Samsung slidable phone may launch before Galaxy Z TriFold 2

Samsung's roadmap for next-generation smartphone form factors may be shifting, with a rumored slidable phone potentially launching ahead of a delayed second-generation Galaxy Z TriFold. According to a report from a Korean leaker citing supply chain sources, development of the Galaxy Z TriFold 2 is progressing but facing cost-related issues that could push its release beyond an original schedule. Concurrently, the same source indicates that Samsung's first slidable phone has gained momentum and could now arrive sooner than initially expected.

The leaker, known as Lanzuk, stated that the Galaxy Z TriFold 2 is being developed with a new hinge design intended to make the device thinner and lighter. The current Galaxy Z TriFold, which was canceled earlier this year after a limited production run, measures 12.9mm thick when folded and weighs 309 grams. By comparison, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is 8.9mm thick and weighs 215g. The redesign reportedly aims to standardize the thickness of hinge components, addressing the bulkiness that was a noted compromise of the first model.

While the specific nature of the cost issues was not detailed, they are significant enough that the launch of the...