Summary created by Smart Answers AI
In summary:
- Samsung is reportedly changing its foldable phone naming convention, with the Galaxy Z Fold Wide becoming the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and the standard model renamed Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra.
- Tech Advisor highlights that this confusing naming strategy could lead to significant consumer confusion and higher product returns in the marketplace.
- The changes appear designed to compete with Apple’s rumored iPhone Ultra foldable, with the new Wide model featuring a tablet-like 4:3 aspect ratio.
Samsung is to brand its next foldable the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra – but not the model you might be expecting.
Prolific Samsung leaker Ice Universe has issued a post on Weibo claiming that the South Korean giant has finally settled on a naming scheme for its forthcoming foldable launch. And it’s a bit of a head scratcher.
Apparently, the new model that we’ve been referring to as the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold Wide will be called the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, while the model we’ve been referring to as the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 will be called the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra.
Got that? Well done. You’re doing better than me.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Foldable frenzy
This is confusing for a couple of reasons. The most obvious is the nomenclative switcheroo that promises to muddy the waters with the follow-up to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7. That device will exist, but not under the naming scheme that has been in action for seven successive generations.
While the foldable format arguably hasn’t quite had its mainstream breakout moment as yet, Samsung has built more momentum in the space than any rivals. Any semblance of brand recognition, such as it is, belongs to its Fold (and Flip) series.
More perplexing is Samsung’s alleged approach to its big new ‘Wide’ venture. For context, this is widely (pun unintended) interpreted as a pre-emptive strike against Apple’s foldable debut, which will reportedly adopt a wide 4:3 aspect ratio when open, making it as much a super-portable iPad as a foldable iPhone.
The key point here is that Apple will apparently call its first (and inevitably hugely popular) foldable device the iPhone Ultra. Casual shoppers are quite justifiably going to assume that the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is the company’s alternative.
It seems likely that returns may be high this coming foldable generation due to the confusion.
As for Ice Universe’s cheeky speculation that the only explanation for Samsung’s move is that “the price has become even more Ultra”, we can’t really comment.
Given the way that it boosted pricing across the Samsung Galaxy S26 range, however, they might be onto something.
