GYEONGJU – On the eve of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit in South Korea’s historic city of Gyeongju, attention turned not to the main conference venue, but to a nearby exhibition hall where Korea’s biggest companies showcased their latest innovations.
From early morning on Tuesday, reporters bypassed the APEC stage at Gyeongju Arts Center and made their way instead to the Expo Grand Park, 11 km away, the venue of the K-Tech Showcase, an exhibition highlighting the cutting edge of the Korean tech industry, featuring Samsung Electronics Co., Hyundai Motor Co., SK Group and LG Electronics Inc.
Samsung stole the spotlight by unveiling the real-size model of its first tri-folding smartphone, a device that folds twice to transform from a bar-shaped phone into a 10-inch tablet-like screen.
The “Galaxy Z Trifold,” as it is expected to be called, marks the company’s most ambitious leap yet in the foldable device category.
IN-FOLDING MECHANISM
Though the handset was displayed behind a transparent case, visitors could glimpse key design elements.
The tri-fold features a dual in-folding mechanism, folding inward from both sides.
When unfolded, it appeared about 4.2 millimeters thick, similar to Samsung’s latest Galaxy Z Fold7, and about 1.2 centimeters to 1.5 centimeters when folded shut.
While Samsung did not disclose official specifications, observers estimated the unfolded screen at around 10 inches.
Notably, the visible crease lines that have long plagued foldable displays were “barely noticeable,” according to visitors.
Sources said each of the three display panels contains a separate battery module, extending overall battery life significantly.
IN DIRECT COMPETITION WITH HUAWEI’S MATE XT
The unveiling positions Samsung in direct competition with Huawei, which launched its “Mate XT” tri-fold smartphone last year, the first of its kind globally, but suffered setbacks due to durability issues and screen damage in early models.
Samsung, by contrast, has spent the past year refining its foldable technology, starting with the ultra-slim Galaxy Z Fold7 released in July.
Analysts expect the company to begin commercial production of the tri-fold device as early as next month, extending its dominance in the premium foldable market.
Analysts said the launch at the APEC sidelines was widely seen as a strategic move, underscoring Korea’s technological prowess as global business leaders gather for the summit. It also signals Samsung’s intent to set the next frontier in mobile innovation, they said.
INITIALLY TO BE LAUNCHED IN KOREA, CHINA
Industry sources estimate Samsung’s first tri-folding smartphone will likely be priced at about 4 million won ($2,783), reflecting the phone’s complex hinge mechanism and multi-panel OLED design – nearly double the price of Samsung’s latest Galaxy Z Fold 7, which starts at 2.38 million won for the 256GB model.
Samsung is expected to release the device initially in Korea and China before considering broader global availability.
Analysts said Samsung’s tri-fold smartphone launch is less about short-term sales than about demonstrating its engineering prowess amid intensifying competition with Chinese rivals in foldable displays.
Initial production is expected to be limited to 50,000 to 100,000 units as Samsung gauges market demand, sources said.
“Samsung is using this launch to reaffirm its dominance in advanced display technologies and to show that Korean innovation still leads the global foldable race,” said an industry analyst in Seoul.
