TL; DR
- Samsung’s upcoming wider foldable has reportedly been spotted in public for the first time, with photos shared by Ice Universe showing the device being tested in South Korea.
- The phone appears to be hidden inside Samsung’s internal anti-leak testing case, though its wider proportions are still visible and closely match previous leaks.
- Recent reports suggest this wider model will launch as the Galaxy Z Fold8, while the direct successor to the Galaxy Z Fold7 will be renamed the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra.
Samsung’s next generation foldables are expected to launch in July, and a new leak may have given us our first real-world look at one of the most interesting models in the lineup.
Ice Universe shared images on X that allegedly show Samsung’s upcoming wide-format foldable being used publicly by a Samsung employee at a restaurant in South Korea. The photos were reportedly captured using 20X zoom, so the device itself is heavily obscured, but several details remain visible.
The device itself is mostly hidden inside one of Samsung’s internal prototype cases, though the wider overall shape is still visible.
ALSO READ: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Tipped to Get a Smaller Selfie Camera Punch Hole
The “Wide” Fold May Become the Main Fold
According to information previously reported by SamMobile and later backed up by Ice Universe, Samsung no longer plans to market this device as the “Galaxy Z Fold8 Wide.” Instead, the wider model is now expected to launch simply as the Galaxy Z Fold8.
The current Fold design, which serves as the direct successor to the Galaxy Z Fold7, will reportedly move up the lineup and launch as the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra.
ALSO READ: Galaxy Z Fold8 Wide Leaks: Samsung’s New Wider Fold Takes on Apple
What We Know About the Wider Fold8
Current leaks point to a 5.4-inch cover display and a 7.6-inch inner screen with a much squarer layout than previous Galaxy Fold devices. Samsung is expected to use the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset along with a 4,800 mAh battery.
The device is also rumored to feature a dual-camera setup and an extremely thin chassis measuring around 4.3mm when unfolded and 9.8mm when folded.
Earlier this week, Ice Universe also claimed that Samsung has significantly improved crease control across both Fold8 models. According to the leaker, Samsung’s crease performance is now comparable to the OPPO Find N6, which currently has one of the least visible creases among foldable smartphones.
ALSO READ: Ice Universe Says Galaxy Z Fold8 Series Crease Now Matches OPPO Find N6
Galaxy Z Fold8 Release Date
Samsung is expected to officially unveil the Galaxy Z Fold8 series during a Galaxy Unpacked event rumored to take place in London on July 22. With launch now only weeks away, more leaks and public sightings are likely to follow.
You can follow Smartprix on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Google News. Visit smartprix.com for the latest tech and auto news, reviews, and guides.
