I used the Galaxy Z TriFold at the Dubai Mall, and while that was a limited interaction, I was able to go hands-on with it to a greater extent at CES 2026. After using the phone for a while now, I got a much better idea of what Samsung is trying to achieve, and how the phone differs from Huawei’s tri-folding Mate XT — which I’ve had for the better part of a year now.
The Galaxy Z TriFold is on sale in South Korea and the UAE, where is costs anywhere between the equivalent of $2,500 to $3,200. Samsung is set to bring the Galaxy Z TriFold to the U.S. sometime later in Q1, and estimates suggest the foldable will cost over $2,600 in the country, inching closer to $3,000.
Obviously, that’s a lot of cash, and if you just want a foldable, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 does all the things you need, and coming in at $1,649, it is a decent value — in the context of the TriFold. But if you don’t care about the price and just need the latest in what’s possible with foldable tech, then yes, you should get the Galaxy Z TriFold. Samsung is only selling the foldable in limited quantities anyway, putting it squarely in the halo product category.
You may like
Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold: Reasons to buyThe tablet-sized AMOLED panel is great to use
(Image credit: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)
It’s just plain cool to be able to take a phone and unfurl it into a 10-inch panel. That novelty doesn’t really go away, and having a tablet-sized panel that you can use anywhere is just great. The AMOLED panel gets bright and it’s just as good to use as the inner panel on the Galaxy Z Fold 7, and I didn’t see any issues with pixel density, color vibrancy, or brightness.
On that note, the outer 6.5-inch AMOLED panel is identical to what you get on the Galaxy Z Fold 7, and it is just as usable. Initially, I wasn’t quite sold on the idea that the outer panel moves to the back of the device when the TriFold is fully unfolded, but it is a natural way to unfurl the foldable, and outside of the panel getting a few smudges when using the device fully unfolded, there are no issues.
There are no issues with the hardware — or durability
(Image credit: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)
I’ll admit that I used the Huawei Mate XT quite carefully because I was constantly worried I would break the outer panel, but because of the U-style foldout design of the Galaxy Z TriFold, the inner panel isn’t exposed. This gives the tri-folding device much better durability, and the hinges are just as fluid as the Z Fold 7, and I didn’t notice any inconsistencies with the hardware design.
Basically, the Galaxy Z TriFold feels just as long-lasting as the Z Fold 7, and it is just as thin when fully unfolded. That’s another area where Samsung did all the right things; even though the TriFold is heavier at 309g, the weight is distributed evenly along the chassis, and it isn’t noticeable. It is chunky when you’re just using the outer panel, but again, not so much that you’re going to regularly notice.
I also like that Samsung is using the same cameras as the Z Fold 7 — that makes the TriFold just as good in this area. And with a 5,600mAh battery, it should last at least a day. I used it for the better part of 30 minutes, so I’m not going to make any judgements on the battery, but it’s great to see a big battery on one of Samsung’s foldables. If anything, that’s reason alone to get the TriFold.
The software is a clear winner
(Image credit: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)
The biggest reason to consider the Galaxy Z TriFold is the software. It has the same great software as the Z Fold 7, and Samsung has features that let you maximize the 10-inch real estate. The productivity and multitasking features are better than what you get on most other foldables, and this is an area where Samsung has a lead.
You may like
It’s also just as straightforward to use as any other Samsung phone, and this is where the TriFold wins out against the Mate XT. I had to do quite a bit of work to customize the foldable and have all of my utilities set up on the device, but with the TriFold, there are no such limitations.
Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold: Reasons not to buyThe panel is highly reflective
(Image credit: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)
As much as I like the inner panel on the Galaxy Z TriFold, it is quite reflective — this is noticeable when you’re viewing content on the device. I didn’t notice it as much on my Z Fold 7, but the increased real estate makes it more evident on the TriFold, and that’s something to consider if you’re thinking of getting this just to stream TV shows and movies on the go.
It isn’t as versatile
(Image credit: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)
Another point of contention is that the TriFold doesn’t close into a traditional book-style foldable like the Mate XT. You get the outer panel, and then the inner panel unfolds to the full 10 inches. The design of the hinges means there’s no way to close one side of the panel and use it as a book-style foldable much like the Z Fold 7, so you lose out on that feature.
I find myself using the Mate XT in this mode quite often, so not having that on the TriFold is a limitation.
Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold: Should you buy it?
(Image credit: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)
Look, deciding to go with the Galaxy Z TriFold isn’t going to be objective — I can list all the pros and cons, but ultimately, this is a foldable that’s close to $3,000; I understand that my thoughts on the foldable will do little to convince you to buy one. If you’re undecided and need validation that the foldable is a legitimate daily driver and not just a tech demo, then yes, the TriFold should be your next phone.
Similar to other halo products like the GeForce RTX 5090, deciding to go with the Galaxy Z TriFold will come down to preference. If you’re a tech enthusiast and want a phone that stands out from everything else available today, the TriFold is an unmatched choice. Or if you’ve used several Samsung products in the past and have an affinity to the brand, the TriFold is an easy draw. The tri-folding device is better than what I thought it would be, and whether you want to buy one or not is entirely down to you.