Samsung’s tri-fold phone edges closer to reality
Samsung’s long-teased tri-fold smartphone has taken a meaningful step toward store shelves. The device, first shown behind glass in late October, has now surfaced in the Bluetooth SIG database, a routine but essential milestone before commercial release. While Bluetooth certification doesn’t reveal specs, it does confirm that Samsung is finalizing compliance and paperwork – a classic sign that broader launch planning is underway.
What stands out is the number of individual model codes listed: SM-D6390, SM-D639N, SM-D639U, SM-D639U1, and SM-D639B. Samsung’s suffixes typically map to regions and sales channels. The U and U1 endings have historically aligned with North American carrier and unlocked variants, N often points to Korea, and the B tag commonly denotes a global or multi-market build. Seeing all of these at once strongly suggests Samsung isn’t treating the tri-fold as a niche experiment confined to a handful of countries.
That matters because first-generation form factors often launch cautiously. Here, the paperwork implies either a wide initial footprint or a very fast rollout shortly after the first wave. China and Korea appear covered, and signs point to North America too. The B variant hints at an extensive international plan, although exact country lists will only be clear at announcement.
Timing remains the big question. Earlier chatter hinted the US might not get the device until next year. Given that it’s already early November 2025 and the phone hasn’t been formally unveiled, a staggered schedule is plausible – debut in select markets first, then a broader push. Bluetooth approval, however, narrows the uncertainty: it usually arrives close enough to launch that marketing, accessories, and carrier testing can proceed in parallel.
As for the hardware, Samsung has shown tri-fold concepts that unfold from a candy-bar shape into an expansive tablet-like canvas, potentially enabling laptop-style tri-panel modes, multi-window workflows, and more durable hinge strategies learned from the Galaxy Z line. None of that is confirmed here, but the certification signals that the company is confident enough to move from prototype to product. The next official step we’re watching for is the full announcement – name, specs, pricing, and the definitive country list. Until then, the Bluetooth SIG entry is the clearest indicator yet that Samsung’s tri-fold is real, near, and likely headed to many more pockets than expected.