Korean tech giant Samsung, according to multiple sources, is preparing one of the largest expansions of its foldable device lineup in history by 2027. According to a leak from insider Anthony (@TheGalox_), the company will implement the so-called "4+4" strategy: in the first half of 2027, four classic flagships will be released, followed six months later by four devices with unconventional form factors. The updated series is set to be led by the Galaxy Z Slide — a smartphone with a physically unfolding display that does not fold in half, but instead extends from one or both sides of the body to increase usable screen area.
The Rollable Mechanism: From Prototypes to a Commercial Product
The concept of devices with rollable screens has been under development in the industry for over a decade, yet such smartphones have previously existed mainly as prototypes from companies like Oppo or exhibits at tech shows. Samsung, by all accounts, will be the first to bring this idea to the mass market. At CES 2025, the company already demonstrated flexible panels capable of stretching from 5.1 inches to a full 6.7 inches. The Korean manufacturer registered the "Slide" trademark back in 2021, and the Samsung Display division showed the first working samples of sliding displays that same year. Thus, about five years of active development have passed from concept to potential commercial device.
Six Models in a Single Family
According to 9to5Mac, citing 9to5Google, the updated Galaxy Z series will include at least six models: Galaxy Z Slide, Galaxy Z TriFold 2, Galaxy Z Fold9 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold9 Pro, Galaxy Z Fold9, and Galaxy Z Flip9. The TriFold 2 will be an evolution of the triple-fold device first introduced in the previous generation. The remaining models in the Fold and Flip lines will continue the legacy of previous generations, rumored to receive improvements in battery life, thickness, and weight. Consequently, Samsung aims to cover multiple segments at once — from compact flip phones to transformer devices capable of replacing a tablet.
Context: Response to iPhone Duo
Experts attribute Samsung's large-scale lineup expansion to the market entry of Apple's first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo. According to 9to5Mac, demand for the new device exceeded available supply volumes, pushing pre-order fulfillment dates into next year. Even before the iPhone Duo presentation, Samsung publicly stated that it welcomed Apple's entry into the foldable device market, as it stimulates the development of the entire category. Now, judging by leaks, the Korean manufacturer is not merely observing the competitor but actively expanding its own presence in the segment to avoid losing leadership in an increasingly competitive niche.
Timeline: Acceleration Against Previous Forecasts
Earlier, South Korean media reported that the mass production of the Galaxy Z Slide rollable smartphone was not expected until the first half of 2028 at the earliest. However, fresh sources indicate that Samsung has accelerated development, aiming to be the first in the world to bring a rollable smartphone concept to the global market. If the Korean manufacturer's plans materialize, 2027 could be a turning point for the entire category of flexible devices: for the first time, several fundamentally different form factors from a single vendor will appear on the market simultaneously — from a classic clamshell to a triple-section transformer and an extendable slider. Officially, Samsung has not confirmed either the number of new models or their names, so the listed information should be treated as preliminary based on unverified leaks.
