Samsung Wins FCC Clearance for 3 Foldables and Watch 9 Ahead of July 22 Launch

Q: What user problem does Samsung's new 'Wide' foldable solve that its previous designs could not?

Samsung’s new “Wide” foldable is meant to fix the biggest usability complaint about earlier Galaxy Folds: they were too tall and narrow to feel natural either as a phone when closed or as a media/productivity device when open. The wider outer screen should make everyday phone use less awkward. Earlier Fold designs were often criticized for narrow cover displays that felt cramped for typing, messaging and routine one-handed use. By making the device shorter and wider when folded, Samsung appears to be addressing that “compromised phone” problem while also improving pocketability. When unfolded, the Wide model is designed to better suit landscape tasks that previous near-square or portrait-first Fold layouts handled less well. Its wider inner panel should reduce black bars on widescreen video, making movies, YouTube and games feel more immersive. The broader layout also gives side-by-side apps more usable room, which should improve split-screen multitasking and make the on-screen keyboard more comfortable. In practical terms, the Wide model targets users who wanted a foldable that behaves more like a normal smartphone when shut and more like a compact tablet when opened. That is the gap Samsung’s earlier Fold designs never fully solved.

3 articles · Updated · Forbes · Jun 21

FCC approvals for the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, Z Fold 8 Wide, Z Flip 8 and Galaxy Watch 9 indicate Samsung has largely finalized hardware ahead of its July 22 Unpacked event.
The filings mainly confirm U.S. wireless support—5G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and NFC—and suggest Samsung will launch the foldables and wearables together rather than in a staggered rollout.
Leaks now point to the Z Fold 8 Ultra at 4.1mm unfolded with a 5,000mAh battery, while the Z Fold 8 Wide is tipped at 201g with a 4,800mAh battery and a 50MP main camera.
ZDNet Korea reported the Wide uses 60μm ultra-thin glass versus 45μm on the Ultra, a difference that could affect durability and crease visibility as Samsung pushes thinner foldable designs.
Pricing remains the biggest unresolved question, with a recent leak signaling some increase even as Samsung prepares to ship One UI 9 and Gemini Intelligence on the new devices.