Every year there are new smartphones, new tablets, and more devices, but Samsung is still surprising us with their new smartphone: the Galaxy Z TriFold. This is nothing like the smartphones we are used to seeing, it folds in two places, like a brochure, to offer a giant iPad-sized screen that still fits in your pocket.
Samsung presented it during the CES technology conference in Las Vegas, although it has not officially launched in the United States yet. So, let’s find out more about this unique smartphone, shall we?
What makes the Galaxy Z TriFold special
Opposite to other smartphones, the Galaxy Z TriFold has a screen that folds in two places. For example, previous models, like the Galaxy Z Fold 7, could only be folded once. So, the new Samsung smartphone allows you to have a larger screen whenever you need it, but it’s still compact for when you want to put it in your pocket. Samsung stated that the smartphone is designed for people who use their device mainly for work or being productive, so let’s see the most highlighted features:
- Running split-screen apps to use multiple applications at the same time.
- The screen acts like a computer monitor, letting users resize and move windows freely.
- You can connect a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, turning the phone into a mini-laptop.
- Google’s Gemini assistant can answer questions about multiple apps on the screen at once, making multitasking easier with fewer taps and swipes.
Basically, the Galaxy Z TriFold is not a simple phone, but it also works as a small laptop for those who need extra productivity on their smartphones.
Design and technology
Samsung is a leader when it comes to developing foldable smartphones, and the Galaxy Z TriFold represents a step forward toward the future of smartphones. The screen is over 25 centimeters and folds in two parts, offering more display space than the Galaxy Z Fold 7, which has a 20-centimeter screen that only folds once.
Although Samsung has not yet announced the price, it is expected to be high, similar to other foldable models. For example, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 costs around $2,000. However, Samsung’s main goal isn’t just selling millions of units, but showing that traditional smartphones still have room for innovation.
Liz Lee, Associate Director at Counterpoint Research, stated that the TriFold is likely a “strategic pilot project” to test how consumers interact with new technology. Also, Drew Blackard, Senior Vice President of Mobile Product Management at Samsung Electronics America, said that the exciting part is seeing which formats attract different users, and that this device represents the next step in evolving smartphone design.
Impressive features v. Practical use
The Galaxy Z TriFold is thin and futuristic, but it has some drawbacks. When closed, it feels like holding two phones stacked together, which can be cumbersome. Still, Samsung has improved on early foldable devices by:
- Offering cameras comparable to the Galaxy S25 Ultra, so photo quality is not compromised.
- Keeping the two screen folds visible but not too distracting while using the phone.
However, Samsung does not provide a clear reason why all consumers would need such a large screen. A bigger display allows viewing multiple apps or watching videos more comfortably, but it does not provide any unique function that makes it indispensable compared to a standard smartphone.
The future of foldable phones
Even though foldable phones like the Galaxy Z TriFold and the Galaxy X Fold 7 still represent a small part of the market, the trend seems to be here to stay. Almost all major Android phone brands offer foldables, and Apple is expected to launch its first foldable.
These devices are more expensive than traditional phones, and most buyers only get a new phone when their current one breaks or becomes outdated. Still, Samsung continues to experiment with different formats and technologies to see what succeeds and how smartphones will evolve in the coming years.
So, having in mind the Galaxy Z TriFold features, would you change your current phone for this one?