According to a recent industry report, Samsung is preparing to launch a tri-fold smartphone as early as next year. The move comes as the South Korean tech giant faces competition from rivals like Huawei, which has already announced the Mate XT Ultimate Edition in China. Huawei’s tri-fold device costs a hefty 19,999 yuan (approximately Rs. 2,37,000), and Samsung appears to want to join the competition.
Other smartphone brands such as Xiaomi, Honor, and Oppo are also rumored to be developing tri-fold displays, with the aim of offering users devices that can be unfolded into a larger screen. However, innovation is essential for Samsung to maintain its position in the foldable smartphone market.
Samsung is developing both an entry-level clamshell-style foldable phone and a more ambitious tri-fold model that folds in two places, a ZDNet Korea report said citing industry sources. It is said that These devices could be released by 2025. Samsung Display’s partners have reportedly completed development of the components for the tri-fold model, but the final decision on launch rests with Samsung Electronics’ MX division.
Despite the hype surrounding foldable phones in recent years, sales have fallen short of expectations. The report said orders for OLED displays used in foldable devices fell 10% compared to last year. Demand for Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Galaxy Z Fold 6, which were released earlier this year, was lower than expected, prompting the company to cut production of these displays.
This isn’t the first time rumors have surfaced about Samsung’s triple ambitions. In March 2023, there was speculation that Samsung would skip the launch of the Galaxy S23 FE and instead launch a smartphone with a tri-fold screen. The Galaxy S23 FE finally launched in October 2023, but it’s clear that Samsung has been experimenting with the tri-fold design for some time.
Samsung has already shown off prototypes like the Flex G and Flex S with various folding mechanisms. Although these models haven’t been released yet, they bear a strong resemblance to the designs of Huawei’s Mate XT Ultimate and Tecno’s Phantom Ultimate 2, tri-fold smartphone concepts announced in August.
Samsung’s launch of a tri-fold phone could change consumer expectations for foldable devices. It has the potential to extend mobile phones to resemble tablets, potentially attracting more users looking for a flexible and advanced mobile experience. But with Huawei already leading the way, Samsung will need to offer something truly innovative to remain competitive.
