It seems clear we’re still a year away from the first iPhone Fold, but the rest of the market isn’t standing still. Samsung is planning to launch its first trifold phone this year, and Huawei is already onto its second-generation model.
On a pedantic note, I would argue that as they have two sets of hinges, they are bifold rather than trifold, but the industry seems to have adopted the latter term, so I guess we’re stuck with it now …
Huawei was first off the block with the Mate XT, shown above, describing it as offering “a groundbreaking triple foldable display.”
The dual-fold mechanism gives a choice of three different screen sizes:
Single screen: 6.4 inches
Dual screen: 7.9 inches
Triple screen: 10.2 inches
The company’s translation from Chinese to English can sometimes be a little odd, but here’s what it has to say about each use:
Single screen, for precise control and effortless navigation
Dual screen, for a new level of productivity and efficiency
Triple screen, to give full play to whatever’s on hand
Given that the device only went on sale in China and cost the equivalent of almost $4,000, it doesn’t seem overly relevant in the market. However, the company was apparently sufficiently pleased with sales that it is about to launch a second generation, which it says will be available in more countries – though still not including the US or Europe.
The Verge’s Dominic Preston tried one as his daily driver, and was sold on the form-factor.
While the Mate XT may be the first trifold, I’m confident it won’t be the last. And this hardware, with Google and 5G, for two-thirds the price, and a generation or two of durability improvements? You should buy that phone.
Samsung is also getting in on the action with its own version expected to launch internationally, perhaps as early as the end of this month.
Newsworks, expects an Unpacked on September 29th to reveal Samsung’s upcoming Project Moohan XR headset, and leaker Ice Universe claims we’ll see the trifold there too.
Pricing is unknown, but it is similarly expected to be an extremely expensive niche product. The question for Apple is whether the format will have seen greater adoption, with more accessible pricing, by the time the iPhone Fold is launched.
The upcoming thing in foldable phones or a passing fad? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
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Photo: Huawei