Is The Samsung Galaxy Z Trifold The Future Of Phones?
Just when we thought we’d seen it all with smartphones – foldable, flappable, dumbed down, tiny, gigantic, and super-thin – its newest innovation is taking shape. Samsung’s launch of the Galaxy Z Trifold is a feat of engineering, showing that it’s possible to pack in the complex operation of a desktop workstation to a portable phone.
While those of us in the UK are unlikely to get our hands on this trifold version, we can still take a peek to understand what innovations are happening, and what we can expect for the phones of the future. Let’s take a closer look at why this phone is heralds great things.
How the trifold design works
The big sell with this phone is that the display is split into three panels that fold into each other, like a paper letter. While foldable phones are just turning mainstream, this innovation doubles the impact. So you get a 10” screen the size of a standard Samsung tablet, weighing just 309g and just 3.9mm thick, which folds to become pocket-sized.
While it’s folded, the cover screen acts like a usual-sized phone, so it’s useful for everyday tasks like sending messages, checking emails and watching videos. Open it up, and whatever you’re doing continues seamlessly on the larger main screen. And that’s where the magic happens.
The extra size means three apps can work at the same time – so you can have a Google Doc open while messaging a friend, and checking your calendar. If you want to use it as a portable workstation, inbuilt capabilities mean the the phone can connect a monitor, keyboard or mouse so you can use it like a desktop on the go. So whether you use it as a phone, tablet or portable laptop, the Z Trifold is flexible enough to become what’s needed.
An evolution in trifold design
Samsung isn’t quite the first major trifold phone – that honour goes to Huawei’s Mate XT Ultimate, which came out in March 2025. There were plenty of lessons to be learned for that trailblazer, and a main sticking point was the creases, which stops the main display appearing as one large screen. The Z Trifold is a leap forward for creaseless display, not only compared to the Mate XT Ultimate, but also Samsung’s most recent two-screen foldable phones, the Z Fold 7 and the Z Flip 7. The creases haven’t disappeared completely, but they’re far less noticeable.
It hasn’t solved all the issues with a trifold – like the thickness when it’s folded over (the phone is 12.9mm thick, compared to the Z Fold 7, which is 8.9mm thick). But clearly, the tech is coming on leaps and bounds.
An impressive phone in its own right
While innovations usually call for the rest of the phone spec to be deprioritised, you won’t find much compromise here. The phone features a main 200MP wide lens, a 12MP ultrawide lens, and a 10MP telephoto lens, plus a 10MP selfie camera. Together, they take sharp pictures that rival the main flagship phones – so you don’t have to pick between the foldable or camera appeal.
It’s high-spec in other aspects too: the water resistance rating, the display’s 120Hz refresh rate and max 2600 nits brightness are up there with the market leaders.
Also within the phone, you’ll find 5,600mAh three-cell battery system: the largest ever in a Galaxy foldable. These cells are distributed across the three panels. Combined with the efficient Snapdragon 8 Elite processor (customised for Galaxy devices), the Z Trifold offers up to 17 hours of video playback. That means realistically, it will only need charging every couple of days with moderate use.
Charging is a doddle: it includes a 45W superfast charger (the fastest speed for a Samsung), which takes it from 0% to 100% in just an hour and 15 minutes.
AI plays a big part of the phone’s features, as you’d expect. It plugs in Google’s Gemini, so its much-loved uses like Circle to Search and Live Translate are part of the package.
A sign of progress to come
With a limited production run – not to mention the whopping $2,900 price tag, which is twice the price of the iPhone Pro Max – don’t hold out hope of owning a Galaxy Z Trifold. In the UK, Samsung continue to offer the Z Fold 7 and the Z Flip 7 as our foldable phone choices.
Think of the Z Trifold as Samsung proving they’re capable of something bigger and better. It’s a limited edition prototype that shows trifold phones can be made thin and durable, while still excelling in its function as a basic smartphone. It also tests a new space within the market, offering capabilities of a phone, a tablet and a desktop in one gadget.
Samsung are already planning future developments, like a slideable phone, as another option to keep large displays portable. The Z Trifold is proof that tech is still improving rapidly – so keep your eyes peeled for the next iteration.
If you’re looking to protect your text Switched On Insurance offers great value cover that’s packed with features including immediate cover, 24/7 online claims and fast repairs and replacements. Find out more on the Gadget Insurance page of our website.