Samsung Electronics(SSNLF.US) Executive: Has not yet decided whether to launch the next-generation ultra-thin phone and triple-folding phone

Samsung Electronics (SSNLF.US) Mobile Experience (MX) Chief Operating Officer Won-Joon Choi revealed in an interview on Thursday, after announcing the new Galaxy S26 series, that the company is still evaluating whether to release another ultra-thin smartphone following last year’s Galaxy S25 Edge, which has relatively lower sales compared to other models. Choi also stated that the company has not yet committed to launching the next-generation TriFold foldable phone. This new device, priced at nearly $3,000, features two hinges and can unfold into a large tablet. However, he hinted that the company is developing a wider standard Galaxy Z Fold, potentially aligned with Apple’s planned first foldable phone.

Unclear prospects for the Edge series

Last year, Samsung released its first ultra-thin phone—only 5.8mm thick—in an attempt to preempt the iPhone Air. However, Choi said that due to its shorter battery life compared to high-end models, sales were “relatively lower than other product lines.” Therefore, the company is assessing the future of this line, and whether to release follow-up models remains undecided. Choi said, “People have different preferences, needs, and standards when choosing devices. We haven’t decided when to launch the next generation, but we are still considering it.”

Although the iPhone Air released last fall is slightly thinner than the S25 Edge, Samsung’s device features dual rear cameras and stereo speakers, while the iPhone has only a single camera and mono speaker. The iPhone version’s sales are also lower than its high-end counterparts, such as the iPhone 17 Pro.

The future of foldable screens

While Samsung did not release new foldable models this week, this category remains a key focus. In late January, Samsung became the first company to launch a tri-fold foldable phone in the U.S. Priced at $2,900, the device sold out quickly on Samsung’s official website, and the company is currently collecting initial user feedback.

Choi said, “When we started the TriFold project, as the R&D lead, it wasn’t really a project I wanted to pursue.” He pointed out that the phone’s engineering is complex and requires developing new custom components.

Despite impressive technology, the high price of the TriFold limits its market appeal to niche luxury consumers. Additionally, its weight and thickness in folded form leave the future of this subcategory uncertain.

Choi said, “Initially, it was more about creating a whole new category and investing all our technical expertise into it. Now, we’re thinking about whether we should develop a new generation. We haven’t made a decision yet.”

However, another Galaxy Fold (single fold, not double fold) is set to be released this summer. Choi discussed the possibility of Samsung launching a wider, book-style foldable to offer some of the entertainment advantages of the TriFold at a lower price. He stated, “Some users value productivity features, while others want to ‘watch Netflix or YouTube on a larger screen.’ Clearly, if we have a screen ratio similar to TriFold, these experiences and apps will be optimized.” He added that Samsung is “considering various options” for single-fold categories and aims to offer users “as many choices as possible—and the best solutions.”

Privacy display

Choi also revealed that the most prominent feature of the Galaxy S26 Ultra—the built-in privacy display—was delayed by a year from the company’s original plan. Privacy Display, when enabled, makes it more difficult for side viewers to peek at the screen by turning off certain pixels that usually improve viewing angles. This feature can be activated for individual apps and allows the main screen content to remain visible while hiding pop-up notifications.

Choi said, “Honestly, our original goal was to implement this on the S25 Ultra. We were very close to completing it at the time, but still needed to solve a few final challenges, so it took another year. It was quite a long process.”

He added that the idea of preventing others from peeking at the screen was first proposed by a Samsung engineer about three to four years ago, and the project officially started three years ago in sync with Samsung Display. Currently, the feature is limited to Samsung flagship models, but Choi hinted it may be extended to more devices in the future. He said, “When the technology matures and we believe it’s time to roll it out to other models, we will consider doing so.” Additionally, Samsung is exploring how to apply this technology to flexible displays.

The stylus

The S-Pen, long a hallmark feature of the Galaxy Note series and later Ultra models, has received less attention in the S26 series. However, Choi revealed that the company is developing a next-generation version. He said, “We are internally developing more advanced technology for the S-Pen to create a new display structure, which will reduce the costs associated with supporting the S-Pen.” He added, “The S-Pen will continue to be one of our core technologies.” However, he did not provide further details.