What’s happened? Samsung quietly put a tri-foldable smartphone on display in Gyeongju, South Korea during APEC. No specs were shared and the unit was hands off, so every detail here comes from what the camera could see.
- OMG Electronics and SUBUSUNEWS spotted the three-screen tri-fold with both panels folding inward, not an out fold approach.
- Two hinge shapes up top, a wider curve on the left and a tighter curve on the right that suggests an order of fold.
- About 6.5 inches when shut like a standard phone, expanding to roughly 10 inches when open with a tall canvas.
- Noticeable bezels, a long front speaker grille, tiny mic holes, punch hole cameras inside and out, and a triple rear camera in a Fold 7-style layout.
This is important because: The hardware points to a real direction for durability and daily use. The extra outer screen and the inward fold layout favor protection, even if that means more parts and thicker borders.
- Folding both panels inward shelters the flexible display and signals durability as a priority.
- The added cover display keeps the phone usable when shut, closer to a regular slab than a tablet that folds.
- Wider left hinge and tighter right hinge hint at a prescribed folding sequence with implications for crease and wear.
Why should I care? This is the first time Samsung has shown a tri fold that still looks pocketable. It reads as a phone when closed and a workspace when open, a split personality that could be useful.
- Phone-sized when closed for everyday calls, texts, and quick photos.
- Tablet-sized when open for split screen apps, video, and games.
- Very thin profile when laid flat by top view, roughly comparable to a Fold 7 by the power button and camera bump.
- Folded profile appears slimmer than an adult finger in the show floor shot, a good sign for pockets.
Okay, so what’s next? The next steps are straightforward, test the hinge sequence, the crease, and the software that makes two folds feel natural.
- Public demos with touch access will answer questions about uniformity and any gap when shut.
- Software continuity and windowing will make or break the big canvas.
- Price and timing are still unannounced, though the onsite report points to a launch this year.
- If you’re in the market for a foldable but want a more mature iteration, check out the best foldables out now.
