Triple-core phones have been the subject of speculation and buzz for over four years, but it looks like the world's first could finally be officially launched, beating Samsung to the punch in its official announcement.
Some new rumors on Chinese social media suggest that Huawei has recently overcome a durability hurdle that should allow the launch of its triple-folding phone (a triple-screen phone with two hinges), at least in China, within the next month.
Weibo tipster Bad Review Emperor (via Huawei Central) claims that Huawei’s tri-fold foldable phone has just “passed the 28μm test,” which is apparently a durability test for its impressively thin display and to see how visible the fold lines will be after multiple folds. Huawei’s foldable phone is expected to debut a new “inside-out” mechanism with a dual-hinge design.
A three-part foldable phone makes sense for Huawei because it will likely run HarmonyOS Next, a new version of its operating system. According to the Weibo tipster, this means it will be able to run “PC-level apps,” potentially blurring the boundaries between phone, tablet, and laptop.
These rumors come after a separate post by Digital Chat Station on Weibo claiming that “a major manufacturer has begun scheduling production of a three-part foldable phone.” According to the leak, it will have a 10-inch internal display and both its specs and price will “hit new records.”
Putting the two rumors together, it seems increasingly likely that Huawei will beat Samsung to the punch and become the “world’s first” to make a three-part foldable phone. However, since Huawei has been banned from selling phones in the US, Samsung may yet become the first tech giant to make a truly global three-part foldable phone.
Fortunately for tech fans, it looks like we're finally reaching the end of the concept and teaser stages of these next-generation foldable devices, and heading towards the first real releases of the format.
These rumors fit with the timeline we heard earlier this year about the world’s first tri-fold foldable phone. Back then, display analyst Ross Young claimed that Huawei’s tri-fold foldable phone was supposed to launch in late 2023, but it was delayed until later this year. Huawei’s top executive Richard Yu Chengdong also hinted in an interview in July that Huawei was close to releasing a tri-fold foldable phone.
Considering how expensive the best foldable phones still are, you could argue that a price reduction is more important than adding an extra hinge for more screen space. And we've heard rumours, which have yet to materialise, that a Galaxy Z Fold 6 FE model is on the way.
Still, a new phone format is always exciting, so the launch of Huawei’s first tri-fold is certainly intriguing. The recent launch of Samsung’s new Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 foldables shows that the technology has matured and teething issues such as durability issues and visible creases have been ironed out. Our review of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 concluded that it’s “an excellent foldable” that “gets close to perfection.”
The Z Fold 6, on the other hand, starts at $1,899, £1,799, or AU$2,749, so we're already talking about laptop-like prices for a single-hinge foldable phone. A triple-screen, dual-hinge phone would likely go well beyond that, making early models a luxury reserved for only the wealthiest tech fans.
If Huawei beats Samsung to the punch with the first tri-fold device, hopefully this will push the Korean tech giant to push beyond the concepts we've seen so far and begin the journey to making the devices a more realistic prospect for the rest of us.
