Samsung Tri-Fold phone is real and the S-Pen may finally return to the Galaxy Fold

Samsung is preparing for a big leap in its foldable lineup. According to new reports, the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 8 could debut with breakthrough technology that delivers improvements across the board. At the same time, Samsung has given the world its first look at the Galaxy Z TriFold during the APEC Summit.

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Galaxy Z Fold 8 To Utilize New Display Technology For Thinner Panel

According to the Korean publication DealSite, Samsung will use “laser-drilling metal plate technology,” which will reportedly minimize the crease on the foldable screen. Beyond that, the new screen manufacturing technology should also bring back support for the S-Pen stylus (which is missing on the Galaxy Z Fold 7 (review)).

For those catching up, Samsung’s latest-generation foldable didn’t include S-Pen support to achieve a thinner side profile (4.2mm when unfolded). You see, to recognize stylus inputs and air gestures, the screen must include an additional digitizer layer beneath the display.

The Thinner Panel Could Make Space For A Digitizer Layer And A Larger Battery

This is the same technology found on the Galaxy S24 Ultra (review) and previous Fold models with S-Pen compatibility. However, the additional layer adds both thickness and weight, which goes against the Fold 7’s design goal of being noticeably slimmer and lighter.

However, according to the report, the new technology could help reduce the overall weight and thickness of the screen, including the required digitizer layer, while still achieving a thickness similar to the Fold 7 (perhaps with air gestures). The company might have realized that pulling the plug on the S-Pen could remove one of its most significant differentiators.

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Remember: Apple Is Gearing Up To Release Its First Foldable In 2026

The timing couldn’t be better, as the Cupertino-based tech giant Apple is expected to enter the foldable market in 2026 with its first book-style foldable, taking on models like the Galaxy Z Fold, Google Pixel Pro Fold, and the OnePlus Open. Apple is reportedly taking its time to perfect the foldable display and make it creaseless. Further, the foldable will debut with the company’s first 2nm chipset.

The space freed by advanced display technology might be used to accommodate a larger battery. Per the report, the Fold 8 could feature a 5,000 mAh battery, which is much larger than the 4,400 mAh cell in the current-generation foldable (and similar to the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s battery). With the more efficient Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, a larger battery could deliver a dramatic improvement in battery life.

Samsung’s First TriFold Showcased At APEC Summit

Meanwhile, Samsung has also showcased the Galaxy Z TriFold at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit held on Tuesday. Per the pictures shared by The Chosun Daily, the handset has dual inward-folding hinges, allowing it to fold in two sections. Moreover, the phone has three side-by-side screens and takes up the space of a regular smartphone when folded up (similar to the Huawei Mate XT Ultimate).

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According to reports, the phone will feature a titanium frame, have a 6.54-inch cover screen, and a 9.96-inch triple-folding inner screen. On the hardware front, the phone could feature the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, 16GB of RAM, and a 200MP primary camera with 100x zoom. Despite featuring excellent engineering, the Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold might not be available in all markets (including India).

More details about the foldable should surface in the coming days.

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