Samsung's iPhone Ultra rival just got spotted in the wild for the first time

A Samsung employee has been photographed using what appears to be the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 8 at a restaurant in South Korea. Thanks to these images (see below), we have the first potential real-world glimpse of the device ahead of its expected July launch. 

The sighting was first posted early this morning on DCInside's Galaxy Gallery forum by a user who photographed the device using 20x zoom. The phone was enclosed in Samsung's internal anti-leak protective casing — a cylindrical enclosure commonly used on prototype units to keep final design details a secret. Despite the cover, the device's wide form factor was clearly visible. This probably led to its corelaton with the handset that has been extensively leaked through other channels over the past two months.

Leaker Ice Universe (@UniverseIce) picked up the post hours later. He confirmed the device is the Galaxy Z Fold 8, specifically adding that the "Wide" suffix has apparently been dropped. The wider form factor is instead simply being called the Galaxy Z Fold 8, and the existing narrower design will be simply rebranded as the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra (as per a past leak - read more about that here).

This device has been no stranger to leaks. Screen protector leaks earlier this month practically confirmed the significantly wider aspect ratio and added more weight to the expectation of a near-square 4:3 inner display (for a more tablet-like experience when unfolded). Leaked dimensions place it at 161.4 mm wide and just 4.3 mm thin when unfolded — again, wway slimmer than competitors. On specs, it is expected to forgo S Pen support and pack a dual 50 MP rear camera system with no telephoto, compared to the triple-camera array on the standard model.

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide is rumored to go official on July 22, 2026, at a Galaxy Unpacked event said to be held in London.