Samsung pushes foldable tech race with new tri fold smartphone

Samsung is expanding its foldable strategy with a device aimed at testing how far multi-fold technology can go in real-world use.

The company has announced the Galaxy Z TriFold, a three-panel folding smartphone designed to open into a large display while remaining compact enough to carry like a regular handset.

It goes on sale first in South Korea on 12 December, with launches planned in China, Taiwan, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates.

Samsung will release it in the US in the first quarter of 2026, with more details to follow closer to launch.

Tri fold design and global release

The Galaxy Z TriFold marks Samsung’s first attempt at a smartphone that folds twice using two inward hinges.

When opened, the panels form a 10-inch display with a 2160 x 1584 resolution, which places it just below the 11-inch size of the 11th-generation iPad.

When folded, the device measures 12.9 millimetres thick. This makes it slightly thicker than the Galaxy Z Fold6 at 12.1 millimetres and noticeably more than the Galaxy Z Fold7 at 8.9 millimetres.

It will be sold as a single model in black with 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage. The launch price in South Korea is 3,594,000 won, which is equivalent to $2,449 US.

Samsung confirmed that availability will expand to additional markets after its domestic release and will roll out country-specific information as launch dates approach.

Samsung positions tri-fold as technology test

Samsung is using this device to study how multi-fold designs perform under everyday conditions as competitive pressure builds.

The company expects major shifts in the foldable segment in 2026, particularly with Apple preparing to enter the category.

The TriFold is meant to help Samsung evaluate durability, hinge performance, and software behaviour across different modes while collecting user feedback before larger-scale production begins.

The device offers multi-window capabilities that match its multi-fold structure.

Users can run three apps at the same time in a vertical layout across the three connected panels.

It also supports a desktop-style mode without needing a separate monitor, which pushes the device closer to a hybrid between a smartphone and a compact workstation.

Battery capacity, charging, and durability features

Samsung has equipped the TriFold with its largest battery to date for a foldable device. It supports super-fast charging that reaches 50% in 30 minutes.

The company sees the mix of portability and large-screen productivity as central to how the device will be evaluated by early adopters.

TM Roh, Samsung Electronics co-CEO and head of the Device eXperience division, recently moved into the role as the company continues to refine designs for foldable hardware.

The TriFold represents years of ongoing work to create a balance between performance, usability, and compactness in devices that can transform shape.

Competition intensifies as Chinese brands expand foldable lines

Samsung has led the foldable market since introducing its first folding phone in 2019, but the segment has become increasingly crowded.

Chinese manufacturers have been launching devices that compete aggressively on dimensions and price.

In September, Huawei introduced its second-generation trifold phone for the Chinese market, which measures 12.8 millimeters thick when folded.

Other Chinese brands have also expanded globally. Honor, which separated from Huawei in 2020 to avoid US sanctions and access international markets, released foldable smartphones abroad this year.

These new entries reflect a broader trend of more manufacturers adopting foldable designs and competing for users who want multitasking and tablet-level browsing on a device that fits in a pocket.