Samsung is expected to unveil a significantly reshaped foldable lineup at its Galaxy Unpacked event, including a new, shorter and wider Fold model alongside updated Fold and Flip phones. The shift comes as Apple's long-rumoured first foldable iPhone approaches, meaning Samsung can no longer rely on its established designs to maintain dominance in a market it has largely defined until now.

Leaks and Samsung's own Unpacked teasers, including references to "a new shape" and ticket-stub imagery, point to the wider form factor. Wider foldables have been tried before by Huawei, Google and Microsoft, but the format faded after Samsung itself favoured slim, square-screened designs; last year's Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 were praised for exactly that approach. Analysts, including IDC's Francisco Jeronimo, expect Apple's entry to be a "turning point" for the sector, forecasting the iPhone could capture 34% of the foldable market by value in its first year, which could either expand the overall market or erode Samsung's lead.