I Got My Hands on the New Galaxy Z TriFold in Dubai, and Was Surprised by Its Clever Design
Although the Samsung Galaxy Z tri-fold Already looking like a smash hit in South Korea and quickly selling out after going on sale in the US for $2,900, I’ve been skeptical of the foldable phone’s design. But those thoughts changed significantly after I got my hands on it.
On paper, it seemed like the Korean company was trading functionality for durability, resulting in yet another two-in-one foldable device rather than a true tri-fold all-in-one phone like the Huawei Mate. However, I spent 20 minutes using and folding the Z TriFold at a Samsung store in Dubai, and even that brief interaction was enough to assuage my skepticism.
The Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold is essentially a widescreen tablet that folds into one phone to fit in your pocket. It may seem like a simple concept, but Samsung has made several smart design decisions here that make the Z TriFold better than its competition.
The left hinge of the Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold is similar to that of the Galaxy Z Fold 7, but the right hinge is wider to accommodate the width of two stacked panels.
Samsung designed the foldable with two separate hinges of different sizes so that its 10-inch screen can fold twice. The right hinge is similar to that found on the Galaxy Z Fold 7but the left hinge is wider and accommodates the thickness created by two of the three sections stacked on top of each other when closed. The larger right hinge felt like a spring and opened as soon as I started to unfold it. This responsiveness gives the Z TriFold a distinct ergonomic advantage when unfolding the device.
The rightmost section of the Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold (left) protrudes slightly from the other panels when fully folded. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 folds evenly in comparison.
The Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold is divided into three panels (hence the name). The rightmost panel is actually slightly wider than the rest, creating an edge that sticks out slightly when folded. This edge makes unfolding the phone much more intuitive because it’s easy for my finger to find and open it. I had trouble unfolding the Huawei Mate XT, the flat-faced Galaxy Z Fold 7, as well as the Honor the Magic V5 with its curved sides. On the other hand, the protruding edge of the TriFold gives me a sturdy rim that makes it easier to open.
You need to fold the left side of the Galaxy Z TriFold first, followed by the right side. If you try to fold the latter first, its software will send an alert with haptic feedback and display a warning on the screen.
I initially didn’t take Samsung’s blog announcement seriously when I read that “the folding mechanism has been precisely designed for easy opening and closing, with an automatic alarm alerting the user in the event of incorrect folding.” But in practice, the automatic alarm is wisely implemented and essential to this design. This makes the TriFold difficult to fold incorrectly.
Samsung has done a commendable job of minimizing the fold depth of the Galaxy Z TriFold.
Three panels and two hinges mean the existence of not one, but two screen folds. Some people just can’t avoid having a crease on their phone screen, especially since it can become more visible the more you bend it. I didn’t feel any creases when I swiped my finger across the Z TriFold’s screen. In comparison, I can distinctly feel the two folds on the screen of my tri-fold Huawei. Samsung surprised me earlier this year with its redesign of the Galaxy Z Fold 7’s hinge design, which, as a result, minimized the crease depth of its foldable display. It looks like Samsung has taken these lessons and applied them to the Galaxy Z TriFold.
Like the Fold 7, the crease appears virtually non-existent on the Galaxy Z TriFold unless you look at it from an extreme angle. This probably won’t bother most people, even when using the phone unfolded in widescreen tablet mode. The room’s overhead lighting may reflect off the Z TriFold’s screen and blur in a way that might bother some people.
Samsung vs. Huawei: Two Distinct Tri-Pronged Designs
The Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold’s two hinges fold in the same direction, giving it a “U” shape, while the Huawei Mate XT’s two hinges fold in opposite directions, forming a “Z” shape. Ironic, isn’t it?
Samsung and Huawei have taken two different approaches to their TriFold phones. I find Huawei’s Z-shaped design to be more flexible than Samsung’s U-shaped counterpart in terms of pure functionality. Huawei has opted for a single screen that transforms into three distinct formats: a smartphone, a mini-tablet (one side unfolded) and a large-screen tablet (both sides unfolded).
In comparison, Samsung completely ignores the mini-tablet design. The Galaxy Z TriFold can be fully folded or fully unfolded. If you unfold the Galaxy TriFold just once, it won’t allow you to use it for anything. And that limits its usefulness.
The Huawei Mate XT (left) can be used with one side folded but the Galaxy Z TriFold (right) requires it to be fully unfolded to make it functional.
After using the Huawei Mate I love using the Huawei Tri-Fold as a mini book-style tablet (with only one side open) for reading and browsing while on the go. But I won’t be able to do that with the Z Trifold. Samsung’s choice limits versatility, but it could be a huge win in terms of durability.
The Huawei Mate XT is 0.1mm thinner than the 12.9mm thick Galaxy Z TriFold. Both phones look like first-generation book-style foldables.
Huawei’s soft folding screen is exposed at all times, while Samsung’s design protects the interior screen when folded. It’s a calculated compromise: long-term durability at the cost of not having a mini-tablet mode (one side open). I am not in favor of it. However, I want any device I pay $3,000 for to last as long as possible, so I applaud its durability.
The Huawei Mate XT’s foldable screen is still exposed to the outside world (left), but Samsung protects its flexible screen by folding it inward.
Then there are the software differences between the two tri-fold phones. The Mate XT’s operating system works well enough, but its user interface feels dated. I have to jump through hoops to install the Google Play Store on the Huawei triple. So it was refreshing to use the new Samsung TriFold in comparison, which works Android 16-base A user interface 8. The software is clearly optimized for the massive canvas of the Z TriFold. It lets you run three windows side by side and add multiple pop-ups for the ultimate form of multitasking. It also lets you create separate workspaces (similar to desktops in MacOS and Windows) in just two clicks.
The Samsung Galaxy TriFold can run three apps side by side as well as multiple pop-ups.
Magnets could have been useful
The Galaxy Z TriFold doesn’t have a built-in kickstand (think Nintendo Switch) or support for Qi2.2 magnetic accessories (like Apple’s MagSafe). And not having either makes it difficult to work on it as a widescreen tablet. Samsung should have included a MagSafe-like magnetic accessory holder so I could add a magnetic holder (think PixelSnap Ring) and support it easily. Then I could pair the Z TriFold with a mouse and keyboard to use it as a two-in-one laptop.
If you want to use the Z TriFold’s 10-inch screen as a tablet and be productive, you need a kickstand. Without built-in magnets, you’re forced to find a case with a kickstand, which will inevitably make an already thick phone feel bulky. An instant magnetic mount would have been the perfect solution.
After my brief time with Samsung’s latest foldable, I have to say that the Galaxy Z TriFold is a promising device – one that might surprise a lot of people. I wish it was thinner when folded, but Samsung’s smart design choices have me excited for the future of foldable phones.
