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Samsung is looking beyond the Z Fold 8's success — but will the gamble pay off?

Rumor has it that Samsung is already moving beyond the Galaxy Z Fold 8 lineup.

By Polina Kovalakova

Published: Aug 17, 2026, 5:41 AM

Samsung Galaxy Z Series

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A person holds the Z Fold 8 folded in their palm, showing its cover panel.

Here's what to expect from Samsung in 2027. | Image by PhoneArena

If you thought Samsung wouldn't double down after the unprecedented success of the Galaxy Z Fold 8, think again. Industry insiders claim the company has already kicked off development of its successor, suggesting we could see as many as five Galaxy foldables next year.

A new 'Wide Fold' is reportedly being developed

There may be a lot more foldables to talk about next year. | Image by PhoneArena

According to an ETNews report, Samsung has already begun the development of two new Galaxy Z Fold devices for next year. Those are rumored to be the Galaxy Z TriFold's successor and, apparently, a new wide-style foldable.

Insiders claim the device won't have the same 4:3 aspect ratio as the Galaxy Z Fold 8. However, at this stage, it's unclear just what Samsung may be planning for the rumored Z Fold 8 successor.

Reportedly, the enormous success of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 has been the main factor behind Samsung's decision to release a successor next year. The company appears to be using that success as a springboard to expand its foldable phone lineup, giving consumers more form factors to choose from and potentially appealing to a wider range of users.

Another Wide Fold development project is currently being pursued. The project is in its inception stage, so specific specifications have not yet been released. 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.

Unknown industry insiders, August 2026

Should Samsung release a book-like foldable with a different aspect ratio?

The right approach?

Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8 series actually broke pre-order records in several key markets. But in most regions, that success was largely driven by the new wide-style foldable.

Apparently, Samsung has found a winning formula with its new device, and it makes perfect sense that the company might want to double down on its efforts and keep that momentum going well into 2027.

And who's to say? Maybe, if it's different enough from the Z Fold 8 and Z Fold 8 Ultra, the new mystery foldable may end up riding the wave of the Z Fold 8's success.

Amazon is offering the Galaxy Z Fold 8 with a $350 gift card. This is the retailer's launch offer, which has been avaialble for a few weeks, so you might want to hurry up if you still haven't bought yours. After all, Amazon won't keep such an awesome offer much longer.

Buy at Amazon

Speaking of the Z Fold 8, did you know that you can still buy it with a freebie? Yep, Amazon's launch offer on this awesome Android phone is still available. That means you can still get the device alongside a $350 gift card.

Five foldables to choose from in 2027

An analysis of the Z Fold 8 popularity in the coming year. | Image by Counterpoint Research

If the development of these two rumored foldable devices goes smoothly, then Samsung should release two new foldable models next year. And those two, combined with the three devices released last month: the Galaxy Z Flip 8, Z Fold 8 Ultra, and Z Fold 8, will give users a total of five Galaxy foldables to choose from.

We're yet to see whether the Galaxy Z TriFold successor will have the same limited availability as the first-gen model. However, at first glance, it seems like Samsung is prepping up for quite the foldable blowout. The big question is whether fans really want that much choice.

Is the mystery foldable's success guaranteed?

Do we need more than these two? | Image by PhoneArena

It's easy to conclude that if the Galaxy Z Fold 8 was a success, whatever Samsung comes up with next should be successful too. But to me, the record-breaking pre-orders of the passport-style device were largely a result of the lack of innovation in the foldable market beforehand.

If Samsung suddenly gives users way more choices, the initial appeal can easily backfire. After all, having more options to consider doesn't necessarily guarantee that interest in foldables will keep growing.

To truly succeed, Samsung will have to make sure that each foldable device has a clear value proposition and a distinct target audience.

And in case you're looking for more foldable phone news:

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Polina Kovalakova, a News and Affiliate Content Writer, has nurtured a passion for mobile technology since the era before smartphones. With a history of exploring a variety of devices, her insights into the mobile world are both broad and nuanced. Polina's non-partisan view extends to appreciating nearly every smartphone brand, a reflection of her open-minded approach to technology. Polina is equally passionate about uncovering the best online deals, tirelessly working to ensure her readers snag top-tier tech at unbeatable prices.

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