Samsung is preparing to broaden its range of foldable phones with an innovative tri-fold smartphone, which could make its debut in 2025. This device, which has a screen that folds in two places, has already had its parts developed, signaling that it's on track for commercial release. Ultimately, the decision will be made by Samsung’s Mobile eXperience division, led by TM Roh.
A Potential First in Tri-Fold Phones
At present, the only tri-fold device available is Huawei’s Mate XT, which is restricted to the Chinese market. If Samsung decides to launch its model worldwide, it would be the first tri-fold smartphone accessible on a global scale. This new design would allow the smartphone to change from a tablet-sized screen to a compact phone, offering flexible use for various situations.
Expected Features and Innovations
While there is no official word on the specifications yet, patents in the industry indicate that the device may feature advanced hinge mechanisms and integrated sensors, suggesting it is built for diverse functionalities. Given Samsung’s history with foldable devices, this premium tri-fold is likely to utilize the latest Qualcomm flagship processor, the Snapdragon 8 Elite.
For those interested in multitasking features, the Snapdragon 8 Elite brings significant improvements, including a 40% increase in GPU performance and a 35% enhancement in ray tracing capabilities compared to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 used in the current Galaxy Z Fold 6. These enhancements, along with a 44% boost in power efficiency, make the chipset well-suited for intensive tasks such as gaming and multitasking, ensuring a solid performance upgrade for the forthcoming Samsung tri-fold.
Camera Expectations
The chipset also boasts an improved NPU, offering a 45% increase in AI capabilities, which means more advanced Galaxy AI features for the tri-fold smartphone. However, it is likely that the tri-fold will need to be thinner than the existing Galaxy Z Fold 6, which means that larger camera sensors may not be included. Users can expect a camera system similar to what is found in Samsung’s current book-style foldable. For a point of reference, the camera configuration for the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is as follows:
- 50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS
- 10 MP, f/2.4, 66mm (telephoto), 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom
- 12 MP, f/2.2, 123˚, 12mm (ultrawide), 1.12µm
