Seoul, April 21, 2026, 22:34 KST
- Samsung is reported to be lining up a London Unpacked event on July 22.
- The expected launch list includes Galaxy Z Fold 8, Galaxy Z Flip 8 and a new Wide Fold model.
- A separate report says the Flip 8 may keep a 4,300mAh battery and 25W charging.
Samsung Electronics is preparing to unveil its next foldable phones at a July 22 Galaxy Unpacked event in London, with a new wide-screen Fold model positioned against Apple’s expected first foldable iPhone, Korea Economic TV reported. The report said Samsung plans to show three Galaxy Z Fold 8-series devices, including a “Galaxy Z Wide Fold” with a 4:3 screen ratio, and is working on a staged return of S Pen support after earlier thickness and weight limits. 한국경제TV
The timing matters because foldables are moving out of a Samsung-led niche and into a broader premium-phone fight. Counterpoint Research expects North America’s foldable smartphone market to grow 48% in 2026 and projects Apple could take 46% share in its first year; Liz Lee, associate director at Counterpoint, said Apple’s foldable iPhone is set to “significantly alter” the path of Google and Motorola in the region. Apple World Today
London also looks like part of the message, not just a venue. Korea Economic TV said Samsung led Europe’s smartphone market last year with 35% share, ahead of Apple’s 27%, and keeps its European regional headquarters in the London area.
The latest rumor on the clamshell line is less aggressive. SamMobile reported that the Galaxy Z Flip 8 is expected to keep the same 4,300mAh battery and 25W charging as the Z Flip 7, leaving chipset, storage and camera changes as the more likely upgrade areas.
The Wide Fold leak sits next to more incremental expectations for the standard Galaxy Z Fold 8. Android Central, comparing the still-unannounced device with Google’s Pixel 10 Pro Fold, said leaks point to a familiar design, an 8-inch inner display, a 6.5-inch cover display and a less visible crease; it noted Google’s foldable still has a durability edge with IP68 dust and water resistance.
Geeky Gadgets reported that the Wide model is expected to use a Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chip and One UI 9, with a wider cover screen and a 7.6-inch inner display. One UI is Samsung’s Android software layer, the menus and features Samsung adds on top of Google’s operating system.
Software could be part of the pitch. T3 reported Monday that early One UI 9 beta material points to “Tap to Share,” a near-field communication sharing feature, and Bixby widgets, with the software expected to appear around the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8 launch. T3
The competitive field is already moving. Huawei on Monday launched the Pura X Max in China, a passport-style foldable with a 7.7-inch inner display, 5,300mAh battery and stylus support, getting a wide foldable to market ahead of Samsung and Apple.
Samsung also has a customer-use argument for bigger screens. Annika Bizon, vice president of product and marketing for Samsung Electronics UK and Ireland, said in a Reddit AMA that people use phones for “work, for streaming, for gaming, for content creation” and that those uses benefit from bigger screens; she pointed compact-phone buyers toward the Z Flip range. TechRadar
But leaks are not launch documents. Names, specs and dates can change before Unpacked, and a battery-and-charging holdover on the Flip 8 would blunt one of Samsung’s easiest upgrade messages.
CNET’s framing showed how quickly the rumor is being pulled into an Apple-Samsung contest: a listing of its video carried the headline “Samsung’s iPhone Fold Killer Is Leaked.” Samsung still has to prove the wider Fold is more than a shape change, especially if Apple forces buyers to compare software, hinge durability and price at the same time. Haystack
