BARCELONA — At Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2025, held from March 3-6, Samsung turned heads with the debut of its latest concept devices: the Flex G and Flex S trifold smartphones. Unveiled on Tuesday, March 4, these innovative designs signal South Korea’s tech titan is ready to push foldable technology beyond the norm, joining China’s Huawei and Tecno in a race to break the smartphone market’s “sea of sameness.” While still concepts—not yet slated for store shelves—the Flex G and Flex S hint at where the industry’s headed as it battles stagnation.
Flex G and Flex S: Trifold Tech Unveiled
The Flex G features three screens that fold flat inward and outward, book-style, offering a seamless tablet-like experience when fully opened—think a 10.5- to 12.4-inch display, based on prior Samsung Display teases. The Flex S, meanwhile, zigzags into an “S” shape with two hinges, leaving a third of the screen exposed when folded for quick glances. Spotted by CNBC’s Ryan Browne at Samsung’s booth, these prototypes dazzle with their versatility. Posts on X rave about the Flex S’s “futuristic vibe,” while the Flex G’s inward fold promises screen protection—a nod to durability concerns plaguing foldables.
Samsung isn’t alone. Huawei’s Mate XT, launched internationally last month at €3,499 ($3,678), set the trifold bar high. Tecno’s Phantom Ultimate 2, also showcased at MWC, mirrors the Flex S’s “S” fold. Yet Samsung stressed these are concepts, not products—tempering expectations but fueling speculation about a 2025 commercial trifold, possibly the rumored Galaxy G Fold.
Breaking the “Sea of Sameness”
Smartphones have felt predictable since Apple’s 2008 iPhone defined the slab standard. Foldables aim to disrupt that, but they’re niche—IDC pegs 2024’s foldable shipments at 19.3 million units, just 1.6% of the global market, despite 6.4% year-over-year growth. “The market’s hit a plateau,” Francisco Jeronimo of IDC told CNBC. “Manufacturers are innovating on display to pull us out of this ‘sea of sameness.’”
Nothing’s Phone (3a), launched Tuesday at €329 ($356), opts for quirky LED lights over folds, targeting emotional appeal. “People want more than function—they crave brands with soul,” co-founder Akis Evangelidis said, eyeing India’s aspirational buyers. Oppo’s Find N5, also at MWC, slims down the dual-fold game, challenging Samsung’s bulkier Galaxy Fold 6.
Foldables: Premium Price, Premium Promise
Foldables come with trade-offs: bulkier builds and steep prices—$1,218 on average versus $421 for standard phones, per IDC. Samsung leads the pack with a 32.9% share in 2024, trailed by Huawei (23.1%) and Motorola (17%). At MWC, refinement was the theme—thinner hinges, tougher screens—aiming to woo everyday users willing to splurge on premium tech. X users muse, “If Samsung nails a trifold under $2,000, it’s game over for slabs.”
What’s Next for Samsung and Foldables in 2025?
Samsung’s Flex G and S aren’t just flashy demos—they’re a blueprint. With Lenovo’s foldable ThinkBook “Flip” and Xiaomi’s global EV tease rocking MWC, the trifold trend’s heating up. Will Samsung’s concepts morph into a Galaxy G Fold by year-end, as rumors suggest? Huawei’s Mate XT and Tecno’s Ultimate 2 prove the market’s ready—but price and polish will decide the winner. Stay tuned as MWC 2025 unfolds more clues to the foldable future!
