SEOUL, October 01 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics will seize the global stage of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in South Korea to unveil the world’s first tri-fold smartphone.
Tentatively named the Galaxy G Fold, the device features a 9.96-inch infolding display, up to 16 gigabytes of RAM, and as much as 1 terabyte of storage, according to market sources. It runs on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset and comes with a 200-megapixel main camera, alongside telephoto and ultrawide lenses.
The battery capacity is estimated at under 5,000 milliamp-hours—smaller than Huawei’s Mate XT launched in September with a 5,600 milliamp-hour cell—as Samsung opted for thinness over size. The phone supports “Split Trio” multitasking, enabling three apps to run simultaneously, and introduces a revamped cover screen mirroring function.
Initial shipment is expected at about 50,000 units, with a limited rollout in South Korea and China later this year. Pricing is likely to hover near $3,000, well above current foldables, though Samsung has yet to confirm final details.
The debut comes as Samsung’s chip and smartphone leadership faces mounting competition at home and abroad. By aligning its showcase with APEC—where U.S. and Chinese leaders will gather alongside tech executives from Nvidia and OpenAI—Samsung is blending its traditional Galaxy Unpacked strategy with high-level diplomacy.
Rivals are also stepping up in the foldables race. Huawei unveiled its second-generation Mate XT last month, while Motorola and Oppo have launched new models this year. Xiaomi is preparing another flip design for release later in 2025.
Market reaction so far has been mixed. Enthusiasts on Reddit praised multitasking upgrades but voiced concerns over battery life and the hefty price tag, noting foldables remain a niche compared with mainstream smartphones.
reporter
Candice Kim
candicekim1121@ajupress.com
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