According to reports, Samsung is getting ready for the largest competition in the foldable market to date.

      Samsung is reportedly making a last-minute modification to its foldable strategy, indicating that the company is growing more confident about the market's direction.

      A report from South Korea’s ETNews states that Samsung has increased its production targets for the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 8, a new foldable expected to sport a 4:3 aspect ratio. The company is now said to be aiming for 2.8 million units of this device, up from a previous goal of 2 million.

      In contrast, Samsung is anticipated to produce approximately 2 million Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra models and 1.5 million Galaxy Z Flip 8 devices, making the standard Fold 8 the highest-volume foldable for the company this year. Notebookcheck has corroborated the updated production figures, referencing the ETNews report.

      This reported change comes just days ahead of Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked event, during which the company is likely to introduce three new foldable smartphones.

      Samsung believes that the future of foldables is expanding

      The most significant change this year is not the number of devices Samsung intends to release, but rather the design philosophy guiding them. According to ETNews, Samsung is launching a new “Wide Fold” model with a 4:3 display ratio, moving away from the narrower format that has characterized the Galaxy Z Fold series for years.

      The broader design is anticipated to provide a more tablet-like experience, making tasks like web browsing, document reading, and photo viewing feel more intuitive while lessening the need for aggressive cropping. Reports suggest that the Fold 8 will come with a 7.6-inch internal display and a 5.4-inch external display, placing it below the Fold 8 Ultra in Samsung’s product range.

      What stands out is Samsung’s newfound confidence in this model. Initially, the company had planned to distribute production more evenly between the Fold 8 and Fold 8 Ultra while assessing early demand. However, it has now directed more manufacturing resources to the standard Fold 8, implying that it expects the wider form factor to appeal to consumers more effectively.

      Apple’s foldable ambitions might already be impacting the market

      The timing of this production adjustment has generated speculation within the industry. Apple is widely expected to announce its first foldable iPhone later this year, and several reports suggest that this device could also feature a 4:3 aspect ratio. ETNews claims that Apple’s impending entry is already prompting smartphone manufacturers to reconsider display ratios, with industry insiders forecasting that the wider format will become the new standard for high-end foldables.

      While it remains impossible to verify whether Apple’s upcoming device is the direct cause of Samsung’s production alterations, the fact that Samsung has been enhancing foldable displays for years suggests it may simply believe that wider screens provide a superior user experience. Nevertheless, the linkage of supply chain reports between Samsung’s strategy and Apple’s anticipated launch underscores how influential the iPhone maker remains, even before revealing a product.

      Samsung continues to dominate the foldable smartphone market, but competition is poised to become significantly fiercer. If Apple’s long-rumored foldable does indeed debut this year, the rivalry may shift focus from who produces the thinnest hinge or the brightest display to the fundamental aspect of the screen’s shape itself.