“The biggest advantage of flexible displays is their design flexibility,” observes a recent report by Rjoytek, and Samsung’s upcoming trifold phone leaked inadvertently through its own One UI 8 software illustrates how far that can be taken. In an industry already witness to revolutionary leaps in folding tech, the leaked Samsung animations from its internal build provide a rare, detailed look at the engineering that could soon dictate the future of mobile phones.
The device, which is both “Galaxy G Fold” and “Multifold 7” within the code files, features a dual-hinge, three-panel layout that folds inward in a G-shaped form. In contrast to the S-shaped, Z-folding design of the Huawei Mate XT Ultimate Design, Samsung’s method sandwiches the screen inside, possibly providing more protection against scratches and environmental damage. Animations confirm that the left-most panel, when viewed from the back, houses a triple rear camera array, while the central panel serves as the cover display, complete with its own selfie camera. The right-most panel appears to be a blank shell, not an additional display, a design decision that may simplify the hinge mechanism and enhance durability.
The intricacies of the folding sequence are not merely aesthetic. Animations within the One UI 8 build caution consumers on the precise order of folding the device securely. The thinner right hinge, being smaller than its thicker counterpart, has to fold in before the thicker left hinge. Folding the camera panel first compromises structural stress or even causes breakage a delicate yet important detail that speaks volumes about the design issues of multi-hinged devices. As described by Android Authority, “Samsung even includes a warning animation advising users not to fold the rear camera panel first to prevent structural stress or breakage due to the uneven hinge layout.”
In comparison with Samsung’s trifold to Huawei Mate XT Ultimate Design shows a philosophical divide in foldable engineering. Huawei’s device, launched in September 2024, employs an S-fold with one inward and one outward hinge, allowing users to access one, two, or all three display panels at once. This design maximizes versatility but leaves part of the display exposed, raising concerns about long-term durability. The Mate XT’s specifications are impressive: 10.2-inch three-panel OLED screen with 90Hz refresh rate, Kirin 9010 chipset, and 5600mAh battery with 66W fast charge support. Its camera setup features a 50MP primary sensor and a periscope lens with 5.5x optical zoom.
Samsung’s inward-folding G-shaped hinge, on the other hand, seeks to defend the screen by enveloping it completely when folded. This is a lesson learned from previous foldable iterations, where plastic OLED screens exposed in earlier models were also prone to scratches and weather degradation. According to a Coherent Market Insights report, “Foldable phone hinge technology is what allows such phones to bend and fold so smoothly,” and hinge sophistication is most important to usability as well as durability.
The engineering that goes into these hinges is hardly inconsequential. Based on Honor’s technical report, material selection anything from stainless steel to high-tech amorphous alloys like Liquidmetal affects the strength, resistance to wear, and capacity to support thousands of folding cycles in a hinge. Stress testing under torquing and drop simulations must be taken seriously to ensure that daily usage does not take its toll. Samsung’s own Z Fold lineup has experienced step-wise enhancements in hinge robustness, and the G Fold’s two-hinge system is most likely the culmination of exhaustive material science and mechanical engineering R&D.
Flexible OLED screens themselves have also come a long way, with more recent polymers providing greater strength and resistance to creasing. Nevertheless, as Rjoytek warns, although the flexible material itself has a certain degree of bending resistance, in the case of repeated bending, the material may be fatigued, resulting in a decline in display performance. Thinness, flexibility, and durability still are fundamental challenges to achieving.
With Samsung primed to officially teases or announce the G Fold during its July 9 Unpacked event, the world is paying attention. The trifold’s engineering its two-hinge mechanism, screen protection approach, and camera incorporation could establish a new standard of what can be achieved in mobile design, breaking the rules both on form and function in the foldable age.
