{"id":275371,"date":"2026-02-01T13:02:18","date_gmt":"2026-02-01T13:02:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/275371\/"},"modified":"2026-02-01T13:02:18","modified_gmt":"2026-02-01T13:02:18","slug":"5-android-phones-you-should-buy-instead-of-the-galaxy-z-trifold","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/275371\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Android phones you should buy instead of the Galaxy Z TriFold"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Galaxy Z TriFold<\/a>, Samsung\u2019s long-awaited tri-folding smartphone, is now available for purchase in the United States. It\u2019s one of the most technologically innovative foldables we\u2019ve ever seen and is truly pushing the boundaries of what a folding smartphone can be.<\/p>\n

That said, it\u2019s also\u00a0extremely\u00a0expensive. The Galaxy Z TriFold costs $2,900 in the US, making it the most expensive mainstream Android phone currently on the market. Innovation comes at a price, and in this case, it\u2019s a really big price.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s no doubt that the TriFold is an impressive piece of tech, but as a phone you should actually spend your hard-earned money on, it\u2019s hard to justify \u2014 especially when you could (and should) buy these five other Android phones instead.<\/p>\n

What do you think is the best Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold alternative?<\/p>\n

12 votes<\/p>\n

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7<\/p>\n

25%<\/p>\n

Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold<\/p>\n

0%<\/p>\n

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra<\/p>\n

25%<\/p>\n

OnePlus 13<\/p>\n

17%<\/p>\n

Motorola Razr Ultra<\/p>\n

17%<\/p>\n

Other (let us know in the comments)<\/p>\n

17%<\/p>\n

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7<\/p>\n

\"samsung<\/p>\n

Ryan Haines \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n

My first recommendation is perhaps the most obvious: the Galaxy Z Fold 7<\/a>. It may not be as flashy or new as the TriFold, but it\u2019s unquestionably a more sensible purchase for anyone looking to buy a foldable Samsung phone.<\/p>\n

As cool as the TriFold\u2019s 10-inch inner display is, it comes at the expense of making the phone extremely cumbersome \u2014 we\u2019re talking 309 grams and 12.9mm thick when closed. By comparison, the Fold 7 weighs just 215 grams and measures 8.9mm thick. In practice, that means the TriFold will feel like a brick, whereas the Z Fold 7 feels like a traditional slab phone.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s more impressive is that the Fold 7 matches so much of the TriFold\u2019s spec sheet. The phones share the same chipset, camera system, software experience, and update policy. And even with all of that, the Z Fold 7 costs $900 less than the TriFold.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s the real kicker here. Unless you absolutely need the TriFold\u2019s larger display, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 just makes so much more sense. It\u2019s significantly more comfortable to use, has an excellent (and still very big) 8-inch inner screen, and a very similar spec sheet. Getting all of that while saving $900 makes the Fold 7 a no-brainer compared to the TriFold.<\/p>\n

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7<\/a>\"Samsung\"AASamsung Galaxy Z Fold 7<\/a><\/p>\n

Thinnest, lightest Z Fold to date \u2022 More durable design \u2022 200MP primary camera \u2022 Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy<\/p>\n

Thin, light, high-powered, and it folds!<\/p>\n

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 offers an 8-inch OLED screen, a 200MP camera, the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chipset, and a 4,400mAh battery. The Galaxy AI experience is baked in, offering tools across the camera, Circle to Search, and much more. Best of all, Samsung continues to evolve its foldable hinge assembly, promising reduced visibility of the crease.<\/p>\n

Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

Joe Maring \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n

Your options for book-style foldables in the US are pretty limited, which makes finding TriFold alternatives tricky. Outside of the Fold 7, the only other real option is the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold<\/a>. It\u2019s not a tri-folding phone, and it\u2019s not a Samsung handset, but I still think there\u2019s a good argument for it as a TriFold alternative.<\/p>\n

Like the Z Fold 7, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold has a much more practical design. It\u2019s heavier than the Fold 7, but still considerably lighter than the TriFold. It also offers a big 8-inch inner display that looks fantastic. The Pixel also has a notable durability advantage. While the TriFold and Fold 7 are limited to an IP48 rating, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold has an IP68 rating, making the phone fully dust-tight, unlike Samsung\u2019s phones.<\/p>\n

Samsung\u2019s software on the Z Fold 7 and TriFold is better at taking advantage of the larger displays, but Google\u2019s Pixel software is still my personal preference. Whether it\u2019s the Material 3 Expressive UI or features like Now Playing and the At a Glance widget, so many little aspects of the Pixel experience are so outstanding \u2014 and they aren\u2019t available on either foldable Samsung phone.<\/p>\n

And, unsurprisingly, price is another big advantage here. Compared to the TriFold, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold is $1,100 cheaper. Google\u2019s phone isn\u2019t perfect, but for that big of a price difference, I\u2019d choose it every single time over the TriFold.<\/p>\n

Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold<\/a>\"GoogleGoogle Pixel 10 Pro Fold<\/a><\/p>\n

Magnetic charging \u2022 IP68 rating \u2022 6.4-inch outer and 8-inch inner displays<\/p>\n

Thinner, more powerful, and a bigger display<\/p>\n

The Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold combines a 6.4-inch front display with a folding 8-inch inner panel for two capable viewing experiences. With the Tensor G5 shipset, 16GB of RAM, and lots of UFS 4.0 storage options, it matches the Pixel 10 Pro XL in terms of specifications and performance. The folding phone also offers a triple camera setup, plenty of powerful AI features, wireless charging, and an IP68 rating.<\/p>\n

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra<\/p>\n

\"Samsung<\/p>\n

Ryan Haines \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n

At first glance, the Galaxy S25 Ultra<\/a> may seem like a silly alternative to the Galaxy Z TriFold. It\u2019s not a foldable and is arguably one of the most tepid Galaxy S upgrades in recent years. Why should you bother with it? It all comes down to practicality.<\/p>\n

Does the S25 Ultra fold? No, but it does have an exceptional 6.9-inch display that\u2019s sharper than both TriFold screens and features an anti-reflective coating. The design may be boring, but Gorilla Armor 2 and an IP68 rating mean the phone is incredibly durable. The S25 Ultra has the same chipset and primary camera as the TriFold, plus significantly better telephoto and ultrawide cameras. And, unlike the TriFold, the S25 Ultra works with the S Pen.<\/p>\n

The Galaxy S25 Ultra isn\u2019t as cool as the TriFold, and it never will be. But for a traditional slab phone, it has basically everything you could ask for \u2014 especially if you\u2019re a Samsung fan, which you probably are. And with a price tag that\u2019s $1,600 cheaper (!!!) than the TriFold, it\u2019s a no-brainer financial decision, too.<\/p>\n

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra<\/a>\"Samsung\"AASamsung Galaxy S25 Ultra<\/a><\/p>\n

100x zoom \u2022 Big battery \u2022 7 years software support<\/p>\n

Samsung’s best for 2025<\/p>\n

Simply put, this is Samsung’s very best phone for 2025. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is a 6.9-inch QHD+ device with 12GB of RAM, 256GB+ of storage, embedded S Pen, and the overclocked Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC. The key upgrade over the lower S25 models is a 200MP main camera and 100x Space Zoom.<\/p>\n

OnePlus 13<\/p>\n

\"Someone<\/p>\n

Joe Maring \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n

This is evident in nearly every regard. The OnePlus 13\u2019s display is a large 6.9-inch AMOLED panel that looks every bit as good as the S25 Ultra\u2019s. Its 6,000mAh battery is among the largest for a mainstream Android phone, and its 80W charging speeds are some of the fastest, too. It also has incredible performance, outstanding cameras, and a stylish, comfortable design. Is it a Samsung phone? No. If you\u2019re a die-hard One UI fan, that\u2019s going to be an issue. But if you can live without Samsung\u2019s software (and you probably can), the OnePlus 13 is a near-perfect purchase.<\/p>\n

Price is another big factor here. You may have to shop around to find remaining inventory, but at the time of publication, Best Buy is selling the more expensive 512GB storage variant for $800 \u2014 making the OnePlus 13 a whopping $2,100 cheaper than the Galaxy Z TriFold. At that price, you could buy a OnePlus 13 and a Galaxy Z Fold 7 and still spend less than what you pay for a single TriFold. Wild stuff.<\/p>\n

OnePlus 13<\/a>\"OnePlus\"AAOnePlus 13<\/a><\/p>\n

Gorgeous design \u2022 Clever AI features \u2022 Flexible cameras<\/p>\n

The OG flagship killer’s killer flagship.<\/p>\n

The OnePlus 13 is the company’s most killer flagship to date, offering a massive battery, speedy charging, and powerful cameras that give Google and Samsung something to worry about.<\/p>\n

Motorola Razr Ultra<\/p>\n

\"Motorola<\/p>\n

Ryan Haines \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n

The Motorola Razr Ultra<\/a> is, of course, a different type of foldable than the TriFold. Instead of transforming from a phone into a 10-inch tablet, the Razr is a normal slab phone that folds in half to become a small, pocketable square. It\u2019s essentially the exact opposite of what the TriFold represents, and there\u2019s real value in that.<\/p>\n

When unfolded, the Razr Ultra operates like any other non-folding Android phone. It has a 7-inch AMOLED display, a Snapdragon 8 Elite chip (the same one used in the S25 Ultra and OnePlus 13), tons of RAM and storage, great cameras, good battery life, and fast 67W wired charging. They\u2019re the specs you\u2019d expect from a flagship Android handset.<\/p>\n

The magic, however, is that you can fold the Razr Ultra shut whenever you want, making it perfect for one-handed use or slipping into a tight pocket or bag. It\u2019s a level of portability the TriFold will never be able to offer, and if you haven\u2019t considered this side of foldable life, I highly recommend it \u2014 especially since doing so will cost you $1,600 less than the TriFold.<\/p>\n

Motorola Razr Ultra<\/a>\"Motorola\"AAMotorola Razr Ultra<\/a><\/p>\n

Blisteringly fast charging and excellent battery life \u2022 Ultra-flagship-tier performance \u2022 Top-notch materials and eye-catching Pantone colors<\/p>\n

High-end processing power in a folding shell<\/p>\n

Adding Ultra to the name, the Motorola Razr Ultra is the first folding phone from Moto with a top-tier processor. The 7-inch folding display is paired with a half-size front display to give you both a premium experience, and a compact and portable communication device.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t want to miss the best from Android Authority?<\/p>\n

\"google\"google<\/a><\/p>\n

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