When the original Galaxy Fold landed years ago, it was a clunky, fragile promise of things to come. It took Samsung six years to refine that vision into the Galaxy Z Fold 7, a device that finally felt thin, light, and “normal.”
Now, here at CES 2026, I’ve just gone hands-on with the new Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold. It promises to be the next great leap forward: a phone that unfolds not just once, but twice, turning into a legitimate 10-inch tablet.
I must admit, using it feels like holding the future. However, after spending some time with it, I can’t shake the feeling that we’ve taken a massive step backward to get here.
What is the Galaxy Z TriFold?
Lanh Nguyen / Android Authority
First, let’s talk about the name. The “TriFold” moniker is a bit of a misnomer. The device doesn’t fold three times; it folds twice, using two hinges to connect three distinct screen panels.
Unlike the HUAWEI Mate XT, which launched back in 2024 with a screen that wraps around the outside, Samsung has stuck to its guns with a different design philosophy. The TriFold features a standard outer cover display protected by glass and a separate, massive inner display that folds inward. I prefer Samsung’s approach here. It keeps the fragile foldable panel safe when the device is in your pocket, which is essential for something that costs as much as a used car.
To prevent users from destroying that expensive screen, Samsung added a smart software feature. If you try to fold the phone in the wrong direction, the screen flashes a visual warning, and the haptics vibrate with increasing intensity. It’s a smart, easily understandable way to prevent catastrophe.
Galaxy Z TriFold vs. Galaxy Z Fold 7
Lanh Nguyen / Android Authority
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