The foldable smartphone market is poised for a significant design shift. Following years of tall, narrow "book-style" foldables, a new report suggests Samsung is developing a wider, passport-style device internally codenamed "Wide Fold." This move is widely seen as a direct response to similar design rumors surrounding Apple's long-anticipated entry into the foldable space, setting the stage for a major clash of titans in 2026.
The Rumored "Wide Fold" Specifications and Design
According to a report from the Korean outlet ETNews, Samsung's "Wide Fold" is being developed with a distinct 4:3 aspect ratio for its inner display, a significant departure from the taller, more square screens of its current Galaxy Z Fold series. The device is said to feature a 7.6-inch primary OLED screen, paired with a 5.4-inch cover display. This "passport-style" form factor, where the device's width is slightly greater than its height when unfolded, is designed to mimic the proportions of a traditional notebook or tablet. The shift aims to address a common user complaint with current foldables: excessive letterboxing (black bars) when watching standard 16:9 video content, providing a more natural media consumption experience.
Reported "Samsung Wide Fold" Specifications (via ETNews):
- Internal Codename: Wide Fold
- Inner Display: 7.6-inch OLED
- Aspect Ratio (Unfolded): 4:3 ("Passport-style")
- Cover Display: 5.4-inch
- Key Feature: 25W wireless charging support
- Expected Chipset: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (or contemporary 2026 flagship)
- Target Launch: Fall 2026 (likely at Samsung's second Unpacked event)
A Strategic Response to Apple's Rumored iPhone Fold
The development of the "Wide Fold" is not happening in a vacuum. Industry analysts and reports strongly link its genesis to the persistent rumors surrounding Apple's "iPhone Fold," which is also speculated to feature a crease-free display and a similar passport-style, 4:3 form factor with a screen size around 7.7 inches. With Apple's device potentially launching in the fall of 2026, Samsung's move to develop a competitor for a similar timeframe is a clear preemptive strike. Samsung, with nearly a decade of experience in the foldable market, likely aims to leverage its manufacturing scale and supply chain expertise to launch a compelling alternative that could challenge Apple on both features and potentially price.
The Evolving Foldable Market and User Experience
The potential introduction of a "Wide Fold" signifies Samsung's strategy to diversify its foldable portfolio to cater to different user preferences. Currently, the lineup includes the compact Galaxy Z Flip, the productivity-focused Galaxy Z Fold, and the recently announced tablet-like Galaxy Z TriFold. A wide-screen Fold would slot in as a dedicated media consumption and hybrid-use device. For users who prioritize watching videos and browsing the web in a landscape orientation, the 4:3 screen would reduce cropping and letterboxing, making the unfolded state feel more like a small tablet. This contrasts with the current Z Fold's strength in multi-tasking and reading, which benefits from a more vertical, split-screen-friendly canvas.
Comparative Form Factor Context:
- Current Galaxy Z Fold: Tall, narrow "book-style," optimized for split-screen productivity and reading.
- Rumored Wide Fold / iPhone Fold: Wider, "passport-style" with 4:3 screen, optimized for media consumption with less letterboxing.
- Galaxy Z TriFold: Two-hinge design that unfolds into a ~10-inch tablet, focused on maximum screen real estate for productivity and entertainment.
- Galaxy Z Flip: Compact clamshell that folds into a small square, focused on portability.
Technical Details and Expected Launch
Beyond the form factor, the ETNews report mentions a few other technical tidbits. The "Wide Fold" is expected to support 25W wireless charging, which would be the highest such rating for a Samsung smartphone if it materializes. For its chipset, the device will likely utilize the same flagship processor powering the 2026 Galaxy Z Fold 8, which is anticipated to be a Snapdragon 8 Elite series chip. Samsung typically unveils its new foldables at its second annual Unpacked event, which usually occurs in the late summer. Therefore, a launch for the "Wide Fold" is tentatively slated for the fall of 2026, putting it on a potential collision course with Apple's rumored launch schedule.
The Road Ahead for Foldable Innovation
The rumored development of the Samsung "Wide Fold" highlights the intensifying competition in the high-end foldable segment. As the technology matures beyond early adopter novelty, the focus is shifting to refining the user experience for specific use cases. The battle between Samsung's potential wide-screen device and Apple's rumored iPhone Fold will likely center not just on hardware durability and display quality, but on which company can best integrate the unique form factor into a seamless software ecosystem. For consumers, this rivalry promises more choice and accelerated innovation, potentially making 2026 a landmark year for the mainstream adoption of foldable smartphones.