The tech giant is working on its rumoured new foldable device with a potential 2025 release date, and a new patent has given a sign of what's to come from the handset.

As reported by @leak7 and VeePN, the patent shows a phone with a display and battery with three hinges, which would be a quad-fold.

While patent ideas don't always become real products, the document shows that Samsung is exploring the idea of a battery with hinges.

This could be realised with the tri-fold phone, with the battery able to fold in the same places as the display.

Further details about the potential development are scarce, although the document does point to technical considerations when it comes to maximising battery capacity and output despite the folds.

A benefit of a foldable battery in such a device is likely to have an improvement battery life, rather than having a fit a smaller powerpack in the handset.

However, that could be a trade off with the size and weight of the device to accommodate the battery.

The Samsung Galaxy tri-fold phone - which would be a competitor to Huawei's Mate XT - is yet to be confirmed, but there have been reports suggested it's lined up for a 2025 launch.

It's believed it would launch alongside a budget version of the Galaxy Z Flip 7.