Samsung is preparing a new wide-format foldable smartphone, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide, positioning it as a direct competitor to Apple’s anticipated iPhone Ultra, according to PhoneArena.
The device is expected to rank as Samsung’s most significant launch of the year outside the Galaxy S26 Ultra.
What Sets the Z Fold 8 Wide Apart
The “Wide” designation signals a broader outer display compared to previous Fold models — a persistent complaint Samsung has faced from consumers who found the standard Fold’s cover screen too narrow for everyday use.
A wider cover screen would let users interact with the phone in its closed state without opening it, closing a key functional gap with conventional candy-bar smartphones.
That shift matters commercially. Foldable phones accounted for roughly 1% of global smartphone shipments in 2023, according to IDC, and analysts have pointed to awkward form factors as a leading barrier to wider adoption.
The iPhone Ultra Rivalry
Apple is widely expected to introduce an iPhone Ultra model in its 2025 lineup, targeting the premium end of the market with a larger display and enhanced hardware specifications.
Samsung, which has dominated the foldable segment since launching the original Galaxy Fold in 2019, now faces the prospect of Apple entering adjacent high-end territory with a device that could draw attention Away From its flagship lineup.
By positioning the Z Fold 8 Wide as a premium alternative, Samsung signals it intends to compete on experience and screen real estate rather than price alone.
Samsung’s Foldable Momentum
Samsung shipped the majority of foldable devices worldwide through 2023, holding an estimated 63% share of the global foldable market, per IDC.
Still, that dominance has eroded as Chinese manufacturers including Huawei and Honor accelerated their own foldable programs with competitive pricing and thinner designs.
The Z Fold 8 Wide represents Samsung’s attempt to reclaim narrative control at the premium tier — a space where margins are highest and brand perception is set.
No official launch date has been confirmed. Samsung typically unveils its Galaxy Z series devices at its Unpacked event in late summer.
