The largest foldable Galaxy device is reportedly coming closer to release

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra may have been the flagship model, but the Galaxy Z Fold 8 appears to be Samsung’s most successful foldable yet, probably because it offered something radically different from before. It appears the company may try the same move rather soon, as a new report claims a new type of foldable is already in development.

Samsung has reportedly started working on a giant foldable

Samsung might be working on a giant foldable device, which could be a mix of a laptop and a tablet. According to a post from Korean leaker kro on X, the company has already started working on a 17-inch foldable device.

The leaker reported in August that the foldable tablet was in development, though they didn’t share any specifics about the potential release schedule. At the time, Samsung was reportedly developing multiple versions of the concept with several test devices in the making, but it appears that the process has moved ahead in recent months.

When could a Galaxy Tab Fold launch?

In their original report, the leaker claimed that the 17-inch foldable device will be able to fold down to an 8-inch tablet. It’s unclear whether the tablet will fold outwards, using half of the screen when folded, or it would utilize a cover screen, like the Galaxy Z Fold devices. 

Either way, such a concept is unlikely to be something radically new inside the company. We’ve already seen some concept devices during various trade shows, and there were rumors of a Galaxy Z Tab as far back as 2021. While those were mixed with what turned out to be the Galaxy Z TriFold, making a foldable tablet shouldn’t be much of an engineering challenge for Samsung.

Considering this, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Samsung were to launch such a device as soon as next year. With its foldables usually launching in July, and the Galaxy Tab S series launching around September, the Galaxy Tab Fold could come alongside either of those. 

Of course, one of the key questions with such a device would be if anyone would ever want to buy it. Some users on Reddit expressed interest in the concept, but mostly as a way to get a big foldable that isn’t as expensive as a tri-foldable. Considering what’s going on with consumer tech prices lately, this is unlikely to happen, so the idea may not be all that good.

Foldable tablets exist already, kind of

While the potential Galaxy Tab Fold could be something completely new and different, devices that are very similar have existed for years. Back in 2020, Lenovo launched the ThinkPad X1, which was dubbed the world’s first foldable PC. While it had just a 13.3-inch display, this device proved the concept can work, and it was followed by a larger, 16.3-inch version in 2023.

Years later, Huawei launched the MateBook Fold, which also has a second-generation upgrade on the market. This one has 18-inch or 13-inch display, depending on the way you use it, but it's also dubbed foldable PCs, probably because it has only one screen on the inside.

There were rumors that Huawei was also working on a foldable tablet, which may differ from the MateBook Fold in having two displays instead of only one. Earlier rumors suggested that Apple was also considering a foldable iPad, even though those have died down recently.

Nobody needs such a device

I struggle to see any practical reasons to have a giant foldable device in a world of tri-foldables and lightweight laptops. Once you go beyond the size that can fit in a pocket, I don’t care whether there’s a 16-inch laptop, a 14-inch tablet, or an 8-inch foldable in my bag because I’m with a bag anyway. 

Making such a device foldable only adds friction, and durability concerns and makes it more expensive. I’d still love to toy around with an 18-inch foldable, but I can’t imagine many people willing to pay the hefty price it will inevitably come with.

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