The Galaxy Z Fold 8 has been popular enough for the company to rush out more units to meet demand ahead of the concerningly expensive iPhone Fold. Now, Samsung is considering making a second wide foldable variant of the Galaxy Z Fold 9.
Having used the Galaxy Z Fold 8 for a couple of weeks, I can see exactly why Samsung would double down on this form factor.
There’s A Market For The Galaxy Z Fold 9 Thanks To The Fold 8
Korean publication ET News reports that Samsung will develop five foldable phones next year, including the TriFold 2 and a new Wide Fold variant alongside the existing Flip, Fold and Fold Ultra.
It’s no surprise the company is doubling down on this wide shape. The wide Galaxy Z Fold 8 series (including the Fold 8 Ultra) broke Samsung’s all-time pre-order record, recording 1.44 million pre-orders in South Korea alone in just seven days.
More telling than the total number is the split: 70% of those pre-orders went to the Z Fold 8 specifically, not the Ultra or the Flip. Buyers chose the wide format over Samsung’s traditional tall foldable by a ratio of roughly two to one.
Samsung then increased Z Fold 8 production by 1 million additional units to meet demand, which could make it Samsung’s most popular foldable ever, in its first year.
What A Second Wide Galaxy Z Fold 9 Could Fix
I’ve been using the Galaxy Z Fold 8 for a couple of weeks and while I love its Nexus 7 nostalgia vibes, there’s clearly room for improvement.
There’s no telephoto lens, which is almost criminal at $1,900. The two 50MP sensors (wide and ultrawide) are more than capable, but I’m missing that optical zoom.
The improved silicon-carbon battery is a good technological leap for Samsung, but I want to see the company really push battery sizes in the next model close to the 7,000mAh numbers we’re seeing on Chinese smartphones. Pairing a comically large battery with Samsung’s power management and software efficiency is tantalising.
Flex Mode, too, should make a comeback. Not just for watching videos without a stand, but also for hands-free camera features. Samsung may even want to explore a larger Wide Fold for people who want a proper tablet experience.
Essentially, the Fold 8 Ultra’s specs in the Fold 8 could well find a willing audience. Yes it’ll be more expensive, but I’m not sure people are quibbling over an extra $200 at this smartphone price range.
It also looks like Samsung is considering making an even wider device based on the wording in the ET News story. “The plan is likely to be to create a device with an aspect ratio optimized for video viewing, rather than the 4:3 aspect ratio released this year,” a source speaking to the publication explained. That likely means even less letterboxing on widescreen videos when watching on the unfolded display, which would make the new Fold more like a genuine tablet experience.
Apple Will Make The Galaxy Z Fold 9 Popular
Samsung will also massively benefit from the impending sudden interest in wide foldable phones, which will come with Apple entering the market via its iPhone Fold/Ultra.
Apple is launching the iPhone Ultra in September, in the same 4:3 wide format as the Z Fold 8. When Apple enters a market, it doesn’t just take a share. It expands the category. Every person Apple convinces to consider a wide foldable is a person who will also look at Samsung’s options.
A broader wide foldable lineup means Samsung has more price points, more configurations and more reasons for those buyers to choose Galaxy over iPhone. And there will be good reason to choose a Galaxy instead: Samsung’s seven years of foldable UI refinement. The iPhone Fold is a first-generation product from Apple with a new way to use iOS. There will almost certainly be teething pains that Samsung ironed out years ago.
If we do see a new wide foldable from Samsung next year, it will be because the company is doubling down on its clear success so far, while cornering as much of the market as possible before Apple can.
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