Samsung's Galaxy Z TriFold makes more sense than you think

Samsung's Galaxy Z TriFold makes more sense than you think Credit: Lucas Gouveia / Android Police | Samsung By  Stephen Radochia Published 35 minutes ago When Mitsubishi made your first cellphone, you know you’ve been around a while. Steve has carried the latest and greatest around in his pocket for nearly 30 years, with everything from Motorola StarTACs to Samsung Galaxys crossing his path. Early appearances on TechTV fueled his love of media, and when he isn’t writing, you’ll find him ranting on YouTube as StevealiciousTech. Sign in to your Android Police account Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap

I’m genuinely excited by Samsung’s Galaxy Z TriFold, and that’s not something I can say about many smartphones in 2025.

I enjoy using book-style foldables like the Galaxy Z Fold 7, but they always feel like an awkward compromise.

I don’t really feel I’m getting full use out of the larger internal display, and I struggle to get value from the premium I pay over a regular phone.

That won’t be the case with the Galaxy Z TriFold — no matter what the price is. It’s a device with a clear identity from the start.

Samsung’s announcement featured concrete examples of why you’d spend the extra money, and they’re precisely what I’ve been waiting for from folding phones.

The cost will be prohibitive for most, and I doubt the Galaxy Z TriFold will break into the mainstream. However, it’ll be the perfect phone for some — here’s why.

Related Samsung’s rumored trifold phone could save big foldables

I need a reason to spend

Posts 4 By  Stephen Radochia May 31, 2025

I want to do more on my folding phone

The Galaxy Z TriFold is a versatile device

Credit: Samsung

The entertainment and productivity possibilities on the Galaxy Z TriFold are what have me most excited.

I love getting a more complete YouTube experience, allowing me to scroll through comments and browse similar videos without needing to pull away from the video I’m currently watching.

The wide-screen viewing experience is better than on a book-style folding phone — watching TV shows and movies will be more enjoyable.

I’m interested in testing out games and seeing whether any desktop games can be ported effectively.

It appears to be a full tablet experience, and for the price we pay, I’m going to need it to replace some of the tech I already own.

Still, a 10-inch internal display is ideal for productivity. The Snapdragon 8 Elite is a powerful chipset, and we don’t tap into most of its performance with our current phones.

Multitasking on the Galaxy Z TriFold makes more sense, with apps given plenty of room to breathe.

It also comes with a standalone Samsung DeX experience. Still, I’m hoping developers step up and give us desktop-class applications.

I never understood people who edited photos and videos on their smartphones, but the Galaxy Z TriFold changes that.

I could easily see people scrubbing through a timeline or tweaking images on a 10-inch display. It has the potential to be a portable workstation that folds up to fit in your pocket.

It needs to replace everything I carry daily

The Galaxy Z TriFold only makes sense under specific circumstances

Credit: Samsung

It’s safe to assume the Galaxy Z TriFold will cost between $2,500 and $3,000 when it’s released in the US. I don’t care how much the phone can do; it’s still a significant investment.

I can make a case that the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is an enjoyable phone for casual users, but that’s a harder conversation with the Z TriFold.

NASCAR and Formula 1 engines aren’t designed to run at low RPM, and the brakes don’t work unless you get heat into them by going fast.

Similarly, the Galaxy Z TriFold isn’t a device for just scrolling through Instagram or responding to a few WhatsApp messages. Unless you’re replacing your tablet and laptop on the go, it’s just a 309g phone with a 6.5-inch display in your pocket.

If you’d typically carry around a Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra or similar high-end tablet, the Galaxy Z TriFold could fill that role. It’s perfect for entertainment and working on a large canvas, and it’s significantly more portable, reducing the bulk you carry.

I’m most looking forward to using the Galaxy Z TriFold as a laptop replacement. Paired with a portable keyboard and mouse, you have quite the productivity setup.

Whenever I have some downtime, I usually pull out my ThinkPad or trusty Tandy 102 to get some writing done, but both are bulky in my messenger bag.

Now, I can just bring along one device, and while I have to remember my keyboard and mouse, it’s still less cumbersome than what I was carrying before.

There are still plenty of drawbacks to the Galaxy Z TriFold

Buyers have to be sure it’s for them

Credit: Samsung

Aside from the price, there are other reasons you’d hesitate to buy a Galaxy Z TriFold.

I’m comfortable thumb-typing on my Galaxy Z Fold 7 on the internal screen, but pounding out quick messages on the Galaxy Z TriFold seems challenging.

I hate typing on full tablets, and that’s roughly the experience you’d be getting on Samsung’s new trifold.

Opening it on the fly for media content or gaming isn’t an issue, but for emails and messages, you’ll want to use a keyboard or the cover screen.

I’ve seen some videos of the camera hump making the Galaxy Z TriFold wobble when it’s set down on a table. Even if it’s not that bad, the cover screen is exposed and lying against a hard surface.

You’ll want to make sure you put on a screen protector, because nothing will be worse than micro-abrasions on your new device.

Not including S Pen support also feels like a mistake. Samsung gives us this massive, gorgeous display that screams out for an S Pen but doesn’t come through.

I wouldn’t equate the durability of the Galaxy Z TriFold to the first-gen Galaxy Z Fold. Samsung’s learned plenty about hinges and engineering over the last six years, so the device isn’t starting from scratch. It’s a combination of technologies, but it’s still the company’s first.

Samsung is trying to soften the blow by offering discounts on screen repairs, but a 10-inch internal display is a massive canvas ripe for damage.

I’ve yet to have issues with my Galaxy Z Fold displays, but I can also see myself using the Galaxy Z TriFold more while unfolded and on stands in different positions — it’s something to think about.

Can’t knock Samsung for not innovating

I know the Galaxy Z TriFold isn’t the first trifold device we’ve seen, but I give Samsung credit for innovating and bringing it to the US.

It’s one of the more interesting devices I’ve seen, and while it’s a lot of money, it also delivers significant value to the right customer.

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