TriFold smartphone with integrated S Pen
Samsung already seems to be looking ahead to the next generation of foldable smartphones. Although the current Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold has only just appeared (and been withdrawn from sale again), a new patent points to plans for a successor with a striking addition: a built-in S Pen.
Documents that have surfaced via patent information show that Samsung is exploring how to integrate a stylus directly into a triple-fold phone. The idea is very similar to the approach of the Ultra models in the Galaxy S series, where the pen disappears neatly into the casing and is also charged right there.
That sounds practical, but with a device with three folding parts, it is technically less straightforward than with a regular smartphone. According to the patent, Samsung would therefore make one side of the device narrower to create space for the S Pen's storage compartment. This would make the design slightly asymmetrical.
For users who like to take notes or draw, such a built-in stylus would be a logical addition. Especially on a large folding screen, an S Pen comes into its own better than on a standard smartphone. Still, it remains a patent for now. That means Samsung is mainly exploring what is technically possible, with no guarantee that this design will eventually actually appear on the market. Manufacturers regularly capture ideas that later disappear or change significantly.
This also involves another issue: size and weight. Earlier rumours suggest that Samsung actually wants to make future TriFold models thinner and lighter. However, a built-in stylus takes up extra space, complicating the design.
Above all, it shows the direction Samsung is exploring for the future of foldables. The first generation mainly revolved around the concept of a foldable screen itself. Now, the focus is slowly shifting to additional features and practical applications. A TriFold with integrated S Pen could be the next step in that. Not just a phone that folds out bigger, but a device better suited to multitasking, sketching and productive work on the go. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide is said to be in the works for this year.
