Samsung is taking its foldable phone game a notch higher with a trifold device showcased at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province. Yet to be given a name, the device will go into mass production and may hit shelves this year, according to Korea Herald.
The company has not disclosed specifications, but the trifold display reportedly surpasses the standards set by the Galaxy Z Fold series, the latest being the Galaxy Z Fold7. All that is known at the moment is that the phone’s 6.5-inch cover display will offer a conventional experience but can be opened up to reveal a 10-inch main display, which is substantially larger than the 8-inch screen on the Fold7.
Popularly dubbed the Samsung ‘Galaxy Trifold’, the upcoming smartphone has been shown in both fully open and closed states. Samsung said in an official statement to SamMobile: “Samsung continues to advance innovative technologies, including next-generation form factors in the era of mobile AI, to deliver meaningful user experiences. The recent showcase reflects ongoing R&D efforts, and we plan to bring this next-generation device to users within this year.”
In its note during Consumer Electronics Show in 2022, Samsung had said: “Samsung Display’s Flex G is a multi-foldable product that folds inwards twice in a ‘G’ shape. The device experiences higher durability since its trifold design endures phone drops or other external impact better than conventional foldables.” It is expected that this has evolved into the trifold.
With no other details confirmed, rumours suggest the device will be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset and could feature a 200MP main camera with 100x zoom capability, alongside software optimisation that allows apps to open seamlessly across a three-screen layout. It’s expected to take multi-window functionality to a whole new level.
More than just a smartphone — verging on a tablet — the tri-fold is seen as a commendable step towards breaking down the barriers between smartphones, tablets and laptops. It will also give the South Korean company an edge over Apple, which is rumoured to launch a foldable iPhone in 2026.
After Samsung introduced the Z Fold7 in July this year, during a roundtable with select Indian journalists, including t2, Minseok Kang, head of smartphone product planning at Samsung Electronics, said: “When we launch a new form factor, one of the important things is completeness and user satisfaction. We are checking key points before making a final decision to commercialise the device. We will try to launch it at the end of this year. This is just our goal and nothing has been finalised… the timeline has not been finalised.”
The new tri-fold currently faces competition from Huawei’s Mate XTs, which follows the launch of the world’s first tri-fold phone, the Mate XT. Huawei’s device uses a different folding pattern than the one showcased by Samsung.
At the APEC summit, nobody was allowed to touch the phone. In July, Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold7 and Z Flip7 set records, with over 1.04 million units pre-ordered in Korea alone. Pricing remains the most important factor for Samsung’s tri-fold offering.