Samsung may be holding off on releasing the Galaxy Z Fold 3, but apparently the company is planning a new foldable for 2022.

Yogesh, a Twitter tipster, told GizmoChina that Samsung's previously leaked tri-fold design may be coming as a foldable tablet.Scheduled for release in Q1 2022, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold Tab will support the S Pen and feature the same tempered UTG (ultra-thin glass) that will be featured on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3.

This is the only detail Yogesh is aware of at this time, but informants say that Samsung may provide a teaser for this device when the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3 are announced. This appears to be something that is still being discussed within Samsung.

This is not the first time we have heard about Samsung's plans for a foldable tablet. Earlier this month, a patent for a more conventional clamshell tablet design was discovered, and Samsung may ultimately decide that this is more practical.

Meanwhile, Apple is about to unveil the iPad Pro 2021, which is expected to feature a similar design to existing models, but add an improved mini LED display and a faster A-series chip made of Apple silicon. Apple is reportedly working on a foldable phone, the iPhone Flip, but we have not heard any rumors about a foldable iPad. [The Galaxy Z Fold Tab could be considered the tablet equivalent of the Galaxy Z Flip, which can be folded for easy portability, rather than a completely new use like the Galaxy Z Fold 2. After all, there is no indication that the Galaxy Z Fold Tab will have an external screen for closed use. If so, it would be virtually indistinguishable from the existing Galaxy Z Fold line, unless it is considerably larger when open.

If that is correct, the million dollar question is whether there is a market for this. In my opinion, it comes down to two things: how much people actually travel with tablets, and how expensive the Galaxy Z Fold Tab will ultimately be when it is announced next year.

On the first point, if most people use their tablets around the house, then dramatically reducing the size is not that useful. The only time a tablet's footprint really becomes an issue is when it is routinely tossed into a bag when commuting or traveling. Especially if the screen is no longer exposed to scratches thanks to folding.

Then there is the issue of price. Samsung's foldable tablets have never been cheap, with the Galaxy Z Flip 5G starting at $1,449 and the Z Fold 2 at $1,999. Foldable tablets do not require the same cellular internals (although LTE models will almost certainly be available), but the screen is the expensive part of a foldable, and those the size of a tablet will have more display.

If Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold Tab approaches or breaks the four-figure mark, it will be a tough sell indeed; if the Galaxy Z Fold 3 offers both tablet and phone for $1,999, the foldable tablet and phone Who would feel the need to purchase them separately?

There are many unknowns here, and it would be very surprising if Samsung is not asking similar questions internally. Given that we haven't seen the product launch this year, it is possible that the technology will start becoming more affordable before the Galaxy Z Fold Tab is ready for showtime.

Samsung clearly believes there is a future in foldables, and the success or failure of the Galaxy Z Fold Tab will go a long way in showing whether the market agrees.