Samsung Winds Down TriFold Sales, Apple Quietly Accelerates Its Foldable Plans

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TL; DR
  • Samsung halts TriFold sales after three months due to high production costs.
  • The TriFold was always a limited showcase, with no successor planned.
  • Apple raises foldable display orders by 33%, signalling confidence in its debut foldable.

According to a report from the Korean outlet Dong-A, Samsung is about to halt the domestic sales of the Galaxy Z TriFold on March 17, 2026. This is just three months after the company released the smartphone.

Per the report, Samsung has only been selling the device in surprisingly small quantities: 3,000 units on the launch day (December 12, 2026) and on the restock on December 17, 2025. Since then, its availability has been quite erratic, even on Samsung’s official Korean website. 

From what it sounds like, the company produces the double-folding smartphone in small quantities, only to showcase its foldable display technology. Now, the company is down to selling the remaining units in its home market and in the United States, where it was released even later. 

Also Read: Oppo Find X9 Ultra Leaked In All Its Glory: Check Detailed Specs Here

But Why Is Samsung Pulling The Plug On The TriFold?  

The obvious reasons behind this decision could be the exceptionally high production costs. The prices of core components — DRAM, NAND flash, and application processors — have risen significantly, making continued production of the TriFold unviable. 

Another key factor could be near-zero profitability (partly due to high component costs and partly due to higher technology costs). Whether it is to save the product’s image or true, reports also indicate that Samsung always intended to sell the product in limited quantities, only to establish its engineering superiority over other brands, and the phone did just that. 

Finally, Samsung hasn’t even planned a successor to the TriFold. Instead, the company seems to be shifting its focus toward the Galaxy Z Fold 8, the Galaxy Z Flip 8, and the relatively shorter Galaxy foldable that could feature a square-shaped screen when unfolded.

Also Read: Samsung Galaxy M17e 5G With 120Hz LCD, Dimensity 6300 Chipset, & 6,000 mAh Battery Launched

Meanwhile, Apple Is Quite Confident About Its First Foldable

I know there isn’t a direct competition between the Galaxy TriFold and Apple’s purported foldable, as they belong to entirely different categories. However, just to let you in on the biggest irony of the foldable market, Apple has reportedly increased its initial order of crease-less displays for its foldable. 

While Apple initially ordered around 15 million crease-less foldable displays from Samsung (for which the company set up a dedicated assembly line), the company has reportedly increased the order to 20 million units. While these are estimates, they still account for a 33% increase over the initial order volume.

What does this mean? Apple is quite confident about how well its first foldable will do, despite its rumored starting price being around $2,300. 

Also Read: Motorola Edge 70 Fusion Review: A Well-Rounded Upgrade That Gets the Basics Right

Now, I’m not saying that there’s a connection between these developments, especially since Apple’s first foldable will compete directly with the Galaxy Z Fold 8. Samsung’s decision to focus on the Fold 8 seems about right, especially since Apple’s entry into the market can take off a big chunk of Samsung’s foldable sales.

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Shikhar MehrotraShikhar Mehrotra
Shikhar Mehrotra is a seasoned technology writer and reviewer with over five years of experience covering consumer tech across India and global markets. At Smartprix, he has authored more than 1,700 articles, including news stories, features, comparisons, and product reviews spanning automobiles, smartphones, chipsets, wearables, laptops, home appliances, and operating systems. Shikhar has reviewed flagship devices such as the iPhone 16, Galaxy S25+, and Sennheiser HD 505 Open-Ear headphones. He also contributes regularly to Smartprix’s growing automotive section.

With a deep understanding of both iOS and Android ecosystems, Shikhar specializes in daily tech news, how-to explainers, product comparisons, and in-depth reviews. His DSLR photography in product reviews is recognized as among the best on the team.

Before joining Smartprix, Shikhar wrote for leading publications including Forbes Advisor India, Republic World, and ScreenRant. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication from Amity University, Lucknow.

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