Following the Huawei Mate XT Ultimate Edition, Samsung is also reportedly working on a tri-fold smartphone. In summary, Samsung was the first company to introduce foldable devices to the market, and other companies followed suit. But here it looks like it will follow in the footsteps of Chinese company Huawei. Interestingly, this is not the first time Samsung has been involved in the development of a tri-fold smartphone. In March 2023, there were rumors that the company would postpone the launch of the Galaxy S23 FE (which would eventually launch in October 2023) and instead focus on unveiling a smartphone with a tri-fold display. In fact, Samsung showed off a trifold smartphone concept at the Samsung Developers Conference (SDC) in October 2023. Although the tri-fold model didn’t materialize at that time, Samsung still seems to be actively working on this innovation. Finally debuted in 2025.
samsung trifold smartphone
A ZDNet Korea report, citing industry sources, revealed that Samsung Electronics is considering releasing two new foldable devices in 2025. One is an entry-level clamshell-style flip phone, and the other is a tri-fold model with a screen that can be folded twice. The tri-fold model represents a significant innovation that allows the display to be folded in multiple directions.
The report states that Samsung Display’s partners have already finalized the development and commercialization of components for the tri-fold model. However, the final decision on whether to launch the device rests with the head of Samsung Electronics’ MX division, the report said. The decision could be in line with Samsung’s broader strategic plans in the foldable phone market.
Meanwhile, orders for OLED displays used in foldable devices fell 10% year-on-year. This decline is believed to be due to lower-than-expected demand for the Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Galaxy Z Fold 6, which were released in early 2023. As a result, Samsung has reportedly reduced its OLED “rolling plan” (R/P). Panels to adapt to reduced demand. This suggests that while Samsung continues to innovate in the field of foldable phones, the market response to existing models has been somewhat muted, impacting its production strategy.
The launch of the tri-fold model could represent a major leap forward in foldable phone technology, potentially reshaping the market and setting new trends for future smartphones.
The only tri-fold smartphone available at the moment is the Huawei Mate XT. The smartphone is trifold and looks like a tablet when fully unfolded. The front display is 6.4 inches, but when fully unfolded, the display size increases to 10.2 inches. Interestingly, the Huawei Mate XT is only 3.6mm thick when unfolded and 12.8mm when folded. The Mate XT has been launched in China, but the price is predictably high. The tri-fold device has a starting price of 19,999 yuan (approximately Rs. 2,35,000) in China.
Other smartphone makers such as Xiaomi, Honor and Oppo are also believed to be working on their own smartphones with tri-fold displays that can be expanded to form even larger screens.
