SEOUL, South Korea — Samsung Electronics unveiled its first multi-folding smartphone on Tuesday, introducing the Galaxy Z TriFold as competition in the foldable device market intensifies and global rivals prepare rival launches.
Priced at 3.59 million won (about $2,440), the Galaxy Z TriFold opens into a 10-inch display, using a three-panel design that expands the screen size by nearly 25% compared to the recent Galaxy Z Fold 7. The device marks Samsung’s first commercial attempt at a tri-folding form factor—an innovation Samsung hopes will position it more firmly against rapidly advancing Chinese competitors.
A Strategic Push Into Advanced Foldables
Alex Lim, Executive Vice President and head of Samsung’s Korea Sales & Marketing Office, said the new device is designed as a premium offering for early adopters rather than a mass-market driver.
“I believe the foldable market will continue to grow, and the TriFold in particular could act as a catalyst for more explosive growth in key areas of the segment,” Lim said. However, he acknowledged rising memory and component costs made pricing decisions “especially difficult.”
The TriFold features Samsung’s largest battery among its flagship models, offering super-fast charging capable of powering the device to 50% in just 30 minutes.
Launch Timeline and Global Rollout
The smartphone will debut in South Korea on December 12, with additional launches planned before the end of the year in:
- China
- Singapore
- Taiwan
- United Arab Emirates
A U.S. release is expected as early as the first quarter of 2026.
Analysts: A Technology Showcase, Not a Mass-Market Hit
Market experts view the Galaxy Z TriFold as an important first-generation showcase but not yet a mainstream consumer product.
“The trifold is a first-generation device, and it’s the first time such a design is being commercialized,” said Ryu Young-ho, senior analyst at NH Investment & Securities. He noted that while the Z Fold series has matured through seven iterations, the new TriFold may still face early challenges with durability and manufacturing complexity.
Foldable phones overall remain a small segment of the market—forecast to account for less than 2% of global smartphone sales in 2025, increasing to under 3% by 2027, according to Counterpoint Research.
Rising Competition From Huawei and Apple
Samsung faces growing competition as rivals push aggressively into next-generation foldables. China’s Huawei released the industry’s first three-way folding phone last September, and Apple is widely expected to introduce its first foldable device next year.
Samsung’s shipment share in the foldable market surged dramatically—from 9% in Q2 to 64% in Q3—a spike analysts attribute to product launch timing rather than a stable trend.
Counterpoint expects the foldable category to expand 14% in 2025, followed by annual growth above 30% in 2026 and 2027, especially as Apple enters the segment.