The Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold is set to launch on December 19 in Singapore for S$3,988
In a captivating progression of technology, consumers are about to embrace a smartphone with not two, but three screens. Enter the Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold, a new addition to the foldable phone realm, scheduled for release on December 19 in six select markets, including Singapore.
Priced at S$3,988 for the 512GB variant, this device significantly outstrips the cost of Samsung’s recent two-fold offerings, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Fold 7.
Notably, it does not claim the title of being the first in its class; Huawei’s Mate XT already debuted last September in China and globally in February, at a relatively lower price of approximately S$3,498.
This raises pertinent questions: what prompts a company to release a product months after its competitors? Furthermore, who would invest in a device at such a premium price? The answers are far from straightforward, yet they underscore the significance of this upcoming launch.
A Calculated Strategy
Samsung’s evolution towards tri-fold smartphones has been underpinned by a meticulous patent strategy.
As early as mid-2021, the corporation sought approval from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and secured U.S. rights in November 2024 for a tri-fold concept featuring a flexible display.
This innovative design encompasses three discrete screens and multiple folding zones, complemented by a specialized barrier layer to enhance durability. Such foresight paved the way for the company’s technological leadership prior to the device’s market introduction.
The implications of this are substantial, retarding competitors, particularly in China, the preeminent foldable smartphone market, which constituted half of global shipments in the second quarter of 2024, per Canalys research.
Despite pioneering the first commercial foldable phone in 2019 and capturing 60-70% of the global market, Samsung’s presence in China has waned as copycat brands proliferated.
By the fourth quarter of 2024, it was no longer a leading player in the foldable landscape, eclipsed by alternatives that offered Chinese consumers a plethora of choices—effectively diminishing its previous dominance.
Brands such as Huawei have emerged as frontrunners in the innovation of foldable smartphones, securing nearly 70% of China’s foldable smartphone market in the first three quarters of this year, according to IDC.
Globally, other players are also gaining ground. The iconic American brand, Motorola, has substantially amplified its foothold in recent years, particularly with its Razr series, which enjoys traction in markets such as the U.S. and Europe.
Motorola even surpassed Samsung to capture the second position in the global foldable smartphone arena in Q2 2025, bolstered by robust sales of its latest Razr 60 series.
Consequently, Samsung’s comprehensive patenting of pivotal components—from hinges to display systems—cultivates a fortified barrier around its technological advancements. As competitors strive to close the gap, Samsung is skillfully recalibrating the competitive landscape to its favor.
Implications for Competitors
A patent affords a company legal ownership over a technology, granting it the ability to enforce or license the innovation. This approach erects barriers for competitors while enhancing brand visibility and clout with consumers.
By securing patents for its tri-fold designs well in advance, Samsung has effectively impeded the progression of competitors. In developing its Mate XT, Huawei’s engineers scrutinized Samsung’s publicly available patents to devise alternative folding mechanisms that skirted infringement.
Huawei opted for an outward-fold “Z” structure, contrasting with Samsung’s inward “G”-style fold. Huawei’s “Z” fold (left) supports two or three screen configurations, while Samsung’s “G” fold (right) solely permits full three-screen operation.
Furthermore, Huawei has recently filed patents for its tri-fold model in early 2024, presenting a formidable challenge for other entrants into this sector.
The necessity for elevated engineering expenditures, retarded product development cycles, and the specter of unintentional intellectual property infringements create an arduous pathway for new competitors.
Legal entanglements over patent infringements are common in the technological domain. Since 2011, Apple and Samsung have engaged in numerous lawsuits pertaining to design and utility patents, encompassing a range of topics including smartphones, touch gestures, and user interfaces.
Similarly, Samsung and Huawei navigated extensive patent litigation from 2016 to 2019, resulting in over 40 lawsuits in China and beyond until a resolution was eventually achieved.
By securing patents ahead of time, Samsung acquires a strategic advantage, compelling competitors to pursue alternative, often precarious avenues for innovation.
This positioning gives Samsung greater leverage over the evolution of the foldable smartphone sector and safeguards its technologically advanced stature.
The company is already looking beyond the current offering—recent reports suggest that Samsung filed a patent for a quad-fold phone this past April.
Samsung Secures Extended Leverage in the Foldable Phone Market
The specifications of the Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold reveal several noteworthy advantages.
Reports indicate that the TriFold features a substantially extendable display surpassing ten inches, allowing for tablet-esque multitasking and the accommodation of three full-screen applications concurrently.
This potential for enhanced productivity exceeds that of the existing dual-fold Galaxy Z Fold 7. It also incorporates an upgraded battery, charging capability, and processor in comparison to the Fold 7.
Conversely, detractors argue that the TriFold’s bulky design and lack of S Pen support fail to justify its elevated price. Moreover, concerns persist regarding potential display artifacts—specifically the “green lines” that may surface on Samsung’s foldable screens.
These subtle green streaks, which can manifest over time or following frequent folding, detrimentally impact display clarity and user experience.
Yet, the launch of the TriFold transcends mere specifications and revenue figures. It encapsulates a nuanced contest of market strategy and intellectual property mastery—Samsung is solidifying its multiyear advantage in a market projected to expand to US$60 billion by 2030.
While Huawei may have seized the limelight with its Mate XT, Samsung’s long-standing patent strategy is poised to afford it a distinct advantage in defining the future of the tri-fold market and stewarding essential technologies.
Source link: Vulcanpost.com.
