Samsung Unveils Trifold Smartphone With Expanding Screen at CES

Samsung is pushing the boundaries of smartphone design with its newest foldable device, a trifold phone that looks more like something from a science fiction movie than a traditional handset.

The new Galaxy Z Trifold was unveiled to the press at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas and has already launched in limited quantities in South Korea. The phone folds in two places, similar to a brochure, allowing it to expand into a tablet-sized display while still fitting into a pocket when closed.

When fully opened, the device features a 10-inch screen, noticeably larger than Samsung’s current Galaxy Z Fold 7, which unfolds to eight inches. Samsung says the phone is designed with productivity in mind, targeting users who rely on their devices for work, multitasking, and content consumption.

The expanded display supports split-screen multitasking and desktop-style app windows that can be resized and moved around the screen. Paired with a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, the phone can function as a mini laptop alternative. Samsung also says Google’s Gemini assistant can analyze multiple apps on screen at once, helping users navigate tasks more efficiently.

Despite its futuristic appeal, the phone does come with trade-offs. While it feels impressively thin when opened, it becomes bulky when folded, resembling two stacked smartphones. Pricing has not yet been announced, but given that the Galaxy Z Fold 7 starts at around $2,000, the trifold model is expected to be even more expensive.

Samsung executives and industry analysts say the device may be less about mass adoption and more about testing how consumers respond to new form factors. Foldable phones still make up a small portion of the smartphone market, but nearly every major Android manufacturer now offers one, and Apple is expected to release its own foldable device later this year.

For Samsung, the trifold phone represents a bet that smartphones still have room to evolve beyond the familiar rectangular design.

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