Samsung’s ambitious Galaxy Z TriFold experiment is already winding down after a brief three-month stint on the market, but the company shows no sign of abandoning unconventional foldable designs. The original TriFold, a hefty $2,899 device notable for its triple-fold hinge, is seeing sales cease in South Korea with a likely global phase-out soon. Despite its short life and bulkiness, Samsung appears committed to refining the concept, aiming for a sleeker Galaxy Z TriFold 2 anticipated around mid-2027.
Galaxy Z TriFold 2 to be thinner and lighter than original
The initial Galaxy Z TriFold felt more like a proof of concept than a mass-market device. Its folded thickness of nearly 13 mm was unwieldy, but Korean sources reveal Samsung’s engineers have nearly completed hinge verification for the next model. This groundwork suggests the follow-up will be notably thinner and lighter, approaching the form factor of mainstream foldables like the Galaxy Z Fold 7, but still thicker due to the tri-fold mechanism.
Samsung’s focus now includes improving durability and reducing crease visibility-critical factors for tri-fold usability.
Manual slidable phone with extendable 7-inch OLED screen
In addition to improving the Galaxy Z TriFold line, Samsung is exploring an altogether different hybrid design: a phone with a manually sliding OLED screen that can extend to about 7 inches. This design transforms a smartphone into a compact tablet without relying on motorized components.
This manual slidable approach could offer a more durable, mechanically simpler alternative to previous motorized sliders unveiled at events like CES.
Samsung’s innovation strategy in foldable and sliding smartphones
Samsung’s willingness to iterate on these niche formats underscores its broad exploration strategy in foldable tech-balancing innovation against practical concerns like device thickness and everyday usability. The Galaxy Z TriFold’s early exit could be a strategic stepping stone rather than a failure, paving the way for improved hardware.
With a mid-2027 timeline for both the Galaxy Z TriFold 2 and the new manual slidable device, Samsung is betting on experimental form factors continuing to carve out a place in the evolving smartphone landscape.