Samsung Bets Big on Its Wide Foldable Ahead of Apple’s Foldable iPhone

The foldable race is about to get a lot wider. As Apple edges closer to launching its first foldable iPhone, Samsung is reportedly lining up a brand-new wide-format Galaxy foldable and early production numbers now suggest the company is betting big on it. 

Samsung Plans to Produce 1 Million Units of Its Wide Foldable in 2026

Prominent South Korean media outlet ET News has revealed that the upcoming Samsung foldable with a wide aspect ratio is reportedly being prepped with an initial estimate of 1 million units. This will make this the largest initial production run ever for a special edition Samsung Galaxy phone.

The current estimate is decided by Samsung management, keeping the initial iPhone Fold production estimate of 8 to 10 million units in mind. Although the production data has not officially arrived from Apple, Samsung is looking to keep all bases covered.

Moreover, the report also states that the passport-like Galaxy foldable will launch alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Flip 8. If true, this will be a first for Samsung since the brand has historically avoided launching special edition phones alongside its mainstream folding phones. So, expect a Q3 2026 or July 2026 launch window for the smartphone.

As for the Samsung Wide Fold's details, not much is known at the time of writing. A previous Samsung wide foldable leak revealed a 7.6-inch AMOLED display with a 4:3 aspect ratio and a 5.4-inch outer screen. It is almost in line with what the iPhone Fold rumored specs report has revealed.

That said, it is too early to speculate. With the iPhone Fold reportedly going official in Apple's September 2026 event, launching the Samsung Wide Fold two months early could give the South Korean brand a competitive edge over Apple. However, it remains to be seen what 2026 has in store for folding phones.