Most of the mobile phone players are showing their cards right now, and many are folding -- on purpose. Tecno is the latest phone-maker to show off a new foldable phone, but this one bends in a different way than some others: a three-screen tri-fold concept.
The Phantom Ultimate G Fold Concept follows in Tecno's tradition of showcasing its mobile design prowess. This one looks like a reworking of the Phantom Ultimate 2 the company previewed in August 2024 (and which has not shipped). As a tri-fold phone, Tecno's phone joins Huawei's Mate XT Ultimate, which is available now outside the US, and a rumored Samsung Galaxy G Fold that execs have hinted is coming later this year. (Meanwhile, at least one prominent phone-maker is sitting out the foldable game, but maybe not for long.)
The Phantom Ultimate G Fold Concept, folded. Tecno
Unlike the Mate XT Ultimate, which unfolds in a Z-pattern like an accordion, the three panels of the Phantom Ultimate G Fold Concept fold in on each other (hence the "G" moniker when you look at the phone from the bottom).
But just engineering a foldable phone isn't enough these days -- it has to be slim. And in this respect, Tecno is trying to thin the field. The Phantom Ultimate G Fold measures 3.49mm thick when unfolded, exposing a 9.49-inch display with "minimal creasing," according to Tecno. By contrast, the Huawei Mate XT Ultimate is 3.6mm at its thinnest point, and Samsung's latest two-panel Galaxy Z Fold 7 is 4.2mm thick when unfolded.
The top-down view of the Phantom Ultimate G Fold Concept shows just how thin it is when unfolded. Tecno
When folded, Tecno's device measures 11.49mm, making it thinner than the Huawei's at 12.88mm but still chunky compared to non-folding phones like the iPhone 16 Pro (8.25mm) or the single-fold Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 (8.9mm). But that's a trade-off to be expected.
Thinness by itself is impressive, but as we've learned, it needs to be backed up by stability. Tecno says the Phantom Ultimate G Fold includes a custom-engineered dual-hinge system that incorporates a waterdrop hinge anchoring the panel to the right to fold first, and a larger primary hinge holding the left panel. Thanks to a dual-cam design, that large hinge can be set in a partially folded configuration, presumably propping it up to do things like watch content or take video calls.
The two hinges of the Phantom Ultimate G Fold can be seen when looking at it from the top in its folded state. Tecno
Other specs for the Phantom Ultimate G Fold are currently scarce, other than it will include an "over 5,000-mAh" battery. That's pretty good for most phones, but it's unclear how much power will be siphoned by that big 9.49-inch display in regular use. When looking at the Mate XT Ultimate last year, CNET's Sareena Dayaram felt that its 5,600-mAh battery could be an issue due to the large inner screen.
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