Samsung Patent Teases the Company's Work on a Possible Triple-Folding Phone

Triple-folding phones have long been a concept, but they may be increasingly moving towards reality. TCL demoed a prototype of the multiple folding phone/tablet hybrid years ago, and Huawei just recently released its first such device in September with the China-only $2,800 Mate XT Ultimate Design. 

Now we have our latest update hinting that Samsung may be working on its version of a triple-folding phone. 

A recent patent application in the US Patent Office, as spotted by MSPoweruser, details what a triple-folding Samsung device might look like. The application, which was filed in July 2021 but was just recently published, showcases a potential Samsung idea for the concept. Like the other devices, the triple folding phone can open once to a small tablet size (similar to the already available Galaxy Z Fold 6) and then extend again to reveal an even larger display. 

The Huawei foldable starts with a 6.4-inch display when fully closed, opens to a screen of about 8 inches in a "dual mode" and then expands to feature a tablet-like 10.2-inch screen when fully unfolded. CNET's Sareena Dayaram tried out the device last month and noted that it is "as impressive as it sounds." 

A sketch from Samsung's filing for a triple folding phone patent. 

Beyond a handful of sketches, however, there isn't much else to go on from the Samsung application. The patent does make mention of using an anti-reflection layer that may help with visibility and incorporating "at least one of stainless steel, invar, glass, and a titanium alloy" which could potentially help with durability. 

It is worth noting that major companies like Samsung often file applications for patents for ideas that never materialize into actual products people can buy.  

That said, we do know at least one division of Samsung has long been working on the idea. Samsung Display, which is a separate division from Samsung Electronics that produces and sells consumer devices, has demoed triple folding devices that it dubbed the "Flex S." I even got to see some of the prototypes back at CES 2023. 

While I couldn't use the devices, they were functioning displays with Samsung execs at the time telling me that they expected the technology to be ready for 2024 -- something that we've now seen come true with Huawei's device. 

Samsung did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 

Watch this: Samsung Display's Rollable, Foldable Concepts Show the Future of Screens