Samsung was the first brand to launch foldable smartphones globally. The South Korean firm has been enjoying decent sales of Galaxy Z series devices since 2020, but Chinese competitors are catching up, and the company might fall behind Huawei in launching a tri-foldable smartphone.
Samsung's tri-foldable smartphone might launch after Huawei's
Samsung is struggling to launch foldable phones that are as thin as those from Chinese brands. Tipster Ice Universe claims that Huawei will become the first brand to launch a tri-foldable smartphone. This means Samsung may be unable to stake the claim for launching the world's first tri-fold phone. Since the Galaxy Z Fold 3 launch, Samsung has been moving very slowly in terms of innovation.
With the Galaxy Z Fold 3, Samsung introduced the IPX8 dust and water resistance rating. The Galaxy Z Fold 4 introduced better primary and telephoto cameras, but they were still not as good as the Galaxy S series phones. With the Galaxy Z Fold 5, the company removed the gap between the two halves of the phone when it was folded.
The company is expected to launch the Galaxy Z Fold 6 this year with a thinner and lighter body, a faster processor, and a brighter screen. However, the camera, battery capacity, and charging might not be improved. In contrast, Chinese brands offer even thinner phones with bigger batteries, faster charging, and flagship-grade cameras.
It is rumored that Samsung will launch a thinner version of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 with bigger screens and higher specifications. That device will reportedly launch towards the end of 2024 in very few countries, including China.
Watch our video below to learn what to expect from Samsung's upcoming products, which will be launched at the Galaxy Unpacked event on July 10.
Possible reasons for Samsung not launching a tri-fold phone
Samsung Display has already showcased prototypes for tri-fold phones. However, Samsung MX might not be interested in launching a tri-foldable phone due to concerns about an even higher price tag (which people might not be able to spend on) and more points of possible failure (two hinges and folds).
Since consumer sentiment is at an all-time low in 2024 due to rising inflation and the economic downturn, people might not be willing to spend on a tri-foldable phone. This could lead to losses (or some form of economic impact) for Samsung. Hence, the company might think of delaying plans for such a device.
Moreover, Samsung might wait a bit more to perfect its existing Galaxy Z Fold lineup before moving ahead with tri-fold phones that are even more complicated to design and manufacture.
