SAMSUNG UNVEILS FIRST TRIFOLD SMARTPHONE, SHOWCASING NEXT STAGE IN FLEXIBLE DISPLAY DESIGN

Samsung has presented its first trifold smartphone, marking the company's most ambitious experiment in foldable technology since it introduced the original Galaxy Fold in 2019.

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The new prototype, shown during a private media demonstration ahead of its expected commercial debut, features a display that unfolds from a compact phone-sized device into a tablet-like screen using three connected panels hinged by dual folding mechanisms. The trifold design underscores Samsung's continued push to define the next form factor in mobile hardware as the foldable category matures. It also signals a shift in strategy: rather than competing on incremental improvements to existing folding phones, the company is now focusing on multi-panel devices that bridge the gap between smartphones, tablets, and productivity tools.

EXPANDING THE FOLDABLE CONCEPT BEYOND A SINGLE HINGE

Unlike the Galaxy Z Fold line, which folds once along a central hinge, the trifold prototype adds a second hinge that allows the display to fold inward twice, creating three equal sections. When unfolded, the screen forms a wide, uninterrupted OLED panel capable of functioning as a small tablet; when folded, it compresses into a device roughly the thickness of two standard smartphones stacked together.

The design is built around Samsung Display’s Flex In & Out technology, which uses ultra-thin glass and a segmented hinge assembly capable of bending in both directions. Early demonstrations showed smooth folding motion and minimal crease visibility—a major challenge for previous foldable generations. According to people familiar with the prototype, Samsung has refined hinge durability and introduced a new polymer coating that increases resistance to pressure and temperature fluctuations, a recurring issue in early foldable displays.