Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide – set for unveiling at Samsung’s London event – appears to mark a wider-style future and higher pricing as memory chip prices skyrocket
Samsung will launch a new wide, “passport-style” foldable phone at its London event in the coming weeks in an effort to reset consumer expectations for a smartphone market battered by depressed demand and increasing parts prices.
A new form factor
The device, likely to be branded the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide, would sit alongside Samsung’s existing book-style Galaxy Z Fold and clamshell Z Flip lines. Unlike Samsung’s short-lived $3,000 tri-fold experiment earlier this year, the new phone is expected to offer a shorter, wider profile similar in spirit to Huawei’s Pura X Max, currently sold only in China. Industry analyst Francisco Jeronimo of IDC noted that the wider format favours content consumption over the more compact, pocket-friendly book-style design.
Racing ahead of Apple
Samsung’s launch is timed weeks before Apple’s rumoured foldable iPhone, which is expected to adopt a wider aspect ratio. Analysts said it’s less about a bid for leadership of the category and more an attempt to neutralize Apple’s early entry advantages in the category.
Foldables, still niche but growing
Omdia analyst Runar Bjorhovde expects global foldable shipments to rise 33 percent in 2026, to 27.1 million units, even though foldables remain a small sliver, about 1.5 percent, of the roughly 1.23 billion smartphones sold worldwide in 2025. Foldables carry an average selling price roughly four times that of standard smartphones.
Launching amid a memory crunch
Samsung’s event will come amid a worldwide memory chip shortage fueled by demand for AI data centers. Samsung’s determination to release it on schedule with new smartwatches and possible smart glasses is an indicator of the company’s confidence as its rivals have held off on releases.
