Samsung’s latest One UI 9 build suggests that the company is preparing a new Galaxy Z Fold variant to compete directly with Apple’s rumoured iPhone Fold in 2026.
Android Authority uncovered a hidden animation within leaked One UI 9 firmware that shows a book-style foldable with noticeably broader external and internal displays than the current Galaxy Z Fold 7, pointing to a shift in Samsung’s traditional tall and narrow design approach.
The animation aligns with previously reported codenames linked to a wider foldable, strengthening speculation that Samsung plans to expand its foldable lineup beyond the expected Galaxy Z Fold 8 and target a different screen aspect ratio than existing models.
Samsung’s current Galaxy Z Fold devices prioritise one-handed usability when closed, but the leaked design reflects a squarer outer display that mirrors long-standing rumours surrounding Apple’s first foldable iPhone and its reported wider proportions.
A broader cover screen could reduce the need to unfold the device for routine tasks, an area where some users find current book-style foldables less practical compared to conventional flagship smartphones with standard aspect ratios.
Design hints and software layout
The One UI 9 animation also previews a lock screen and unlock transition adapted for a wider canvas, indicating Samsung has already adjusted its software interface to accommodate a different screen geometry rather than simply stretching existing layouts.
Samsung traditionally aligns major hardware launches with significant One UI updates, so the presence of these assets within early 2026 software builds suggests coordinated development between hardware and software teams ahead of next year’s release cycle.
Industry rumours expect Samsung to unveil the Galaxy Z Fold 8 in July 2026, following its typical summer launch schedule, with the wider variant potentially arriving shortly after as part of a broadened foldable portfolio.
Samsung improved durability and reduced visible creasing with the Galaxy Z Fold 7, so a genuinely seamless inner display on the Fold 8 would signal a more fundamental hardware change rather than another incremental update.
Foldable competition in 2026
Apple’s first foldable iPhone reportedly features wider panels than most Android book-style foldables, a configuration that could narrow the ergonomic gap between traditional slab phones and foldable designs when the device remains closed.
Samsung already offers the premium Galaxy Z TriFold for users seeking expanded screen real estate, but that model targets an ultra-premium niche rather than the mainstream flagship segment where Apple’s entry could exert competitive pressure.
Both the wider Samsung foldable and Apple’s iPhone Fold are expected to launch in 2026, although neither company has confirmed specifications, pricing, or regional availability at this stage.
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