Samsung’s New Tri-Fold Phone Takes on Huawei – Full Specs, Price, and Why It’s a Foldable Revolution

In the dynamic arena of smartphone innovation, where form factors evolve to redefine portability and productivity, Samsung has unveiled a groundbreaking contender: the Galaxy Z TriFold. Announced on December 1, 2025, this Samsung tri-fold phone marks the company’s audacious entry into the multi-foldable segment, directly challenging Huawei’s dominance with the Mate XT series. As foldables transition from niche gadgets to mainstream essentials, the Galaxy Z TriFold emerges as a foldable revolution, blending expansive screens, robust hardware, and AI-driven features into a device that unfolds new possibilities. Priced competitively yet premium, it promises to reshape how we interact with technology, offering tablet-like real estate in a pocketable design.

This exclusive article delves into the full specs of Samsung’s new tri-fold phone, its price points across markets, and a head-to-head comparison with Huawei’s Mate XT Ultimate Design. We’ll explore why this device isn’t just another foldable but a pivotal shift in the industry, emphasizing durability, multitasking, and ecosystem integration. Keywords such as “Samsung tri-fold phone,” “Galaxy Z TriFold specs,” “Huawei Mate XT comparison,” and “foldable revolution” will guide our analysis, highlighting the engineering marvels that make this launch timely and transformative. As we approach 2026, with competitors like Apple rumored to enter the fold, Samsung’s move solidifies its leadership in foldable innovation.

Design and Build: Engineering the Future of Foldables

The Galaxy Z TriFold’s design is a testament to Samsung’s decade-long expertise in foldables, featuring a G-shaped folding mechanism with dual inward hinges that protect the main display from scratches and debris. When fully unfolded, it measures an astonishing 3.9mm at its thinnest point—barely thicker than a few credit cards—while folding to 12.9mm thick, making it only marginally bulkier than the Galaxy Z Fold6. Weighing 309 grams, it’s hefty but balanced, with a ceramic-glass fiber reinforced polymer back and Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2 on the cover screen for enhanced durability. The IP48 rating ensures resistance to water up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes, though dust protection is limited, a common trade-off in foldables.

In contrast, Huawei’s Mate XT Ultimate Design employs a single outward-folding mechanism, resulting in a slightly slimmer 12.8mm profile when folded. However, this exposes the inner screen to potential damage, a design choice that prioritizes seamless transitions over protection. Huawei’s device weighs 298 grams and boasts a leather-like back for a premium feel, but Samsung counters with titanium hinge covers for superior robustness. The Samsung tri-fold phone includes an auto-alarm system—vibrations and on-screen alerts—to prevent incorrect folding, addressing user errors that could compromise longevity. This thoughtful engineering underscores why the Galaxy Z TriFold represents a foldable revolution, prioritizing user-friendly durability in a category prone to wear.

Display: Expansive Canvases for Immersive Experiences

At the heart of any foldable is its display, and the Galaxy Z TriFold doesn’t disappoint. Unfolded, it reveals a massive 10-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel with a 3184 x 2232 resolution, supporting a 1-120Hz adaptive refresh rate for buttery-smooth scrolling and HDR10+ for vibrant colors. The 6.5-inch cover screen, also AMOLED, offers practical usability when closed, with under-display cameras for a notch-free experience. Samsung’s Armor FlexHinges ensure minimal creases—though dual folds mean two subtle lines—enhanced by UTG (Ultra Thin Glass) for better touch response and S Pen compatibility.

Huawei’s Mate XT, with its 10.2-inch OLED display, edges out in size but uses a different folding style that allows for a more uniform screen when expanded. Its resolution stands at 3144 x 2232, with a 90Hz refresh rate that’s competent but lags behind Samsung’s fluidity. Both devices excel in multitasking, but Samsung’s DeX mode transforms the tri-fold into a desktop-like setup, supporting up to eight apps simultaneously—a boon for professionals. The foldable revolution here lies in how these screens bridge phone and tablet worlds, with Samsung’s AI-optimized Flex Mode enabling adaptive layouts for video calls or note-taking.

Performance and Software: Powering Productivity

Under the hood, the Galaxy Z TriFold is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, customized for Galaxy devices, paired with 16GB of RAM and storage options starting at 512GB (up to 1TB). This setup delivers blazing performance for AI tasks, gaming, and multitasking, with vapor chamber cooling to prevent throttling. Benchmarks suggest it outperforms the Galaxy Z Fold7 by 20% in multi-core tests, making it ideal for demanding workflows.

Huawei’s Mate XT relies on the Kirin 9010 processor, efficient but restricted by U.S. sanctions, limiting global app access without workarounds. It matches Samsung’s 16GB RAM but caps at 1TB storage. Software-wise, Samsung’s One UI 8 (based on Android 16) integrates Galaxy AI features like real-time translation, Circle to Search, and generative editing, with seven years of updates promised. Huawei’s HarmonyOS 5 offers similar AI perks but lacks Google services outside China, potentially alienating international users. The Samsung tri-fold phone’s seamless ecosystem integration with Wear OS and Windows Link cements its edge in the foldable revolution.

Camera System: Capturing Moments in Any Form

Photography on foldables has matured, and the Galaxy Z TriFold borrows from the Z Fold7 with a triple-camera array: a 200MP main sensor (1/1.3-inch, f/1.7), 12MP ultrawide, and 10MP 3x telephoto. This setup excels in low-light with advanced noise reduction and supports 8K video at 30fps. Dual front cameras (10MP and 4MP under-display) ensure sharp selfies, while AI tools like Instant Slow-Mo enhance creativity.

Huawei’s Mate XT features a 50MP main camera with variable aperture for better depth control, alongside 12MP ultrawide and 40MP telephoto with 5.5x zoom. It’s tuned for natural colors but falls short in resolution compared to Samsung’s 200MP beast. Both leverage their forms for unique angles—using the outer screen as a viewfinder—but Samsung’s superior sensor size and AI processing make it a photographer’s choice in this Huawei Mate XT comparison.

Battery and Charging: Endurance for Extended Use

Battery life is crucial for power-hungry foldables, and both devices pack 5,600mAh cells—the largest in Samsung’s foldable lineup. The tri-cell design distributes power efficiently, yielding up to 12 hours of screen-on time with mixed use. Samsung supports 45W wired charging (full in ~80 minutes), 15W wireless, and reverse wireless, optimized by AI for adaptive consumption.

Huawei matches the capacity but edges ahead with 66W wired and 50W wireless charging, achieving 50% in 20 minutes. However, Samsung’s efficiency from the Snapdragon chip and software tweaks may yield better real-world endurance. In the foldable revolution, this balance of capacity and speed ensures these devices last through marathon sessions.

Comparison Tables

A comprehensive comparison between the Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold and Huawei Mate XT Ultimate Design in key specifications, design, and features.

Specs Comparison

Design and Features Comparison

These tables highlight Samsung’s focus on ecosystem and durability versus Huawei’s emphasis on slimness and charging speed.

Price and Availability: Premium Positioning in a Competitive Market

The Galaxy Z TriFold starts at $2,999 for the 512GB model, undercutting initial rumors of $3,000 while positioning it as a luxury item. In South Korea, it launches December 12, 2025, with U.S. availability in early 2026. Perks include a six-month Google AI Pro trial and discounted repairs, sweetening the deal. Huawei’s Mate XT Ultimate Design retails at $2,799, but its second-gen XTs variant hits $2,500, making it more accessible—though global variants may vary due to sanctions.

This pricing strategy reflects the foldable revolution’s maturation, where costs drop as production scales. Initial production for Samsung is limited (50,000-100,000 units), emphasizing quality control with CT scans for circuits.

Why It’s a Foldable Revolution

The Galaxy Z TriFold isn’t merely a response to Huawei; it’s a catalyst for the foldable revolution. By introducing tri-folds to a broader audience, Samsung addresses pain points like creases and bulk, while patents on hinge tech give it leverage over rivals. In a market where foldables grew 6.4% to 19.3 million units in 2025 (IDC), this device pushes boundaries, enabling true hybrid use—phone, phablet, tablet. AI integration amplifies this, with features like predictive multitasking revolutionizing workflows. Amid competition from Honor and potential Apple entries, Samsung’s move reinforces its innovation lead.

Conclusion: A Bold Leap Worth Considering

Samsung’s new tri-fold phone, the Galaxy Z TriFold, masterfully takes on Huawei’s Mate XT with superior cameras, ecosystem depth, and durable design, all at a competitive price. Its full specs—from the expansive 10-inch display to the 5,600mAh battery—position it as a foldable revolution, blending portability with power. While Huawei excels in slimness and charging, Samsung’s global appeal and AI prowess make it our recommendation for most users. If you’re ready for the future, pre-order now; otherwise, wait for wider availability in 2026. This device doesn’t just fold—it unfolds endless potential.