Samsung Electronics Co.’s newest foldable, the Galaxy Z Fold 8, offers a taste of the next big trend in smartphone design: It has a shorter, wider build, similar to a passport, with screen dimensions that are better suited for watching video. That shape will be seen yet again in less than two months when Apple Inc. unveils its first folding iPhone.
Neither company is the first to pursue this style. Alphabet Inc.’s Google briefly went with a similar approach for its original Pixel Fold before pivoting to a taller, narrower design. Oppo and Huawei Technologies Co. have also released wide foldables in China and other regions.
But between the foldable iPhone and the $1,900 Z Fold 8, which starts shipping Aug. 7, US consumers are about to see much more of this style. I’ve been testing Samsung’s new hardware for a couple of days, and I have some thoughts on the new look.
