Samsung is preparing to launch a major new smartphone design and is considering releasing it in the United States for the first time. The company plans to introduce its first-ever tri-fold phone later this year, and sources say a US release is part of the discussion. This would mark a major milestone for Samsung, which has often limited new models to markets like South Korea or China.
If Samsung proceeds, this would be the first tri-fold smartphone available in the US. Chinese brand Huawei already sells a tri-fold model, but it is not offered in the American market. Samsung’s move could give it a strong lead in a market that has seen fewer design breakthroughs in recent years.
The smartphone industry is currently in search of fresh ideas. Many people now keep their phones for longer periods, and experts are questioning whether new artificial intelligence devices might eventually replace smartphones. To counter slowing sales, both Samsung and Apple are trying bold new designs to attract buyers.
Apple recently revealed the iPhone Air, its first major redesign in nearly ten years. Reports also suggest Apple is developing its first foldable phone for release as soon as 2026. Meanwhile, Samsung released the seventh generation of its foldable phones this summer and is also planning an updated version of its slimmer Galaxy S Edge model for next year.
Together, Samsung and Apple account for about 35 percent of global smartphone shipments, according to market research firm International Data Corporation. Their product launches often set trends for the entire industry.
Samsung’s upcoming tri-fold phone will fold in two places to offer a much larger screen than its current foldable models. It will be the company’s most dramatic change since the launch of its first foldable phone in 2019. Samsung has shown concept designs of tri-fold phones at technology trade shows before, but it has never released one for public sale.
While Samsung has not revealed the exact size or shape of the new screen, company leaders have said they do not want to offer the same user experience in just a slightly different design. Instead, the goal is to provide something completely new that feels exciting to use.
Samsung’s current foldable models, like the Galaxy Z Flip and Galaxy Z Fold, have seen a rise in demand. Preorders for the latest generation were 25 percent higher than the previous version. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 unfolds to an eight-inch display, which is close in size to an iPad Mini. The new tri-fold phone is expected to be even larger, giving users a tablet-like experience in a pocket-sized device.
This new design could be more expensive and targeted at a smaller market, similar to the early days of the Galaxy Z Fold. But it could also attract users from other brands. According to Samsung, its foldable phones already bring in twice as many new customers from competing brands compared to its standard flagship phones.
Samsung is also planning updates to its main Galaxy S lineup. The company expects to launch a sequel to the Galaxy S25 Edge early next year, likely alongside the Galaxy S26 models. Samsung continues to focus on making slimmer devices across all product lines. There has even been internal discussion about developing phones without charging ports, which would rely only on wireless charging and allow for thinner designs.
It is still unclear whether thinner designs will be enough to increase sales. Reports suggest that sales of the Galaxy S25 Edge have been lower than expected. Even so, Samsung hopes that a bold tri-fold phone can spark new interest in the smartphone market and offer users something completely different from what they have now.
