Samsung is preparing to go head-to-head with Apple in the foldable race with a new wide-format foldable that is designed to mirror what many expect from the first foldable iPhone. According to ET News, Samsung is planning a much bigger production run than usual, signaling real confidence in this form factor and a clear intent to compete head-on.
The device, internally referred to as the “Wide Fold,” is expected to debut alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Flip 8 at Samsung’s Q3 Unpacked event in July. That timing matters because Apple is widely expected to unveil its own foldable iPhone later this year.
A wider screen and a bigger bet than ever before
Samsung reportedly plans to produce around 1 million units of the Wide Fold, making it the company’s largest initial production run for a special foldable model in the past three years. That number completely overshadows the recently launched Galaxy Z TriFold, which is expected to ship in limited quantities of around 200,000 units.
The Wide Fold is said to feature a 7.6-inch foldable OLED display with a 4:3 aspect ratio when unfolded, paired with a 5.4-inch cover screen. That wider ratio is notable because it closely matches the rumored design of Apple’s foldable iPhone, which is also expected to use a 4:3 inner display to deliver a more tablet-like experience.
When folded, the Wide Fold’s outer display would be shorter and wider than that of typical smartphones, making it easier to use one-handed while still offering a large canvas when opened. The report also quoted sources that say “the Wide Fold is not dramatically harder to manufacture than the TriFold”, and production could increase further if demand is strong.
With foldable shipments already crossing 6 million units last year, Samsung appears ready to defend its lead before Apple even enters the ring. Meanwhile, Apple is expected to announce its first foldable iPhone alongside the iPhone 18 Pro lineup in September.
