Galaxy Z Fold 8 (Wide): In summary
- Samsung is tipped to release a wider foldable in 2026
- Likely to arrive during the 22 July Samsung Unpacked event ahead of the iPhone Ultra foldable
- Despite initial rumours, the phone might launch as simply the ‘Galaxy Z Fold 8’
- The squat design more closely resembles a tablet when open
- There could only be two rear-facing cameras
- A thicker, more durable glass could be used for the inner display
2026 is shaping up to be a big year for Samsung. We’ve already had the Galaxy S26 series of phones, which brought along the industry-first Privacy Display courtesy of the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, and now we’re set to have the very first in what might be a long line of new foldables from the brand.
We’ll still be getting a traditional book-style foldable phone in the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, alongside the clamshell-designed Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8, but where things get interesting is with the much-leaked Samsung Galaxy Z Fold Wide, which will adopt a squat-like frame that looks like a wide-screen tablet when unfolded.
This type of design isn’t exactly new, as we’ve seen it adopted by the likes of the Huawei Pura X Max, but it should make the phone much better suited to entertainment. Although it’s great to see Samsung trying its hand at a new vertical, the timing of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold Wide is largely a result of the upcoming iPhone Ultra – Apple’s first-ever foldable which is set to debut later this year.
While there’s still quite a lot that we don’t know about the iPhone Ultra, the same can’t be said for the Z Fold Wide which has had a substantial amount of leaks in the run-up to launch.
Now that the anticipated reveal of the phone isn’t too far away, we have a fairly solid picture of what the phone will feature. It’s a very interesting prospect that may appeal to those who have yet to embrace the foldable world, although we can see just as many long-time foldable fans having issues with some of the compromises that have been made in order to accommodate the new design.
If you’re curious to see all that we know so far about the Galaxy Z Fold Wide then keep on reading to catch the most recent leaks and rumours.
Will the Z Fold Wide have a different name?
Given that this is the first of, potentially, a new series of phones for Samsung (if it doesn’t incur the same fate as the Galaxy S25 Edge), you’d think that the company would want to make its inauguration a seamless one, with a clear understanding delivered to consumers over how it differs from the more traditional Z Fold 8 that it will debut alongside.
Well, if one of the most recent rumours turns out to be on the money, then Samsung might be making the process a lot more difficult than it really needs to be.
From what we can gather, it seems as though Samsung might be looking to have the Galaxy Z Fold Wide release as the Galaxy Z Fold 8, effectively becoming the direct successor to the Z Fold 7 despite having a very different design and bearing one less camera lens on the back. If you’re wondering where that leaves the other phone, the one that we all assumed would be called the Z Fold 8 then fear not, Samsung hasn’t left it out in the cold as it could be rebranded as the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra.
Given that so many brands are now using the ‘Ultra’ moniker with phones like the Oppo Find X9 Ultra and the Vivo X300 Ultra, it’s understandable that Samsung would want to hop aboard the bandwagon, but that association typically comes with the understanding that you’re paying a lot more in return for the type of specs that represent massive leaps forward, to the point where you won’t be left wanting for anything.
From what we’ve heard so far, though, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra just doesn’t seem to fit that bill, appearing to be more of a modest upgrade on the Z Fold 7 than a complete reinvention of the line-up. Not to mention that the wide model will be a much closer rival to the iPhone Ultra, Apple’s first foldable phone.
Until confirmed, we’re going to keep calling it the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide to avoid any confusion.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
When will the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide be released?
In summary
- 22 July is the expected launch date
- Multiple rumours suggest this is when the next Unpacked event will take place
- Likely to launch at the same time as the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and Z Flip 8
Even though we’re still awaiting an official confirmation from Samsung as to when the Z Fold 8 Wide might appear, all signs point towards 22 July as being the date that the company has in mind.
Rumours of a Samsung Unpacked event scheduled for July have been floating around for months, but the 22nd has been touted by a handful of outlets now, including Seoul Economic Daily which has an excellent track record on all things Samsung.
As if all that wasn’t enough to convince you, it now seems as though Samsung itself has inadvertently confirmed the date via a pre-order incentive listed through Samsung Malaysia. The deal in question allows users of the Samsung Members app to receive RM700 (roughly £130/$170) off the price of the brand’s next foldable phone. Such a discount isn’t out of the ordinary for Samsung, but what is telling is that, according to the fine print, the offer doesn’t kick in until 22 July, which pretty much confirms that that’s when we’ll be seeing the phone as well as other devices that Samsung has in the pipeline.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
For context, here are the release dates of previous phones in the Galaxy Z Fold series:
- Samsung Galaxy Fold – September 2019
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 – September 2020
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 – August 2021
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 – August 2022
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 – August 2023
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 – July 2024
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 – July 2025
Sources: ET News | Korea Economic TV | Seoul Economic Daily
How much will the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide cost?
In summary
- No concrete price details yet
- The phone might be cheaper than the Z Fold 8 Ultra
This is where things get interesting. Even though there are no major rumours floating around about the actual price of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide, we would be surprised if it wasn’t made available as a more affordable alternative to the taller Z Fold 8 Ultra.
The reason, as far as we can tell, is that Samsung has had to remove a few features from this wider foldable in order to accommodate the different design.
The problem is that, given recent price rises to both the Galaxy S26 range and existing Samsung phones in Korea, including the Z Fold 7, the Z Fold 8 Ultra is almost guaranteed to come in at a higher price than its predecessor.
Whether that means the Z Fold 8 Wide then adopts the original £1,799/$1999.99 price of the Z Fold 7 remains to be seen.
To get some idea of the price bracket the Z Fold 8 Wide will be working with, here’s the price history for previous Z Fold handsets:
- Samsung Galaxy Fold – £1,900/$1,980
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 – £1,799/$1,999
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 – £1,599/$1,799
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 – £1,649/$1,799
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 – £1,749/$1,799
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 – £1,799/$1,899
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 – £1,799/$1,999
What specs and features will the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide have?
In summary
- The wide design makes the phone feel more like a traditional tablet
- Likely to have a larger 4800mAh battery
- Faster 45W charging speeds could be on the table
- No telephoto lens, with just two rear-facing cameras
- Could miss out on a 200Mp main camera for a 50Mp alternative
- May shoot at 24Mp natively
- A thicker, more durable glass on the inner display
A whole new design philosophy
Originally spotted as ‘SM-F971U’ on the GSMA product database, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide is now far beyond being simply a hint that Samsung might be working on a new vertical, as it’s become one of the most leaked phones in recent memory. While it probably isn’t great for anyone at Samsung who wanted to hold on to the element of surprise, it does mean that we have a far better understanding of what the company is trying to achieve with this new phone.
Because it’s a shorter, more squared-off device, the Z Fold 8 Wide brings back memories of using the Blackberry Passport when closed, but when open, it’s designed to feel far more like a traditional, wide-screen tablet in the hand. This should allow the Wide to perform better as an entertainment device, as traditional book-style foldables do incorporate some very heavy bordering when streaming a bit of Netflix on their inner displays.
Credit: Onleaks, Android Headlines
Although it’s nice to have a different style of foldable as it’ll mean more consumer choice, it’s very easy to see the Z Fold 8 Wide as a means of beating the iPhone Ultra to market, Apple’s first-ever foldable, which is said to utilise a similar design.
From what we know so far, the Z Fold 8 Wide will weigh in at 201g, making it 14g lighter than the existing Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7. It is expected to be 4.5mm thin when unfolded, which is just a tad bigger than the 4.2mm thickness of the Fold 7 in the same state.
The actual look of the Z Fold 8 Wide is no longer left up to the imagination either thanks to several leaks, including one from a supposed Samsung employee. On the latter point, a Korean news outlet spotted a wide-looking Samsung foldable out in the wild, being used by someone at a restaurant. Although this is likely to be a development unit and the final design will almost certainly change, it does give us a rough idea of what the device will feel like in the hand, as it fits more comfortably when closed.
DCInside
While the snaps of that real-life encounter with the Fold are a bit on the grainy side, the same cannot be said for dummy units posted to X of both the Fold Wide and its larger sibling. These shots show the height disparity between the devices, and provide a closer look of how the Z Fold 8 Wide sits when held one-handed.
Because of the taller aspect ratio of the Z Fold 8 Ultra, it’s easy to imagine how that phone might work better for multitasking and typing when unfolded, while the Z Fold 8 Wide will be more preferable to users who game and stream on their phones.
More recent renders show off the colourways that we can expect to see from the Z Fold 8 Wide, as well as the official cases that Samsung will be launching with the phone. There are a total of four colourways: Cream, Graphite, Lavender and Pistachio (the first two of which it shares with the Fold 8 Ultra).
Credit: Android Headlines
Of the options shown, the Lavender and Pistachio options stand out for having a more striking coat of paint, and it’s likely that they’ll be used in the marketing of the phone to help it stand out against the Z Fold 8 Ultra, which has opted for a more subdued, almost business-like set of colours.
Now that we’re closing in on the unveiling of the Z Fold 8 Wide, Samsung itself has started to hint at the new design via a series of teaser videos that have been published online. The videos in question show various items that have had their height reduced, like a bar of chocolate, to take on a more squat frame. Some of the videos have included the tagline “Bold stroke. New Shape”, so any ideas that the Z Fold 8 Wide might have been nothing more than a big hoax are firmly out the window.
Screenshot
Samsung
In terms of the build itself, it appears that the Z Fold 8 Wide will be using a thicker and more durable glass on the internal display. According to leaks, the Wide is expected to have a 60μm-thick version of Ultra-thin glass, while the standard Fold 8 alternative will have a thinner 45μm UTG glass, which is the same as what’s currently featured on the Z Fold 7.
Having a thicker glass installed should benefit the Z Fold 8 Wide on two fronts. First, it should make the interior crease less visible, putting the device more in line with the recent Oppo Find N6 that boasts a near-invisible crease. This has long been an issue for Samsung’s foldables, as just looking at a Z Fold/Flip screen from a slightly side-on angle tends to reveal the crease pretty quickly.
The other benefit is that the screen itself should be more resistant to scratches and general wear and tear, which is another thing that has plagued foldables of all varieties for years now. There is a downside to all this, however, in that a thicker display might deteriorate at the crease faster than a thinner alternative, so here’s hoping that Samsung has put in the work to make sure that the device can withstand a substantial amount of use.
Sources: Smartprix | ET News | Ice Universe | Android Headlines (2) (3) | SamMobile | Techmaniacs | DCInside | ZDNetKorea
An unfortunate camera downgrade
As eager as we are to get our hands on Samsung’s new foldable, there is one fly in the ointment that may scare off potential adopters. Much like the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge, the Z Fold 8 Wide will only have two rear-facing cameras, ditching the telephoto lens completely.
Given that foldables have often struggled to compete with the camera set-ups of traditional candybar-style flagship phones, this could be a notable step backwards unless Samsung can deploy some impressive computational processing to pick up the slack.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
The situation only gets worse as more recent rumours now have it that the two sensors on the back will be a 50Mp wide and a 50Mp ultra-wide, meaning that the phone will also be ditching the main 200Mp sensor that the Z Fold 7 pinched from the Galaxy S25 Ultra. If this ends up being the case, that’s a pretty paltry excuse for a phone that’s guaranteed to be closer to £2000/$2000.
At the very least, it now seems as though the main 50Mp will take photos at a 24Mp resolution by default and without the need of the Camera Assist function which can be installed via Samsung’s Good Lock infrastructure. A lot of smartphone cameras, even though they boast high megapixel counts, tend to capture images at 12Mp unless prompted otherwise, with the intent of saving on storage, so it does seem as if Samsung is going to really push these cameras so that users can make the most of them.
Source: Techmaniacs | Ice Universe
Improved charging and battery life
At the very least, while the Z Fold 8 Wide’s cameras leave a lot to be desired, there are likely to be a few upgrades in the battery department that should have a positive effect on everyday use. For starters, the battery itself might be a larger 4800mAh cell, which is a notable increase on the 4400mAh equivalent of the Z Fold 7.
Working in tandem with that increased battery size are faster 45W charging speeds. Samsung has been fairly stingy with battery upgrades in its phones as of late (just look at the virtually unchanged Galaxy S26+), but it’s good to see that that hasn’t been the case here, particularly as foldables need a decent battery life to help you make the most of their larger screens.
Source: Techmaniacs
A Snapdragon chipset under the hood
More often than not, it’s a bit of a guessing game when it comes to Samsung and trying to figure out which chipsets it plans to use in any given year. The constant tug of war between the company’s own-brand Exynos chips and the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon CPUs feels never-ending, especially as we recently saw as much with the global release of the Galaxy S26 range which had differing chipsets depending on their region.
Thankfully, things are a bit more consistent with the Z Fold range as it typically sticks with having a Qualcomm chip, and that seems to be the case here.
Luke Baker
After an appearance on FCC databases, we now know that the Z Fold 8 Wide will have a Snapdragon chip of some variety; we just don’t know exactly which one, but the expectation is that it’ll have the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor. Anything less than that will only put the phone at a disadvantage against similar flagships.
Information from those databases also shows that the phone will have Wi-Fi 7 and NB-NTN satellite connectivity, which should help users in a pinch when they can’t connect to their network.
That’s all we know about the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide for now, but as mentioned earlier, we’ll keep our ears to the ground for any more news in the coming days and weeks to keep this article updated.