Samsung’s tri-fold foldable smartphone project appears to be moving forward without a hitch. A recent report from the Korean media says the device is on track for a 2025 release. While a specific launch window isn’t available yet, there are no indications of delays in its development.
Samsung is on track to launch its first tri-fold foldable in 2025
Rumors about Samsung working on a tri-fold smartphone have been circulating for quite some time. Talk of this innovative mobile device predates the release of Huawei’s Mate X Ultimate, the world’s first tri-fold foldable. The last major update suggested that the Korean firm was targeting a 2025 launch, and now, Korean publication ETNews has reaffirmed this timeline.
According to the report, Samsung is actively working on this unnamed smartphone that folds twice. The firm is on schedule to finalize the design and production prototype at the end of this month. “Samsung Electronics has recently added a foldable phone that folds twice to its development lineup,” the publication quotes multiple sources familiar with the matter.
Samsung’s industry partners have also reportedly begun development projects to support the device — it relies on third-party suppliers for various components. The company aims to offer a screen size measuring around 10 inches diagonally when fully unfolded. The mate XT Ultimate has a 10.2-inch panel.
The report suggests the device will fold inward twice, differing from Huawei’s approach of folding inward once and outward once. However, this design choice could present significant challenges and drawbacks. For starters, it requires an extra cover screen to use without unfolding the device. The Mate XT Ultimate utilizes its out-folding section as a functional cover display.
Moreover, you cannot partially unfold the device to use only two of the three screen segments, as the inward-folding mechanism keeps the middle section inaccessible unless the device is completely unfolded. This design also risks one part of the screen rubbing against the back panel, potentially leading to durability concerns.
Not to mention that Samsung may have to use two different hinge designs as one part of the screen has to bend with a bigger curvature than the other. All this said, the Korean tech behemoth surely knows what it is doing. A recent patent showed a similar design approach to Huawei. Expect leaks to reveal more about its upcoming tri-fold smartphone in the coming months.
