Most people outside China have never seen a W series phone in person, and that is exactly the point. These phones are built as status symbols, not mass-market devices. Here is the full story, model by model, and what makes them different from the Galaxy phones you can actually buy in the UAE or the USA.
What Is the Samsung W Series?
The W series is Samsung’s premium phone line for the Chinese market. Each phone carries the Chinese branding “Heart of the World” and is sold through China Telecom. As Android Authority puts it, Samsung “traditionally keeps its W series confined to the Chinese market as part of its long-standing partnership with China Telecom.”
The formula today is simple: take the newest Galaxy Z foldable, keep the same core hardware, then upgrade the look and the extras. Typical changes include:
- Gold or rose-gold frames and camera rings
- Ceramic back panels instead of glass
- More RAM than the standard Galaxy model (often 16 GB)
- Bigger storage options, up to 1 TB
- A charger and premium case in the box
- China-specific software, with no Google Mobile Services
The Flip Phone Era (2011 to 2018)
Before foldable screens existed, the W series was Samsung’s answer to a very specific Chinese taste: the executive flip phone. These were clamshell phones with a keypad, but with flagship processors and two screens, one inside and one on the lid.
Samsung SCH-W999 (2011)
Announced in December 2011 and developed with China Telecom, the SCH-W999 ran Android 2.3 Gingerbread and had two 3.5-inch Super AMOLED screens, a dual-core Qualcomm processor and dual-SIM support. reported a price of about USD 1,570 (around AED 5,765), which was huge for a phone in 2011.
Samsung W2014 (2013)
The W2014 packed a quad-core Snapdragon 800, the same chip found in top Android flagships that year, plus two 3.7-inch displays, a 13 MP camera and Android 4.3. called it the fastest Samsung flip phone at the time, and possibly the fastest flip phone of any brand.
Samsung W2018 (2017)
The W2018 moved to two 4.2-inch Full HD AMOLED touchscreens and a Snapdragon 835. Its 12 MP rear camera had an f/1.5 aperture, the brightest on any smartphone when it launched. It cost about USD 2,400 (around AED 8,815)
Samsung W2019 (2018): The Last Classic Flip
The W2019 was the final keypad flip phone in the line. It had a Snapdragon 845, 6 GB of RAM, up to 256 GB of storage, dual 12 MP rear cameras and two 4.2-inch Super AMOLED screens. Android Police reported a price of roughly USD 2,730 (about AED 10,035), more than any iPhone on sale at the time.
The Foldable Era (2019 to Today)
In 2019, Samsung launched its first foldable, the Galaxy Fold. From that point on, the W series stopped being a separate phone design and became a luxury edition of Samsung’s foldables.
Samsung W20 5G (2019)
The W20 5G was a China Telecom exclusive version of the original Galaxy Fold. It added 5G, swapped the Snapdragon 855 for the faster Snapdragon 855+, and came only in white. It kept the 7.3-inch inner screen and 12 GB of RAM
Samsung W21 5G (2020)
Based on the Galaxy Z Fold2, the W21 5G was slightly taller than the standard model, added dual-SIM support and wore a gold back with vertical stripes. It sold for about USD 3,000 (around AED 11,020), roughly USD 450 more than the regular Z Fold2 in China
The W22 5G took the Galaxy Z Fold3, including S Pen support, and gave it a Phantom Black finish with a textured gold hinge and the “Heart of the World” logo in gold. The 16 GB and 256 GB model cost about USD 2,645 (around AED 9,715).
Samsung W23 and W23 Flip (2022)
2022 brought the first two-phone W lineup. The W23 was based on the Galaxy Z Fold4 and the W23 Flip on the Galaxy Z Flip4. GSMArena noted it was the first flip-style W phone since the old keypad models. Both came with ceramic backs, extra RAM and 512 GB of storage (Yanko Design).
Samsung W24 and W24 Flip (2023)
Built on the Galaxy Z Fold5 and Z Flip5, the W24 pair both shipped with 1 TB of storage, ceramic backs and gold-colored aluminum frames. The W24 had 16 GB of RAM and the W24 Flip had 12 GB. Prices were about USD 2,337 (around AED 8,580) for the W24 and USD 1,375 (around AED 5,050) for the W24 Flip, according to Notebookcheck.
Samsung W25 and W25 Flip (2024)
Launched on November 6, 2024, the W25 was based on the Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition, a thinner Fold6 variant first sold in South Korea. It had an 8-inch inner screen, a 200 MP main camera and 16 GB of RAM, 4 GB more than the Special Edition. The W25 Flip was based on the Galaxy Z Flip6. Both used the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy (Android Authority).
Samsung W26 (2025)
The W26 is the newest model. It is based on the Galaxy Z Fold7 but adds something the global Fold7 does not have: satellite calling. It also gets 16 GB of RAM on every version, red and black colors with gold accents, and a charger and Kevlar case in the box. Prices were about USD 2,383 (around AED 8,750) for 512 GB and USD 2,663 (around AED 9,780) for 1 TB (Android Authority).
Every Samsung W Series Model at a Glance
| Model | Year | Type | Based on |
|---|---|---|---|
| SCH-W999 | 2011 | Flip phone | Original design |
| W2014 | 2013 | Flip phone | Original design |
| W2018 | 2017 | Flip phone | Original design |
| W2019 | 2018 | Flip phone | Original design |
| W20 5G | 2019 | Book foldable | Galaxy Fold |
| W21 5G | 2020 | Book foldable | Galaxy Z Fold2 |
| W22 5G | 2021 | Book foldable | Galaxy Z Fold3 |
| W23 / W23 Flip | 2022 | Book and flip foldables | Galaxy Z Fold4 / Z Flip4 |
| W24 / W24 Flip | 2023 | Book and flip foldables | Galaxy Z Fold5 / Z Flip5 |
| W25 / W25 Flip | 2024 | Book and flip foldables | Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition / Z Flip6 |
| W26 | 2025 | Book foldable | Galaxy Z Fold7 |
Can You Buy a Samsung W Series Phone in the UAE or USA?
Not officially. Samsung does not sell the W series through Samsung UAE or Samsung US, and the phones are tuned for Chinese networks and ship without Google apps and services. Some grey-market sellers import them, but you would pay a large markup, lose the official warranty, and deal with a phone built for a different market. For almost everyone in the UAE or the USA, the regular Galaxy Z foldable is the smarter buy. It has the same processor, the same screens and the same cameras.
If you want to see where Samsung’s foldables are right now, read our Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 review. You can also compare it with Apple’s first foldable in our iPhone Duo vs Galaxy Z Fold 8 comparison, or check out a Chinese rival in our Xiaomi 18 Fold guide.
What Comes Next?
Samsung has launched a new W model every autumn for years, usually in October or November, a few months after the global Galaxy Z launch. Based on that pattern, a luxury W version of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 would be the natural next step. Samsung has not announced one yet, so treat that as an expectation rather than a confirmed launch.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the “W” in Samsung W series stand for?
Samsung has not officially explained the letter. In China, the phones are marketed under the “Heart of the World” name.
Is the Samsung W26 better than the Galaxy Z Fold7?
It has the same core hardware, but adds satellite calling, 16 GB of RAM on all versions, a more luxurious design and extra accessories in the box. You pay a premium for those extras.
Why is the W series only sold in China?
The series grew out of Samsung’s long partnership with China Telecom and is designed around Chinese buyers’ taste for premium, status-focused phones. It also runs China-specific software without Google services.
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