Samsung may not be waiting around for Apple to enter the foldable phone market. According to new reports, the company is already working on a wider foldable design that appears tailor made to counter Apple’s first foldable iPhone, which is expected to arrive in 2026.
If this plays out as rumored, 2026 could quietly become one of the most interesting years for foldables yet.
Apple’s Foldable iPhone Is Expected to Go Wide
Apple is widely rumored to be taking a different path with its first foldable iPhone. Instead of the tall, narrow design seen on most current foldables, Apple’s device is expected to open into a wider, book-like form factor with a 4:3 aspect ratio.
That approach would make the unfolded display feel more like an iPad mini than a stretched smartphone. It also makes sense for Apple, which has long favored balanced screen proportions for reading, multitasking, and video playback. Reports suggest the inner display could measure around 7.7-inches.
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Apple has not confirmed anything, of course, but the direction feels very on brand.
Samsung’s Reported “Wide Fold” Sounds Familiar
According to a new report from ET News, Samsung is developing a new Wide Fold model that would sit alongside its usual Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip lineup. The timing is notable, especially given Apple’s rumored plans.
Samsung’s Wide Fold is said to feature a 7.6 inch inner OLED display with a 4:3 aspect ratio, nearly matching Apple’s rumored dimensions. The more interesting change is on the outside. Instead of a tall cover screen, the Wide Fold could use a shorter and wider 5.4 inch outer display.
That would be a meaningful shift for Samsung. The Galaxy Z Fold series has always leaned tall and narrow, which works well for one handed use but can feel cramped for everyday tasks. A wider cover display could make the phone far more usable when folded.
This Is Not a New Idea, Just a Smart One
If this sounds familiar, that is because it is. Oppo’s Find N series and the original Pixel Fold already explored this wider approach. Those devices were often praised for feeling more stable and more natural to use, even if they did not dominate sales.
What is interesting is that both Apple and Samsung now appear to be circling back to this idea at the same time. That suggests the industry may be settling on a more practical foldable design rather than chasing tall, phone-like proportions.
Three Samsung Foldables in One Year?
The report claims Samsung could launch the Wide Fold in the fall of 2026, alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Flip 8. If accurate, that would give Samsung three foldable phones in a single year.
Notably, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is expected to retain the same general design as the Fold 7, which suggests the Wide Fold would be the model carrying the real design experimentation.
From a strategy standpoint, this feels like Samsung hedging its bets. Rather than redesigning its main Fold line, it can introduce a new form factor and see how consumers respond, especially with Apple looming in the background.
Samsung vs Apple, Before Apple Even Arrives
Samsung has been making foldables for years, but Apple entering the category changes the stakes. A Wide Fold that closely mirrors Apple’s rumored approach looks less like coincidence and more like preemptive positioning.
If Apple does launch a foldable iPhone in 2026, Samsung clearly wants to be ready with an answer on day one.
