Samsung has launched the Galaxy Z TriFold, a three-piece foldable smartphone that can transform into a tablet.

Samsung has announced its first multi-folding smartphone, the Galaxy Z TriFold. This new product is seen as Samsung's latest strategy to consolidate its leading position in the highly competitive high-end smartphone market. In the face of competition from Chinese brands like Huawei and Xiaomi, Samsung has chosen to leverage folding phone technology as a differentiating response; however, consumer acceptance of the product design remains to be seen.

Galaxy Z TriFold three-piece folding panel can transform into a tablet.

The biggest highlight of the Galaxy Z TriFold is its three-piece folding panel. When unfolded, it forms a wide 253.1 mm (10-inch) screen, nearly 25% larger in area than the existing Galaxy Z Fold 7, achieving a new balance between portability and usable area. Samsung positions its target audience as “professionals and creators who truly need large-screen mobile devices,” rather than the general consumer market. Alex Lim, Executive Vice President of Samsung Electronics and head of the Korea Sales and Marketing Office, stated that the folding device market still has growth momentum, and the TriFold is expected to be a catalyst for driving the next wave of demand. However, he also admitted that the development and pricing process for the device has not been easy, especially against the backdrop of significantly rising costs for memory chips and other components, making it a difficult decision to determine the retail price.

Galaxy Z TriFold targets the high-end market.

In terms of pricing, the Galaxy Z TriFold is priced at approximately 3.59 million Korean won (about 2,440 USD) in South Korea, placing it in the extremely high price range of the premium market. The device will first go on sale in South Korea on December 12, with plans to gradually enter the markets of mainland China, Singapore, Taiwan, and the UAE within the year. The U.S. market is expected to see its launch as early as the first quarter of next year. This foldable smartphone also features the largest battery capacity among Samsung's flagship models and supports super-fast charging, with the official claim that it can charge up to 50% in 30 minutes to meet the power consumption demands of the larger screen.

The market acceptance of foldable phones remains to be seen.

Despite Samsung's high hopes, there is still a cautious attitude from the outside world regarding the commercial prospects of the tri-fold screen. NH Investment & Securities senior analyst pointed out that TriFold, as the first commercially realized tri-fold design, is more akin to a platform for showcasing new technology rather than a flagship aimed at mass sales. He believes that Samsung has already accumulated seven generations of manufacturing experience with the Fold series, making the cost and reliability of this product line increasingly mature; however, the tri-fold structure still faces challenges in durability and structural integrity, making it difficult to enter true mass production. Therefore, market reactions will determine its subsequent direction.

The competition in the foldable smartphone market is expected to intensify. Last September, Huawei launched the industry's first triple-folding screen smartphone, while Apple is expected to release its first foldable phone next year. However, analysts generally indicate that high prices and production constraints may hinder the development of the industry.

The foldable smartphone market itself is still in a relatively early stage, and competition has clearly intensified. Huawei launched the industry's first triple-fold smartphone in China last year, taking the lead in technological prominence; Apple is also predicted to enter the foldable smartphone market next year, potentially reshaping the industry landscape once again. Analysts generally believe that despite major brands laying out their strategies, foldable technology is still limited by high manufacturing costs and capacity bottlenecks, so the chances of mass adoption in the short term are low.

Market research firm Counterpoint Research estimates that this year, the share of foldable phones in the overall smartphone market will be below 2%, and it will not break 3% by 2027. However, the firm also pointed out that the market share of foldable phones will fluctuate dramatically with the launch of new products from major brands. Samsung's share of foldable phone shipments in the third quarter of this year soared from 9% in the previous quarter to 64%, indicating that the new product cycle has a significant impact on market distribution.

In an era where technology is not yet fully mature and costs remain high, the Galaxy Z TriFold is more viewed as a symbol of Samsung's research and development capabilities in the foldable sector rather than a primary aircraft for short-term sales pursuit. In the face of fierce competition from rivals like Huawei and Apple that are about to engage in a competition, Samsung, by being the first to realize the tri-fold form, is trying to solidify its brand image as the “leader in foldable devices.” Whether foldable phones can truly become mainstream still awaits the test of time and performance.

This article discusses Samsung's launch of the Galaxy Z TriFold, a three-piece foldable phone that can transform into a tablet, which first appeared in Chain News ABMedia.