Samsung’s first rollable phone could launch before the Galaxy Z TriFold 2
Samsung may be preparing a major shake-up in its foldable phone roadmap. According to recent industry chatter from South Korea, the company’s first rollable smartphone could arrive before the next-generation Galaxy Z TriFold 2, potentially making 2026 an important year for experimental mobile design.
The original Galaxy Z TriFold was an ambitious device, but it never received a wide global release. Availability was extremely limited, and many regions, including Europe, were left out entirely. Even so, the device proved that Samsung could move a double-folding tablet-style phone from concept to production, putting it in direct competition with other ultra-premium foldable devices such as Huawei’s Mate XT.
Now, attention is turning to what comes next. Samsung is reportedly working on a successor, but the Galaxy Z TriFold 2 may take longer than expected to reach the market. Rising component prices are said to be one of the biggest challenges facing advanced smartphone projects, especially devices that depend on complex hinges, large flexible displays, and custom internal layouts.
If the Galaxy Z TriFold 2 does arrive, it could bring several important upgrades over the first model. One of the most notable changes may be a more uniform body design. The original tri-fold device reportedly used three body sections with different thicknesses, which contributed to its overall bulk. The next version is expected to reduce these differences, giving the phone a slimmer and more balanced profile when folded.
Weight could also be a major focus. The first Galaxy Z TriFold weighed around 309 grams, making it noticeably heavier than a standard flagship smartphone. New hinge technology may help Samsung lower that number, similar to the improvements seen in recent book-style foldable phones. A lighter design would make the TriFold 2 more practical for daily use and could help broaden its appeal beyond early adopters and collectors.
However, the most exciting part of Samsung’s future lineup may not be the TriFold 2 at all. The company’s first rollable smartphone is rumored to be moving forward and could launch ahead of the second-generation tri-fold device. This rollable phone may be marketed under a name like Galaxy Z Slide, though Samsung has not officially confirmed the branding.
A rollable OLED smartphone would represent a different approach to expanding screen size. Instead of folding open like a book or unfolding across multiple hinges, a rollable device would extend its display outward, allowing users to switch between a compact phone and a larger tablet-like screen. This could reduce crease concerns, improve portability, and create a sleeker form factor compared to current foldables.
The idea of a rollable phone is not new, but no major consumer-ready model has truly broken through yet. LG once developed a rollable smartphone, but the project was canceled before it reached stores. If Samsung succeeds, it could become one of the first companies to bring a commercially available rollable OLED phone to the market.
Still, competition is intense. Huawei has already shown that it can move quickly in the ultra-premium foldable category, and it may attempt to beat Samsung again with its own next-generation flexible display device. That rivalry could push both companies to accelerate innovation in rollable and tri-fold smartphone designs.
For now, Samsung fans may need to be patient. The Galaxy Z TriFold 2 appears to be in development, but cost pressures and engineering challenges could delay its launch. Meanwhile, the rumored Samsung rollable phone may step into the spotlight first, offering a fresh take on the future of mobile screens.
If these reports prove accurate, Samsung’s next big leap may not be another foldable, but a phone that slides open into something much larger.
