Samsung is reportedly planning a major push into wider-screen foldable phones, with an initial production run of around one million units of the upcoming Galaxy Wide Fold. According to reports, that would make it Samsung's largest production run yet for a special foldable model, and a clear signal that the company sees the wider form factor as its answer to Apple's first foldable iPhone.

The reports say the Galaxy Wide Fold is expected to launch alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Flip 8. Leaks point to a book-style device with a 7.6-inch foldable display in a squarer 4:3 ratio and a 5.4-inch cover screen, a shape closer to a small tablet when opened than to Samsung's existing tall, narrow foldables. Samsung has not confirmed any of these details, and the figures come from supply-chain reporting rather than an official announcement.

Why one million matters

A one-million-unit first run would be roughly double the volume of Samsung's previous special-edition foldable, the Galaxy Z Fold SE released in 2024, which shipped about 500,000 units, according to reports. Korean outlet ETNews, cited in the reporting, says Samsung shared the production plan with key partners, suggesting the company has real confidence in the new shape rather than treating it as a limited experiment.

The timing is not accidental. Apple launched its first foldable, the iPhone Duo, earlier this year, and some owners have since reported cracks developing on the inner folding display. Apple has described the affected devices as a small number of units, but Samsung has moved quickly to draw the contrast, promoting the durability of its own Galaxy Z Fold 8 series and reminding buyers that it has eight generations of foldable development behind it. Samsung Display, notably, manufactures the foldable panel used in Apple's iPhone Duo.

Signs of a global launch

There are also signs that Samsung intends the Wide Fold for a broad release rather than a single market. Multiple variants of the device, carrying model number SM-F971, have appeared in the GSMA IMEI database, according to reports, which usually points to a launch across several regions. The listings were first reported by Smartprix and covered in early November.

Sales of Samsung's current foldable line-up give the company reason to be confident. Combined sales of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra in Europe were reportedly 45 percent higher than the previous generation during the first nine weeks, while sales in South Korea rose by 20 percent after the iPhone Duo launch, according to The Korea Herald. Samsung said in late October that combined Fold 8 and Fold 8 Ultra purchases were tracking 30 percent ahead of the previous Galaxy Z generation.

What is still unknown

Plenty remains unconfirmed. No official pricing has been reported for the Wide Fold, and Samsung has not said when it will be unveiled or which markets will get it first. Some reports have suggested a launch alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Flip 8, while other coverage has pointed to a separate debut. The reported display sizes, the production target and the launch window should all be treated as leaks until Samsung says otherwise.

What is clear is the strategic picture. Foldables are no longer a niche experiment for Samsung: they are the front line of its contest with Apple. A wider, more tablet-like foldable, produced at a scale of one million units, would put Samsung in direct competition with Apple's first foldable on its own terms, with a device designed for reading, multitasking and media rather than simply folding a phone in half. Whether buyers want that wider shape in those numbers is the question Samsung's production bet will answer.