The Galaxy Z Wide Fold is practically confirmed, first images in One UI 9.0

In the last hours, a particularly credible leak has emerged that offers a first, concrete idea of how the much-talked-about Samsung Galaxy Z Wide Fold might look.

Although the name is still temporary and not an official designation, the proofs of its existence are starting to mount, distancing from mere speculation to land inside the company’s proprietary software code.

Samsung’s Wide Fold makes an appearance in One UI 9.0

The unofficial confirmation comes directly from the installation files of the One UI 9.0. Analyzing the APKs of the new user interface, the portal AndroidAuthority has extracted a system animation that leaves little room for interpretation.

The video shows the app continuity feature, namely the transfer of content from the external display to the internal one when the device is opened. What captures the attention, however, is not the function itself, but the proportions of the depicted device.

The aspect ratio is evidently wider than any Galaxy Z Fold seen so far, including the one expected to be the next Galaxy Z Fold 8.

According to rumors circulating for months, this new device would be in development with the codename H8 and could be identified by the model number SM-F971U.

The animation, while being a stylized representation and not a photographic render, clearly outlines the intention to offer a wider horizontal workspace, marking a clear divergence from the narrow and tall design that has characterized the Fold line for years.

A Defensive Strategy

The motivations behind this choice seem twofold. On one hand there is a purely functional reason: a wider inner display greatly enhances web navigation in desktop mode and the consumption of video content, reducing black bars and offering a more immersive experience without having to rotate the device.

On the other hand, there is a clear market positioning move on the horizon. It is expected that Apple’s first iPhone Fold will adopt a similar form factor; Samsung, moving ahead or in parallel with this new format, intends to dominate that user segment that could be attracted by Cupertino’s proposal.

Despite the Korean giant keeping the tightest secrecy about the expansion plans for the Galaxy Z series, optimism is palpable. Reports indicate the company plans to ship over a million units of this new device right after launch, a bold figure for an untested form factor.

If the saying “where there is smoke, there is roast” has any truth, the presence of dedicated graphical assets within the upcoming-generation software is the clearest signal that the debut of a Wide Fold is only a matter of time.