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| The Galaxy Z TriFold adopts a different form factor than Huawei's trifoldable smartphones. |
Breaking from Tradition: In a strategic pivot, Samsung has chosen China—not South Korea—as the first market to open pre-orders for its most ambitious foldable phone yet.
This week, Samsung made a decisive and unexpected move in the high-stakes foldable phone market. While the tech world expected the Galaxy Z TriFold to debut first in South Korea on December 12, the company has instead opened pre-orders for the device in China starting December 9. This shift highlights China's crucial role as a competitive battleground for cutting-edge mobile technology, where Samsung will go head-to-head with domestic rival Huawei and its Mate XT series.
Priced starting at CNY 19,999 (approximately $2,830), the TriFold represents Samsung's most expensive and advanced foldable to date, offering a unique triple-screen design that transforms from a smartphone into a 10-inch tablet. This article breaks down the device's groundbreaking features, its competitive positioning, and what this launch strategy reveals about Samsung's global ambitions.
A Bold Entry into the Tri-Fold Arena
Samsung's Galaxy Z TriFold isn't just another phone; it's a statement. As the company's first smartphone with a dual-hinge, tri-folding display, it pushes the boundaries of mobile form factors. When fully opened, it reveals a massive 10-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display—the largest screen ever on a Galaxy phone. Folded, it offers a familiar 6.5-inch cover screen experience, maintaining pocketable portability at a thickness of 12.9 mm and a weight of 309 grams.
To achieve this feat of engineering, Samsung developed an entirely new hinge system. The Armor FlexHinge utilizes two differently sized hinges with a dual-rail structure, working in harmony to create a smooth and stable folding mechanism. The hinges are housed in titanium for strength, while the frame is built from what Samsung calls Advanced Armor Aluminum. The device even features an intelligent alarm system that uses on-screen alerts and vibrations to warn users if they begin folding the phone incorrectly.
For consumers in China ready to experience this new technology, Samsung has opened official pre-orders on its regional website: Samsung China - Galaxy Z TriFold.
China First: A Calculated Competitive Gambit
Samsung's decision to prioritize China is a clear competitive tactic. China is one of the few markets where tri-fold smartphones already exist, primarily due to Huawei's Mate XT and Mate XTs, which launched earlier this year. By entering this arena directly, Samsung is choosing to compete on its rival's home turf from day one.
The pricing strategy is particularly revealing. The Galaxy Z TriFold starts at CNY 19,999 for the 16GB+512GB model and goes up to CNY 21,999 for the 16GB+1TB variant. This positions it as a premium offering above Huawei's Mate XTs, which starts at a slightly lower CNY 17,999. The Chinese tech community has been actively discussing this launch, with conversations and updates proliferating on social media platforms like Weibo. You can see the buzz for yourself here: Galaxy Z TriFold discussion on Weibo.
Analysts note that China will be "a very tough market for the device," but Samsung's pre-emptive move shows its commitment to establishing a foothold in the tri-fold segment where early adopters are already engaged.
More Than a Phone: A Pocket-Sized Powerhouse
Beyond its folding screen, the Galaxy Z TriFold is packed with flagship specifications designed for productivity and creativity.
- Performance & AI: At its core is the customized Snapdragon 8 Elite Mobile Platform, paired with 16GB of RAM. It runs Android 16 with Samsung's One UI 8, which is heavily optimized for the large screen. The integration of Galaxy AI and Gemini Live provides multimodal assistance, capable of understanding context from the screen, camera, or voice for real-time help.
- Productivity Redefined: The 10-inch canvas revolutionizes multitasking. Users can run three full apps side-by-side seamlessly or leverage Samsung DeX to create a desktop-like environment with up to four workspaces. This transforms the device into a legitimate portable workstation.
- Camera & Battery: The triple-camera system is headlined by a 200MP main sensor, promising exceptional detail. Powering the large display is a substantial 5,600 mAh battery—Samsung's largest ever in a foldable—which supports 45W wired fast charging.
Global Rollout and Market Expectations
Following the China pre-order launch, the Galaxy Z TriFold will become available in South Korea on its originally announced date of December 12. After that, it will see a sequential rollout in other key markets including Taiwan, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates.
Notably, the United States is slated to receive the device in the first quarter of 2026, though an exact date has not been set. Interestingly, major markets like those in Europe and the United Kingdom are absent from the initial release calendar, indicating a highly selective and phased global launch strategy.
For context on how Samsung's premium foldable pricing compares in other markets, you can see the current price of the Galaxy Z Fold7 here: Galaxy Z Fold7 on Amazon.
The Bottom Line: A Premium Bet on the Future
The Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold is more than a new product; it's a bold experiment in form factor and market strategy. By launching first in the competitive Chinese market, Samsung is directly challenging Huawei and signaling that it will not cede ground in the next phase of the foldable revolution.
With its premium price tag—starting around $700 more than a comparable Galaxy Z Fold7—it is squarely targeted at early adopters, tech professionals, and productivity power users who need a single device that can function as a phone, tablet, and laptop. Its success will depend not only on its impressive engineering but also on how well consumers and app developers embrace its unique three-panel canvas.
As TM Roh, President and Head of Samsung's DX Division, stated, the TriFold aims to solve "one of the mobile industry’s longest-standing challenges — delivering the perfect balance between portability, premium performance, and productivity all in one device". Only time will tell if this ambitious trifold is the shape of what's next for the entire smartphone industry.
