All of the best phones released this year have been largely iterative upgrades. Better cameras, faster processors, and brighter screens are the norm with each product cycle, but the Galaxy Z TriFold without a doubt gets my curiosities piqued more than anything else I’ve tested all year because it’s unlike anything else out there.
I get to test out a lot of the best foldable phones, like the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7, but Samsung’s latest innovation is nothing short of a massive leap forward in redefining the phone experience. I’ll be the first to admit that the Galaxy Z Fold series perfectly blends the phone meets tablet experience. However, the Galaxy Z TriFold already appears to take it to the next level that could make it more laptop-like.
Yet, the biggest question I have (and everyone else) is how much it’ll end up costing. Every rumor I’ve come across suggests it’s going to be more expensive than the Z Fold 7, with $3,000 appearing to be the leading candidate, but I wouldn’t be shocked if it ends up being way more. However, Reuters reports that it will cost 3.59 million won (~$2,440). That's still a hefty cost, which could still end up costing more stateside.
Its 10-inch display is like having three phones
At the heart of the Galaxy Z TriFold is its 10-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display. Seriously, it’s like having a tablet in your pocket thanks to the way Samsung redesigns its hinges to make it possible for it to fold over to become the size of a phone. When that massive display is revealed, it’s almost like having three phones at once.
That’s also because of how the Galaxy Z TriFold’s software is specifically optimized to handle more multitasking. Many of the best Android phones offer split screen modes that let you run two apps at once, but the Galaxy Z TriFold can run three full-screen apps simultaneously on its main display.
Knowing that, it wouldn’t be entirely out of the question for it to be priced exactly like three phones. Although phone prices continue to increase, $1,000 is still what’s considered flagship-level. Meaning, there’s a strong likelihood that a $3,000 cost for the Galaxy Z TriFold could be legit.
Standalone DeX mode is sweet, but unlikely to replace my laptop
Apart from its innovative design and cameras, the only other thing Samsung really focused on with its announcement of the Galaxy Z TriFold is how it’s turbocharged to handle multitasking like nothing I’ve seen before. I know this very well after spending time with each new Samsung flagship release, by trying to replace my laptop with it thanks to DeX.
What makes it supremely better than any previous iteration of DeX is that it’s available as a standalone mode with the Galaxy Z TriFold. Meaning, it can be accessed and run natively on the device itself — rather than being required to connect it to an external monitor. Furthermore, Samsung says this version of DeX will have access to up to four workspaces. And within each of them, you’ll be able to run up to five apps simultaneously.
I’m stoked by this prospect, as I could better segment what I do in each of those workspaces. For example, I could have one strictly for social feeds, another for email and surfing the web, another for my photo and video editing apps, and the last one could be for media consumption. This all sounds swell, but I can do practically the same thing with my HP Omnibook 5 — which costs about $500.
If I’m going to end up paying $2,500 (or more) for the Galaxy Z TriFold, it better replace my laptop. But I’m not optimistic about that because there are still some things DeX can’t do. The biggest concern I have relates to Chrome for Android, which doesn’t support many of the plug-ins and extensions that I use with my job.
Ultra-thin design = premium cost
One of the biggest trends to come out this year is phone makers striving to achieve ultra-thin designs that cut out the fat that make them lean. We’ve already seen it three times this year with the Galaxy S25 Edge, iPhone Air, and Galaxy Z Fold 7. What’s remarkable is that the Galaxy Z TriFold is 3.9mm at its thinnest point, which is hard to visualize.
I have the iPhone Air and when I put it flat down and compare it to other flagships I’ve tested recently, like the iPhone 17 Pro and OnePlus 15, it’s almost half as thin as those phones. Really, it’s hard to wrap my head on how really thin the Galaxy Z TriFold is because despite its thin construction, the iPhone Air measures in at 5.6mm.
It takes a lot of R&D money to perfect a design like the Galaxy Z TriFold, so I wouldn’t be surprised if Samsung tacks more to its cost outside of its South Korea release to make it over $2,500. Every millimeter of space is precious for a gadget such as this, and as such, it’s almost certain it’ll command a much higher cost than what most people anticipate it to be.
I’m most afraid that the Galaxy Z TriFold will fail because of its price. Even if carriers do end up offering generous discounts through trade-in offers and lengthy service agreements, I don’t think it would be enough to cover the entire cost of the TriFold. I thought Verizon’s Black Friday offer for a free iPhone 17 Pro Max, Apple Watch 11 and iPad 11 was overrated, but it’s looking really good compared to what it could offer with a Galaxy Z TriFold.
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