Seoul, April 16, 2026, 05:13 (KST)
Samsung appears to be expanding its foldable family. Fresh leaks from the last day suggest a new book-style model—variously dubbed Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide or Z Wide Fold—could debut alongside the usual lineup during Samsung’s July Galaxy Unpacked event. Separately, a newly surfaced patent reveals the company is also looking into a broader tri-fold approach.
The timing is key: Samsung’s Fold series has stuck with its tall, slim silhouette, while competitors push out wider, tablet-shaped designs. Huawei’s already teased its Pura X Max foldable, set for an April 20 debut in China. As for Apple, some industry watchers still expect the company to deliver its first foldable iPhone this year—though Reuters flagged potential engineering issues that might disrupt those shipment plans.
Earlier this month, Korea Economic TV said Samsung is set to host its first Galaxy Unpacked event for the second half in London on July 22, with plans to introduce three new Fold 8-series models. According to the broadcaster, Samsung chose London partly because the company manages its European operations there and was the top smartphone seller in Europe last year.
The report also mentioned a 4:3 aspect ratio for the wider model, making its opened layout resemble a compact tablet. Then SamMobile spotted assets for model SM-F971B inside One UI 9—Samsung’s upcoming Android skin—that reference that same, broader inner display.
Talk of the S Pen is back for Samsung, after the company ditched stylus support for the Fold 7 in its pursuit of a slimmer design. Back in February, Samsung MX COO Won-Joon Choi told reporters the S Pen is still “core” tech for the company, adding they’re developing a new display structure to reduce the trade-offs. That’s according to coverage from Android Authority and 9to5Google. Android Authority
Fresh patent talk has Samsung eyeing more than just a Fold lookalike. On Wednesday, Android Authority pointed to a Samsung patent application—filed last year, published in March—showing sketches of a broader three-panel gadget sporting a squarer cover display. That’s a significant shift from the inaugural Galaxy Z TriFold, which Samsung rolled out in December as a 10-inch hybrid sitting somewhere between phone and tablet.
Wccftech, looking at that same patent trail, pointed out a few sketches that suggest different ways the device might fold—one even looks like a kickstand for watching videos or just using it as a display. Still, that’s not the same as a roadmap. Patents like these tend to document engineering possibilities, not necessarily signal a launch. Android Authority flagged that the existence of this filing doesn’t actually confirm that a separate device is in the works.
Samsung isn’t the only player eyeing a larger format. Huawei is stepping in ahead with the Pura X Max. As for Apple, Counterpoint predicts the company’s debut foldable could seize 46% of North America’s foldable market by 2026—a sign of just how fast the landscape might shift if Apple enters the space.
Still, there’s no guarantee of big gains. Foldables remain only a fraction of the overall phone market. In December, Reuters cited Counterpoint data showing their share at under 2% of all smartphones for this year. Ryu Young-ho, an analyst at NH Investment & Securities, said Samsung’s debut TriFold isn’t likely to become a high-volume product yet—questions about both durability and product readiness are still out there.
So far, July 22 is just another leaked date—nothing official. The actual product name and what’s inside are also rumor territory. According to TheStreet, not even the branding is nailed down right now. Reuters last week flagged that Apple’s internal foldable schedule still faces engineering risks, suggesting the whole big-screen contest could reshuffle before Samsung heads for London.
But the newest reports indicate Samsung is shifting course, stepping back from the slim Fold design that shaped its previous book-style phones. A broader model is now expected in July, and on top of that, there’s new evidence Samsung continues to trial what could follow the TriFold, too.
