Samsung’s Moves Bold and Unveils Galaxy Z TriFold Following Pressure from Competitors

A slate of others, including brands like Oppo, Vivo and Motorola, are pushing innovations, lighter foldable structures, more flexible form factors, and competitive pricing to widen the foldable phone appeal.

What does this competition mean?

Foldable phones aren’t just “phones or tablets” anymore. Some prioritize portability, others maximize screen space (fold-out), and now some aim for productivity (multi-fold/tablet hybrid). This variety helps consumers match device design to their needs.

As more manufacturers enter the foldable race and diversify offerings, competition could push prices down, eventually making foldables more accessible to mid-range buyers, not just high-end early adopters.

Innovation vs. practicality. While large screens and flexible displays are attractive, issues like hinge durability, thickness, weight, battery life and long-term reliability remain concerns. Buyers must weigh novelty against functional needs.

Foldables push software and hardware developers to optimize for varied form factors, multitasking, adaptive UI, app compatibility, and device durability. If the ecosystem grows fast, foldables could shift from niche to mainstream.

On the competition front, Chinese firms appear to be stepping up. Industry data cited by multiple sources indicate that several Chinese brands now represent a large, and growing, share of global foldable-smartphone shipments, challenging Samsung’s previously dominant position.

For instance, research from Counterpoint Research shows that while foldables remain a small slice of total smartphone sales, Chinese brands, including Huawei, Honor, Xiaomi, and others, have taken advantage of slimmer, cheaper foldables to erode Samsung’s market lead.

With the TriFold, Samsung bet big, it’s offering perhaps the most flexible form factor yet, nearly tablet-size screen with foldable portability. For power users, creatives, mobile professionals, multitaskers, the device could deliver unmatched utility.

Production costs are higher, potential mechanical wear is real, and the price may remain a barrier. For many, a standard smartphone, or a simpler foldable, may offer better value. Meanwhile, rivals targeting affordability or niche needs may capture larger market segments.

TriFold may inspire, but widespread foldable adoption will depend on price, durability, choice, and utility, not just novelty.