[Edaily Reporter Shin Young-bin] “Wide foldables” are emerging as the next competitive focus in the foldable smartphone market. While existing foldable phones resemble standard smartphones when folded and long, vertical tablets when unfolded, wide foldables feature a wider aspect ratio that maximizes horizontal usability when unfolded.

On the 18th, Chinese IT tipster Digital Chat Station (DCS) reported via Weibo that major global smartphone manufacturers are accelerating the development of new wide-foldable models. It is reported that some manufacturers are preparing wide-foldable lineups even at the cost of cutting budgets for existing products.

Wide foldables offer a landscape screen that resembles a tablet when unfolded, making them well-suited for watching videos, web browsing, document editing, gaming, and multi-window tasks. In contrast, the “book-style” foldables—such as the Galaxy Z Fold, which have been the mainstream until now—have faced criticism that, while they offer a large screen when unfolded, their tall, vertical aspect ratio limits space utilization for video viewing, document work, and multitasking.

Huawei was the first to spark the trend toward wide foldables. The company is reported to have generated initial demand in the Chinese market with the “Pura X” and “Pura X Max,” which emphasize a wider aspect ratio than conventional book-style foldables. Local Chinese media reported that certain colors and storage capacities of the Pura X Max sold out quickly on the Huawei Mall shortly after launch, and that initial sales were strong. The previous model, the Pura X, is also cited as an example demonstrating demand for wide-screen foldables, having reportedly sold over 1 million units.

#Samsung Electronics is also responding to the trend toward wide foldables. While the Galaxy Z Fold series has traditionally maintained a tall, portrait-oriented “book-type” aspect ratio when unfolded, there is speculation that the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 8 and subsequent models may adopt a “wide” form factor with a wider aspect ratio. There is also speculation that the product lineup may be split, with the existing book-style Fold design being repositioned as the high-end “Galaxy Z Fold Ultra” lineup, while the standard Fold models will feature a wider aspect ratio.

Apple’s first foldable iPhone is another factor that could intensify competition in the wide-screen foldable market. Although Apple has not yet officially announced a foldable iPhone, industry observers believe the company is preparing a book-style foldable with an aspect ratio closer to that of a tablet when unfolded. Given that Apple’s entry into the foldable market could fundamentally change the standards for form factors, Samsung Electronics and Chinese manufacturers are stepping up their response efforts.

Chinese manufacturers are also making their moves. Companies such as Oppo, Honor, and Xiaomi have already demonstrated success in the competition for thin and lightweight foldable phones. Adding a wide aspect ratio to this could address the productivity and content usability issues that have been cited as weaknesses of existing foldable phones. Particularly in the Chinese domestic market, where Huawei has rapidly increased its market share in foldable phones, it is highly likely that latecomers will respond with differentiated aspect ratios and pricing strategies.

Market outlooks are also positive. Counterpoint Research forecasts that global foldable phone shipments will grow by 20% year-over-year this year, and expects the share of clamshell-style foldables to rise from 52% in 2025 to 65% in 2026. Omdia also predicts that the foldable phone market will see significant growth this year. As the possibility of Apple entering the foldable phone market for the first time coincides with major manufacturers expanding their new product lines, differentiation in aspect ratios and usability is emerging as a new competitive focus.