If you are planning to get your first foldable phone, Samsung has pushed the game further by introducing the Galaxy Z TriFold, which combines three form factors — the smartphone slab we are used to, a foldable phone, and a tablet-sized screen.
The new device unfolds twice to reveal a 10-inch display, the largest screen Samsung has placed in a mobile form factor. When closed, it resembles a tall, slim handset; opened fully, it becomes closer to a compact tablet aimed at users who want to work across multiple apps. Samsung is positioning the TriFold as a response to what it calls a long-standing challenge in mobile design: Finding a viable balance between portability and screen real estate.
“Through years of innovation in foldable form factors, Galaxy Z TriFold solves one of the mobile industry’s longest-standing challenges... delivering the perfect balance between portability, premium performance and productivity all in one device. Galaxy Z TriFold now expands the boundaries of what’s possible for mobile work, creativity and connection,” said TM Roh, chief executive officer, president and head of device experience (DX) division at Samsung Electronics.
A multi-fold experiment
Samsung says the TriFold draws on several years of R&D in flexible displays and hinge mechanisms. The company has already released several generations of book-style folding and flip-style devices, but a multi-folding design presents a new set of engineering challenges: More hinges, greater stress on the display, and a need to distribute weight and battery components across several panels.
According to Samsung, the TriFold uses an inward-folding layout that protects the main display when closed. A customised folding mechanism triggers alerts if the user closes the device incorrectly. At 3.9 mm at its thinnest point, the device attempts to offset the bulk that often plagues foldables. Inside, the phone runs on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Mobile Platform for Galaxy and includes a 200MP main camera, a specification typically reserved for the company’s high-end flagships. There is also a 10MP telephoto and 12MP ultra-wide snapper. The battery — 5,600 mAh in total — is split into three cells, one in each panel, to deliver more even power distribution. Fast charging at 45 W is supported, although charging speeds and heat management will be points to watch once the device is tested outside controlled conditions.
A 10-inch canvas
Opened fully, the 10-inch screen can mimic three portrait-oriented smartphone displays side by side. Multitasking tools such as resizable multi-window, an updated taskbar and optimised apps (including Samsung Health and My Files) are intended to make use of the added space.
The TriFold also becomes Samsung’s first phone to support standalone DeX, its desktop-style work environment. Users can run multiple workspaces, each with up to five apps, and even add a second physical display for a dual-screen setup. Combined with a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, the device can switch into a compact workstation.
Availability
The Galaxy Z TriFold will debut in South Korea on December 12, before launching in markets including China, Taiwan, Singapore, the UAE and the US.