The Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold is finally official, and I’m very excited about this form factor. Conventional book-style foldables have always felt a little too small for my taste, so the prospect of a 10-inch display that fits into my pocket has me sitting up and taking notice.
Despite that intrigue and excitement, though, I can’t help but feel concerned about the TriFold for one simple reason: That gigantic folding screen is still made of plastic.
Foldable screens are fragile, and the TriFold is no different
Samsung
The biggest issue with any folding screen, including the TriFold display, is that they’re made out of plastic rather than glass. Many folding screens have a layer of ultra-thin-glass (UTG), but this sits below a non-removable plastic screen protector. And the rest of the folding screen is made of plastic anyway.
Plastic scratches more easily than glass, which suggests that Samsung’s new foldable will gain more scratches over time than a conventional Android phone with a glass display. We have seen screen durability advancements in recent years, like impact-resistant films, impact-resistant gels, and thicker UTG layers. Nevertheless, these solutions don’t change the fact that folding screens can be punctured with a fingernail.
What do you think of foldable screen durability in 2025? 0 votes I won't buy a foldable, as these screens are far too fragile NaN % These screens are okay, but could be more durable NaN % Foldable screens are durable enough in 2025 NaN %
Scratches aren’t the only concern I have regarding foldable screens. I’m also worried about long-term reliability, as there’s no shortage of stories about folding screens breaking after two or three years. Some of these broken displays are attributed to sudden temperature changes (e.g., leaving an air-conditioned home on a snowy winter’s day), but I really don’t want to find out the hard way whether the Galaxy Z TriFold will suffer this same fate.
Aside from durability concerns, there’s the tactile experience: Folding screens still feel like they’re made out of plastic, and that’s a turn-off for me. Touching these panels feels soft compared to conventional glass displays. So even if these screens were as durable as glass, you’d have a tough time convincing me.
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