The push toward wider folding devices stems directly from consumer demand for the Galaxy Z Fold 8. Launched in July, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 has already proved a “smash hit” and the company is said to have ordered a million more units to be manufactured.
Building on the Success of the Wide Galaxy Z Fold 8
Samsung’s experimental pivot to a wider form factor proved that consumers were ready for a change. Samsung’s latest Galaxy Z Fold 8 has become a popular choice among foldable buyers, thanks to its wider display and 4:3 aspect ratio. Last month, Samsung launched three new foldable phones: the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Z Fold 8 Ultra, and Z Flip 8. The Ultra model carries forward the company’s premium book-style foldable approach, while the all-new Fold 8 brings a fresh, wider form factor. Meanwhile, the Z Flip 8 continues the popular clamshell design. The wide model’s appeal is its proportions, closer to a 4:3 shape for landscape content and split-screen use, and it is widely seen as Samsung’s answer to Apple’s first foldable.
What to Expect from the Galaxy Z9 Wide Video Model
Building on that momentum, Samsung has shared plans with supply chain partners to develop two wide-screen foldable devices under the Galaxy Z9 generation for next year. According to a report by South Korean outlet ETNews, Samsung has initiated development projects for two wide foldable devices under the Galaxy Z9 generation and shared plans with its supply chain partners. While the current Fold 8 sports a squarish 4:3 aspect ratio when unfolded, the report cites unnamed industry sources to suggest that this new/second wide foldable is being designed with an aspect ratio tailored specifically for wide-screen video playback on the inner display. The second wide-screen foldable is being designed with an aspect ratio specifically tailored for wide-screen video playback on the inner display.
According to trusted leaker Ice Universe, Samsung roadmap for folding devices next year includes another new foldable with a wider display, in addition to a follow-up to the Galaxy Z Fold 8. ETNews reports that Samsung has once again expanded its plans for new foldable releases in 2027. Already expected were sequels to Galaxy Z Fold 8 (wide), Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, Galaxy Z Flip 8, and a new Galaxy Z TriFold, but now there’s a fifth device in the works. This is apparently a second device using a similar wide form factor to Galaxy Z Fold 8. It sounds like it’s early days for this new addition to the lineup, with specifications largely unclear. However, the report does mention that this new device is apparently geared directly at video consumption – something Samsung insists the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is better for than it actually is. The report claims that Samsung is building this new foldable with the idea to create a screen aspect ratio optimized for video viewing.
One will be the Galaxy Z Fold 9, the direct successor to the Galaxy Z Fold 8, while the other will be an entirely new Galaxy Z Fold model featuring a wide-screen aspect ratio. The name of this newer model is not yet clear. The company is also reportedly developing the Galaxy Z Flip 9, Galaxy Z Fold 9 Ultra, and a Galaxy Z TriFold 2.
Software Traces and Early Development Evidence
Software evidence supporting the expansion has already begun surfacing in early testing environments. Android Authority found alleged images of the phone in One UI 9 files.
The ultra-thin glass (UTG) cover on Samsung’s new “Wide” foldable—the passport-shaped addition to this year’s lineup—is reportedly more than 30% thicker than the model it’s most often compared with, a change said to be meant to reduce the display crease and improve drop durability. The detail comes from leak coverage, originating with a ZDNet Korea report; Samsung has confirmed none of it.
Market Strategy and Competitive Pressures Ahead
Apple is likely to join the foldable market this year — but Samsung is gearing up to have a competitor in place before the iPhone Ultra even launches. Apple’s first foldable will reportedly come in a very similar form factor, and likely with the exact same folding display. We’ll find out just how popular that will be too, when it will almost certainly launch early September.
