- Samsung Display unveiled a number of screen concepts at CES 2025
- Two of the demo models are tri-folding phone screens
- The phone's two display concepts can be folded in different ways
We revealed a wealth of new technology at CES 2025 this week, many of which hint at future gadgets – including two concepts from Samsung Display that hint at what a future tri-folding Galaxy phone might look like.
The phone designs were among several display concepts on display and were captured in three images by CNET (via Notebookcheck). The first two images show a phone, while the third, although the caption suggests it's the same phone, clearly features a different folding design.
Although both displays have two hinges and three screen sections, there is one key difference: the phone shown in the third image shows a device that folds completely inwards, while the design shown in the first two images leaves part of the main screen visible when it is open closed.
The latter approach is also used on the Huawei Mate XT tri-fold phone, which essentially uses just a single display. The two hinges fold in opposite directions, leaving a third of the display accessible when you're using it at normal phone size – a TikTok from our sister site Tom's Guide at the Notebookcheck link above shows the device folded and unfolded.
Your mileage may vary, but I personally prefer the other approach: a fully inward folding mechanism that protects the valuable main display, with a separate screen on the back. It appears that Samsung is currently weighing both options.
Fold stably
We've seen patents suggesting an outward-folding handset (Z-style) as well as industry reports predicting an inward-folding handset (U-style), so the form factor is still very uncertain. Maybe Samsung will develop both.
Samsung didn't make any announcements about tri-fold phones, or any phones at all, at CES 2025. However, the fact that these working demo devices were on display suggests that the launch of the tri-fold phone could come sooner rather than later.
Previous leaks suggest that such a device could launch before the end of 2025, and Huawei has shown that the technology is ready for the public, albeit at a high price: the Mate XT starts at 19,999 yuan, which about US$2,730 / £ equals AU$2,200 / AU$4,405.
We can expect Samsung's equivalent to be very expensive too when it releases – perhaps alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7. Before that, we'll see the launch of the Samsung on Wednesday, January 22nd Experience the Galaxy S25 series.
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