We may have just received confirmation that a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 FE is in the works.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE (pictured below) provided a more affordable flip phone alternative mid-way through 2025, but we haven’t yet seen something similar from Samsung in the full-sized foldable space.
That could be all set to change this year, if a recent batch of IMEI database listings is to be believed.
A phone with the model number of SM-F971U, and with a ‘Market Name’ of Q7, has appeared on GSMA International’s official IMEI database, which helps with the registry of mobile devices.
As Smartprix speculates, this could very well be the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 FE that would finally make Samsung’s top phone model just a little more approachable.
Britta O’Boyle
Familiar foldable friends
Two other Samsung phones have appeared on the IMEI database recently, but the identity of these is pretty much known. The SM-F976U (Market Name Q8) likely corresponds to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, while the SM-F776U (B8) is probably the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8.
Given the similarly between the model numbers and Market Names here, it would seem clear that the mystery device is closely aligned with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8.
One little point that’s worth mentioning is the ‘U’ in all of these model numbers. This identifies them as US-based models, indicating that they’re already in the process of being optimised for one of Samsung’s key foreign markets.
As for what we can expect of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 FE (if indeed that is its name), we don’t have and solid leads just yet. We can only speculate based on what we’ve seen before.
The aforementioned Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE turned out to be very similar indeed to the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6, so we wouldn’t be surprised if any prospective Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 FE closely resembled the existing Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, but with one or two downgrades.
We should know more come July or August, when Samsung is predicted to launch its new foldable range.
Author: Jon Mundy, Contributor, Tech Advisor
Jon is a freelance journalist who got his start covering mobile games at the dawn of the App Store. He has since covered everything from smart home tech and laptops to food and culture, but always seems to return to his fascination with smartphones.