There’s something about foldable phones that reignites that childhood excitement within me. When I first set eyes on the original Galaxy Fold nearly a decade ago, I was awestruck that a tablet-sized screen could actually fold over and fit within my pocket. I didn’t quite believe that the technology would be so pervasive years later, and such is the speed of technology, a screen that folds just once isn’t enough anymore.
Before the end of the year, Samsung announced the Galaxy Z TriFold. It’s the latest phone to compress a small tablet into a candy-bar form factor, but while this larger, multifolding device is impressive as a technological achievement, in practice, Samsung could’ve and perhaps should’ve offered consumers more.
Do you plan on buying the Galaxy Z TriFold? 1048 votes Yes! I can't wait to get it. 26 % Maybe. It depends on how much it costs. 36 % No, it doesn't interest me at all. 34 % Other (let us know in the comments). 4 %
Impractical as a smartphone, genius as a tablet
Paul Jones / Android Authority
The Galaxy Z TriFold is arguably too large for daily use, at least as a smartphone. While our hands-on time with the device at launch and CES 2026 surprised us by being far lighter and more ergonomic than we expected, even when folded into its 6.5-inch form, it’s still 40% heavier than the Galaxy S25 Ultra and nearly 60% thicker in this guise. Considering that Samsung’s traditional flagship is already somewhat unwieldy, the Z TriFold would be a challenging everyday device even in the most accommodating hands and generous pockets. But these issues are only problems if you’re viewing it strictly as a smartphone.
On a tablet, these weight and thickness penalties become practical advantages. It’s a device with a 10-inch screen that folds down into a more easily pocketable form, especially compared to Samsung’s much heavier but similarly-sized Galaxy Tab series. That exterior screen also allows users to employ the device as a smartphone — however unwieldy it might be — replacing two devices with one. And, since it’s larger than the traditional Galaxy Z Fold series and adopts a 4:3 aspect ratio, the TriFold is better equipped for viewing documents, reading, and taking notes. It’s more clearly geared towards multitaskers and those who value a compact productivity device.
The TriFold is too bulky as a smartphone, but too small to be a reliable, prolonged workspace. So who is it for?
The TriFold has the potential to be a compelling mobile workspace, with support for a fully-fledged Samsung DeX experience that forefronts its multitasking efforts, the power of the Snapdragon 8 Elite with plenty of RAM and storage, and input devices like a mouse and keyboard. But, there’s a problem — Samsung didn’t make the Z TriFold large enough for serious mobile workspace considerations.
What is the Galaxy Z TriFold's best use case? 2 votes A smartphone. 0 % A compact tablet. 50 % A laptop replacement. 50 % Something else (mention in comments). 0 %
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