Samsung Electronics will produce 1 million more units of the 'Galaxy Z Fold8' than initially planned.
This decision aims to meet the explosive demand for the 'Wide Fold' observed during pre-orders and capitalize on its successful market performance. It also reflects Samsung's strategy to accelerate the popularization of foldable phones and gain a competitive edge against Apple's upcoming foldable device (4:3 aspect ratio).
According to industry sources on the 10th, Samsung Electronics has decided to add 1 million units to the Fold8's annual production and has placed orders for related components with its partners.
The Fold8 is Samsung's first foldable phone with a 4:3 aspect ratio, differing from its previous models with taller screens. It features a 5.5-inch cover display and a 7.6-inch foldable OLED main screen.
Earlier, Samsung anticipated the success of the Wide Fold and allocated the highest production volume—2.8 million units—for the Fold8 among the Galaxy Z8 series. The Fold8 Ultra was assigned 2 million units, and the Flip8 received 1.5 million units. (Reference: The Hankyoreh, July 20, 2026)
With the additional 1 million units, the Fold8's total production is expected to reach the late 3 million range. Considering that new Galaxy Z series models typically sell 5.5-6 million units in their launch year, the Fold8 is projected to account for over 60% of sales.
According to Samsung, the Galaxy Z8 series achieved a record 1.44 million pre-orders from July 28 to August 4, the highest ever for a Samsung smartphone. Of these, 70% were for the Fold8, justifying the focused production increase.
The 1.44 million pre-orders represent a 38.5% increase from the previous Z7 series (1.08 million units) and surpass the flagship Galaxy S26 series (1.36 million units) released in the first half of this year. The Fold8's new form factor is credited with driving strong demand.
Samsung previously increased production of the Fold7 series last year, marking the first time a foldable model exceeded its initial production plan. With the Fold8 following suit, the foldable phone series appears to have entered a successful growth trajectory. Historically, Samsung's foldable models rarely surpassed their initial production targets.
In September, Apple is expected to launch its first foldable iPhone with a 4:3 screen ratio. This will intensify the competition between Samsung and Apple for leadership in the foldable phone market.
An industry insider noted, “With memory chip prices rising this year, initial demand may have been concentrated in pre-orders offering 'Double Storage' (512GB model at 256GB price). However, since the Fold8 has received positive feedback, Samsung's foldable phone demand is expected to grow compared to last year, necessitating higher production.”
