Once I first heard whispers in regards to the Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold, I instantly felt conflicted. On one hand it felt just like the pure evolution of bi-fold telephones just like the Z Fold 7. However on the opposite, all this fancy tech comes with a good increased worth — round $2,500 primarily based on present conversion charges from Korean received — to not point out the added bulk you get from a 3rd folding panel. So at the same time as somebody who has used a foldable as my day by day driver for nearly a decade straight, it felt like Samsung’s newest high-end telephone was going backwards by way of each portability and affordability. However then at CES 2026, I bought an opportunity to go hands-on with the Galaxy Z TriFold and all of my considerations just about immediately disappeared as a result of with this factor, flexing is believing.
My preliminary consternation comes largely from utilizing the Z Fold 7, which hit a significant milestone this 12 months due to a revamped design that doesn’t include any added measurement or weight even when in comparison with comparable candybar-style telephones just like the Galaxy S25 Extremely. That’s a significant breakthrough contemplating how hefty and chunky the unique Galaxy Fold was again in 2019. And while you evaluate the Z Fold 7’s dimensions (7.58 ounces and eight.9mm thick when folded) to the brand new TriFold (10.9 ounces and 12.9mm when folded), there’s little question that Samsung’s new flagship foldable comes with lots of additional bulk. To place issues into context, we’ve got to return a number of generations to the Z Fold 5 simply to discover a comparable telephone with comparable thickness (13.4mm). And even then, that handset continues to be considerably lighter than the TriFold at 8.92 ounces.
However then I opened it up and my considerations had been rapidly pushed apart as a result of instantly you’re greeted with 10 inches of vivid AMOLED goodness. As a telephone that may pull double obligation as a pill, the bounce up from the Z Fold 7’s 8-inch important show can’t be understated. Not solely does it make multitasking a lot simpler, when mixed with Samsung’s DeX desktop mode, you principally get a miniature laptop computer expertise from a tool that matches in a pocket. Particularly in case you don’t thoughts carrying round a travel-friendly mouse and keyboard. Plus, you possibly can join the TriFold to an exterior show (both wired or wirelessly) to entry much more display screen house. Far more than with the Z Fold 7, I can truthfully see myself leaving my PC at house and utilizing the TriFold as my main work gadget.
One other vital however simply missed improve on the Galaxy Z Trifold is the 4:3 side ratio for its 10-inch important show. In comparison with the Z Fold 7 and its nearly completely sq. display screen, you simply get a lot additional room on the edges for widescreen motion pictures and exhibits. I examined this out by watching the trailer for Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, and despite the fact that that film makes use of an excellent broad side ratio because of being filmed completely on IMAX cameras, the viewing expertise was simply so significantly better. Peak watchability is one thing the common Z Fold line has form of left by the wayside as the corporate moved to bigger exterior shows, which resulted within the sequence’ main display screen turning into extra sq.. The one draw back although is that the TriFold might make you extra of a decision snob, because it’s lots simpler to inform the distinction between 1080p and 2K or 4K on a bigger 10-inch panel.
The ultimate pillar of the TriFold’s package is all of the engineering that Samsung put into making it simple to open and shut. Merely shifting from one hinge to 2 whereas including a 3rd folding panel undersells the complexity of its design. Samsung truly makes use of two several types of magnets that push or pull relying on the place they’re, which makes accessing the TriFold’s main show virtually simply as simple as on the Z Fold 7. That’s no small feat. Opening and shutting this factor is simply so satisfying on a tactile degree, and that’s earlier than you think about that there’s principally no downgrade by way of picture high quality.
Whereas there’s just one strategy to unfurl the TriFold, which could appear complicated at first, Samsung addressed that too by throwing up a warning and making the entire telephone vibrate in case you attempt to do it fallacious. After which there are elements just like the glass-reinforced carbon panels Samsung makes use of so as to add power and sturdiness to its chassis whereas preserving it as skinny as doable. The one potential concern sooner or later is that not like Samsung’s older foldables, there’s not as a lot room for enchancment to shrink its dimensions a lot additional, because the TriFold’s slimness is at the moment restricted by the dimensions of its USB-C jack. So if the following mannequin needs to make large good points there, it could must go utterly portless.
On a sure degree, I sort of hate how a lot I just like the Galaxy Z TriFold. I actually don’t need to return to greater, heavier telephones which can be much more cumbersome and costly than the Z Fold 7. However the attraction is not possible to disclaim and for individuals who love a great multitasker, I can simply see how these tradeoffs are definitely worth the upside of Samsung’s newest apex foldable.
The Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold is at the moment on sale in South Korea, although we’re nonetheless ready for official pricing and availability for the US and North American market.
The Galaxy Z TriFold is one among many new applied sciences Samsung introduced at CES 2026. On the house leisure facet of issues, the corporate revealed up to date OLED TVs and confirmed off an enormous 130-inch Micro RGB TV, the latter of which representing a development we’re seeing on the present this 12 months. There’s additionally a brand new Samsung soundbar that gives spectacular bass efficiency sans subwoofer. Samsung’s Music Studio 5 and seven audio system have distinctive designs that might mix in properly with your own home decor, and the forthcoming Galaxy E book 6 sequence of laptops are thin-and-light notebooks powered by Intel Panther Lake chips.
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