According to increasingly frequent rumors, Apple could introduce its first foldable iPhone as early as 2026, which apparently forced Samsung to prepare a counterattack in advance. The Korean giant has already demonstrated its technological prowess this year with the presentation of the triple folding model Galaxy Z TriFold, and now the first traces of a completely new, so far unknown folding device appear.
A Samsung phone marked SM-F971U and internally codenamed H8 recently appeared in the GSMA database. Based on the current Samsung nomenclature, it is clear that the device belongs to the “big Fold” family, because Samsung traditionally uses the designation SM-F9xx for this category. However, it is not the Galaxy Z Fold8, which already has the well-known codename Q8, which is why it is increasingly being mentioned that it is a completely new line of large folding phones.
The new Samsung “tablet + tablet” folding concept
According to information provided by Sammyguru, the new Samsung device uses a significantly wider design compared to existing Fold models. The outer screen reportedly has an aspect ratio of 18:9, while the inner screen is a square format 18:18, bringing it closer in terms of proportions to devices like the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold.
Additional attention was also attracted by Samsung’s internal survey related to the design of the Fold series, in which, apparently, illustrations of this “wide folding” concept appeared. From the sketches shown, it can be concluded that Samsung is considering a completely different philosophy of use: instead of the previous “phone + tablet” approach, the new concept is described as “tablet + tablet”. In other words, the device would offer a tablet-like experience both when folded and unfolded.
Of course, it is important to emphasize that surveys and conceptual drawings do not guarantee that such a device will actually reach mass production. Nevertheless, they clearly show that Samsung is actively experimenting with new forms of devices and is seriously considering expanding its offer of devices with a folding screen, in order to differentiate itself from the competition and prepare the ground in time for Apple’s entry into this category.