When foldable phones were first launched, they were largely seen as whimsical gadgets – expensive, fragile and showy, that might not be practical. But as the technology matured, foldable phones became more practical and durable, becoming quite popular among tech lovers and early adopters. The idea that a regular-sized phone could turn into a mini-tablet seemed revolutionary to many tech enthusiasts. And why not, it combines the convenience of a smartphone with the larger screen of a tablet. But it’s time to wonder once again. Tech companies are already working on the next step in foldables – a tri-fold smartphone.

Existing foldable phones – both Fold and Flip – fold into two parts using a single hinge. But a tri-fold phone will have two hinges and three displays that give you one big screen when opened.

Work on this concept is also going on in full swing. Chinese smartphone maker Tecno introduced its tri-fold smartphone concept last week. On the other hand, Huawei is going to introduce its tri-fold smartphone in China on September 10. By 2025, we can expect the tri-fold phone to turn from concept to reality.

But the big question is how will a triple-foldable phone affect current market trends? Tecno says its tri-fold phone will open up into a massive 10-inch display. Will this mean the need for tablets will disappear? The answer is complicated. Let’s delve a little deeper into this.

Can triple foldable phones kill the tablet market? It depends on what you think

Just like today’s foldables, tri-fold smartphones will also need some time to make their mark after being officially unveiled. Of course, a strong foundation has already been laid, but it may take some time for the tri-fold to create a market. Once that happens, the concept could eventually infiltrate the tablet space, being able to give users a 10-inch display that also folds into a smartphone with your typical 6-point-something-inch display. This could reduce the need for some users to invest in a separate tablet. But making such a big impact on an established market is also not easy. According to IDC, in Q2 2024, the Indian tablet market shipped 1.84 million units in 2Q 2024, growing 128.8 percent year-on-year.

The 10-inch form factor isn’t everything. Matching the tablet experience is also important.

Will the tri-fold match the display and software experience of a foldable?

Users may get the same display quality as premium tablets, but the awkward aspect ratio could be a problem for viewing content. Existing foldable phones have 1:1 or 5:4 displays when unfolded, which may not be ideal for watching videos shot in widescreen format. Users will see black bars or awkward cropping, which degrades the viewing experience compared to tablets with a 16:10 aspect ratio like the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9. It remains to be seen if a tri-folding phone can fix this problem.

Similarly, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, when unfolded, offers a 7.6-inch display, which is large for a phone, but still smaller than the iPad Pro’s 11-inch or 12.9-inch screen. This size difference could be important for users who need more screen real estate for activities like graphic design, reading detailed PDFs, or watching movies in a more immersive format. Tecno has shown a tri-foldable phone with a 10-inch screen, but folds and durability could be an issue in the long run.

Then there are durability concerns

I’ve been using a foldable phone for about a year, and although the device still works smoothly, I’ve noticed some changes. The hinge seems to be losing its strength, and the screen no longer stays completely flat when opened. I’m more cautious when carrying it around to avoid damaging it. In contrast, a tablet can usually handle more rigorous use. Also, I’ve started to notice slight creases on the display over time.

What about battery life?

The battery consumption is higher when a foldable device is used unfolded. For example, gaming or binge-watching drains the battery a little faster than a tablet. Also, a smartphone is meant to be used all day long and a tablet is something that can be used for a longer period of time. Since a smartphone has to deal with the power demands of its larger, foldable OLED screen, it may not last as long as a traditional tablet.

We cannot ignore the price factor

Triple foldable phones will serve a dual purpose, but the technology will also be very expensive. Traditional foldable phones are already very expensive and cost between Rs 1,40,000 and Rs 1,72,999 in India. Triple-foldable phones can cost much more than that. On the other hand, tablets are available in India at a starting price of Rs 7,000.

creativity, keyboard, stylus

Some creators buy flagship tablets like the Apple iPad Pro to create digital art, illustrations, and graphic design. One can add a keyboard to the tablet to quickly do work-related tasks or use a stylus for designing. For example, many digital artists use the iPad Pro with the Apple Pencil because it is accurate and supports apps like Procreate. Currently, no foldable device offers a comparable experience in terms of screen size, stylus accuracy, and app support, making tablets irreplaceable for this group. All of this would not be possible with triple folding phones either.

That said, the triple-foldable is still pretty exciting

One of the most compelling arguments in favor of triple foldable phones is their versatility and they are still a big deal. The new technology will remain relevant for several reasons.

First, they are compact. You can use it like a traditional phone and unfold it to get a bigger screen, which is almost the size of a tablet. Second, you get a great camera experience and powerful performance in a thin profile. It can do much more than that. Business professionals can use triple-foldable phones to review documents or present slides during meetings, casual users can enjoy the convenience of a smartphone for everyday tasks while also having the option to unfold it to get a more immersive experience for gaming or watching movies. The scope of tri-fold smartphones is huge.