Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold Hands on - GAMECHANGER.

Samsung Galaxy Z Trifold Review

Unboxing and Initial Impressions

• The Samsung Galaxy Z Trifold is a unique device that folds out twice to reveal a 10-inch tablet display, exceeding initial expectations regarding its usability.

• Inside the box, users find essential accessories: a SIM ejector, a USB-C to C cable, and a minimal case designed to protect the hinge when closed.

• The device features a 6.5-inch cover display identical to the Galaxy Z Fold 7 but is significantly heavier at 309 grams—almost 50% more than current foldables.

Design and Usability

• Opening the phone involves pulling out two layers simultaneously, followed by another unfolding motion; this process becomes intuitive after about 20 minutes of use.

• Clever design elements include a slightly longer rear section for easier handling and magnets that assist in lifting the middle panel during unfolding.

• Despite being only 3.9 mm thick when unfolded, there are notable issues such as prominent creases on both displays due to multiple hinges.

Performance Challenges

• The weight distribution makes it difficult to use on flat surfaces without causing noticeable thunks with each tap; this issue persists even when fully opened.

• Maintenance is challenging due to the fiberglass composite material that attracts fingerprints easily; every surface collects smudges quickly.

Display and Durability Concerns

• While Gorilla Glass protects the cover display, the inner screen's soft protector can be damaged easily; deep gouges can occur from minor contact with objects like vases.

• Pocket particles have increased potential for getting trapped between screens due to the trifold design, complicating maintenance further.

Specifications Overview

• The device runs on Snapdragon 8 Elite chip—powerful but not cutting-edge compared to newer models featuring Elite Gen 5 chips available in other devices.

• It comes standard with 16 GB of RAM and offers up to 512 GB of fast storage; camera specs mirror those of the Z Fold 7 with some added benefits for selfies.

Samsung Trifold Phone Review

Battery and Charging Features

• The Samsung trifold phone features a 5,600 mAh battery, an upgrade from the ZFold 7's 4,400 mAh capacity. This is achieved with three separate batteries due to the phone's thin design.

• It supports faster charging with 45W wired charging, comparable to Samsung's S25 Ultra, and offers 15W wireless charging. The device maintains an IP48 rating for water and dust resistance.

Display and User Experience

• The trifold boasts a unique 10-in display with a 16x11 aspect ratio that enhances user experience by allowing more information on screen compared to traditional foldables.

• Full-screen apps utilize the larger display effectively; for instance, users can navigate folders in the files app without losing sight of the entire directory. This results in less scrolling across various applications like gallery and YouTube.

• The rectangular shape of the trifold allows for a significantly larger viewing area for widescreen content, reducing black bars during video playback while providing two orientation options (portrait and landscape).

App Functionality and Optimization

• Unlike typical biform phones that struggle between smartphone and tablet layouts, the trifold clearly distinguishes between these modes—offering optimized experiences based on whether it’s folded or unfolded. Samsung has leveraged its extensive experience in tablet design to enhance this functionality.

• The introduction of Samsung Dex on this device allows users to operate it as a desktop interface directly on the phone itself without needing an external monitor, enhancing productivity capabilities significantly. Users can open multiple apps in windowed views similar to desktop environments.

Comparison with Competitors

• While not the first triple-folding phone (Huawei previously released one), Samsung's design is noted for being more rigid than Huawei’s flexible approach which allowed varied usage of screen sections simultaneously. This rigidity may affect usability compared to Huawei’s model which utilized a single folding display component instead of separate screens like Samsung's setup does.

Samsung Trifold Phone Features and Insights

Design and Display Considerations

• The design choice of the Samsung Trifold phone prioritizes protection for the soft inner display, ensuring it remains shielded from external elements when folded.

• The peak brightness of the Trifold's inner display is 1,600 nits, which is lower than the ZFold 7's 2,600 nits. This difference may affect visibility in bright conditions but is not significantly impactful in everyday use.

Multitasking Capabilities

• The phone can connect to a monitor, allowing it to function as an extension of that monitor for dual-display setups on-the-go, similar to previous capabilities with Samsung tablets.

• Users can run multiple apps simultaneously; for example, Netflix can be displayed alongside a browser and a VPN app without performance issues or lag.

User Experience Enhancements

• A feature allows users to quickly swap app positions within the multitasking view, enhancing flexibility in managing open applications.

• Different layout options are available for multitasking: uniform three-app view or a larger main app with two smaller ones beside it. This caters to various user preferences during usage.

App Management Features

• Users can save groups of three apps as a "trio," enabling quick access through a single icon that indicates both the apps and their layout configuration upon opening.

Pricing and Market Positioning

• The anticipated price for the Samsung Trifold is around $3,000 in the US market based on its Korean pricing conversion. This positions it as a premium device compared to existing foldable options like the ZFold 7.