Galaxy Z TriFold Prototype Hints at Scrapped "Ultra" Camera Setup
If you’ve followed the tech world long enough, you know that what happens behind closed doors at companies like Samsung often stays there until someone makes a mistake.
In a recent video, I discussed a fascinating slip-up that gives us a rare glimpse into what the Galaxy Z TriFold could have been. It involves a now-deleted LinkedIn post, a Samsung Marketing VP, and a mysterious fourth camera lens.
The Leak: A Prototype in Plain Sight?
The story starts with a LinkedIn post from a Samsung VP of Marketing. The post was intended to hype up the new Galaxy Z TriFold, discussing its features and the philosophy behind the device. It included several photos of the executive holding the phone.
However, the post was quickly pulled down. Why? It seems the device in his hands wasn't the one consumers are getting.
Thanks to SamMobile (who saved the images before they vanished), we can see a clear shot of the camera module on the back of the device. If you count the lenses, there aren't three. There are four.
The Mystery of the Fourth Camera
The released version of the Galaxy Z TriFold comes with a triple camera setup: a main sensor, an ultrawide, and a 3x telephoto. This is very similar to what we see on the Z Fold 7.
But the device in the leaked image clearly sports an extra sensor. While the fourth bump appears slightly shallower than the others, its presence suggests Samsung was testing a quad-camera array, likely aiming to match the "Ultra" series specs (like the S25 Ultra).
This theory aligns with another strange leak we saw recently: an animation discovered in an unreleased One UI build. That animation showed a zoom interface going all the way up to 100x. Since the official TriFold caps out at 30x (consistent with a standard 3x optical zoom), that 100x capability didn't make sense until now. It’s very likely the software was built for this quad-camera prototype that never made it to mass production.
Why Was It Scrapped?
If Samsung had a working prototype with better cameras, why didn't they release it?
The most probable answer is cost. The Galaxy Z TriFold is already an incredibly expensive, low-volume device. Unlike the S-series phones, which benefit from massive economies of scale, niche foldables have tighter margins. Adding a high-end periscope zoom lens (likely the intended 4th camera) might have pushed the price too high or eaten too much into the profit margin for a first-generation product.
Hope for the Future?
While it's disappointing that we didn't get the "Ultra" camera setup this time, seeing this prototype is actually good news. It proves that Samsung is experimenting with putting top-tier cameras on their foldables.
For years, Z Fold users have complained that they are paying premium prices for sub-premium cameras. The fact that this prototype made it into the hands of a Marketing VP suggests it was a serious contender late into development.
Could this mean the Galaxy Z Fold 8 will finally get that 5x optical zoom we’ve been waiting for? We can only hope.