Here's what we know about Tecno's new Phantom Ultimate G Fold tri-fold concept
While the G Fold remains a prototype for now, Tecno’s timing is smart.
Foldables have started to settle into a predictable cycle—thinner, sleeker, more refined, but rarely surprising. Tecno, however, seems to be breaking the mold with its Phantom Ultimate G Fold, a tri-fold concept device that leans heavily into experimental design.
In a July 7 press release, Tecno revealed new details about the device, pitching it as the “thinnest of its kind.” Unlike Huawei’s outward-folding Mate XT, this model features a dual-hinge design that folds inward twice.
The idea is to fully protect the screens when the phone is closed—no exposed panels, no accidental scuffs. Tecno claims this folding method allows the phone to lie completely flat when opened, while remaining as slim as a traditional book-style foldable, despite housing three screens.
Louis Eriakha
It’s a bold claim, especially as it eyes comparisons to ultra-thin competitors like Honor’s Magic V5. The company is also teasing a feature called "multi-angle hovering", essentially letting the phone hold its position like a mini laptop.
It’s a function that opens up hands-free use cases: watching videos, reading, even translating conversations without touching the screen.
Not-so-surprising, visuals of the phone have already leaked. On the same day as Tecno’s announcement, well-known tipster Ice Universe shared on X (formerly Twitter) what appears to be early images of the device.
It's the first real look at how Tecno might be executing this complex hardware design, and so far, it looks impressively compact.
Last year, just before Huawei unveiled its tri-fold phone, Tecno showcased its own tri-fold concept design to the world. This year, Tecno continues to push boundaries by revealing the TECNO PHANTOM Ultimate G Fold Concept ahead of Samsung Unpacked. Yes, this is an inward-folding… pic.twitter.com/AdHJTcGYo8
— PhoneArt (@UniverseIce) July 7, 2025
Tecno has been inching into the premium tri-fold smartphone space for a while now. Its earlier concept, the Phantom Ultimate 2, was unveiled last year and made waves with its 11mm thickness. The new G Fold concept builds on that momentum, but adds another layer of innovation with a horizontal triple camera array, well, based on leaked images.
While the G Fold remains a prototype for now, Tecno’s timing is smart. Huawei has already launched a tri-fold commercially, and Samsung appears to be next, with One UI 8 beta animations hinting at a similar form factor in development. We expect to see what Samsung is working on at its Galaxy Unpacked event this week.
Tecno, known for delivering stylish hardware at aggressive price points, seems eager to get in early before giants like Samsung dominate this next wave of foldable. If Tecno can pull off a well-built tri-fold at a competitive price, it could disrupt the foldable market much like it did with the budget phone market.
That’s the bigger bet: not just to innovate, but to democratize futuristic design for a more price-sensitive market.
The full reveal is expected in mid-July. Whether the G Fold makes it to mass production or stays a design exercise, it’s clear Tecno doesn’t want to be left on the sidelines as the foldable category evolves.
