The first mass-market smartphone that folds twice rather than just once will soon be available in the United States. After going on sale this month in South Korea and other international markets, Samsung Electronics intends to introduce the Galaxy Z TriFold in the United States as early as the first quarter of 2026.
Samsung is firing the latest shot in its long rivalry with Apple, which is expected to debut its own foldable device—likely a single-fold model—later next year. Samsung has produced foldable smartphones since 2019, and the company intends to widen its lead by introducing the world’s first globally released multi-folding phone. A tri-fold device has already been introduced by Huawei, but it is mainly sold in China.
Samsung introduces a Trifold (triple fold) phone
The Galaxy Z TriFold features a 10-inch screen that matches the size of a standard tablet when fully opened. Samsung designed the left panel to fold inward once and then fold again, creating a compact form that resembles a standard smartphone when closed and offering a 6.5-inch external cover screen. The company used this “in-folding” method to protect the large internal display, which stays safe when folded. By contrast, Huawei’s Z-shaped folding design leaves part of the main screen exposed.
Samsung engineered the left-side panel to measure just 3.9 millimeters thick—about the width of five credit cards—and built the device to measure 12.9 millimeters when fully folded. The phone weighs about 11 ounces, or 309 grams.
Because of the TriFold’s enlarged display, users can run multiple apps simultaneously, making it possible to do things like draft an email and view a document side by side. The device can also switch into a PC-style mode when paired with a keyboard and mouse. When folded shut, it becomes compact enough to slide into a pocket. Roh Tae-moon, co-CEO of Samsung and head of the company’s consumer electronics division, stated that the Galaxy Z TriFold provides the “perfect balance between portability, premium performance and productivity all in one device.”
But potential drawbacks remain. Samsung hasn’t announced the U.S. price, though it will start at the equivalent of about $2,445 in South Korea. According to Tom Kang, research director at Counterpoint Research, “the practical user is unlikely to go for this.” Furthermore, consumers are still unsure of how well the TriFold’s two hinges will withstand prolonged use, and a tri-fold device is thicker than both single-fold and standard smartphones.
Featured Image Credit: Ricky Esquivel; Pexels: Thank you!
