Samsung is expected to unveil its new Fold and Flip 7 models at next week’s Unpacked, but there could well be something more remarkable waiting in the wings. There’s talk of a new Samsung tri-fold smartphone coming up, and the folks at Android Authority have located references and images of it in the latest OneUI 8 build.
That Samsung is making one is almost a given. Huawei recently released its Mate XT tri-fold smartphone in a few new markets, including South Africa, and the South Korean company isn’t one to let an affront like that stand. The files located in the latest OneUI 8 update only seem to confirm this.
Into the tri-fold
It’s thought that the unannounced handset will be called the Galaxy G Fold, the device being named for the way the two exterior faces fold inward. Huawei’s Mate XT folds in an S-shape, while Samsung appears to be taking a different tack for this one.
The apparent foldable will, if the images found inside One UI 8 prove accurate (they should), consist of a double-folding screen in front, with three rear panels. The two on the sides appear to be metal-backed, one hosting Samsung’s rear camera array as usual. The centre panel will be the outer screen, with a hole-punch camera visible in extracted imagery.
Little else about the tri-folding smartphone is known, and almost nothing official. Current speculation is that it will make an appearance at this week’s Unpacked. Samsung is expected to debut its newest foldables at the event, but something like this tri-fold device would be an authentic surprise. It’s just as possible that it’ll be mentioned in passing or not mentioned at all in favour of a later reveal. Only Samsung knows for sure, and they’ll only put us out of our misery (one way or another) on Wednesday evening.
