Apple's iPhone Duo, announced September 9 and hitting shelves October 23 at $1,999, has already rattled Samsung before a single unit shipped. Leaker Lanzuk reports 9to5Google that Samsung is now considering accelerating the development and production start of the Galaxy Z TriFold 2 — a direct response to Apple entering the tri-fold market.
Rushed back to the drawing board

Samsung's original Galaxy Z TriFold launched globally in late 2025 at $2,899 and sold out instantly. Despite the demand, Samsung pulled the plug in March 2026 after roughly 60 days of production, citing prohibitively high manufacturing costs. A second generation was already in the works, previously expected sometime in late 2027. Now, with Apple's rival device confirmed, Samsung is reportedly trying to move that target closer to July 2027.

Lanzuk stopped short of sharing specs, but earlier supply-chain reports — corroborated by three independent Korean sources — point to a thickness target of around 8.9mm. That would be a meaningful improvement over the Gen 1's 12.9mm, which drew consistent criticism for being too thick for daily carry at 309 grams. Durability and weight are also said to be priorities for the new design.

The price problem

The redesign alone may not be enough. At $2,899, Samsung's first TriFold already carried a steep premium. Apple's iPhone Duo undercuts that by $900 — a 45% gap that Samsung will struggle to justify unless the TriFold 2 arrives with clear advantages in software, camera, or build quality.

Gen 2 pricing is unconfirmed, but analyst estimates put it in the $2,700–$3,200 range. With memory market volatility adding further uncertainty, Samsung faces a tricky balancing act: cut enough cost to compete, while delivering tangible improvements over a phone it quietly shelved six months ago.
What else is coming

Lanzuk also flagged that Samsung wants to accelerate its rollable smartphone — shown publicly at several trade shows under the working name Mobile Slidable and spotted in a patent filing — with a 2027 release also on the table.

For US and UK buyers, the immediate picture is straightforward: iPhone Duo goes on pre-order October 16 and ships October 23. The Galaxy Z TriFold 2 has no confirmed release date or price. If Samsung does pull the timeline forward, July 2027 would still leave Apple with a roughly nine-month head start in the tri-fold space.