Dec 19, 2025 5 min read

Tech Features Phones Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold

Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold Q&A: Everything Samsung Told Us About The New Tri-Fold Phone

Samsung Gulf’s Fadi Abu Shamat explains the thinking behind Galaxy Z TriFold, from skipping S Pen support to premium service, hinge engineering, battery choices, and why the UAE is a launch market.

Fadi Abu Shamat, Vice President and Head of Mobile eXperience Division, Samsung Gulf Electronics

Samsung’s Galaxy Z TriFold is the company’s boldest foldable swing yet. It’s also the kind of device that makes total sense on paper, and then makes you wonder who exactly is brave enough to daily-drive it. (Answer: people with money, patience, and very good screen insurance.)

All answers below are from Fadi Abu Shamat, Vice President and Head of Mobile eXperience Division, Samsung Gulf Electronics, speaking during a media Q&A.

For the wider launch context, see our main coverage: Samsung’s Galaxy Z TriFold is real – and the UAE is one of the first to get it.

Samsung prioritised thinness and weight, which is why there’s no S Pen support on TriFold.
UAE is one of five launch markets: UAE, Korea, China, Singapore, Thailand.
Samsung says TriFold is not a limited-edition experiment. Expansion to more markets is expected from January/February 2026.
After-sales support includes 50% off screen repair cost (for damage) and a dedicated premium support channel for TriFold owners.
Samsung is sticking with battery tech it considers stable enough to meet long-term durability expectations and 7 years of software/security updates.

If you want the broader foldables landscape (and what you should buy today), start here: Best Foldable Phones in the UAE (2025 Edition).

Why doesn’t the Galaxy Z TriFold support S Pen?

Fadi Abu Shamat: Samsung’s priority with TriFold was thinness and lightweight design, aiming to keep it practical as a daily device. Full pen support would have added complexity and bulk, so the trade-off favoured portability.

“The rationale was… focus on thinness and lightweight.”

If you want Samsung’s “work-first” philosophy in a more traditional foldable, our coverage of the Galaxy Z Fold7 is still the cleanest reference point.

What warranty and after-sales support is Samsung offering for TriFold owners?

Fadi Abu Shamat: Samsung Gulf is offering 50% off repair costs for screen damage (and related spare parts/repairs), plus premium priority support through a dedicated contact channel for TriFold users.

He also emphasised that TriFold repairs require specialised equipment due to the size of the display, meaning not every service location will complete the repair on-site, even if they can accept the device.

“We’re offering 50% off… any screen damage… and dedicated premium priority.”

Why are there limited units, and what’s the strategy behind a controlled release?

Fadi Abu Shamat: Samsung is positioning TriFold as a preview of where foldables go next, and as a high-profile “end-of-year” statement after a strong year for Samsung foldables.

There’s also a practical angle: new form factors need real-world feedback, and limited early rollouts help Samsung control quality, service readiness, and user experience before scaling.

For the earlier “this is happening” moment before launch, here’s the timeline:

What’s the most impressive piece of engineering in the Galaxy Z TriFold?

Fadi Abu Shamat: The hinge system. He described it as a dual-hinge design, with hinges that aren’t identical because each fold has different demands. He also pointed to extensive durability testing and structural reinforcement aimed at supporting a large foldable display while keeping the device light.

“The hinge is the pinnacle of the engineering behind the Galaxy Z TriFold.”

What battery tech is Samsung using, and why not Silicon Carbon battery tech?

Fadi Abu Shamat: Samsung’s view is that carbon battery tech is promising, but not yet stable enough for the company’s long-term durability expectations. He tied this to Samsung’s commitment to long software support and ongoing serviceability.

“Our R&D still sees that the carbon technology is not stable for longevity purposes.”

What did Samsung say about battery capacity, charging, and cooling?

Fadi Abu Shamat: He referenced a 5,600mAh battery setup and 45W charging, supported by the phone’s internal layout (including the way components are distributed across the folding sections) and a cooling approach designed to keep charging stable and safe.

How did Samsung pick the first five launch markets?

Fadi Abu Shamat: Samsung chose UAE, Korea, China, Singapore and Thailand, based on:

markets with a mature foldables audience, and
markets with enough global visibility to amplify the device beyond local headlines.

He also hinted that multiple regions internally competed to be included.

Is the Galaxy Z TriFold a limited edition?

Fadi Abu Shamat: Samsung says no. TriFold is intended to be part of the lineup going forward, with more markets expected soon.

“The Galaxy Z TriFold is not going to be a limited edition phone.”

He added that market expansion could begin as early as January/February 2026, and that Samsung intends to iterate on the category based on feedback.

Who is TriFold actually for?

Fadi Abu Shamat: Two audiences:

C-level executives who want a bigger mobile workspace for calls, productivity, and travel-heavy schedules.
Entrepreneurs / SMB leaders, especially those using mobile AI and multitasking workflows.

Will TriFold replace the “normal” Fold the way Note evolved into S Ultra?

Fadi Abu Shamat: He framed it as evolution, not replacement. Samsung expects product lines to shift over time, but positioned TriFold as an expansion of the foldable category rather than a straight swap.

Will TriFold get the same update policy as other flagships?

Fadi Abu Shamat: Yes, Samsung reaffirmed 7 years of software and security updates for the TriFold.

“Seven years of software and security update. Absolutely.”

If demand is strong, will Samsung bring in more units to the same markets?

Fadi Abu Shamat: Yes.

Any hints about what Samsung is planning for 2026?

Fadi Abu Shamat teased new categories and new form factors, beyond Samsung’s usual annual refresh cycle, and described 2026 as a particularly busy year.

What this means for Samsung Galaxy Z Trifold buyers?

The “no S Pen” decision is deliberate, not an oversight

Samsung is clearly telling you what TriFold is: a thin, premium, carry-it-everywhere foldable, not a stylus-first productivity slab. If pen input is your non-negotiable, you’re still better served by Samsung’s Ultra ecosystem (or a more conventional foldable setup).

Service experience matters more on TriFold than on any normal phone

The most important practical detail from this Q&A is that TriFold repairs may require specialised service equipment. Translation: even if you hand it in anywhere, you may want to expect centralised handling for complex display work.

The 50% screen repair offer is good, but it’s still a tri-fold screen

“50% off repair cost” is meaningful because screen repairs on foldables are never cheap. But it also quietly acknowledges the reality: this is advanced hardware, and accidents happen.

Five-market launch tells you Samsung is being cautious

This isn’t a global “everyone gets one” rollout. Samsung wants controlled feedback first, then scaling. If you’re the type who likes second-generation hardware (reasonable), you may want to watch what changes as Samsung expands to more markets in early 2026.

If you just want a reliable big-screen foldable today, Fold7 is the safer bet

TriFold is exciting. Fold7 is predictable. Predictable is underrated when you’re spending flagship money. Start here if you’re shopping now: Galaxy Z Fold7: specs, UAE availability and what’s new.

Subscribe to our newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest updates and news

Abbas Jaffar Ali — Abbas has been covering tech for more than two decades- before phones became smart or clouds stored data. From computers to mobile phones and watches, Abbas is always interested in tech that is smarter and smaller.