After some quality time with the Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold I'm sure it's going to be a hit here's why

Date:
Mon, 12 Jan 2026 14:41:26 +0000

Description:
Software and hardware on the Galaxy Z TriFold blend perfectly to create a second-to-none experience.

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Folding phones with two screens will soon be forgettable; theres a new
folding phone champion on the market. Samsung has finally joined the Huawei Mate XT with a tri-folding phone, but unlike Huaweis first tri-fold, this takes an entirely different approach.

Weve been hearing about Samsungs tri-fold phone for over a year, but the company finally unveiled it earlier this month, and its already on sale. Except, you cant buy it easily. The US launch is several weeks away, yet its already on sale in key markets around the world.

Ive just returned from a trip to Dubai, where Samsung recently launched the Galaxy Z TriFold, and, as in its home market of South Korea, it sold out in just minutes. I went hands-on with this big new phone in a Samsung store, and after just 30 minutes, Im convinced its going to be a smash hit. Heres why! Two distinct devices in one wonderful form factor (Image credit: Nirave Gondhia)

The Galaxy Z TriFold differs from the Huawei Mate XT in a key way: its form factor. Huawei chose to build a three-in-one folding phone that unfolds from
a regular smartphone into a dual-folding phone, then unfolds again to reveal
a tablet-sized display. This means you can run three different form factors
on one device, but its also thicker and less optimized.

Meanwhile, Samsung chose a different approach. The Galaxy Z TriFold features
a 6.5-inch display on the rear that unfolds to reveal a 10-inch display akin to the best Samsung tablets . Both are distinct in that you have to choose between them, and theres no middle ground. Yet, this actually works in its favor, especially as it ensures the main display remains protected when not
in use.

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 and the best folding phones all adopt a similar approach: a regular smartphone that unfolds to unveil a mini-tablet-like screen. The Galaxy Z TriFold takes it a step further: a smartphone that unfolds into a full-sized tablet. Yes, it wont appeal to those who want a smaller tablet,
but thats why the Galaxy Z Fold 7 exists, and the Galaxy Z TriFold is
designed for those who want a larger display than the Galaxy Z Fold 7 offers. The Galaxy Z TriFold comes alive thanks to One UI (Image credit: Nirave Gondhia)

Like the Galaxy Z Fold 7, the Galaxy Z TriFold offers several fantastic software features that bring the form factor to life. For years, Ive believed that Samsungs Multi-Window multitasking features were designed for the
folding form factor, and the Galaxy Z TriFold further reinforces this.

Two specific multitasking features make the Galaxy Z TriFold a joy to use. First, Samsung has chosen the 10-inch form factor, so it natively allows you to use three apps simultaneously. Each of these is displayed as it would on a regular smartphone screen, meaning theres no optimization or software tricks needed for apps to appear properly. (Image credit: Nirave Gondhia)

Like the Galaxy Z Fold 7 , the Galaxy S25 Ultra , and the best Samsung phones , you can also run more apps in pop-up windows. I managed to open eight app windows at once, and it works seamlessly on the large screen. The window management is second-to-none, and this is likely due to the second key software feature: DeX . DeX was made for the Galaxy Z TriFold (Image credit: Nirave Gondhia)

This is where Samsung has a significant advantage over competitors, both in its smartphones and in tablets like the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra . DeX is
Samsungs way of bridging the gap between mobile devices and computers, and on most devices it lets you open a desktop-like environment complete with
window management and desktop-optimized versions of top apps when plugged into an external display.

The larger display on the Galaxy Z TriFold means the latter point is no
longer necessary; unfold the phone to its full 10-inch screen, and Samsung
DeX can run natively with no external accessories needed. This means you can finally have a laptop-like folding experience on the go, and it also has me convinced that Samsung has the necessary software features to launch a larger folding laptop.

Window management is fantastic on the Galaxy Z TriFold, and DeX supports a full desktop-like experience. Yes, some apps need further optimization to achieve feature-and-experience parity with desktop apps, but this is the closest weve come to a portable laptop that you can carry in your pocket. The rest of the Galaxy Z TriFold experience (Image credit: Nirave Gondhia)

Beyond the software, the Galaxy Z TriFold is impressively thin at 3.9mm when unfolded. At 12.9mm when fully folded, its also only slightly thicker than last years Galaxy Z Fold 6 , which measured 12.1mm when folded. Both measurements are marginally thicker than the Huawei Mate XT Ultimate.
However, the boxy design which is akin to the Galaxy Z Fold 7 means it
still feels extremely comfortable in the hand.

The 10-inch display has two distinct creases, and while theyre reduced compared to the Galaxy Z Fold 7, theyre still noticeable. However, like most folding phones, your eyes quickly adjust, and it will become far less noticeable over time. Weighing 309 grams, the Galaxy Z TriFold is also fairly heavy, but not so heavy that its a dealbreaker, and still lighter than most tablets of this size. Image 1 of 7 (Image credit: Nirave Gondhia) Image 2 of
7 (Image credit: Nirave Gondhia) Image 3 of 7 (Image credit: Nirave Gondhia) Image 4 of 7 (Image credit: Nirave Gondhia) Image 5 of 7 (Image credit:
Nirave Gondhia) Image 6 of 7 (Image credit: Nirave Gondhia) Image 7 of 7 (Image credit: Nirave Gondhia)

Some additional benefits to choosing a folding tablet over a regular tablet include durability with IP48 dust and water resistance up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes and the cameras. Yes, like the Galaxy Z Fold 7, the Galaxy Z TriFold wont beat the best smartphone cameras, but it does feature the same 200MP main camera, 12MP ultrawide, and 10MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom that youll find on the Galaxy S25 Ultra.

Then theres the battery. The Galaxy Z TriFold is powered by the same 5,600
mAh battery youll find on the Huawei Mate XT, and its the biggest battery in
a Samsung flagship phone to date. This is paired with 45W wired charging that delivers 50% charge in 30 minutes, as well as 15W wireless charging and 4.5W reverse wireless charging. I cant wait for the Galaxy Z TriFold to be more available (Image credit: Nirave Gondhia)

I spent just 30 minutes with the Galaxy Z TriFold, but the software experience, beautiful hardware, and dual form factor have me convinced that this is the right form factor for tri-folding phones. In particular, the software experience is second-to-none and includes the full suite of Galaxy
AI features youll find on most Samsung phones.

The Galaxy Z TriFold is expected to be released in the US and more global markets in Q1, but it wont be cheap. In Korea, its priced at roughly $2,500, while in the UAE, its priced at almost $3,300. Yet, this smaller Samsung
store has over 70 people on a waitlist for future stock, and in the 30
minutes that I was there, three more people added their names and placed pre-orders.

Given how much the phone appeals to me after a short hands-on experience,
this doesnt surprise me. Im convinced that this is the next generation of folding phones, and the only likely issue is the price. That said, I cant
wait to own one as well. You may like The Galaxy Z Trifold has a neat PC trick, and I hope it comes to the iPhone Fold Ive tried the best phone
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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/phones/samsung-galaxy-phones/after-some-quality-time -with-the-samsung-galaxy-z-trifold-im-sure-its-going-to-be-a-hit-heres-why


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