Galaxy Z TriFold is the future, just not the one we deserve

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By Anam Hamid

Updated: Dec 07, 2025, 11:14 PM

This article may contain personal views and opinion from the author.

Galaxy Z TriFold | Image Credit - Samsung

Every once in a while, a product that feels like the future comes along. These are the products you must resist buying – unless you absolutely must have them (a totally valid reason) or your money is burning a hole in your pocket (in which case, congratulations, you are the target demographic). The Galaxy Z Trifold falls squarely in that category.

Tablets have barely made it

Sensory overload is bad enough as it is, without multiple tabs open at the same time. | Image Credit - Samsung

If there's one gadget I barely use, it's my iPad. I had never owned a tablet before, and I convinced myself that I'd come up with a new use case that my laptop and phone weren't suitable for.

Shocker: it did not happen. And now I force myself to use the iPad every few weeks as a punishment.

I am not alone in thinking that way. According to IDC, global tablet shipments shrank 4.4 percent year-over-year in Q3 2025. So maybe we have all finally realized that tablets are just bigger phones that we don't need.

The Galaxy Z TriFold is more of a tablet than anything else. It may look like a phone in its folded state, but it weighs 309 grams, making it very heavy for one-handed use. For comparison, the Galaxy S25 Ultra comes in at 218 grams.

When unfolded, the Galaxy Z TriFold is Samsung's thinnest phone, so it's more suitable to be used as a tablet. Since it has a larger screen than the Fold 7, multitasking should be more fun, but since there are two hinges now, it also has two creases, which lessens its appeal.

Creases aside, the bigger screen does let you view more content, but if tablets aren't your cup of tea, the TriFold isn't going to be any more enjoyable.

Potential will remain... potential

The Galaxy Z Fold also offers a tablet-like experience, so the TriFold being a tablet replacement is hardly groundbreaking.

The TriFold goes a step further by offering a standalone DeX mode, letting you use the device like a desktop. This means that when paired with a keyboard, a mouse, and the courage to use it in public, you can convince yourself that it's a productivity machine.

While the DeX mode offers a polished multitasking experience, the device isn't powerful enough to replace your laptop.

If you are a professional who is always on the go and finds lugging around a laptop a hassle, the device might be for you, but only if your work isn't resource intensive.

Is the Galaxy Z TriFold overkill?

Yes, two displays are where I draw the line. One display is bad enough. No, it's an important step towards a do-it-all device. I don't care, it's so cool.

What workflow in your life needs a $2,436 gadget?

The TriFold costs approximately $2,436 in South Korea. Due to taxes and duties, it will likely be more expensive in the US.

For such an insane price tag, the Z TriFold has some glaring shortcomings. For instance, it's powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, which has been succeeded by the more powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5.

The device's main screen isn't as bright as that of the Galaxy S25 Ultra, so outside visibility may be a problem.

The camera system has been borrowed from the Galaxy Z Fold 7, and while it is adequate, it's nowhere near as impressive as the arrays on the top camera phones.

Why buy the Galaxy Z TriFold?

The Galaxy Z TriFold suffers from the same problem as many other futuristic devices: it isn't going to meaningfully elevate the experience for the average user.

Power users may get a kick out of having multiple tabs or windows open at the same time, but for the rest of us, this device is overkill.

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Anam Hamid is a computer scientist turned tech journalist who has a keen interest in the tech world, with a particular focus on smartphones and tablets. She has previously written for Android Headlines and has also been a ghostwriter for several tech and car publications. Anam is not a tech hoarder and believes in using her gadgets for as long as possible. She is concerned about smartphone addiction and its impact on future generations, but she also appreciates the convenience that phones have brought into our lives. Anam is excited about technological advancements like folding screens and under-display sensors, and she often wonders about the future of technology. She values the overall experience of a device more than its individual specs and admires companies that deliver durable, high-quality products. In her free time, Anam enjoys reading, scrolling through Reddit and Instagram, and occasionally refreshing her programming skills through tutorials.

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