Samsung might expand its foldable portfolio to 6 (!) models next year, according to the story my colleague and friend Alan reported yesterday. If true, this is going to be one of the biggest shakeups in the foldable scene, and could potentially supercharge the adoption of this still-niche form factor.
Samsung tipped to launch six Galaxy Z devices next year
Are we really getting six Galaxy Z phones next year? | Image by X
The original report came from tipster @TheGalox_. They boldly posted on X the expected Galaxy Z lineup for next year with the comment: "The 2027 Galaxy Z lineup will be the biggest foldable lineup ever, with battery, thickness & weight improvements across the board."
Allegedly, the Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold 2 will be the first device to kick off this foldable push. Looking at the list above, the Galaxy Z Slide is the one that I feel most excited about. Ever since LG showed its rollable concept during CES 2021, I've been waiting for the technology to catch up and other brands to pick up on the idea.
Samsung Galaxy Z Slide
Samsung Galaxy Z Slide patent images from 2021. | Image by LetsGoDigital
The first information about the Galaxy Z Slide can be traced back to 2021, when our friends at LetsGoDigital unearthed a patent describing a rollable phone.
The patent in question shows a regular tall and narrow phone, similar to the Galaxy S26 Ultra, but the screen wraps around the edge and continues on the back of the device.
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When the sliding mechanism is engaged, the screen stretches and pulls the back part to the front.
2021 was the year of the rollable, as not only did LG show its prototype, but Oppo brought its own rollable Oppo X phone to the CES show. The company initially showed the prototype a year earlier during OPPO Inno Day in November 2020.
Now, six years later, the smartphone market is obviously ready to embrace this new form factor.
Which Galaxy Z phone would you like to see the most next year?
27 Votes
The Galaxy Z TriFold 2 and Samsung not giving up
The Galaxy Z TriFold is sold out, but a successor might be right around the corner. | Image by Samsung
The first tri-folding Galaxy phone was sort of a reaction to the X-factor of the Huawei Mate XT. The Chinese company beat everyone to the punch and launched the first mass-produced tri-folding phone back in 2024.
The Galaxy TriFold was a "limited run" device, according to Samsung, and it's now completely sold out. I'm not going to delve deeper into whether Samsung pulled the plug on the idea early or if it was a limited-run phone in the first place.
What's more important here is that the company hasn't given up, if the rumor is true. And this is huge for foldables and the tri-folding form factor in particular.
Samsung is hopping on the 'Pro' train with the Galaxy S27 series, and potentially the Galaxy Z Fold 9. | Image by TheGalox_
Among the four other models listed in the leak, only the Galaxy Z Fold 9 Pro raises some eyebrows, but it's not a huge surprise given Samsung already decided to expand the Galaxy S lineup with a Pro model.
The Galaxy Z Fold 9, Z Fold 9 Ultra, and Z Flip 9 are the usual suspects we were expecting anyway, so they're not that exciting.
But doubling the foldable portfolio is a huge leap of faith for Samsung, especially in these difficult times. With ongoing chip shortages and price hikes, the new models will most likely cross the $2,000 mark, price-wise.
We know that Apple has committed to the iPhone Duo, as the company signed a multi-year contract with Samsung for foldable display panels, so we may finally enter the era of the foldable phone. But at what cost?
Phones are getting more and more expensive. What about affordable foldables?
The timing is not perfect for this market expansion. We all expected prices of foldables to start creeping down once adoption hit a certain point, but AI kind of ruined that party.
Samsung had to slash the production of Galaxy phones to mitigate potential losses and save its revenue this year, and launching three new foldable models next year might not be the best move from a financial standpoint.
On the other hand, I'm really excited as a tech reviewer and phone nerd, and whatever happens, my fingers are crossed hoping to at least see these three new Galaxy Z models, even as limited-run devices. Which one would you like to see the most?
Read more about new and exciting smartphone form factors here:
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Mariyan, a tech enthusiast with a background in Nuclear Physics and Journalism, brings a unique perspective to PhoneArena. His childhood curiosity for gadgets evolved into a professional passion for technology, leading him to the role of Editor-in-Chief at PCWorld Bulgaria before joining PhoneArena. Mariyan's interests range from mainstream Android and iPhone debates to fringe technologies like graphene batteries and nanotechnology. Off-duty, he enjoys playing his electric guitar, practicing Japanese, and revisiting his love for video games and Haruki Murakami's works.
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