Samsung Unveils First Trifold Smartphone, Rivals Huawei
- ByStartupStory | December 2, 2025
Samsung Electronics has launched its first-ever multi-folding smartphone, the Galaxy Z TriFold, marking a strategic move to compete directly with Chinese rival Huawei in the growing foldable phone market. The device will be available in South Korea starting December 12, 2025, with subsequent launches planned in China, Singapore, Taiwan, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States in early 2026.
The Galaxy Z TriFold features two inward-folding hinges, unfolding to reveal a large 10-inch display with a resolution of 2160 x 1584, which is slightly smaller than Huawei’s 10.2-inch screen on its Mate XTs but offers a smoother 1–120Hz adaptive refresh rate and Samsung’s signature OLED tuning. When folded, the smartphone has a thickness of 12.9 millimeters, a bit thicker than Samsung’s latest Z Fold models.
Samsung’s first tri-fold model emphasizes multitasking and productivity, allowing users to run three full-sized apps vertically side by side. Additionally, the phone includes a standalone DeX mode that transforms it into a mini workstation without requiring an external display. It boasts the largest battery capacity among Samsung’s foldable range and supports ultra-fast charging, reaching 50% power in just 30 minutes.
Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chipset, it comes with 16GB RAM and storage options of 512GB or 1TB, positioning it as a high-end flagship device. Samsung aims to showcase technological leadership and software optimizations with this model rather than target mass-market sales immediately, calling it a “special edition” product designed to gather user feedback on durability, hinge design, and software.
This launch comes amid fierce competition in the foldable market. Huawei had a head start by introducing the first trifolding phone last year, priced similarly at around $2,520. Apple is anticipated to enter the foldable segment in 2026, signaling further intensification of competition among leading smartphone makers.
Due to high component costs—including memory chips—and manufacturing complexities, foldable smartphones remain a niche market. Industry experts expect growth potential but caution that challenges such as durability and production yield must be addressed before mainstream adoption.
Samsung’s Galaxy Z TriFold is priced at approximately 3.59 million South Korean won (about $2,449), making it an expensive premium device but one that sets a new benchmark for design innovation and user experience in the foldable category. By leveraging years of development from its Galaxy Fold series, Samsung aims to bring the trifolding form factor closer to mainstream reality ahead of Apple’s entry and to assert dominance over Chinese manufacturers striving to capture market share.
The device reflects Samsung’s continued commitment to leading the evolving mobile device landscape, combining portability with enhanced screen real estate and multitasking capabilities, thus redefining smartphone productivity and creativity for the future.
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