US News: Samsung Electronics officially unveiled its long-rumored Galaxy Z TriFold on Tuesday in Seoul, marking the first time a triple-folding smartphone has gone on sale anywhere in the world.
The premium device, priced at 3.59 million South Korean won (about $2,440), opens into a sprawling 10-inch display made up of three connected panels. That gives it roughly 25% more screen area than the company’s current Galaxy Z Fold7 when fully unfolded, while still folding down to a size that slips into a pocket.
Alex Lim, executive vice president and head of Samsung’s Korea sales and marketing team, told reporters the TriFold is designed for customers who specifically want the most advanced form factor available. “This isn’t about chasing volume today,” Lim said. “It’s about showing where the foldable category is headed and accelerating growth in the high-end segment.”
Key specifications include the largest battery ever put in a Samsung flagship and ultra-fast charging that hits 50% in roughly 30 minutes. The phone is being manufactured in South Korea.
Sales begin December 12 in the domestic market, followed by launches in China, Singapore, Taiwan, and the United Arab Emirates before the end of 2024. The U.S. rollout is expected in the first quarter of 2025.
Analysts see the TriFold as a technology showcase more than a mass-market product, at least in its first generation. Ryu Young-ho, senior analyst at NH Investment & Securities, noted that triple-fold designs introduce new challenges around durability and production costs. “Samsung will watch real-world feedback closely before deciding how aggressively to ramp up supply,” he said.
The launch intensifies an already heated race in foldables. Huawei began limited sales of its own Mate XT triple-fold phone last year, and multiple reports indicate Apple is developing its first foldable device for release as early as 2026.
Even with the innovation, the overall category remains small. Counterpoint Research forecasts foldable phones will account for less than 2% of global smartphone shipments this year and only around 3% by 2027, limited by high prices and manufacturing complexity.
Samsung’s own foldable market share surged to 64% in the third quarter of 2024, up from single digits the previous quarter, according to Counterpoint, highlighting how quickly leadership can shift with major new releases.
For now, the Galaxy Z TriFold stands as the most ambitious foldable yet to reach consumers, giving early adopters a glimpse of what phones could look like in the second half of the decade.
