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Samsung might have just revealed its next big foldable shift by accident.
References buried in One UI 9 firmware appear to confirm a new “Wide” version of the Galaxy Z Fold 8. This hints at a major redesign that moves away from the tall, narrow shape of previous models.
The leak suggests Samsung is experimenting with a shorter, wider form factor, potentially making the Fold feel closer to a standard smartphone when closed.
According to the firmware details, the regular Galaxy Z Fold 8 sticks with a familiar design, measuring around 158.4mm tall and 72.8mm wide when folded. The new “Wide” variant, however, drops to 123.9mm in height while stretching out to 82.2mm wide, which should make it noticeably broader in the hand.
Unfold it, and the difference becomes more obvious. The Wide model adopts a 4:3 aspect ratio, offering a more tablet-like canvas that better suits apps, reading, and multitasking, and it’s also slightly thicker at 9.8mm. This suggests Samsung may be prioritising usability over ultra-thin design this time around.
There are a few trade-offs, though. The leak points to a dual-camera setup on the Wide model, likely a 200MP main sensor paired with a 50MP ultrawide. This could mean dropping the telephoto lens found on the standard Fold 8. That would mark a shift in priorities, focusing more on core imaging performance than zoom versatility.
Performance shouldn’t be an issue either way; both versions are expected to run on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, alongside new crease-less OLED displays. These aim to smooth out one of the biggest complaints about foldables so far.
While nothing is official yet, the timing lines up with Samsung’s usual schedule. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 series is expected to launch at a Galaxy Unpacked event in July 2026 with rumours pointing to a possible London debut, a break from Samsung’s usual US or Korea venues.
If accurate, the Wide model could be Samsung’s answer to growing competition in the foldables space. It may also be a sign that the company is finally rethinking how these devices should feel in everyday use.
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