Samsung's Tri-Fold Phone Leak: The Galaxy G Fold is Coming

Well, well, well—looks like Samsung couldn't keep its own secret. While the tech world has been buzzing about Huawei's triple-folding Mate XT, Samsung just accidentally gave us our first real look at their answer: what might be called the Galaxy G Fold. And honestly? The leak came from inside the house—literally baked into their own One UI 8 software.

What makes this leak particularly fascinating is that it reveals Samsung's engineering philosophy in real-time. These aren't marketing renders or carefully staged photos—these are the actual animations Samsung's engineers built to demonstrate how their tri-fold mechanism works.

What you need to know:

• Animation files discovered in One UI 8 reveal Samsung's tri-fold design with two inward-folding hinges
• The device features a G-shaped fold mechanism, different from Huawei's S-shaped approach
• Samsung's tri-fold could debut at Unpacked but won't ship until October
• Expected to cost over $2,941 with limited production of around 200,000 units

How Samsung's G-Fold actually works

The leaked animations show Samsung taking a fundamentally different approach than Huawei. Instead of the S-shaped fold that combines inward and outward folding, Samsung's going full G-fold with both hinges folding inward. Think of it like folding a letter into thirds—but way more sophisticated.

Here's where it gets interesting: the two hinges are different sizes, which helps the phone fold flat without damaging the screen. The smaller hinge needs to be folded first, and Samsung's even built in a warning animation telling users not to fold the camera side first.

This asymmetrical design isn't just clever—it's a manufacturing marvel. Creating two different-sized hinges that work in perfect harmony requires precision engineering that most manufacturers can't touch. The fact that Samsung is embedding folding sequence warnings directly into the OS shows they're thinking about durability from day one, not as an afterthought.

The setup includes three rear panels: a triple-camera setup on the left (similar to current Galaxy Fold models), a middle section with the cover display and selfie camera, and a right panel that appears to be just a back cover. When fully unfolded, you're looking at a massive 10-inch OLED display that Samsung claims will use their newest foldable screen technology.

What this means for the foldable market

Let's talk numbers for a second. The foldable market is having a rough year—growth dropped from 40% annually to just 5% in 2025. Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip 6 is selling 10% lower than the Z Flip 5, and even Huawei's tri-fold Mate XT isn't hitting expected numbers.

But here's the counterintuitive part: market stagnation might actually be creating Samsung's biggest opportunity. When growth slows, it's usually the innovators who find the next breakthrough. The current plateau isn't about lack of interest—it's about lack of compelling reasons to upgrade from working foldables.

Samsung and Huawei still command 70% market share, and this dominance is actually expected to increase as smaller players exit the market. The consolidation creates a perfect storm: fewer competitors, established manufacturing expertise, and consumers waiting for the next big leap forward.

The tri-fold space represents exactly that leap. While the overall foldable market is projected to reach $10 billion by 2028 with a CAGR exceeding 20%, tri-fold devices could capture the premium segment that drives profit margins. Samsung's timing with a limited 200,000-unit run makes strategic sense—they're positioning for the 30% growth expected in 2026, especially with Apple potentially entering the market.

The reality check: pricing and availability

Now for the part that'll make your wallet cry. Samsung's tri-fold is expected to cost over 4 million Korean won, which translates to around $2,941. That's significantly more than the Galaxy Z Fold 6's $1,899 starting price.

The device will likely be sold mainly in South Korea and China, with production starting in September but only 200,000 units initially. This isn't a mass-market play—it's Samsung's version of a concept car, designed to showcase engineering capabilities and test market appetite.

The 200,000-unit production run is particularly telling. It's large enough to generate meaningful revenue and user feedback, but small enough to avoid major losses if the market isn't ready. Compare this to Samsung's original Galaxy Fold launch strategy—they learned from that bumpy rollout and are applying those lessons to manage risk while maximizing learning.

The specs should be solid though. Expect camera hardware similar to the Galaxy Z Fold 7: a 200MP main camera, 12MP ultra-wide, 10MP 3x optical zoom, and 10MP front camera. It'll likely run on the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip with up to 16GB of RAM, though the battery might be smaller than rivals due to Samsung's focus on keeping it thin and light.

Where does Samsung go from here?

The tri-fold leak reveals Samsung's broader strategy: they're not just making foldables, they're establishing technological moats. The engineering complexity of making asymmetrical hinges work seamlessly creates barriers to entry that protect market position long-term.

This accidental leak—assuming it really was accidental—demonstrates Samsung's confidence in their approach. They're not worried about competitors copying their G-fold design because the manufacturing know-how can't be reverse-engineered overnight. The precision required for two different-sized hinges working in harmony represents years of R&D investment.

Samsung's internal codename 'Multifold 7' suggests this isn't a one-off experiment but part of a broader product roadmap. The naming convention implies they're thinking about tri-fold as a regular product category, not just a tech demo.

PRO TIP: If you're thinking about jumping on the tri-fold bandwagon, wait for the second generation. First-gen tri-folds are going to be expensive, limited, and probably a bit finicky. Let Samsung work out the kinks first—your wallet will thank you.

The real question isn't whether Samsung can make a tri-fold phone (they obviously can), but whether they can create compelling use cases that justify the premium pricing. Based on current foldable adoption patterns and the engineering complexity involved, Samsung's cautious approach with limited production makes perfect sense. They're building the future, one fold at a time.