Samsung can’t afford to play it safe with Apple’s first foldable looming - The Verge

What the report says

The Verge reports that Samsung is expected to use its July 2026 Galaxy Unpacked event to make one of its biggest foldable-phone moves in years, including updated Fold and Flip models and a new Galaxy Z Fold 8 variant with a shorter, wider shape than the prior Z Fold 7. The article, published July 21, says leaks have pointed to the redesigned form factor for months, while Samsung has teased “a new shape” in its own event messaging.

The reported shift matters because Apple is widely expected to enter the foldable market soon with a device that may use a similarly squat design. The Verge frames Samsung’s possible wider Fold as a preemptive bet: by offering a comparable format before Apple’s first foldable iPhone arrives, Samsung could avoid being caught without an answer if Apple’s model is well received.

The report also notes that wider foldables are not new. Huawei, Google, Oppo and Microsoft have all tried broader or dual-screen designs, but Samsung’s narrower Fold approach helped steer the category for years because of its early lead and market influence. More recently, rivals have pushed ahead with hardware improvements such as reduced display creases and better dust resistance, while Samsung responded with thinner and more polished Fold and Flip models.

The Verge cites IDC analyst Francisco Jeronimo as predicting Apple could take 34 percent of the foldable market by value in its first year, underscoring the stakes. Still, the article cautions that Samsung’s experiments have carried risk, pointing to the short-lived Galaxy Z TriFold and weak demand for the Galaxy S25 Edge.