Samsung could finally adopt silicon-carbon technology with its tri-fold phone

Samsung is reportedly testing a tri-fold Galaxy phone, and it could be more than just another foldable flex. According to a leak by PandaFlashPro, a prototype of the device is powered by a silicon-carbon battery – a first for Samsung. This next-gen tech could be the key to keeping the bulky form factor of foldables in check, especially as the company inches closer to launch, possibly as soon as July 2025.

Silicon-carbon batteries aren’t your average juice pack. Instead of the graphite anodes used in traditional lithium-ion cells, this tech swaps in a silicon anode, promising significantly higher energy density. Translation? More power in a smaller, lighter cell. It’s the kind of advance that could make a tri-fold phone thin enough to slip into your pocket without feeling like a brick.

How silicon-carbon batteries could change foldables

Samsung’s battery innovation isn’t just for show. The company has been hinting at this direction for a while. First with whispers of silicon-carbon tech in the upcoming Galaxy S26 Ultra, and now with this early tri-fold prototype. While the Galaxy S26 Ultra is rumored to pack a 5,500mAh battery, the tri-fold reportedly clocks in under 5,000mAh.

That might sound underwhelming, especially when Chinese rivals like Xiaomi and vivo are stuffing 6,500 to 7,000mAh batteries into their latest devices. But Samsung appears to be betting that thinner, sleeker foldables will win the design war. Given how thick the Galaxy Z Fold series has been historically, slimming down could be Samsung’s best move to broaden appeal beyond early adopters.

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We’ve seen signs of this tri-fold ambition before. Back in January at its Unpacked event, Samsung casually dropped hints about XR headsets, AR glasses, and yes, a tri-folding phone. While the company has remained tight-lipped since then, leaks like this one are painting a clearer picture of its future-forward roadmap.

And it couldn’t come at a more competitive time. Huawei’s Mate XT tri-fold is already making waves in China, and Samsung will need more than just slick hardware to reclaim the innovation crown.

With a tentative launch date set for the second half of 2025, the tri-fold Galaxy remains in its prototype phase. But the combination of experimental design and advanced battery chemistry has the makings of a big moment in smartphone history, if Samsung pulls it off.