Technologies

I’m Excited for Samsung’s Trifold Phone, but Its Design Might Be a Weak Spot

Commentary: Samsung’s trifold foldable might not be as similar to the Huawei Mate XT Ultimate as I thought. And that has me worried.

Ever since I first used Huawei’s trifold phone, the Mate XT Ultimate, I have wanted Samsung to launch a similar foldable. Lucky for me, rumors suggest that Samsung has been developing one for a long time and that the new foldable will be released on Dec. 5, in just a couple of weeks. On an earnings call in August, which Seeking Alpha shared, Samsung teased its triple-screen foldable, saying it aims to be a leader in «innovative form factors like the upcoming trifold device.»

I look forward to Samsung’s trifold because Huawei’s trifold phone, which I have used, is brilliant. I should mention that neither device folds three times; each only has two hinges, which segments the screen into three sections, hence the name. And yes, calling either of these phones a trifold makes as much sense as calling a horizontal board with two wheels a hoverboard.

The Huawei Mate XT Ultimate has two hinges that allow it to fold into a Z-shape. These hinges also let it transform into several devices. Unlike the Galaxy Z Fold 7, which has a single hinge and can be used as either a phone or a mini tablet, Huawei’s device can function as a standard phone, a small tablet, or a full-size tablet. Huawei’s trifold phone has one of the most useful designs I’ve tested, with an interface that is as inventive as it is intuitive. As rumors about Samsung’s trifold phone leaked, I kept imagining how its phone could take what Huawei did to the next level.

But then Samsung showcased its dual-hinge phone at a tech exhibition during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation CEO Summit in South Korea, where The Chosun Daily filmed the Galaxy trifold in all its glory. When I saw the video, I was worried. This isn’t what I hoped for. From what I saw, Samsung’s trifold might not live up to my expectations. I’m sure it’ll have unique use cases with its big tablet-size folding screen, but it might miss the mark.

Huawei vs. Samsung trifold: Two hinges and two different designs

Both the Huawei Mate XT and Samsung’s upcoming trifold phone have two hinges, but there are major hardware differences between the two devices.

First, the Mate XT’s hinges fold in opposite directions, giving it a Z-shape. In comparison, Samsung has designed the two hinges to fold in the same direction — inward, to form a G-shape. As CNET’s David Lumb reported, it is ironic that the company with a Z-series of folding phones didn’t adopt that shape and format for its trifold.

Second, the Huawei trifold has a single screen that unfolds into a bigger display. On the other hand, Samsung has added a separate cover screen because you can’t access the inner screen once it is folded closed.

Both these design choices come with their own share of durability and functionality concerns.

Huawei’s design is more flexible than its Samsung counterpart in terms of functionality. The Mate XT has only one display, but that screen is large and can convert into three smartphone/tablet designs — at least that’s why I had always thought people called this a trifold phone, despite folding only twice. You can use the Mate XT like a regular phone (fully folded), a book-style foldable (one hinge folded and the other unfolded) and a tablet (fully unfolded).

In comparison, Samsung will likely offer two ways to use its trifold device — as a phone or a tablet. Samsung’s design could protect the inner display when it’s closed, but there’s a separate screen for external use, like the Galaxy Z Fold 7. Huawei’s trifold has its soft folding display exposed at all times. Samsung’s design may prove to be more durable in the long term, but it also limits the device’s functionality.

The whole point of using a trifold is to have a three-in-one device in your pocket, and that’s why I think Huawei’s design makes more sense.

All this harkens back to the early days of book-style versus taco-style foldable designs. Book-style versions, such as the original Galaxy Fold, had a screen that folded in half and was protected inside the phone’s body when shut. Taco-style variants, like the original Huawei Mate X, had a screen that bent in half to wrap around the outside of the phone like a taco shell: always visible, less protected.

It’s all about the aspect ratios

I didn’t expect to like the Huawei Mate XT when I first started using it. After all, it is (comparatively) thick and weighs 298 grams. However, I saw unique use cases once I started traveling with the phone. I used it for reading, browsing, multitasking, watching my favorite movies and playing games, among other things. I also installed Google apps, which eliminated the need to carry a separate tablet for content consumption or productivity-focused tasks.

Huawei Mate XT Ultimate measures 3.6mm thin when fully unfolded and 12.8mm thick when folded. For context, the Apple iPhone Air is 5.6mm thick, whereas Samsung’s 2024 Galaxy Z Fold 6 measured 12.1mm when folded. (The Galaxy Z Fold 6 launched in the same year as Huawei’s trifold.)

When I use the Galaxy Z Fold 7, I’m mostly on the cover screen for browsing and reading, just as I would with any other phone, and rarely unfold it — mostly because it is so thin when closed. I only open it up to watch a video, but when I do, the letterboxing on the main screen drives me nuts. (It always does, even on the 13-inch iPad Air.) So, I tend to use the hinge to prop it up and watch videos on half the screen.

But in my time with the Huawei trifold, I unfold it much more to use as a mini tablet for browsing and reading, and I unfurl it completely when I want a truly immersive movie-watching experience on its full 10.2-inch main screen.

The Huawei Mate XT Ultimate gives you three different screen experiences, depending on how many of its segments you have opened or closed. It’s a 6.4-inch screen with a 2,232×1,008-pixel resolution (think Pixel 10 Pro Fold‘s cover screen), a 7.9-inch display with 2,232×2,048 pixels (think a little smaller than the Galaxy Z Fold 7’s main screen), and a 10.2-inch screen with a 3,184×2,232-pixel resolution (think nearly the size of an iPad).

Unlike a book-style foldable (like the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold), when the Huawei Mate XT is completely unfolded, its 10.2-inch screen offers a 16:11 aspect ratio, which is closer to what you’d get on a MacBook Air‘s 16:10 display, so there’s less letterboxing when watching movies, TV shows or YouTube videos. It also retains the reading-friendly square-ish aspect ratio of a book-style foldable and folds into a «normal» proportioned phone.

In comparison, the Samsung trifold is likely to skip the option of having it transform into a book-style mini tablet. Samsung’s trifold device will feature a 6.5-inch outer screen and a tablet-size 10-inch folding display, according to the report by The Chosun Daily. This would allow Samsung to have two distinct two-in-one fold phones: a book-style foldable for productivity-focused workloads (Galaxy Z Fold) and a G-shaped fold for better content consumption (the Galaxy trifold).

However, after using the Huawei trifold full time, I want a phone with two hinges to be an all-in-one device, one that I can use as a phone and also unfold into a book-style mini tablet for reading/browsing, as well as into a full-size tablet to watch movies on the go. I found the Mate XT Ultimate especially handy during long commutes or long-haul flights due to its three distinct forms.

As for durability, I haven’t noticed any scratches on my Mate XT after a month of heavy use. The two creases have held up well, and the hinges are as strong as ever, too. When traveling, I always make sure to use the included case, which protects the always-exposed side of the screen. I can even use the case’s built-in kickstand to prop it up when the screen is fully unfolded. I even dropped the phone once, but thankfully, it didn’t break.

I am still excited to see what Samsung has to offer with its new folding phone. I understand the G-shaped design might increase the phone’s durability (compared to the Mate XT Ultimate) and that the South Korean company probably needs to have a mass-production device ready. However, Huawei has already sold more than 470,000 Mate XT trifolds, according to an IDC report (via CNBC). If I’m paying $3,000 for a trifold phone, I shouldn’t have to choose one with a screen that doesn’t allow me the design that I want. I’d rather have the Mate XT Ultimate, where I can have it all.

Technologies

Sam Altman’s World Initiative Expands Human Verification to Tinder and Beyond

Sam Altman’s World initiative expands its human verification technology, starting with a global rollout on Tinder and introducing new features like Concert Kit to combat scalpers and deepfakes.

At a popular spot near the San Francisco waterfront, Sam Altman’s verification project World marked its latest phase and ambitious growth. The initiative begins by partnering with Tinder.

Tools for Humanity (TFH), the firm driving the World project, revealed on Friday that it will embed its verification technology into dating platforms, event ticketing networks, corporate entities, email services, and various other sectors of daily life.

«The world is approaching incredibly advanced AI, which is accomplishing remarkable things,» Altman noted while addressing a full room at The Midway. «However, we are moving toward an era where AI-generated content will surpass human-created material,» he continued. «I am certain many of you [have experienced] moments where you question, ‘Am I communicating with an AI or a real person, or what is the ratio, and how can I verify?’»

World (previously known as Worldcoin) sets itself apart from other identity verification services by enabling the confirmation that a genuine, living individual is accessing a digital platform while maintaining their privacy. This relies on sophisticated cryptographic methods (specifically, «zero-knowledge proof-based authentication»). The result: The organization is developing what it terms «proof of human» solutions, which are systems designed to confirm human presence in an environment increasingly populated by AI agents and automated bots.

Its primary verification instrument is a spherical device named the Orb, which captures a user’s eye patterns to generate a distinct, anonymous cryptographic code (referred to as a verified World ID). This code can then be utilized to access World’s services, though individuals may also use the World application without possessing an Orb.

Altman’s speech on Friday was concise (TFH’s co-founder and CEO, Alex Blania, was missing due to unexpected hand surgery, according to Altman). He subsequently passed the presentation to World’s chief product officer, Tiago Sada, and his colleagues.

Sada detailed that World is introducing the latest iteration of its application (the previous release was unveiled during a December gathering), alongside numerous new technology integrations.

World has been working for a while to introduce a verification system for dating applications — particularly Tinder. Last year, Tinder initiated a World ID trial program in Japan. This trial reportedly succeeded, prompting World to announce that Tinder would roll out its verification integration across global markets, including the U.S. The system adds a World ID badge to the profiles of users who complete its verification steps, confirming their authenticity as real individuals.

World is also targeting the entertainment sector with a new feature called Concert Kit, allowing musicians to set aside specific ticket quantities for World ID-verified attendees. This aims to protect fans from scalpers who frequently employ automated ticket-purchasing bots to secure seats. Concert Kit works with major ticketing platforms like Ticketmaster and Eventbrite, and the company is highlighting it through collaborations with 30 Seconds to Mars and Bruno Mars — both of whom intend to utilize it for their upcoming tours.

The gathering featured numerous additional announcements, including those focused on corporate clients. A Zoom/World ID verification integration aims to counter a perceived deepfake risk in business calls, and a Docusign partnership is designed to ensure

Technologies

From Acquisition Talks to Rivals: How Stripe and Airwallex’s Paths Diverged

Once on the verge of a $1.2 billion acquisition by Stripe, Airwallex founder Jack Zhang rejected the deal to pursue a long-term vision, now positioning the company as a formidable rival in the global payments infrastructure space.

Jack Zhang, a 34-year-old entrepreneur who had been leading his startup for three and a half years, found himself in a pivotal meeting with Michael Moritz, a prominent investor from Sequoia Capital. Invited to Moritz’s San Francisco residence, which offered stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Zhang was presented with an offer: Stripe intended to acquire Airwallex for $1.2 billion. At that moment, Airwallex was generating approximately $2 million in annualized revenue, making the valuation seem incredibly lucrative. Moritz emphasized that Patrick Collison, Stripe’s founder, was a visionary leader, suggesting the acquisition could lead to extraordinary growth. Zhang spent two weeks in San Francisco grappling with the decision, eventually agreeing to the deal.

Yet, he soon flew back to Australia, nearly 8,000 miles away. Reflecting on the decision, Zhang explained, ‘I had to delve into my core motivations for building Airwallex. I was only three and a half years into the venture, which had grown exponentially in 2018. I had just begun to experience the thrill of entrepreneurship, which is what I had always dreamed of.’

Two of his co-founders opposed the acquisition, which influenced his choice. However, Zhang cited a clearer moment of clarity when he looked at the whiteboard in his office. The unfinished vision remained: to create financial infrastructure enabling businesses to operate globally as if they were local entities.

This decision appears increasingly justified. Airwallex now reports over $1.3 billion in annualized revenue, growing 85% annually, and processes nearly $300 billion in transaction volume. Zhang attributes this success to the deliberate challenges they faced.

Zhang’s journey began in Qingdao, China, and he moved to Melbourne at 15 with minimal English, living with a host family. After his family’s financial struggles, he worked multiple jobs to fund his computer science degree at the University of Melbourne, including bartending, dishwashing, gas station shifts, and farm work. He later worked in trading code development at an Australian investment bank, a role that paid well but lacked personal fulfillment.

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Before founding Airwallex, Zhang launched approximately 10 ventures, including a magazine at 14, a real estate development firm, import-export businesses dealing in wine and olive oil between Australia and Asia, textiles in the opposite direction, and a burger chain.

The concept for Airwallex emerged while Zhang ran a Melbourne coffee shop. When attempting to pay suppliers in Brazil, Indonesia, and Guatemala, co-founder Max Li observed payments vanishing into correspondent banking systems, often flagged or frozen by U.S. intermediary banks enforcing OFAC sanctions. ‘This prompted me to investigate correspondent banking and SWIFT systems to build our own global money movement network,’ Zhang noted.

That vision has scaled significantly. Airwallex now holds nearly 90 financial licenses across 50 markets, far exceeding Stripe’s estimated half. Acquiring these licenses required immense effort; in Japan, it took seven years. In some emerging markets, the company acquired shell companies with outdated licenses and rebuilt their technology from scratch.

‘You can’t just vibe-code an integration with Mexico’s central bank,’ Zhang remarked. ‘Access requires a secure room and biometric scans.’ These licenses are not merely regulatory formalities. In Japan, for example, Stripe and Square must transfer funds immediately to merchants’ bank accounts, whereas Airwallex, holding a fund transfer operator license, retains funds within its ecosystem. This allows customers to issue bank accounts, cards, and spend locally without funds leaving the platform.

The foreign exchange advantages are significant. A U.S. merchant settling transactions in Australian dollars avoids the 2% to 3% conversion fees typically charged by processors like Stripe to move funds back to U.S. dollars. Instead, they can use local balances to pay vendors, manage payroll, and cover digital marketing at interbank rates.

‘You no longer operate like a traditional U.S. company,’ Zhang explained. ‘You function as a global entity without the need to physically establish offices worldwide.’ This strategic approach, which Zhang calls the ‘path of maximum resistance,’ has created competitive barriers. ‘It took us six and a half years to reach $100 million in annual recurring revenue,’ Zhang stated. ‘But after that, it took just over three years to hit a billion.’ The competitive logic, in his telling, is clear.

Technologies

App Store Experiences a Resurgence, With AI as a Potential Catalyst

Contrary to predictions that AI would render mobile apps obsolete, new app launches are surging, with iOS seeing an 80% year-over-year increase in Q1 2026, potentially driven by AI lowering development barriers.

The narrative that artificial intelligence would spell the end for mobile applications appears to be incorrect, as the volume of newly launched apps is experiencing a significant surge.

Data from analytics firm Appfigures reveals that global app deployments during the initial three months of 2026 increased by 60% compared to the same period last year, spanning both Apple’s App Store and Google Play. When isolating the iOS ecosystem, this growth rate climbed to an impressive 80%. Early data for April 2026 shows a staggering 104% jump in total app releases across both platforms year-over-year, with iOS seeing an 89% rise.

Echoing this trend, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing, Greg «Joz» Joswiak, recently remarked in an interview that predictions regarding the demise of the App Store in the era of artificial intelligence «may have been greatly exaggerated.»

These statistics surface amidst widespread speculation that the proliferation of AI chatbots and autonomous agents might cause users to abandon traditional applications. This perspective has been voiced by industry figures such as Nothing CEO Carl Pei, who is currently developing a smartphone tailored for the AI epoch. Furthermore, The New York Times previously highlighted the potential for emerging computing forms, including smart eyewear, ambient devices, and AI-enhanced watches, to surpass smartphones.

In a notable development, OpenAI is reportedly collaborating with renowned Apple designer Jony Ive on a new AI-focused hardware product.

Conversely, an alternative theory suggests that artificial intelligence is lowering the barrier to entry for app development, potentially triggering a renaissance for the App Store. This emerging wave could be spearheaded by innovators with creative concepts but lacking traditional coding expertise.

According to Appfigures’ analytics, specific app categories are experiencing heightened development activity.

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While mobile gaming continues to dominate the landscape for new app deployments globally in Q1 2026, mirroring previous trends, «productivity» tools have successfully entered the top five this year. The «utilities» sector has climbed to the second position, while «lifestyle» applications have advanced from fifth to third place last year. Completing the top five are «health and fitness» applications.