Seoul: Samsung Electronics Co. on Tuesday unveiled its first trifold smartphone, the Galaxy Z TriFold, which boasts two folding hinges and a 10-inch display when fully unfolded, as the company continues to expand its range of folding phones. The trifold device features a 6.5-inch cover display when folded, similar to its foldable counterpart, the Galaxy Z Fold 7, allowing users to adapt the device for various usage scenarios, according to Samsung Electronics.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Samsung plans to release a single version of the Galaxy Z TriFold with 512 gigabytes of storage, available in black. Priced at 3.59 million won (approximately US$2,430), the Galaxy Z TriFold is noted for being the slimmest among Samsung's foldable models, with a thickness of 12.9 mm when folded and 3.9 mm when fully unfolded.
Kang Min-seok, head of smartphone product planning at Samsung Electronics, stated during a press conference in Seoul that the thinness of the Galaxy Z TriFold is a result of overcoming technological limits while ensuring durability, performance, and camera quality. The device is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Mobile Platform for Galaxy and features an inward-folding structure to protect the display, alerting users with vibrations and alarms if any abnormalities are detected.
Weighing 309 grams, the Galaxy Z TriFold is set to officially go on sale December 12, with global releases planned for China, Taiwan, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States. Kang explained that the launch schedule in other countries was determined by considering factors such as consumer adoption speed.
The device is equipped with a 5,600mAh battery, the largest among Galaxy foldables, and supports 45W fast-charging, allowing users to reach 50 percent charge in 30 minutes. The inclusion of the Armor Flex Hinge, a titanium-based hinge, is designed to enhance the trifold structure's durability. Kang highlighted that the device has been tested to endure 200,000 folds.
Samsung also emphasized the use of a ceramic-glass fiber-reinforced polymer for added durability. Lim Seong-taek, executive vice president of Samsung Electronics, explained that despite rising costs, the company has worked to keep the price down, suggesting users will perceive the advantages of the Galaxy Z TriFold over competing products.
Lim noted that the device is considered a special edition, prepared for users who truly desire it rather than for mass production, without disclosing a specific sales target. Samsung has also enhanced the device's artificial intelligence (AI) features, optimized for the large screen, allowing users to view translations alongside original website text and offering a variety of health care information through the Samsung Health app.
The Galaxy Z TriFold's display can be split into three sections, facilitating improved multitasking capabilities.