Seoul, April 21, 2026, 22:34 KST
- Samsung is said to be planning a London Unpacked event for July 22.
- On the slate: Galaxy Z Fold 8, Galaxy Z Flip 8, plus a fresh Wide Fold variant.
- Another report indicates the Flip 8 could stick with a 4,300mAh battery, along with 25W charging.
Samsung Electronics is gearing up to launch its latest foldable lineup at the Galaxy Unpacked event in London on July 22, according to Korea Economic TV. The company is set to introduce three new Galaxy Z Fold 8-series devices, among them a “Galaxy Z Wide Fold” that sports a 4:3 screen ratio. Samsung’s aiming this wide-screen model at Apple’s rumored debut foldable iPhone. S Pen support is on the roadmap again, but will roll out gradually as the company tackles earlier design limits around thickness and weight. 한국경제TV
Timing comes into play here as foldables shift from a Samsung-dominated corner of the market into a bigger premium-phone showdown. Counterpoint Research is forecasting 48% growth for North America’s foldable smartphone segment in 2026, and says Apple could capture a hefty 46% share out of the gate. Liz Lee, associate director at Counterpoint, told reporters that Apple’s foldable iPhone is poised to “significantly alter” the trajectory for Google and Motorola in the market. Apple World Today
London isn’t just the backdrop here—it’s in the signal. Korea Economic TV reports Samsung grabbed 35% of the European smartphone market last year, outpacing Apple’s 27%, and its European headquarters remain in the London area.
Chatter around the clamshell series is dialing back a notch. According to SamMobile, the Galaxy Z Flip 8 will apparently stick with the 4,300mAh battery and 25W charging seen in the Z Flip 7. That puts the spotlight instead on possible tweaks to the chipset, storage, and cameras.
The Wide Fold leak drops just as expectations for the regular Galaxy Z Fold 8 remain largely incremental. Over at Android Central, the outlet put the rumored device side by side with Google’s Pixel 10 Pro Fold. According to leaks cited by the site, Samsung’s yet-to-be-announced foldable could stick with a familiar design, featuring an 8-inch inner screen, a 6.5-inch cover display, and a crease that’s less prominent. Still, the report points out that Google’s foldable retains a clear durability lead thanks to IP68 dust and water resistance.
According to Geeky Gadgets, the Wide model should ship with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 and One UI 9. The device is said to feature a broader cover display and a 7.6-inch inner screen. For context, One UI refers to Samsung’s custom Android interface—the software layer that overlays Google’s OS with the company’s own menus and extras.
Software might help make the case. According to T3 on Monday, initial One UI 9 beta details highlight “Tap to Share”—that’s a new NFC-based sharing option—and Bixby widgets, both likely landing with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8 when the software debuts. T3
The race is heating up. Huawei has just rolled out the Pura X Max in China—a passport-style foldable packing a 7.7-inch inner screen, 5,300mAh battery, and stylus support. With this launch, Huawei beats both Samsung and Apple in bringing a wide foldable device to consumers.
Samsung’s pitch for larger displays has a practical side, too. Annika Bizon, vice president of product and marketing at Samsung Electronics UK and Ireland, addressed the topic during a Reddit AMA, listing “work, for streaming, for gaming, for content creation” as activities that see gains from extra screen real estate. For anyone still after something smaller, Bizon pointed them toward the Z Flip lineup. TechRadar
Still, leaks aren’t official launch docs. Names, specs, dates—all of that could shift before Unpacked. If the Flip 8 sticks with its current battery and charging setup, Samsung loses a straightforward upgrade pitch.
The headline from CNET—“Samsung’s iPhone Fold Killer Is Leaked”—makes it clear just how fast talk of the device has turned into an Apple vs. Samsung story. For Samsung, it’s not enough to launch a wider Fold; the company needs to show it’s more than a tweak in shape. That’ll matter if Apple pushes consumers to weigh software, hinge strength and price all together. Haystack
