixel Fold featured a similar form factor. It is not yet evident why both Apple and Samsung are moving in this direction, but the study feels it delivers a higher sense of reliability for users. Additionally, the source indicates Samsung expects to debut the Wide Fold “in the fall.” The handset will presumably become another addition to Samsung’s Galaxy Z-series lineup. This would mean Samsung may offer three folding phones in 2026, with the Wide Fold joining the Galaxy Z Flip 8 and Galaxy Z Fold 8.

The article also states that the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is believed to feature the same screen size and aspect ratio as the Galaxy Fold 7, so no big changes, in terms of design, are expected for that particular model. On the other hand, a new Fold model makes sense, especially if it’s designed to be promoted alongside the current Fold 8. This reflects allegations that Samsung has two Fold projects for 2026: the basic improvement and a fresh design to help the range stand out as competition rises. For customers, 2026 might offer two alternate Fold options: the traditional book-style Fold 8 for those who like a phone-first design and a larger, squarer Fold 8 “Wide” for people who want a mini-tablet that actually behaves like one.
SPen Support: Enhancing Productivity and Creativity

One of the most interesting possibilities about the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide is the probable return of S Pen functionality. If validated, this functionality would substantially improve the device’s appeal for multitasking and creative applications. The S Pen may enable users to take notes, doodle, and edit documents with ease, making the gadget a flexible tool for both professionals and creatives.

However, Samsung has not yet confirmed whether S Pen capabilities would be integrated into the final design. This uncertainty has sparked speculation among users, many of whom regard S Pen support as a possibly excellent alternative for foldable tablets. If included, the S Pen would further differentiate the Z Fold 8 Wide from its competition, reinforcing Samsung’s reputation for innovation.

Balancing User Feedback and Market Strategy

The development of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide looks to be highly inspired by client feedback. Internal polls supposedly indicated great desire in a passport-style foldable, leading Samsung to examine this notion. By combining its product development with market preferences, Samsung exhibits its attention to addressing user needs.

At the same time, the launching of the Z Fold 8 Wide illustrates Samsung’s broader aim to preempt Apple’s entry into the foldable market. By introducing a handset that matches Apple’s predicted design, Samsung hopes to keep its supremacy while threatening Apple’s ability to dominate the narrative.