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Samsung’s rumored G Fold could be a make-or-break moment for tri-fold phones

Published

3 weeks ago

May 10, 2025

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Samsung's rumored G Fold could be a make-or-break moment for tri-fold phones

Summary

Samsung’s first tri-fold, the Galaxy G Fold, should ship by the end of 2025 if recent rumors are correct. Expect a 9.9-inch internal display.

It should have a much wider reach than Huawei’s Mate XT, and Samsung may be able to bring tri-fold prices down to more reasonable levels.

If it succeeds, it’s liable to push the tri-fold and general foldable markets forward. Failure could impact tri-fold development, potentially relegating the category to the dustbin of history.

New form factors are a rare thing in the smartphone industry these days. There’s not much incentive to experiment when phone makers are already making money hand over fist, and many designs have already been tried. We’ve seen candybars, clamshells, sliders, and more recently book-style foldables like the

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold
and the

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
.

That made Huawei’s

tri-fold
Mate XT, released in February 2025, a pretty big deal. Now Samsung is rumored to be launching its own tri-fold phone — possibly called the Galaxy G Fold, per SamMobile — by the end of 2025, possibly as soon as July. It could be a breakthrough for tri-folds, deciding whether they become a regular part of the smartphone landscape or another failed experiment.

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What we know about the Samsung Galaxy G Fold

Not much, but also a lot

HUAWEI / Pocket-lint

Strictly speaking, we know very little about the specs, dimensions, or branding of Samsung’s product. It’s rumored to have a 9.9-inch screen when fully unfolded, possibly paired with a 6.5-inch external display for simpler tasks like calls and texts. If you’ve been paying attention, you’ll note that this approach differs from the Mate XT, which uses a single uninterrupted screen. Samsung’s approach could potentially cost more in parts, but with the advantage of protecting the inner screen area.

I’d expect Samsung to leverage as much as it can to keep entry-level prices below the $3,000 mark.

It’s not even certain that it’ll be called the G Fold. At Mobile World Congress 2023, early tri-fold concept devices shown off by Samsung were labeled the Flex S and Flex G. I wouldn’t be surprised if the company slotted the product under its Galaxy Z lineup, where other foldables have gone, though calling it the G Fold would get around any confusion with the Z Fold. I like the idea of calling it the Galaxy Z Tri.

Even more uncertain is the price. It’s presumably going to be even more expensive than the $1,900 Z Fold 6, since when the Mate XT arrived in Europe, it cost €3,499 euros (over $3,600). I’d expect Samsung to leverage as much as it can to keep entry-level prices below the $3,000 mark. Despite positive reviews, Apple has struggled to sell its $3,500 Vision Pro headset, and no wonder — for the same price, you could buy a high-end gaming laptop.