Apple’s first foldable iPhone is reportedly getting close to launch, and its arrival may already be influencing Samsung’s next big move in the foldable market. According to recent reports, Samsung is preparing a new premium foldable phone called the Galaxy Wide Fold, and the company is said to be working with suppliers now to ensure the device is ready for mass production.
What makes this rumored model especially interesting is its expected “passport-style” design, a form factor that’s being discussed in the same breath as Apple’s upcoming iPhone Fold. Both devices are rumored to feature a 4:3 aspect ratio, which could deliver a noticeably different feel compared to today’s tall, narrow foldables. A wider display layout like 4:3 can make reading, browsing, multitasking, and tablet-style apps feel more natural, potentially offering a fresh take on what a foldable should be for everyday use.
Samsung reportedly aims to mass produce around one million Galaxy Wide Fold units. That’s a significant number for a brand-new foldable variant and suggests Samsung has real confidence that there’s demand for a wider, more tablet-like folding phone experience. The timing is also notable. The Galaxy Wide Fold is rumored to debut at the company’s second major Unpacked event of the year, which is typically held in July. If that happens, it could share the stage with other expected foldables like the Galaxy Z Flip 8 and Galaxy Z Fold 8.
In terms of size, the Galaxy Wide Fold is said to maintain a familiar book-style fold, with an inner display around 7.6 inches and a cover display around 5.4 inches. On paper, those measurements sound similar to what many users already know from Samsung’s foldable lineup, but the rumored shift to a wider 4:3 presentation could still make the device feel meaningfully different in real-world use.
Apple’s foldable iPhone is also expected to create huge buzz, with shipments rumored at around 10 million units. It’s also rumored to carry a very premium price, with an estimated MSRP of $2,399. If those figures are anywhere close to accurate, Samsung may see an opportunity to ride the wave of consumer curiosity and renewed attention around foldables. Launching a new high-end foldable near the same period could help Samsung capture buyers who want a foldable experience but aren’t sold on Apple’s first-generation entry or its price.
There’s also a bigger market reality at play. Samsung is believed to ship roughly 5 million foldable phones per year, which is respectable but still small compared to the massive volumes of standard “slab” smartphones. Adding a new model like the Galaxy Wide Fold could be a strategy to broaden the lineup, create a new talking point for foldables, and potentially unlock a different category of customers—especially those who want a foldable that feels more like a compact tablet when opened.
If the Galaxy Wide Fold does arrive later this year as expected, it could be one of Samsung’s most intriguing foldable experiments yet—doubling down on variety, targeting new use cases, and bringing added momentum to a category that’s poised to heat up fast once Apple officially enters the foldable phone race. Source: ETNews
