Samsung TriFold Comes as Apple Prepares for Foldables Showdown

Samsung has finally announced the Galaxy Z TriFold, a foldable phone that opens up to reveal a 10-inch display. It will initially go on sale in South Korea starting at KRW 3,590,400 which equates to 3,723 Australian dollars. China, Taiwan, Singapore, the UAE and the United States will follow but no word yet on Australian availability.

NOT THE FIRST

It’s not the first trifold phone – Huawei beat Samsung to market with the Mate XT Ultimate – but they have very different approaches to the folding design. Samsung designed the inner display to fold in. This means the softer inner screen is protected when folded up. The Huawei approach uses one of the inner panels as the front facing display. While this overcomes the need for an extra screen, it also means it is vulnerable to being scratched in pockets or handbags. It’s a more elegant design but the Samsung design is the better way to go. But the crease is still there and now you have two, thanks to the trifold design.

APPLE BEATS THE CREASE

The announcement comes as supply chain reports increase about Apple’s imminent entry into the foldables category. Reports are claiming Apple has overcome the visible crease problem and we’ll see it next year when the iPhone Fold is launched. Eliminating the crease is the biggest problem Android foldable phones have tackled but haven’t been able to overcome.

Samsung displays are used by Apple but it’s the hinge mechanism that reportedly makes the difference and will finally eliminate the dreaded crease. We’ll see if Apple delivers in 2026.  

SAMSUNG TRIFOLD

Galaxy Z TriFold is powered by a customized Snapdragon 8 Elite Mobile Platform for Galaxy. It’s camera system is essentially the same as the brilliant Fold7, with a 200 MP main camera and the biggest battery Samsung has ever had in a foldable phone. The 5,600 mAh three-cell battery system has been placed in each of 3 panels of the device for balanced power delivery and all-day endurance. Combined with 45 W super-fast charging, Galaxy Z TriFold will charge faster out of the box.

FOLDING MECHANISM

Samsung has refined the Armor FlexHinge to meet the unique demands of Galaxy Z TriFold. Two differently sized hinges with a dual-rail structure work in harmony, creating a smoother, more stable fold despite varying weight and components across the device.

Galaxy Z TriFold introduces new display technology made for the 10-inch screen that folds twice into a pocketable phone. A reinforced overcoat has been added to a shock-absorbing display layer for better resistance across the dual-folding device.

The titanium hinge housing introduces a thin piece of metal that protects the folding mechanism and resists wear over time. The frame of the device is supported by Advanced Armor Aluminum, a high-strength alloy that adds rigidity without increasing bulk. The frame helps ensure that the screens don’t make contact with each other, and a ceramic-glass fiber-reinforced polymer back panel keeps the design thin yet resistant to cracks.

DISPLAYS FOR MILES

The 10-inch inner display is the largest screen ever on a Galaxy phone. When Galaxy Z TriFold opens, the screen performs similarly to three 6.5-inch smartphones across the 10-inch display. Users can create across three different portrait-sized apps side-by-side without interruption, resize apps in multi-window to view the most important information clearly, or hold it in a vertical orientation when reviewing documents for improved focus.

Galaxy Z TriFold is the first smartphone with standalone Samsung DeX8 available. By going to the Quick Settings panel and selecting DeX for Galaxy’s most advanced work setup, users can access up to four workspaces that can each run five apps simultaneously. From there, they can review and edit a meeting presentation in one workspace and then quickly navigate to another to chat with friends and shop online. For even more productivity, users can add a secondary screen in Extended Mode, which enables a seamless dual-screen experience with an external monitor. Users can easily drag and drop apps across screens and work across both screens with desktop efficiency. Users can also add a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard, instantly creating the ultimate portable workstation for complex projects or creative designs.

A Dynamic 2X AMOLED cover screen has a refresh rate of up to 120 Hz and a brightness level of up to 2600 nits. The main display is 1600 nits.

SAMSUNG GALAXY Z TRIFOLD SPECS