Samsung’s foldable phones are no longer a niche experiment. Judging by the latest rumour, the company is so pleased with how its current models have sold that it is already planning to widen the range for 2027. The question is which direction it will take: a bigger, more premium Galaxy Z Fold 9+, or a cheaper Galaxy Z Fold 9 FE.
Where Samsung stands today
The background to this rumour is a strong year. Samsung was first to market with a wide foldable design, the Galaxy Z Fold 8, which arrived in July alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra. Tech Advisor gave the Fold 8 an Editors’ Choice award, and it launched at $1,899. The phone has since fallen to $1,599.99 at Amazon, with Samsung’s UK store listing it at £1,699 and Walmart at $1,699.99.
Sales have reportedly been healthy, with Tech Advisor describing the Fold 8 as a smash hit. Success of this kind changes a company’s appetite for risk. A product line that sells well invites expansion, and Samsung appears to be considering exactly that.
What the leak says
The claim comes from the leaker Lanzuk, who says Samsung is testing two potential extra variants of the Galaxy Z Fold 9, due in mid-2027. One is a larger phone, which would be the Galaxy Z Fold 9+. The other is a more affordable Galaxy Z Fold 9 FE, with trimmed-down specs and a lower price, but the same basic dimensions as the standard wide foldable.
The important detail is that only one of them will go into production. Samsung has apparently not yet decided which, though the decision is said to be close. This is a single-source rumour, so it should be read cautiously. Leakers are often right about internal testing but less reliable about final launch plans, and companies cancel prototypes all the time.
The case for a Fold 9+
A larger model would extend the premium end of the range. Samsung already offers a standard Fold and an Ultra, so a Plus would fill the space between them or sit above both, depending on how it is positioned. Plus models have a reasonable history in Samsung’s slab phones, giving buyers who want a bigger screen and battery a way to get them without paying for every Ultra feature.
For foldables, size matters in a particular way. The main appeal of a book-style foldable is the large inner display, so a bigger device could be attractive to people who see the phone as a tablet replacement. The trade-off is bulk. A larger folding phone is heavier and harder to carry, and one-handed use on the cover screen becomes more awkward.
The case for a Fold 9 FE
An FE model would pursue a different goal: bringing more people into foldables. The main barrier to foldable adoption has always been price. At nearly $1,600 even after discounts, the Fold 8 is a major purchase. A cheaper version with the same dimensions but simpler hardware could draw in buyers who like the idea but cannot justify the cost.
Samsung’s Fan Edition phones have done this before in the slab market, offering a flagship-like experience with some compromises. Applying the formula to foldables would make sense, since keeping the same size means the core folding hardware and design can be shared. The cuts would likely come in cameras, processor or materials, though that is speculation, as the leak gives no detail on specifications.
Strategy behind the move
The rumour fits into a wider picture. Tech Advisor has pointed to recent reports that Samsung is shifting its focus away from its affordable Galaxy A-series phones and towards the more profitable Galaxy S and Galaxy Z flagships. If that is true, a lower-priced foldable would be a way to chase growth in the premium segment without abandoning budget-minded customers entirely. A Fold FE would stay in the foldable category while offering a cheaper entry point.
Samsung has also been willing to experiment with unusual shapes. The Galaxy Z TriFold, a phone with two hinges, launched in the past year in limited markets only. Reports suggest a follow-up is in the works, alongside a Galaxy Z Slide concept with a screen that slides rather than folds. Together, these suggest Samsung wants to own the future of flexible displays and is prepared to try many formats to do so.
What it could mean for buyers
For consumers, a wider range is mostly good news. More choice means more chances to find the right balance of size, features and cost. It also puts pressure on rivals to respond, which tends to benefit buyers through better products and lower prices.
There are downsides, though. More models can mean more confusion, and an overcrowded range makes it harder to know what you are buying. Samsung’s slab lineup already has a long list of letters and suffixes, and adding more variants to the foldable family risks the same muddle. Buyers considering a Fold 8 now may also wonder whether to wait, though a mid-2027 launch is still a long way off, and the current phone is already discounted.
The timing question
Mid-2027 is a long way away, and a lot can change. Samsung may find that testing reveals problems or that sales shift, causing it to alter its plans. The company’s decision on which model to produce could also depend on how the Fold 8 and its siblings perform through the holiday season.
The bottom line
The rumoured Fold 9+ and Fold 9 FE show that Samsung sees foldables as a growth business rather than a curiosity. Whether it chooses to go bigger or cheaper will reveal a lot about its priorities. A Plus would reinforce the premium, enthusiast-focused image of the range. An FE would signal a push towards the mainstream. Either way, the era of a single, expensive foldable is ending, and the next year should show how far Samsung is willing to go.