Samsung launched the Galaxy Z TriFold earlier this month in select international markets, and I got to go hands-on with the new foldable phone just before it hit stores. From the hinges to its three back panels, there are clear details and design choices that demonstrate how the TriFold builds upon Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 7.
You might think the Galaxy Z TriFold would be a natural rival to Huawei's own trifold, the Mate XT, yet they actually have diverging designs. The Mate XT can be folded into a phone, a mini-tablet and a wide-screen tablet. The Galaxy Z TriFold can be used folded up like a phone or fully unfolded like a tablet, but without a mini-tablet mode in between.
Samsung is facing a lot of pressure for success. Foldables are expected to grow 30% over the next year, in part due to the debut of the Galaxy Z TriFold and Apple's rumored iPhone foldable, according to analysts at IDC. Many have become accustomed to book-style foldables like the Z Fold line, and Samsung is smart to retain that tried-and-true functionality on the new Z TriFold.
If your aim is to fold a tablet down into a phone that fits in your pocket, both the Z Fold 7 and Z TriFold have the same core appeal. Here's a detailed comparison of how they stack up against each other.
Z TriFold vs. Z Fold 7 price
Samsung has done a commendable job at minimizing the crease depth on its Galaxy Z TriFold. Prakhar Khanna/CNET
The most obvious difference between Samsung's foldables, other than size, is price. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 starts at $2,000. The Galaxy Z TriFold isn't sold in the US yet, but it costs around 3.59 million won in South Korea, which converts to about $2,430. While device prices don't often directly convert to local currency, it does show that an eventual US release could have a higher price tag than the Z Fold 7.
Z TriFold vs. Z Fold 7 design
Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold's left hinge is similar to that of the Galaxy Z Fold 7, but the right one is wider. Prakhar Khanna/CNET
Samsung took years of learning from the Galaxy Z lineup and applied it to its new folding phone. In a way, the Galaxy Z TriFold is an extension of the Fold 7. For example, the Fold 7 has two halves (or panels) and a single hinge. The TriFold has three back panels and two hinges. Through extensive fine-tuning of the hinge on its Z Fold series, Samsung has made it easy to open and position at various angles, similar to a laptop screen. The left hinge on the TriFold is similar to one on the Fold 7.
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