Samsung appears to be moving steadily toward its next major software release, One UI 9, which is expected to be based on Android 17. According to details surfaced from pre-release firmware, the update includes visual assets that seem to reveal two upcoming foldables: the standard Galaxy Z Fold8 and a wider-format model referred to as Wide Fold.
Firmware leaks often hint at future hardware, but this case goes beyond hidden code strings. Android Authority reportedly found device images inside the One UI 9 build, and those images are said to line up closely with previously leaked engineering renders. That makes this leak more notable than the usual early software references, since it appears to offer a much clearer look at Samsung’s next foldable designs.
The regular Galaxy Z Fold8, identified internally as Q8, doesn’t seem to mark a radical design reset. Instead, the leak suggests Samsung is continuing its recent strategy of refining what already works. The company is reportedly focusing on hinge durability, reducing the visibility of the display crease, and improving overall build quality rather than chasing an aggressive exterior redesign.
The more unusual device in the leak is the model codenamed H8, described as the Galaxy Z Wide Fold, or Fold8 Wide. Unlike the book-style Fold devices Samsung has been selling, this version is said to use a 4:3 extra-wide display ratio, putting it closer to a foldable tablet than a traditional foldable phone. That would give it a meaningfully different use case and could make it a distinct branch of Samsung’s foldable lineup rather than just a larger variant of the standard Fold.
Based on the report, both the Galaxy Z Fold8 and Fold8 Wide are expected to debut on July 22 at Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked event in London. The same launch is also expected to include the Galaxy Z Flip8, and all three devices are tipped to ship with One UI 9 out of the box. The Flip8 is also said to emphasize refinement, with a new hinge design meant to improve durability and further reduce the appearance of the crease. With several months still to go before the rumored event, more leaks will likely fill in the remaining details.
