Apple is gearing up to enter the foldable smartphone segment with its first foldable iPhone, expected as early as fall 2026. At the same time, new reports indicate that Samsung is developing a completely new foldable device that may directly compete with Apple’s upcoming model. According to Korean outlet ET News, Samsung’s project—internally known as the “Wide Fold”—marks a major shift from the company’s existing Z Fold and Z Flip series. Instead of the tall and narrow format typically seen in Samsung’s foldable, the Wide Fold is rumoured to adopt a broader, squared design similar to the one Apple is reportedly pursuing.
Samsung Prepares Wide Fold Launch as Direct Competitor to Apple’s 2026 Foldable
The Samsung Wide Fold is expected to feature a 7.6-inch internal OLED display when opened and a 5.4-inch external OLED screen when folded. Its inner display will likely sport a 4:3 aspect ratio, offering a more natural and balanced viewing experience compared to the stretched screens seen on current Galaxy Z Fold devices. This passport-like format is designed to improve usability for tasks such as reading, editing documents, watching content, and viewing photos, while reducing the awkward stretching of apps across tall panels. Interestingly, this form factor aligns closely with leaks about Apple’s foldable iPhone, which may include a 7.8-inch inner display and a 5.5-inch outer screen. Although Google and Oppo previously experimented with similar dimensions in their early foldable devices, they later shifted back to more conventional designs, making Samsung and Apple’s renewed interest noteworthy.
Reports suggest that Samsung aims to launch the Wide Fold in fall 2026, putting it in direct competition with the expected launch of Apple’s foldable iPhone in September of the same year. However, neither company has confirmed exact timelines, and details remain limited beyond the basic design and display specifications. The Wide Fold would join Samsung’s expanding line up of foldable innovations, which recently grew with the introduction of the Galaxy Z Trifold earlier this month.
Foldable Future: Apple and Samsung Set to Redefine the Market with Premium Devices
The pricing of Samsung’s upcoming device remains unknown, though analysts expect it to be positioned similarly to the Galaxy Z Fold 7, which debuted in India at ₹1,74,999. Apple, meanwhile, is reportedly planning to price its first foldable iPhone at around $2,400, approximately ₹2,15,000. If these launches materialise as projected, 2026 could mark a major turning point in the foldable smartphone market, with Apple entering the segment and Samsung introducing a redesigned form factor aimed at redefining the user experience.
Summary:
Samsung is developing a new “Wide Fold” device with a broader, passport-like design to rival Apple’s first foldable iPhone, both expected in fall 2026. With similar screen sizes and premium pricing, the two launches could reshape the foldable smartphone market and intensify competition in high-end mobile innovation.
