Samsung may be launching not one, but two book-style foldable smartphones next year. This is based on a ton of speculation, by the way, but it is speculation stemming from the simple fact that the Korean company is currently developing a device with the model number SM-F971.
This has the codename H8, and it’s definitely not the Fold8, which has the model number SM-F976 and the codename Q8. It’s also definitely part of the Galaxy Z Fold series and not a Flip, since the model numbers for the Flip-style foldables start with the number 7, not 9.
Now, here’s the interesting part. The Galaxy Z Flip FE‘s model number is SM-F761. If there’s a Flip FE 2, then it will be the SM-F771, since Samsung increments the middle digit every year. That first “7” is for “flip-style” as we’ve already established, thus it stands to reason that the SM-F971 would be a Galaxy Z Fold FE. It has the same model number that the Flip FE 2 would have, only changing the 7 for the 9, which denotes a book-style foldable device.
With all of this in mind, note that some other sources (like the one linked below) claim that the SM-F971 will be the first device in a new form factor – still a book-style foldable, but with an 18:9 aspect ratio for its cover display, and a square internal folding screen.
This is allegedly being developed to compete with the upcoming foldable iPhone, which is also coming next year and expected to have a wider cover display than Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold7. We can’t tell you which version is right at this time, we can just ask you to not forget that it’s all speculation. In the coming weeks and months, we will hopefully get more concrete information. Until then, let us know in the comments which you’d prefer: a Fold FE or a new Fold with a square internal screen and an 18:9 cover display?
