Samsung Electronics is gearing up to make a major splash later this month with the debut of its first-ever trifold smartphone, set to be revealed during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju, South Korea. The event, which gathers world leaders and global dignitaries, will serve as a prime platform for Samsung[1] to showcase its latest leap in foldable innovation.
The APEC stage offers Samsung an ideal opportunity to demonstrate its engineering and design leadership to a global audience. The company expects its trifold device to reinforce its reputation as a pioneer in foldable smartphones, a space it has helped define since 2019.
While Huawei[2] introduced the world’s first trifold smartphone in China last year, Samsung, version marks the first major push to bring the form factor to international markets. The company aims to elevate the foldable experience with refined mechanics, software optimization, and mass-market accessibility.
This upcoming device will be Samsung’s first model featuring dual hinges, enabling it to transform from a standard smartphone into a full-sized tablet when fully unfolded. According to reports,[3] the tech giant plans to exhibit the phone as part of a special showcase highlighting cutting-edge Korean technology on the sidelines of the summit.
However, attendees at the summit may not get a chance to handle the new gadget just yet. Sources indicate that the trifold prototype will be displayed under glass, with no hands-on testing allowed. The commercial launch is reportedly planned for later this year.
Since Samsung’s first foldable phone debut in 2019, the foldable category has grown from a niche innovation into a competitive global market, with several Chinese brands now in the mix. The company’s most recent release, the Galaxy Z Fold 7,[4] launched in July, earned praise for its lighter design, slimmer frame, and improved usability.
With Apple rumored to launch its first foldable iPhone next year, industry watchers say Samsung’s trifold smartphone could mark the next major turning point in mobile design, setting the stage for a new era of multi-display devices.