Samsung's most daring folding phone to unexpectedly return in 2027

Samsung is thought to be shaking its device strategy and that's going to see an increase in the number of premium phones offered, including the reintroduction of the Galaxy Z TriFold.

Samsung's first crack at producing a larger folding phone resulted in limited availability of the three-panel device, selling out almost immediately in the countries that it was offered in, before being discontinued.

While the production numbers were low, it suggests that in some segments there is the appetite for a larger folding device, although how long that would last once the novelty had worn off remains questionable.

According to ETnews, Samsung is moving to a 4+4 strategy that's going to see four devices available in the first half of the year (that's the Galaxy S) and the four devices available in the second half (that's the Galaxy Z).

This runs counter to previous reports we'd heard where Samsung was planning to step away from the Galaxy Z Flip - instead it seems that the company is going to increase the options for buyers.

According to "industry sources", Samsung has approached suppliers and entered the early stages of development for the new folding phone, with a target launch of 2027.

There are some challenges that Samsung will have to deal with, however. Production of the first Galaxy Z TriFold was thought to be expensive and component prices have only increased since that time.

Samsung might be banking on increased supply to bring the costs back to a realistic level, otherwise the second-generation Galaxy Z TriFold could be inhibitively expensive. The first model was $2,899 - and recent folding models typically saw a $100 increase in the price, suggesting it could cost $2,999 if trends continue.

Samsung is banking on growing interest in folding phones, with Apple's launch of the iPhone Ultra in September expected to boost the folding phone segment.

But that's not the only additional model that Samsung is looking at. The 4+4 strategy would also add the Galaxy S27 Pro into the selection, sitting under the Ultra. The addition of a Pro model is a long-running rumour, first thought to replace the Plus, but then appearing to be an additional model.

Previous rumours have suggested it will offer many of the features of the Ultra, but lack support for the S Pen. We're sure that as we move through the latter stages of 2026, we'll hear a lot more about Samsung's future plans.