Samsung Launches First TriFold Phone Amid Increasingly Competition From Chinese Brand

Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold allows users to run three applications simultaneously vertically. (photo: x @chehonz201)

JAKARTA - Samsung Electronics on Monday 2 December officially introduced its first multi-fold phone, Galaxy Z TriFold, as a step to strengthen its dominance in the increasingly competitive foldable device market. The launch took place in Samsung Gangnam, Seoul, South Korea.

The long-awaited device will go on sale in South Korea on December 12, 2025, followed by launches in a number of other markets such as China, Taiwan, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates. For the United States market, the Galaxy Z TriFold is scheduled to arrive in the first quarter of 2026.

Samsung presents Z TriFold in just one black variant with 16GB RAM and 512GB storage, priced at 3,594,000 South Korean won, or around Rp40 million.

The Galaxy Z TriFold uses two folding hinges inside, so it can be opened into a 10-inch large screen with a resolution of 2160 x 1584 pixels. This size is slightly smaller than the 11th generation iPad which has an 11-inch screen.

When folded, the device's thickness reaches 12.9 mm, slightly thicker than the Galaxy Z Fold6 (12.1 mm) and Fold7 (8.9 mm). Even so, this product is not intended for large sales volume.

"Scale is not the main goal," said Liz Lee, Associate Director at Counterpoint Research. According to him, the presence of TriFold is a pilot project to strengthen Samsung's technology leadership, especially ahead of 2026 when competition is predicted to change significantly, including the potential entry of Apple into the foldable phone market.

Lee added that this device will be a means of testing resilience, hinge design, and software performance to gain real-world use insights before mass production.

With three screen panels, Galaxy Z TriFold allows users to run three applications simultaneously vertically. In addition, this device presents a desktop-like experience without requiring additional screens, affirming its ambition as a portable work device.

Samsung also submerges the largest battery in its foldable phone line, equipped with super fast charging which is capable of charging up to 50% in 30 minutes.

TM Roh, Samsung Electronics Co-CEO and Head of Device EXperience Division, said TriFold was the result of years of research and engineering to bring balance between portability, performance, and productivity.

Since introducing its first foldable phone in 2019, Samsung has become a pioneer in this market. However, competition is getting tighter with the inclusion of various Chinese brands that are aggressive in terms of price and design innovation.

Last September, Huawei released a three-generation foldable phone specifically for the Chinese market, with a thickness of 12.8 mm when folded. Other brands such as Honor also launched folding phones for the global market.

The Galaxy Z TriFold is equipped with an IP48 rating, which means water resistance to a depth of 1.5 meters for 30 minutes, although dust protection is still limited.

With this latest innovation, Samsung hopes to maintain its technological advantages in the midst of a increasingly strong competition, especially from Chinese players who continue to expand the folding phone market at the global level.