Instead of three, five. Samsung is reportedly set to surprise next year with a load of foldable phones

Foldable phones are driving Samsung’s sales, so the South Korean company is likely to add more. This year’s Galaxy Z Fold8 became a hit, and according to the Korean daily ETNews, the brand is preparing the Galaxy Z9 generation for next year with five foldable models – one of them is expected to be a completely new “wide” foldable for video. However, these are currently supply chain rumors, not an official announcement.

The reason for this expansion is simple – this year’s foldables experienced a boom that apparently even the manufacturer itself didn’t anticipate, not only in Korea but also in European markets. We described in the article about the models’ launch that pre-orders increased by tens of percent.

Which foldable phones are expected next year?

According to ETNews, the so-called Galaxy Z9 generation is expected to comprise five members, two more than this year. The newspaper’s sources describe this quintet.

• Galaxy Z Fold9 – successor to this year’s “wide” foldable
• a second, as yet unnamed, wide Fold optimized for video content playback
• Galaxy Z Fold9 Ultra – a variant with a nearly square inner display
• Galaxy Z Flip9 – the classic clamshell, which apparently isn’t ending
• Galaxy Z TriFold – a new generation of triple foldable

Thus, rumors about the end of the clamshell did not materialize – the Galaxy Z Flip9 remains in the lineup. Conversely, its cheaper variant, the Z Flip FE, has definitively ended. Whether weak demand or rising memory prices led to its demise is not yet clear.

What will the second “wide” foldable be for?

This year’s Galaxy Z Fold8 is a “wide” foldable – when unfolded, its inner display is wider than it is tall, with an aspect ratio of 4:3 and a resolution of 2,448 × 1,848 pixels. This is suitable for photos, websites, or reading, but not so much for movies. Films and series commonly use a much wider, “cinematic” aspect ratio around 21:9, so black bars remain around them on a 4:3 display.

This is precisely what the second foldable is supposed to address – it is said to be created with an aspect ratio better suited for video. In comparison, the more expensive Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, on the other hand, has an almost square display, with an approximate ratio of 9:10. However, the project for the new “wide” foldable is still in its very early stages, so no one knows the specific parameters yet.

Will the triple foldable also make a comeback?

Yes, Samsung is reportedly trying again with a phone that folds twice. The Galaxy Z TriFold has so far been more of an experiment with very limited sales – the manufacturer even discontinued its sale after just three months. The new generation is said to reach more people, but don’t count on a significantly lower price.

Instead of three, five. Samsung is reportedly set to surprise next year with a load of foldable phones Adam Kurfürst News Adam Kurfürst News

It remains an open question whether Samsung will start competing with itself with two wide foldables. The new “wide” foldable only makes sense if it attracts new customers – not if it just draws away those who would have bought a Fold anyway.

Are you tempted by any of Samsung’s upcoming foldables?

Sources: ETNews, GSMArena