Samsung and Apple Both Tipped to Build Bigger Wide Foldables for 2027

The foldable phone race may be about to get bigger — literally. A new rumour claims that Samsung and Apple are both working on larger versions of their wide-format foldables for 2027, setting up a head-to-head between a Galaxy Z Fold9 Plus and an iPhone Duo 2 Plus. It is an appealing picture of the next round of the foldable contest, but it rests entirely on one unconfirmed tipster claim, and it should be read that way.

The claim comes from tipster TheGalox, posting on X. Samsung and Apple already sell wide foldables — the Galaxy Z Fold8 and the iPhone Duo — and the rumour says both companies are now developing bigger versions for next year. That would put the Fold9 Plus up against a larger second-generation iPhone Duo, assuming the names hold; even GSMArena, reporting the rumour, notes that "iPhone Duo 2 Plus" will hopefully not be the final name.

Samsung is weighing two directions at once

There is separate, more detailed reporting on Samsung's side of the story. According to Android Authority, Korean leaker Lanzuk says Samsung is testing two different directions for a second wide Fold9, citing unnamed sources in the display supply chain. One is a Plus-style version with a slightly larger screen and body; the other is an FE-style version that keeps the current size but trims the specifications a little. Samsung reportedly plans to launch only one of the two, not both, and a decision is expected soon. Neither device would arrive before mid-2027, and the plans could still change.

The logic behind both options is easy to see. The wider, passport-style design of the Galaxy Z Fold8 has been well received, and a bigger version would appeal to buyers who want even more screen for productivity and video. An FE model, on the other hand, would bring the wide design to more people at a lower price — Samsung has already done this with the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE. With memory costs pushing prices up across the industry, a cheaper wide Fold could matter more than a bigger one.

Six Galaxy Z devices in 2027?

The bigger-foldable rumour sits inside a much larger claim from the same tipster. TheGalox has also said Samsung is planning six Galaxy Z devices for 2027: the Galaxy Z Slide, a brand-new phone with a screen that slides out instead of folding, alongside the Galaxy Z TriFold 2, the Galaxy Z Fold9 Ultra, the Galaxy Z Fold9 Pro, the standard Galaxy Z Fold9 and the Galaxy Z Flip9, with better battery life, thinner bodies and lower weight across the range. The TriFold 2 is tipped to launch first. How a Fold9 Plus or Fold9 FE would fit into that six-device list is unclear — they could be early names for the same models, or the lists could be describing different stages of Samsung's planning.

On Apple's side, the context is the iPhone Duo's difficult start. The phone starts at 1,999 dollars for 256GB, with a 7.6-inch inner screen and a 5.4-inch outer screen, and it went on sale on 23 October in the US and more than 70 other countries. It has since faced reports of cracked inner displays, which makes a larger and presumably even more expensive successor a bolder bet, not a safe one.

Why it matters — and why to stay sceptical

If the rumours hold, 2027 would be the first year Samsung and Apple compete directly on large wide foldables, with Samsung offering a range of sizes and prices while Apple defends the premium end it entered this year. That competition would be good news for buyers, who would get more choice and more pressure on prices.

But the evidence is thin. This is a lone, unconfirmed rumour from a tipster on social media, with no corroboration from Samsung or Apple and no supporting supply-chain reporting for the Apple side of the claim. GSMArena itself cautions that it could be "only a figment of said tipster's imagination". The Fold9 Plus and the iPhone Duo 2 Plus are possibilities to watch, not products to expect — and the only part of the story with a second source is Samsung testing two options for a second wide Fold9, of which only one will ever launch.

For background on the phones this rumour is about, see our Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra review and our report on the iPhone Duo's cracked inner display reports.

Sources

• GSMArena — Samsung and Apple are both working on bigger wide foldables, new rumor claims
• Android Headlines — Galaxy Z Fold 9 Plus or Fold 9 FE: Samsung Testing Both
• Memeburn — Samsung 2027 Foldables: 6 Models, 3 Fold 9s, 1 Slide Phone
• Stuff — Samsung's successor to foldable phones could give new meaning to 'sliding into your DMs'