Samsung’s next big foldable experiment may have just slipped into public view. A newly discovered animation tucked inside an early build of One UI 9, Samsung’s take on Android 17, appears to show a dramatically redesigned Galaxy Fold model. The visuals were uncovered and reconstructed by the team at Android Authority, and they point toward what many are calling the Galaxy Z Wide Fold.
The animation itself looks familiar at first glance. It shows a user swiping up on the cover screen to access a vertical list of content. Then the device unfolds, and the interface smoothly expands across the larger internal display. That part feels standard for a modern foldable.
The hardware shape, however, does not.
A new shape for the Fold lineup
Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold series has always leaned toward a tall, narrow outer screen paired with a squarer internal display. It works well enough for multitasking and split screen productivity, but the cover screen has often felt cramped when typing or browsing social feeds.
This new Wide Fold design changes that formula.
Based on the proportions shown in the leaked animation, the outer display looks much shorter and noticeably wider than what we have seen on devices like the Galaxy Z Fold 7. Instead of a tall 20:9 style aspect ratio that many Samsung phones use, the cover screen appears closer to 16:10 when held vertically. That subtle shift could make a huge difference in everyday usability.
A wider front display means a more comfortable keyboard layout, better viewing for social media feeds, and fewer awkward black bars when watching content on platforms such as YouTube or streaming services.
The device shown in the animation also features a centered punch hole camera on the outer screen. Its frame looks more boxy than Samsung’s recent rounded edge designs, giving it a slightly industrial, squared off aesthetic.
What happens when you unfold it
Open the device and the changes become even more interesting.
The internal display appears closer to a 3:4 height to width ratio. It is not a perfect square like some earlier Fold models leaned toward, but it is also not stretched out. The proportions suggest something that feels much more like a compact tablet than a stretched smartphone.
There is also a visible punch hole camera positioned near the top center of the right half of the unfolded display. This mirrors the placement on recent Galaxy Fold devices but within a noticeably different canvas shape.
For years, Samsung’s foldables have offered impressive multitasking capabilities, floating windows, and app continuity features. However, content viewing has often felt compromised due to the unconventional screen ratios. Movies and shows frequently display horizontal bars, and certain apps do not scale perfectly.
With a wider outer screen and a more tablet like inner panel, the Wide Fold could solve both complaints at once. The cover screen becomes practical enough to use as a daily driver without feeling like a narrow remote control. The main display, meanwhile, could provide a more immersive experience for reading, gaming, and streaming.
A big shift in Samsung’s foldable strategy
If this leak proves accurate, it represents a meaningful shift in Samsung’s foldable philosophy. Instead of simply refining the existing tall Fold format, Samsung appears ready to rethink the entire geometry of its flagship foldable.
That change makes sense when you consider how the foldable market has evolved. Competitors have experimented with wider form factors that feel closer to traditional smartphones when closed. Consumer feedback has consistently highlighted the narrow cover screen as one of the biggest compromises of the Galaxy Z Fold lineup.
By adjusting the aspect ratio to something more natural, Samsung could make its next foldable far more appealing to users who previously hesitated.
It is also worth noting that this animation was found deep inside a test build of One UI 9, which is expected to ship alongside Android 17. Samsung has already been preparing its next generation foldables, and early firmware builds tied to upcoming models have surfaced in recent months. Digital Trends recently reported on One UI 9 testing appearing on devices believed to be the Fold 8 and Flip 8.
That timing lines up with Samsung’s usual summer launch window.
When could we see it
Samsung typically hosts its Galaxy Unpacked event in July or August for its foldable announcements. If development is already at the stage where device animations are baked into internal software builds, it is reasonable to expect an official reveal in the third quarter of 2026.
The Wide Fold could debut alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Flip 8, giving consumers multiple form factor options within the foldable ecosystem. Samsung may position the Wide Fold as a more content friendly, mainstream alternative to the traditional tall Fold design.
For now, this remains a firmware based leak rather than an official confirmation from Samsung. Still, the animation provides one of the clearest glimpses yet of what the company might be planning next.
If accurate, Samsung’s upcoming wide foldable could mark the most significant design change in the Galaxy Z Fold series to date, potentially reshaping how users interact with large screen smartphones that fold in half.
