Samsung’s first Galaxy Z TriFold turned a regular-looking phone into a 10-inch tablet using two hinges. Now, its next big-screen experiment may achieve a similar transformation by simply stretching sideways. A new leak claims Samsung’s rumored Galaxy Z TriFold 2 has slipped past its original release schedule because of unspecified cost-related problems.
But the same source has revealed that a long-rumored slidable Galaxy phone might make an introduction ahead of the delayed trifold sequel.
Samsung’s stranger phone may cut in line
Korean leaker Lanzuk, also known as yeux1122, says Samsung remains committed to redesigning the Galaxy Z TriFold’s hinge. The new mechanism would reportedly produce a slimmer, lighter phone with more consistent thickness across its three sections. Those changes address the original TriFold’s most obvious compromises. Samsung’s first model measures 12.9mm when closed and weighs 309 grams, despite each unfolded section being remarkably thin. It launched in the US for $2,899 and later sold out following a short, limited production run.
For this hefty price tag, you get a genuinely useful 10-inch, 4:3 display. During our hands-on experience, its wider aspect ratio proved better suited to videos than the squarer screens found inside conventional book-style foldables. The TriFold still demands enormous pockets and an equally generous budget. Samsung’s sliding phone could provide another route to that extra screen space. Rather than opening around one or two hinges, a flexible OLED panel would extend outward from inside the body. In theory, that could let users expand the display whenever they need a larger screen real estate for videos, games, reading, or multitasking, then retract it into a more conventional phone afterwards.
“Arriving first” does not mean arriving soon
Samsung Display has demonstrated rollable and sliding OLED concepts for years, including the Flex Hybrid and Rollable Flex. Samsung has also explored numerous patents and prototypes based on screens that extend from a standard smartphone frame. Though none of these has reached consumers yet, and the latest leak provides no release date either.
Samsung’s first commercial slidable phone is rumored to arrive during the first half of 2028. The TriFold 2 arriving even later, therefore, means a substantial delay for both products. Still, this is just an unconfirmed report at the moment, so you’ll have to take this news with some skepticisim.