Samsung May Launch Tri-Fold Smartphone in US This Year

amsung is preparing to launch its first tri-fold smartphone later this year and is considering releasing it in the United States, according to people familiar with the company’s plans. If confirmed, it would mark the first US release of a tri-fold device, a major step in foldable technology.

Why it matters

Samsung has so far limited some of its experimental models to South Korea and China. A US debut would place the company ahead of Apple and other rivals in bringing radically new form factors to the world’s most competitive smartphone market.

What’s new

• The tri-fold will fold in two places, offering a larger screen than existing foldables.

• It is Samsung’s most ambitious design shift since the first Galaxy Fold in 2019.

• Concepts shown at global tech fairs, such as Flex G and Flex S, previewed multi-panel fold designs.

Industry backdrop

Apple is rolling out the iPhone Air this week and is reportedly planning its first foldable by 2026. Together, Apple and Samsung account for about 35% of global smartphone shipments.

Foldable sales remain niche — with 45.7 million units projected by 2028 against 1.2 billion smartphones shipped in 2024 — but Samsung sees the category as a way to attract non-Samsung users and differentiate itself in a slowing market.

The bigger picture

Samsung’s tri-fold could help reignite consumer excitement at a time when smartphone buyers are holding onto devices longer and AI-powered gadgets loom as potential challengers. A US launch would signal confidence that foldables are ready to move from niche to mainstream.