Samsung has always positioned itself as the leader in foldable technology, pushing boundaries with the Samsung Galaxy G Fold and Flip series. But with the rumored Galaxy G Fold, also referred to as the Z Tri-Fold, the company is venturing into entirely new territory. Leaks, official teasers, and reports suggest this is Samsung’s most ambitious project yet—a smartphone that folds twice to expand into a 10.1-inch tablet. On the surface, this sounds revolutionary. But when you dig deeper, the Samsung Galaxy G Fold might be more of an experimental showcase than a truly practical device ready for mass adoption. This information is also featured on 9to9trends’ YouTube channel, so be sure to check it out.
The Promise of a True Tri-Fold
The biggest selling point of the Samsung Galaxy G Fold is its unique form factor. Instead of the dual-fold approach we’ve seen on the Z Fold series, this model opens up into a tablet-sized display. Leaks confirm a 10.1-inch panel, which means users can carry a compact 6.5-inch phone in their pocket and unfold it into a full-blown tablet. This sounds futuristic and finally solves one of the biggest complaints with earlier foldables: aspect ratio.
On current Z Fold devices, watching videos often means staring at oversized black bars because of the unconventional display layout. The G Fold promises a more natural, tablet-like ratio, significantly improving the viewing experience. While black bars won’t disappear completely, they’ll be less intrusive, giving users a display that feels closer to an actual tablet rather than a compromised hybrid.
Multitasking: Real Progress or Playing Catch-Up?
One of the most hyped features of the Samsung Galaxy G Fold is Samsung’s reworked multitasking system. On existing Z Fold models, you can technically open three apps at once, but the reality is far from practical. Two of the apps end up squeezed into just 25% of the display each, making them virtually unusable. That’s why most users never even bother with the feature.
The Samsung Galaxy G Fold addresses this limitation through a feature called “Split Trio,” allowing three apps to run side by side either vertically or horizontally. Thanks to the larger display, each app finally gets enough room to function properly. Samsung’s UI tweaks make this setup look more polished and usable, turning the Samsung Galaxy G Fold into a potentially powerful productivity tool. But while this is progress, it’s worth asking why it took Samsung until a tri-fold device to make multitasking genuinely functional. This feels less like groundbreaking innovation and more like the company catching up on shortcomings that should have been solved years ago.
Software and Layout Flexibility
Another new addition is the ability to mirror up to three home screen pages from the cover display onto the main unfolded screen. By comparison, the Z Fold 7 only allows two mirrored pages. While that sounds like an upgrade, the difference is minimal—one extra mirrored page is hardly game-changing. This once again highlights how much Samsung is relying on the novelty of the tri-fold design rather than delivering radical software improvements.
Hardware: Familiar Cameras, Heavy Design
Despite the futuristic folding mechanism, the hardware story of the Samsung Galaxy G Fold feels underwhelming. According to One UI leaks, the device will be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, not the upcoming Elite Gen 5. For a product expected to cost around $3,000, skipping the absolute latest chipset is disappointing. Camera hardware is expected to remain unchanged from the Galaxy Z Fold 7.
That means no new sensors or improved optics—just recycled hardware on a device that’s supposed to represent the next step in foldables. It’s difficult to justify a massive price jump when the cameras remain stagnant. Weight is another point of contention. Leaks suggest the Samsung Galaxy G Fold could weigh around 296 grams. While this isn’t outrageous for a tri-fold, it is significantly heavier than the Z Fold 7’s 215 grams. Carrying nearly 300 grams in your pocket pushes the boundary of what most users consider comfortable.
No S Pen Support: A Major Missed Opportunity
For many users, the promise of a 10-inch foldable display naturally raises one expectation: S Pen support. A screen this size screams productivity, creativity, and note-taking. However, Samsung appears to have abandoned the idea altogether. Adding S Pen support would require a digitizer layer across all three panels, which adds roughly 2mm of extra thickness—an engineering hurdle Samsung isn’t willing to tackle yet. This is particularly disappointing because Samsung has marketed its Fold series as productivity devices. Without stylus support, the G Fold risks being viewed more as a tech demo than a genuine laptop or tablet replacement.
Flagship Basics and Limitations
On the positive side, Samsung has confirmed through official videos that the Samsung Galaxy G Fold will support wireless charging, reverse wireless charging, and NFC. These are standard flagship features, but it’s good to see Samsung including them on such a complex form factor. However, there’s a catch: the phone must be folded shut for wireless charging to work. While this limitation makes sense from an engineering perspective, it underscores how the folding design introduces compromises.
Market Availability: Limited Reach, Limited Confidence
Availability is another uncertain area. Early reports suggested that the Galaxy G Fold would only launch in South Korea and China. More recent reporting from CNN Business indicates Samsung is still evaluating whether to release it in additional markets, including the US. This indecision hints at limited confidence in the device’s mainstream appeal. Given its price and niche functionality, a restricted rollout seems far more likely than a global release.
Samsung Galaxy G Fold Price Problem
Pricing is perhaps the biggest red flag. Analysts and leaks suggest the Samsung Galaxy G Fold will cost around $3,000 at launch. Being a first-generation product with limited production, early adopters are expected to shoulder the premium. Over time, prices could fall closer to $2,500, but that’s still significantly higher than the already expensive Z Fold series.
When you combine the recycled camera hardware, lack of S Pen support, and reliance on a single unique feature—the tri-fold display—it’s difficult to see how Samsung justifies this cost. Unless you are a tech enthusiast eager to be part of the first wave, the Samsung Galaxy G Fold feels more like a luxury experiment than a device ready for widespread adoption.
Delayed Launch Timeline
Originally rumored for a September 28th launch, the Samsung Galaxy G Fold debut has now been pushed back. ETNews, a reliable Korean source, reports the new window is in October or November. Importantly, the device won’t share the spotlight with Samsung’s Project Moohan headset, which is set to launch on October 21st. Instead, it will receive a separate unveiling, signaling Samsung’s intent to give the tri-fold its own dedicated stage.
Final Thoughts
Samsung deserves credit for pushing boundaries with the Galaxy G Fold, but the execution raises serious questions. From outdated processors and recycled cameras to a missing S Pen and a staggering $3,000 price tag, this device risks becoming a niche experiment rather than a mainstream breakthrough. Limited market availability and delays only add to the uncertainty.
Yes, the 10.1-inch tri-fold design and improved multitasking software are intriguing. But at the end of the day, the G Fold feels like a flashy prototype dressed up for retail. Unless Samsung addresses the fundamental issues, this could be remembered as one of the company’s boldest yet least practical devices. With a release window now expected between October and November 2025, the real question isn’t whether Samsung can build it—but whether anyone outside tech enthusiasts will buy it.
