{"id":293927,"date":"2025-12-02T00:12:05","date_gmt":"2025-12-02T00:12:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/293927\/"},"modified":"2025-12-02T00:12:05","modified_gmt":"2025-12-02T00:12:05","slug":"samsungs-galaxy-z-fold-8-might-feature-new-wide-design-rumor-reveals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/293927\/","title":{"rendered":"Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 might feature new ‘wide’ design, rumor reveals"},"content":{"rendered":"

A new GSMA listing suggests that the device once believed to be the \u201cFlip 8 FE\u201d is now likely the long-rumored \u201cWide\u201d Galaxy Z Fold 8.Model number SM-F971 aligns with a second Fold model planned alongside the standard Fold 8 (SM-F976).The \u201cWide\u201d Fold 8 is said to use two 18:9 panels that open into a square 18:18 display, creating a shorter, wider device when closed.<\/p>\n

Samsung\u2019s plans for foldable phones just got more intriguing. A new GSMA database listing suggests that a mystery device, once thought to be the Galaxy Z Flip 8 FE, could actually be something else.<\/p>\n

Rather than a more affordable clamshell, new evidence suggests this model is actually the long-rumored \u201cWide\u201d Galaxy Z Fold 8<\/a>. And this could be Samsung\u2019s biggest change to its foldable lineup yet.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The confusion began when model number SM-F971 appeared last month. Since Samsung usually uses SM-F7xx numbers for Flip models, many thought this was the Flip 8 FE. But the details didn\u2019t quite add up.<\/p>\n

Best picks for you<\/p>\n

A new entry in the GSMA\u2019s global database, spotted by Smartprix<\/a>, tells a different story. SM-F971 sits alongside the standard Galaxy Z Fold 8<\/a> (SM-F976) as part of a dual-Fold strategy for 2026, rather than a budget Flip model. This shift in view comes from Samsung\u2019s model naming patterns and several reports that the company has been testing a wider Fold.<\/p>\n

A wider Z Fold 8 takes shape with a square display<\/p>\n

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\"GSMA\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Smartprix)<\/p>\n

This is where the \u201cWide\u201d Fold 8 enters the picture. Instead of the tall, narrow shape Samsung has used since the first Fold, the new version is said to use two 18:9 panels that open into a square 18:18 display. When closed, it would be wider and shorter than the current Fold.<\/p>\n

Some early sources say Samsung hopes this design will compete with Apple<\/a>\u2019s rumored wider foldable. That could be why both Fold 8 models might launch at the same time.<\/p>\n

The naming logic adds weight to the rumor. Samsung\u2019s Flip line has never used the \u201cF97x\u201d tag, and FE devices have historically followed the same structure as their premium counterparts. A Flip FE wouldn\u2019t suddenly adopt Fold-style numbering.<\/p>\n

Get the latest news from Android Central, your trusted companion in the world of Android<\/p>\n

On the other hand, a new Fold model makes sense, especially if it\u2019s meant to be sold alongside the regular Fold 8. This matches reports that Samsung has two Fold projects for 2026: the usual update and a new design to help the lineup stand out as competition grows.<\/p>\n

For buyers, 2026 could bring two different Fold options: the usual book-style Fold 8 for those who like a phone-first design, and a wider, squarer Fold 8 \u201cWide\u201d for people who want a mini-tablet that really works like one.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A new GSMA listing suggests that the device once believed to be the \u201cFlip 8 FE\u201d is now…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":293928,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[2306,86,56,54,55],"class_list":{"0":"post-293927","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-mobile","8":"tag-mobile","9":"tag-technology","10":"tag-uk","11":"tag-united-kingdom","12":"tag-unitedkingdom"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/293927","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=293927"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/293927\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/293928"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=293927"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=293927"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=293927"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}