Rumours of a limited tri-fold release indicate Samsung has little confidence in the foldable smartphone market

The Huawei Mate XT remains the only mass-produced tri-fold, despite being released in China over nine months ago. Instead, the closest we have gotten to alternatives is concepts showcased by the likes of Oppo and Tecno. However, an increasing volume of rumours that Samsung will be responding later this year with a device currently dubbed the 'Galaxy G Fold'.

Officially, Samsung has not commented on releasing such a device. With that being said, it appeared to tease plans for a tri-fold or 'multi-foldable' in January after it first unveiled the Galaxy S25 Edge (curr. $1,099.99 on Amazon). Nonetheless, Samsung's display subsidiary may have already shown the panel that will underpin the Galaxy G Fold, which it showcased alongside the Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition at MWC 2025 in March.

Unfortunately, recent rumours suggest that the Galaxy G Fold will go the way of the Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition when it launches this autumn. For context, the Galaxy G Fold has always been thought of as a limited-quantity device. As we have discussed separately, the 200,000 or 300,000 units that Samsung is expected to create may be restricted to China and South Korea.

If the Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition is anything to go by, Samsung may use the Galaxy G Fold as the basis for a future global device. Regardless, Samsung leaving the tri-fold market open to Huawei outside of Asia feels like a missed opportunity, especially from the company that pioneered the foldable market less than a decade ago. Ultimately, holding back its most innovative foldables for just China and South Korea indicates that Samsung has little faith in the longevity of the foldable market in view of declining sales in recent years.