Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold Hands-On: A Bold Leap Into the Future of Foldables

Samsung has been one of the biggest driving forces behind the modern foldable smartphone market. While it wasn’t the first company to release a folding phone—Royole beat everyone to the punch with the FlexPai in 2018—it was Samsung that made the concept mainstream in 2019 with the launch of the Galaxy Fold. Since then, the brand has continuously refined the category, leading the charge alongside competitors such as OnePlus, Oppo, Vivo, Google, and Motorola, all of which introduced their own foldable designs. Samsung’s latest conventional foldable remains the Galaxy Z Fold 7.

In recent years, however, foldables have struggled to deliver major breakthroughs, with most brands offering only incremental upgrades. But the segment is heating up again—Huawei recently unveiled the world’s first commercially launched triple-folding phone, the Mate XT. Now, Samsung has answered with its own take on the next evolution: the Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold, a device that aims to make foldables exciting and genuinely useful again.

The Galaxy Z TriFold introduces Samsung’s unique triple-folding hinge system, delivering a true hybrid experience that seamlessly switches between phone, phablet, and tablet modes. I had the opportunity to try the device briefly, and it’s clear that Samsung is rethinking what a foldable can be.

When folded, the TriFold functions like a regular smartphone with a 6.5-inch AMOLED cover display and a 12.9mm thickness—chunkier than a standard phone, but still pocket-friendly. Unfold it once, and you get a larger phablet experience. Unfold it a second time, and the phone transforms into a massive 10-inch ultra-thin tablet-style display, significantly larger than the 8-inch screen on the Galaxy Z Fold 7. At this size and aspect ratio (16:11), the device feels closer to an Android tablet than any previous Samsung foldable.

Despite its thin 3.9–4.2mm profile when fully opened, the phone remains surprisingly comfortable to hold, even with a weight of 309 grams. The frame is built using Armour Aluminium, while two titanium hinges support the folding panels. Samsung claims the device has survived over 200,000 fold cycles in durability testing. Folding it back correctly takes some getting used to—you must fold the left panel first, then the right—but helpful haptic cues and alerts guide you when mistakes are made.

Build quality impresses, with a premium Ceramic-Glass Fibre reinforced polymer back, and Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2 protection on the front. The phone also offers an IP48 rating, which is reasonable given its complex hinge system.

Software enhancements are a key highlight. The TriFold now supports three-app split-screen multitasking, making productivity smoother and more intuitive. Samsung DeX mode operates independently as well, allowing the device to double as a mini PC when paired with a wireless keyboard—ideal for emails, document edits, or presentations. Even in a short session, the expanded workspace felt far more practical than on traditional foldables.

Under the hood, the Galaxy Z TriFold delivers flagship-grade hardware, including the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, 16GB RAM, a 5,600mAh triple-cell battery, and 45W wired plus 15W wireless charging. Camera hardware mirrors the Z Fold 7, led by a 200MP primary sensor alongside ultra-wide and telephoto lenses.

Unfortunately for Indian consumers, Samsung has confirmed that the Galaxy Z TriFold is not planned for launch in India anytime soon. The device is currently available in Korea, China, Taiwan, Singapore, and the UAE, and is expected to debut in the United States in Q1 2026.

Rewritten Specification Table