Samsung blocks India, US from its TriFold launch—what’s the catch?

Samsung’s long-anticipated foldable technology — allegedly branded as the Galaxy TriFold — will not be available in significant locations such as India and the US; new rumors have emerged. Trusted insider Evan Blass has made a claim that Samsung's intention is to sell the model only in a few places such as South Korea, China, Singapore, Taiwan, and perhaps the UAE. The company will reveal the gadget officially on October 31.

Samsung seems to be adopting a gradual rollout akin to its prior release of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 SE, which was restricted to South Korea and China. The option implies Samsung’s remaining reluctance to accept hardware with new form factors, especially those that have complicated folding mechanisms. The company seems to be gauging consumer response through its regional launch and then going global.

The rumors have it that only around 50,000 units of the Galaxy TriFold have been produced by Samsung. The small quantity suggests there is uncertainty regarding the demand for the product's mass-market appeal. Moreover, the exorbitant price tag of $3,000 is another crucial point, which puts it far from even the most expensive foldables. Analysts say that the high cost and limited demand might be the reasons why the company is not targeting the larger markets to begin with.

The Galaxy TriFold presents a dual-hinge design that lets the display fold into three parts thereby providing a nearly tablet-like experience when completely opened. This is the most difficult design from Samsung for folds since its first one was launched in 2019. Sources have leaked that the model might also be released under other names like Galaxy G Fold or Multifold 7.

The foldable smartphone Samsung would be unveiling at the APEC Summit, together with a limited release for commercial purposes later this year.