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| Photo Credit:Verge |
The rumors have finally folded.
After years of concepts, patents, and blurry leaks, and following Huawei's pioneering step earlier this year with the Mate XT, Samsung has officially entered the tri-fold arena.
This week, Samsung pulled the curtain back on the Galaxy Z TriFold, a device that promises to finally bridge the awkward gap between "large phone" and "small tablet." It is an engineering marvel that transforms from a standard-sized smartphone into a massive 10-inch canvas.
It’s big, it’s powerful, and as expected, it comes with an eye-watering price tag. Here is a deep dive into everything we know about Samsung’s most ambitious mobile device ever.
The "G-Fold": A Better Way to Bend?
The most critical aspect of any foldable is the hinge. When Huawei launched the Mate XT, they utilized a "Z-fold" design, where one part of the screen always remains on the outside, exposed to the elements even when "closed."Samsung has taken a different, likely more durable approach.
The Galaxy Z TriFold uses a "G-shape" inward-folding mechanism. Imagine a brochure that folds in on itself twice. The device features two separate titanium "Armor FlexHinges." When you close the phone, the massive 10-inch internal screen is completely tucked away and protected.
Because the main screen folds inward, Samsung has equipped the device with a separate 6.5-inch Cover Screen on the front, much like the standard Z Fold series. This means when you pull it out of your pocket to check a text, it feels like a normal (albeit thick) smartphone.
The Displays: Goodbye, iPad Mini
The star of the show is, undoubtedly, the inner display. When fully unfurled, the Galaxy Z TriFold offers a whopping 10-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X screen.To put that in perspective, that is significantly larger than the 7.6-inch screen on the Z Fold 6/7, and roughly the same size as an iPad Mini. This isn't just a bigger phone screen; it is a legitimate tablet screen that fits in your pocket.
The engineering required to achieve this is staggering. When completely open, the device is impossibly thin at just 3.9mm. When folded up, it measures about 12.9mm thick, chunky, but manageable, and roughly equivalent to a standard phone inside an OtterBox case.
A Spec Beast Unfolded
Samsung didn't hold back on the internals. If you're paying a premium price, you're getting premium hardware.Processor: The device is powered by the top-tier Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy.
Cameras: Samsung has integrated the massive 200MP main sensor seen in their "Ultra" line S-series phones, alongside a 12MP ultrawide and a 10MP telephoto (3x optical zoom). This is a serious camera setup for a foldable.
Battery: Powering three screens requires juice. Samsung managed to fit a massive 5,600mAh total battery capacity, cleverly split into three separate cells across the panels to maintain weight balance.
Charging: It supports 45W fast wired charging and 15W wireless charging.
Durability: The device comes with an IP48 rating. The '4' means it's protected against solid objects over 1mm (don't take it to the beach), while the '8' provides strong water resistance.
Software: The Real Laptop Replacement?
A 10-inch screen is useless without software to take advantage of it. Running on Android 16 with One UI 8, Samsung has introduced features specifically for this form factor.
The most exciting addition is Standalone DeX.
Previously, Samsung DeX required you to plug your phone into an external monitor to get a desktop-like experience. With the Z TriFold, the 10-inch screen is the monitor. You can activate a full desktop interface with windows, a taskbar, and mouse support right on the device screen. Pair it with a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, and you have a legitimate, ultra-portable laptop.
Furthermore, the screen real estate allows for true three-app multitasking, running three full-sized portrait apps side-by-side without feeling cramped.
The Price of Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold
If you have to ask, you probably don't want to know.This is cutting-edge, first-generation hardware, and it is priced accordingly. The Galaxy Z TriFold is launching first in South Korea on December 12, 2025, for approximately 3.59 million KRW.
A direct conversion puts that around $2,450 USD.
Samsung has confirmed a wider global release, including the US, for Q1 2026.
Before We Go
The Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold is not a phone for the average consumer. It's a statement piece, a productivity powerhouse for power users, and a glimpse into the future where the line between phone and tablet is completely erased.
While the price is a major hurdle, the inward-folding design seems more practical for daily durability than its Huawei competitor. If you've ever wished your phone could double in size when you need to get real work done, the future has finally arrived—and it folds twice.
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Gadgets & Devices