What is a “tri-fold” cell phone? Discover the three-screen models that Samsung and Huawei are banking on for 2026

The kickoff came from the Chinese Huawei and the Korean Samsung, who gave the first signs of their new global strategy.

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With a three-screen model, the user can use different applications at the same time, side by side, in several windows, to view the most important information.

For example, an architect creating plans for a new home can use three applications simultaneously, review plans, write a proposal, and calculate measurements in a single workspace with multiple windows.

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Aimed at users who need to perform different tasks at the same time, the three-screen models are expected to keep up with the growth of dual-screen foldable cell phones, which are expected to grow about 13% annually through 2030, according to data from consultancy Grand View Research.

Foldables are cheaper

The first models were sold in Brazil for R$33,000, but today they can be found for R$25.5 thousand. This is the case of the Huawei model, called Mate XT Ultimate Design, sales of which on certain websites began in June.

The screen folds into three parts, reaching up to 10.2 inches, a size comparable to tablets. Thus, with a single screen, the device reaches 6.4 inches (the iPhone 17 Pro has a 6.3 inch screen) and 7.9 inches in dual screen mode.

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With this launch, the company has also invested in design, one of the main trends among manufacturers throughout this year. When opened, the device is 3.6 millimeters thick. For comparison, Apple’s iPhone Air, launched in October, as the thinnest on the market among traditional smartphones, measures 5.6 millimeters.

To boost sales, Huawei has added to its new smartphone the features present in its premium range, with 3K resolution and brightness of up to 1,800 nits. The higher the number of nits, the sharper the sharpness in extreme brightness environments.

Additionally, the Chinese model has a 50 MP main camera. There is also a 12 MP telephoto lens, a 12 MP ultra-wide lens and an 8 MP front camera.

Huawei has attempted to increase sales by investing in major e-commerce sites, such as Amazon, Shopee, Mercado Livre, Fast Shop, Casas Bahia and TikTok Shop, in addition to its own website.

Huawei’s strategy runs parallel to Samsung’s investments in the new segment. Currently, the company is the leader in the foldable market with the Z Fold and Z Flip models.

This month, the Korean company presented the Galaxy Z TriFold. Fully open, the model is 3.9 millimeters thick and equivalent to three 6.5-inch screens. So the fully opened screen reaches around 10 inches.

Partnership with Google and Qualcomm

The screen has a brightness of up to 2,600 nits on the external panel and 1,600 nits on the main screen, ensuring greater clarity and visibility. Another strong point is the refresh rate of 120 hertz, which provides greater fluidity to images, especially for games.

The new model features Qualcomm’s most modern processor focused on artificial intelligence, the Snapdragon 8 Elite mobile platform for Galaxy. The main camera has a resolution of 200 MP. There is also a 10 MP telephoto lens, a 12 MP ultra-wide lens, and a 10 MP selfie camera.

According to Samsung, it is possible to add a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard, creating a portable workstation. The company also partnered with Google to develop a special version of Gemini Live, which enables various AI functions, such as asking contextual questions and getting answers without the need to switch between apps.

Without a specific date of arrival in Brazil, the new smartphone is on sale in South Korea for around $2,500. In the United States, the estimated price ranges between US$2,500 and US$3,000.