This ‘G’ Tri-Fold Telephone Bends in Methods That Make Me Uncomfortable

Darwinian evolution is speedrunning foldable telephone growth. “Z”-style folds from firms just like the Huawei Mate XT collapse in a zig-zag sample, exposing one facet of the display screen to the weather. The brand new alternate universe tri-fold may very well be Tecno’s Phantom Final G Fold idea telephone that actually wraps round itself like a giant “G.” This truly stands out as the higher solution to do tri-folds, however Samsung would wish to suppose lengthy and onerous about machine integrity if it’s utilizing this similar design for its own rumored tri-fold that’s coming by the end of the year.

That is foldable, reimagined.
TECNO PHANTOM Final G Fold debuts because the world’s thinnest tri-fold — 11.49mm folded, 3.49mm unfolded. Daring design. Limitless prospects. pic.twitter.com/dBAdtDkGC4

— tecnomobile (@tecnomobile) July 17, 2025

That is China-based Tecno’s second try at a tri-fold telephone. The corporate beforehand confirmed movies of its Z-style tri-fold final 12 months, across the similar time that Huawei was making waves with its first industrial telephone with triple folding motion. The redesigned idea for 2025 folds inwards twice. In contrast to a Z-fold tri-fold, this implies there’s no a part of the display screen uncovered when it’s shut. There’s an enormous profit to this for the sake of survivability. Foldable screens can bend as a result of they’re a lot thinner than your typical show on a sweet bar-shaped smartphone. Having one facet of the folded display screen uncovered always means it’s extra more likely to brush up in opposition to any filth or particles. The Mate XT doesn’t have an IP ranking for water or mud safety, which says so much for a way lengthy the $2,800 machine might final even if you happen to preserve it secure in your pocket.

As we talked about, that is merely an idea and isn’t one thing you should purchase, even when Tecno offered its gadgets within the U.S. When unfurled, the Phantom Final G Fold has a 9.94-inch show, which is barely smaller than the Mate XT, although Tecno’s machine has the additional benefit of a separate exterior display screen. There are extra improvements occurring beneath the hood to permit this inward-facing collapsing mechanism. The rightmost hinge is definitely smaller than the one on the left. We don’t have any photos exhibiting off the inside hinge system, which leaves us with questions on whether or not the smaller hinge is kind of brittle than the bigger one. It might additionally depart one facet of the machine heavier than the opposite.

Tecno’s machine appears progressive in dimension as effectively. The Phantom Final G Fold clocks in at 3.49mm thick when unfolded. Even when it’s not too thick when folded up at 11.49mm, which is thinner than Huawei’s machine, it’s thicker than Samsung’s latest Galaxy Z Fold 7 bi-fold or most different telephones you should purchase now. I’m truthfully unsure how a tool of this dimension might get any thinner with out compromising the machine’s construction or limiting entry to a USB-C port. Inevitably, tri-folds might be made for these with thick pockets or XL pocketbooks. This leaves me with further issues for the machine’s sturdiness. Extra creases and extra display screen actual property imply there’s extra floor space to get broken. What if there’s filth left on the again of the telephone that then will get pressed up into the show?

Aside from display screen dimension, Tecno isn’t revealing a lot in the way in which of tech specs, save for the promise of an “over 5,000 mAh battery” and a “high-performance chipset.” Tecno isn’t promoting this machine simply but, however what’s there is sufficient to make me marvel what’s subsequent for foldables. If Samsung’s $2,000 Z Fold 7 has lastly cracked the thinness debate, the place can we go from right here? We count on Google will showcase a next-gen folding phone at its Made By Google event on Aug. 20. Rumors persist that Apple is working by itself foldable iPhone. The folding iPhone’s thickness may very well be the deciding consider whether or not it succeeds. Provide chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo advised it may very well be as skinny as 4.5mm when unfolded, which might make it near 9mm when shut. Extra recent rumors counsel it may very well be bigger, however with out official phrase from extra dependable sources, we will solely proceed to guess till its rumored launch date in 2026.