Samsung's first triple-fold phone is here. It's later and thicker than Huawei's.
According to a report from Zhidx on December 2nd, this morning, Samsung quietly officially announced its first triple-foldable Galaxy Z TriFold, becoming the second mobile phone manufacturer globally, after Huawei, to release a triple-foldable phone.
According to Samsung's press release, the Galaxy Z TriFold uses an inward-folding design to protect the main display. When unfolded twice, the screen can reach 10 inches, making it the largest-screen phone in Samsung's Galaxy series to date.
▲ Demonstration of the folding of Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold (Source: YouTube blogger Mrwhosetheboss)
Based on its previous experience in foldable-screen phones, Samsung has improved the hinge, aluminum frame, and display technology. It has also equipped the TriFold with a full set of Galaxy AI software features.
In September 2024 and September this year, Huawei launched the world's first commercially available triple-foldable phone, the HUAWEI Mate XT Ultimate Master, and the second one, the HUAWEI Mate XTs Ultimate Master. From the public information, it can be seen that the thinnest part of both of Huawei's phones is 3.6mm, while that of Samsung is 3.9mm. In terms of weight, Samsung is 11g heavier than Huawei. Currently, neither of Huawei's two triple-foldable phones offers AI features.
▲ Comparison of the basic parameters of Samsung and two Huawei triple-foldable phones
The Galaxy Z TriFold is expected to be launched in South Korea on December 12, 2025, and then enter other markets including mainland China, Taiwan (China), Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates. It will be launched in the United States in the first quarter of next year.
Samsung has not announced the price of the phone. Its press release states that users who purchase the Galaxy Z TriFold can enjoy a six-month trial of Google AI Pro, experience video generation powered by Veo3, and get 2TB of secure cloud storage. In addition, each purchaser of the Galaxy Z TriFold will be eligible for a one-time 50% discount on screen repairs.
01.
It's Samsung's phone with the largest battery and screen
Supports 120Hz high refresh rate
In terms of hardware, the thinnest part of the Galaxy Z TriFold is 3.9mm. It is equipped with a customized Snapdragon 8 Elite mobile platform, a 200-megapixel camera, and the largest battery capacity ever in a Samsung foldable phone.
The phone has a battery capacity of 5600mAh. A three-battery system is installed in the three panels of the device. With 45W ultra-fast charging, the Galaxy Z TriFold allows users to stream, create, and work for long periods.
The device has a dynamic 2X AMOLED cover screen with a maximum refresh rate of 120Hz. The Galaxy Z TriFold is equipped with a bright display both when opened and closed. The cover display can reach up to 2600 nits, and the main screen can reach 1600 nits. It also optimizes color and contrast in different lighting conditions through Vision Booster.
In terms of the hinge: Samsung has adopted its most advanced hinge technology to date. By optimizing the hinge technology Armor FlexHinge, two hinges of different sizes work with a double-rail structure to make the folding smoother and more stable. The press release mentions that the hinge structure can firmly connect the screen panels, while minimizing the gap and making the device thinner and more portable. It will also automatically alarm, reminding users of incorrect folding through screen prompts and vibrations.
▲ Demonstration of the folding of Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold (Source: YouTube blogger Mrwhosetheboss)
Reconstructing the foldable screen: Samsung has introduced a new display technology specifically designed for the 10-inch screen on the Galaxy Z TriFold. This screen can be folded twice to become a pocket-sized phone. It has also added a reinforced outer layer to the shock-absorbing display layer to enhance the resistance of the double-foldable device.
Advanced materials: There is a thin metal component on the titanium alloy hinge shell of the Galaxy Z TriFold. The middle frame of the device is made of armor-grade aluminum alloy, a high-strength alloy that can improve structural rigidity without increasing the thickness of the body and avoid direct contact when the double screens are closed. The back panel is made of ceramic glass fiber-reinforced polymer material, which has crack resistance while maintaining a slim body design.
02.
Supports Galaxy AI capabilities
Customized and optimized for the 10-inch large screen
In terms of AI capabilities, Samsung has optimized the AI features specifically for the 10-inch screen. The Galaxy Z TriFold is already equipped with a full set of Galaxy AI software features, including generative editing, photo assistant, writing assistant, etc..
In terms of operation, when the Galaxy Z TriFold is opened to a 10-inch display, it can present an effect similar to that of three 6.5-inch smartphones, providing multi-tasking space.
Users can use the screen flexibly, such as continuously creating in three different portrait-sized apps, adjusting the size of apps in multiple windows to display important information, or holding the screen vertically to improve focus when viewing documents.
For professional workers, such as architects drawing design plans for a new house, they can use the large screen to run three apps simultaneously, review blueprints, write proposals, and calculate measurement data in a multi-window workspace. If a call comes in, they can answer it without disrupting the layout. When they need to resume work, the taskbar in the lower right corner of the display will immediately show the recently used apps again, and they can simply tap to redisplay the full settings.
In addition, the original apps in Samsung phones, such as My Files and Samsung Health, have also been optimized for the large screen.
To match the 10-inch screen, the Galaxy Z TriFold is also the first phone to independently support Samsung's wireless collaborative app DeX, which means users can set up a complete working environment almost anywhere.
Users can enter the quick settings panel and select DeX as the highest-level working setting for Galaxy to access up to four workspaces, and each workspace can run five apps simultaneously.
To improve productivity, users can add a secondary screen in the extended mode to achieve a seamless dual-screen experience with an external monitor. Users can drag apps between different screens and work on the two screens in a desktop-like manner. In addition, users can add a separately sold Samsung Bluetooth mouse and keyboard to quickly create an ultimate portable workstation suitable for complex projects or creative designs.
Samsung has also optimized AI features such as photo editing, photo generation, and browsing assistance.
The Gemini Live on the Galaxy Z TriFold is equipped with multi-modal AI capabilities, which can understand what users see, say, and do. Users can ask questions based on the context and get answers without switching between different apps for high-level multi-tasking.
Through the screen or camera sharing of Gemini Live, users can get real-time help on the same device by simply asking questions about the content they are viewing.
03.
Conclusion: The competition in the high-end foldable-screen market intensifies
The competition in the foldable-screen phone market is becoming increasingly fierce. Samsung's long-awaited triple-foldable phone has finally made its debut and will be launched this month. Previously, it was reported that Apple is expected to release its first foldable iPhone in the fall of next year, which is similar to the Galaxy Z Fold 7 launched by Samsung in July.
Although, for now, the market scale and user acceptance of foldable-screen phones are still in the relatively early stages of development. However, the launch of Samsung's triple-foldable phone may push the competition in the high-end foldable phone market to a new level.
This article is from the WeChat official account "Zhidx" (ID: zhidxcom), written by Cheng Qian and edited by Xinyuan. It is published by 36Kr with authorization.