Samsung could take a bold new step for its foldable phones this week

Samsung could launch its first tri-folding smartphone later this week, marking a significant milestone since the launch of its first foldable phones, the Galaxy Fold, in 2019. Although the launch was anticipated alongside the Galaxy XR last week, it unfortunately didn’t happen.

Samsung’s first tri-folding smartphone (tentatively named the Galaxy Z TriFold) could launch in select countries, including China, South Korea, and the UAE. According to a report from The Korea Herald, the tri-folding phone will be unveiled for the first time during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 2025 summit in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. The summit will take place from October 31 to November 1.

The groundbreaking foldable phone is reportedly in the mass production right now and could go on sale before the end of this year. It will reportedly be priced around $2,800, which is a $1,000 markup over the Galaxy Z Fold 7.

The Galaxy Z TriFold is rumored to feature a 6.5-inch cover display, and opening up the phone fully will reveal its 10-inch foldable screen. So, the phone could turn into a full-sized tablets in just seconds. It could also be used in its partially opened state, which could offer users an 8-inch display, similar to the Galaxy Z Fold 7.

The upcoming ultra-premium device is said to be equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, up to 16GB RAM, and up to 1TB of storage. It likely features a 200MP primary rear camera, an ultrawide camera, and a dedicated telephoto camera. It features wirelesss charging

Since it’s a first-generation product and will only be sold in a few countries, Samsung is reportedly making just 50,000 to 200,000 units during its initial production phase. An extremely high price tag is also a reason for the limited production.

After launching the Galaxy Fold in 2019, Samsung achieved a significant milestone by selling 10 million Galaxy Z series phones annually in 2021. However, the sales declined in 2022 and plateaued until 2024. To address this, Samsung introduced the Galaxy Z Flip 7 and the Galaxy Z Fold 7 this year. While the phones received positive feedback initially, the final results are yet to be revealed.

Huawei launched its first tri-folding phone, the Mate XT Ultimate, in 2024 and then followed up with the Mate XTs Ultimate last month. However, both those phones have an outward folding display. In comparison, Samsung's tri-folding phone is expected to feature an inward folding display for a more durable design. Apple is expected to launch a foldable iPhone in 2026.