Samsung confirms tri-fold phone in works; eyes launch by 2025-end
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New York: Samsung is developing a tri-fold smartphone, with plans to launch the device by the end of 2025, marking a potential leap in foldable phone technology. The announcement was made by Minseok Kang, Vice President of Product Planning at Samsung Electronics, during an event held to unveil the company’s latest flagship foldables—the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7.
Kang confirmed that the tri-fold phone is currently under development, with the company focusing on achieving perfection in the product’s form factor, performance, and user experience before commercialisation. “We are evaluating key points for the final decision to commercialise the device. Our current target is to launch this device by the end of this year,” he said.
Key considerations for launching a new form factor, Kang explained, include mass production readiness, user satisfaction, and functional completeness. Samsung is working to ensure the tri-fold delivers on all these fronts. If launched on schedule, the device would become the company's most premium smartphone to date, likely aimed at a niche audience in its initial phase.
Meanwhile, competitors like Huawei have already entered the tri-fold space with devices such as the Mate X Ultimate. Other Chinese brands, including Xiaomi and Honor, are also actively working on similar technology, intensifying the race in the foldable segment.
Samsung, which introduced its first foldable device in 2019, has continued to evolve the category with each iteration. The Galaxy Z Fold 7, its latest model, incorporates several engineering upgrades to enhance usability and immersive experiences. The device is priced between ₹1.75 lakh and ₹2.11 lakh in the Indian market.
According to Kang, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 features a significantly slimmer profile—measuring just 8.9 mm when folded and 4.2 mm when unfolded—making it nearly half as thick as the first-generation Fold. It also weighs only 215 grams, which Kang noted is lighter than many competing premium smartphones, and even several bar-type models. “This is a difference you can feel every day in your pocket or in your hand,” he said.
Despite the buzz around foldables, Kang believes that both foldable and traditional bar-style smartphones will continue to coexist in the market. “The Fold could potentially become mainstream, but the standard bar phone will continue to meet user needs,” he said. “I do not believe that one will completely replace the other; both can coexist and fulfil different user requirements.”
As Samsung continues to lead in foldable innovation, the potential launch of a tri-fold phone could further expand the boundaries of smartphone design and reshape consumer expectations. More details on the device are expected as it nears production.
With PTI inputs
