Samsung Electronics has launched its first multi-folding smartphone, the Galaxy Z TriFold, Reuters reports. The company aims to strengthen its position in the foldable market as competition from Chinese rivals intensifies.
Priced at around $2,440, the device unfolds into a 253.1 mm (10-inch) display using three panels, making it nearly 25% larger than Samsung’s latest Galaxy Z Fold 7.
Alex Lim, Samsung Electronics Executive Vice President and head of the Korea Sales & Marketing Office, said the TriFold is designed for customers specifically seeking such a device rather than as a mass-market model.
«I believe the foldable market will continue to grow, and the TriFold could act as a catalyst for more explosive growth in key parts of the segment,» he added.
The smartphone, produced in South Korea, will go on sale domestically on December 12, with launches planned in China, Singapore, Taiwan and the UAE before the end of the year. The US release is expected in the first quarter of 2026. It features Samsung’s largest battery in its flagship range and supports super-fast charging, reaching 50% in 30 minutes.
Rising prices
Rising costs for memory chips and other components have made pricing a challenge, Lim noted. Analysts said the TriFold is likely to serve as a showcase of Samsung’s technology rather than a volume driver. Ryu Young-ho, a senior analyst at NH Investment & Securities, said the device could face durability issues as a first-generation product, making market reception a key factor.
Competition in the foldable segment is heating up, with Huawei having launched a three-way folding phone last September and Apple expected to enter the market next year. Despite the interest, high prices and limited production capacity are expected to keep foldables a niche segment, accounting for less than 2% of the global smartphone market in 2025 and under 3% by 2027, according to Counterpoint Research.
Samsung’s share of the foldable market jumped to 64% in Q3, up from 9% in the previous quarter, showing how product launch timing can sharply affect market share. Counterpoint forecasts the segment to grow 14% this year, followed by annual growth of around 30% in 2026 and 2027 as Apple enters the market.
