The Galaxy Z TriFold is Samsung’s first tri-fold smartphone, and it is already off the shelves: the limited run, launched in South Korea on 12 December 2025 and then in the United States at $2,899, or about €2,500 (around 1,640,000 FCFA), has been sold out since April 2026. The device was never officially sold in France or anywhere else in Europe. It remains a benchmark all the same: 10 inches unfolded, two hinges that shield the flexible display, and a proper desktop mode that needs no external monitor. This page is for anyone weighing up an import or a second-hand unit, and for anyone who wants to understand what Samsung is preparing next.
Introduction: the Galaxy Z TriFold, Samsung’s first tri-fold smartphone
Samsung made the Galaxy Z TriFold official on 2 December 2025, more than a year after Huawei’s first Mate XT. Sales began in South Korea on 12 December at 3,590,400 won, or about €2,100 (around 1,378,000 FCFA) at the exchange rate of the time. The United States followed on 30 January 2026 with a single version: 16 GB of RAM, 512 GB of storage, in black.
What came next did not last long. According to Bloomberg, quoted by Gigazine, Samsung announced in March 2026 that sales would end in Korea, and then in the United States once stock had run out. One last American restock took place on 10 April. A week later, Samsung’s US website stated that the limited run was sold out, 9to5Google and GSMArena report.
The device therefore spent four months on sale, and SamMobile describes it as a showcase of know-how built in small quantities. For a foldable that is officially sold in Europe with a warranty, the Honor Magic V6 remains a far simpler choice.
Verdict in brief: our view of the Galaxy Z TriFold
Verdict in 30 seconds
The Galaxy Z TriFold gets the essentials right: a 10-inch display that fits in a pocket and a DeX mode that can stand in for a backup computer. Its weight, the fragility exposed by durability tests, its price and its disappearance from the catalogue make it an enthusiast's device. Score based on the spec sheet and on published reviews; our newsroom has not tried the device.
For whom Mobile professionals and enthusiasts who want a 10-inch tablet in their pocket and are willing to import or buy second-hand.
Avoid if You want a phone with a local warranty, a light one, or one that can shrug off dust and knocks.
We like
- 10-inch display fully protected once the device is closed
- Standalone Samsung DeX, with no external screen
- 6.5-inch cover screen in a conventional phone format
- Seven years of updates promised
- 5,600 mAh battery, the largest in a Samsung foldable
We like less
- Run sold out, never sold in Europe
- 309 g and 12.9 mm thick once closed
- Hinges vulnerable to dust according to durability tests
- Same cameras as the Galaxy Z Fold 7
- Inner display cannot be used half unfolded
Galaxy Z TriFold specs
| Écran | Interne pliable Dynamic AMOLED 2X 10 pouces, 2 160 × 1 584 px, 1 à 120 Hz, 1 600 nits en pointe ; externe Dynamic AMOLED 2X 6,5 pouces, 2 520 × 1 080 px, 21:9, 120 Hz, 2 600 nits en pointe, Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2 |
|---|---|
| Processeur | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy (3 nm), Adreno 830 |
| Mémoire | 16 Go |
| Stockage | 512 Go ou 1 To (512 Go seulement aux États-Unis) ; pas de microSD |
| Appareil photo principal | 200 Mpx, f/1,7, stabilisation optique |
| Ultra grand-angle | 12 Mpx, f/2,2, 120° |
| Téléobjectif | 10 Mpx, f/2,4, zoom optique 3x |
| Caméra selfie | 10 Mpx sur chaque écran |
| Batterie | 5 600 mAh, trois cellules (une par volet) |
| Charge | 45 W filaire (50 % en 30 minutes environ selon Samsung), 15 W sans fil, charge sans fil inversée |
| Système | Android 16, One UI 8, Samsung DeX autonome ; sept mises à jour majeures d'Android promises |
| Réseau | 5G, deux nano SIM et eSIM, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC, ultra large bande |
| Étanchéité | IP48 (immersion 1,5 m pendant 30 minutes, particules de plus de 1 mm) |
| Dimensions et poids | Ouvert : 159,2 × 214,1 × 3,9 à 4,2 mm ; fermé : 159,2 × 75 × 12,9 mm ; 309 g |
| Date de sortie | Annoncé le 2 décembre 2025 ; Corée du Sud le 12 décembre 2025, États-Unis le 30 janvier 2026 ; série épuisée en avril 2026 |
| Launch price | Pas de prix officiel en France ni en Europe. États-Unis : 2 899 $, soit environ 2 500 € (environ 1 640 000 FCFA) hors taxes, en 16 Go + 512 Go. Corée du Sud : 3 590 400 wons, soit environ 2 100 € (environ 1 378 000 FCFA) au cours de décembre 2025. Série limitée épuisée depuis avril 2026 : import ou occasion uniquement |
Three figures sum up the Galaxy Z TriFold specs. The first, 10 inches, is the diagonal of the unfolded display, which is tablet territory. The second, 3.9 mm, is the thickness of the slimmest panel once the device is open. The third, 309 g, is a reminder of the price to pay: that is nearly 90 g more than the best two-panel foldables of 2026.
The tri-fold format: two hinges, two creases and 12.9 mm when closed
An inward fold, in a set order
Samsung took a different route from the first Mate XT, which folded like an accordion and left a third of the flexible display exposed. Here, the two side panels fold inwards, one on top of the other. The 10-inch panel is completely sheltered when the device is closed. Huawei has in fact adopted the same principle on the Mate XT 2, released in September 2026.
That choice demands some discipline. The left panel has to be folded first, then the right one. If you start with the wrong side, the phone vibrates and shows a warning on screen, The Gadgeteer and TechRadar explain.
The other trade-off is more of a nuisance. According to SamMobile, both panels have to be unfolded before the inner display can be used: there is no halfway position with two panels. So the choice is between 6.5 inches closed and 10 inches open, with nothing in between.
Two Armor FlexHinge hinges of different sizes
The Galaxy Z TriFold relies on two Armor FlexHinge hinges, housed in a titanium casing. They are not the same size, since the second panel has to close over the first.
Open, the device measures 159.2 × 214.1 mm and is 3.9 to 4.2 mm thick depending on the panel. Closed, it comes to 159.2 × 75 × 12.9 mm. That is 4 mm more than the Oppo Find N6. Tom’s Guide advises against carrying it in a jeans pocket. The two creases, for their part, are judged barely visible by the same site.
Durability: what the stress tests say
Samsung claims 200,000 folding cycles in the lab, or around a hundred openings a day for five years. An independent test relayed by 9to5Google went past 150,000 complete folds. The mechanism therefore lives up to its promises in normal use.
The torture test run by the JerryRigEverything channel tells a different story. Bent the wrong way, the display tore and the right-hand hinge gave way. TechRadar notes that this is the first Samsung model to fail that trial with this tester. With sand, the hinges started to crunch, despite the IP48 rating.
Nobody folds their phone backwards, and this test is designed to break things. Gagadget does mention, however, citing GeekBlog, cases of dust in the hinges and of display failures a few months after purchase. Samsung has not commented on these reports.
Good to know — Samsung included a case in the box and gave buyers a one-off 50% discount on a display replacement. On a second-hand Galaxy Z TriFold, check whether that benefit has already been used.
Design of the Galaxy Z TriFold: 309 g to carry, 3.9 mm to hold
Materials and finish
The frame is made of reinforced aluminium, which Samsung calls Advanced Armor Aluminum. The back uses a polymer reinforced with glass fibre and ceramic, lighter than glass. The cover screen is protected by Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2. Only one colour was ever offered: black.
SamMobile points out two practical flaws. The finish picks up fingerprints quickly. And the camera bump, which sticks out a long way, makes the device rock as soon as you tap on it while it lies flat on a table.
In the hand: light when open, heavy when closed
The weight is felt in two different ways. Unfolded, the Galaxy Z TriFold spreads its 309 g over a large surface, and Tom’s Guide finds it surprisingly light to hold. Closed, it is a dense block. By way of comparison, the Honor Magic V6 weighs 219 g and the Vivo X Fold 6 228 g.
The fingerprint reader is built into the side button. The device is IP48 certified: it withstands immersion at 1.5 m for 30 minutes, but only keeps out particles larger than one millimetre. Fine sand gets through.
Display: 10 inches unfolded, 6.5 inches closed
A tablet-sized inner panel
The main display is a 10-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel with a resolution of 2,160 × 1,584 pixels. The refresh rate ranges from 1 to 120 Hz and brightness peaks at 1,600 nits according to Samsung.
An A4 document is displayed at almost full width and two web pages fit side by side. The 1,600 nits fall short of the 2,600 nits of the Galaxy Z Fold 7, Tom’s Guide notes. In direct sunlight, the cover screen will remain easier to read.
A proper phone-sized cover screen on this tri-fold smartphone
The cover screen measures 6.5 inches, at 2,520 × 1,080 pixels, in a 21:9 format. It reaches 120 Hz and a peak of 2,600 nits. Its conventional smartphone proportions mean everything can be done without opening the Galaxy Z TriFold: messages, browsing, payments, photos. The large panel only comes out when you need it, and it wears less as a result.
Sound, the weak point flagged by reviewers
SamMobile rates the speakers below those of a conventional high-end smartphone. For a film on 10 inches, plan on using earphones.
Performance: a Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy and 16 GB of RAM
A 2025 chip that is still fast
The Galaxy Z TriFold runs on the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, built on a 3 nm process, with 16 GB of RAM. Storage is 512 GB or 1 TB according to the official spec sheet, with no microSD card. The American version only ever existed with 512 GB.
This chip already powered the Galaxy S25 range and the Z Fold 7. It has since been replaced by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, found in the Honor Magic V6 and the Oppo Find N6. The gap does not show in everyday use, but it will weigh on the lifespan of the Galaxy Z TriFold.
Multitasking and gaming on 10 inches
Published reviews describe a device that stays smooth in all circumstances. SamMobile stresses that three apps run side by side without any slowdown. For long gaming sessions, some caution is in order: a 4 mm panel sheds heat less effectively than a conventional phone.
Connectivity
The connectivity package is complete: 5G, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC and ultra-wideband according to GSMArena. The Galaxy Z TriFold takes two nano SIM cards and several eSIM profiles according to the official spec sheet.
Camera: the Galaxy Z Fold 7 module, no more, no less
Three sensors on the back
On the Galaxy Z TriFold, Samsung reused the camera module of the Galaxy Z Fold 7. The main sensor offers 200 MP, with an f/1.7 aperture and optical stabilisation. It is joined by a 12 MP ultra-wide lens with a 120° field of view and a 10 MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom.
In daylight, the main sensor produces detailed images, according to published reviews. The 10 MP telephoto is the weak link: beyond 3x, quality drops off quickly.
Video and selfies
Video goes up to 8K at 30 frames per second and 4K at 60 frames per second, according to GSMArena. Two 10 MP cameras handle selfies and video calls, one on each screen.
A notch below the asking price
Opinions line up. Tom’s Guide talks of a missed opportunity compared with the zoom of a Galaxy S25 Ultra. SamMobile considers that the camera hardware does not justify the price. With the Galaxy Z TriFold, you are paying for the display, not for the camera.
Battery life and charging: 5,600 mAh spread across three panels
A day of mixed use
The 5,600 mAh battery of the Galaxy Z TriFold is the largest ever fitted to a Samsung foldable. It is divided into three cells, one per panel. Samsung claims up to 17 hours of video playback, a figure repeated by Back Market.
SamMobile reports a full day when alternating between the two screens. In DeX mode on 10 inches, expect to recharge before the evening.
Charging: 45 W wired, 15 W wireless
Wired charging tops out at 45 W. Samsung promises 50% in around 30 minutes. Wireless charging reaches 15 W, and the device can recharge earbuds or a watch placed on its back. Chinese foldables accept 66 to 80 W, with batteries of 6,660 to 6,900 mAh.
Software: One UI 8, Android 16 and a DeX mode with no external screen
Standalone Samsung DeX, the case for the format
The Galaxy Z TriFold ships with Android 16 and One UI 8. Its real software novelty is standalone DeX mode: Samsung’s desktop interface is displayed directly on the 10-inch panel, without a monitor. Samsung presents it as the first mobile device to offer this.
In practical terms, the system brings:
- up to four separate workspaces, with five apps open in each;
- three apps side by side on the unfolded display, outside DeX;
- freely resizable windows and an enhanced taskbar;
- support for a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, as on a backup computer.
Tom’s Guide sees it as a possible laptop replacement for light workloads.
Galaxy AI and bundled services
The Galaxy AI suite is complete, with its photo editing and browsing assistance tools. Gemini Live is built in. Samsung also offered six months of Google AI Pro subscription.
Seven years of updates
Samsung promises seven major Android updates and seven years of security patches, according to SamMobile. On paper, the Galaxy Z TriFold will therefore be supported until the early 2030s.
Galaxy Z TriFold price and availability: a limited run that is already sold out
Official prices in Korea and the United States
The Galaxy Z TriFold price was 3,590,400 won in South Korea, or about €2,100 (around 1,378,000 FCFA) in December 2025. In the United States, Samsung asked $2,899, or about €2,500 (around 1,640,000 FCFA), before local taxes.
Samsung had also named China, Taiwan, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates. Sources disagree about those launches: Gigazine writes that they did not take place, while SamMobile speaks of a few limited markets. Gagadget puts production at around 30,000 units, a figure Samsung has not confirmed.
The Galaxy Z TriFold in Europe: never officially sold
There is no official price in France or elsewhere in Europe: the Galaxy Z TriFold was never launched there, and Samsung’s French website never put it on sale. At the end of 2025, L’Éclaireur Fnac estimated that it would exceed €3,000 (around 1,968,000 FCFA) if it arrived, by comparison with the Galaxy Z Fold 7, sold in France at €2,102 (around 1,379,000 FCFA).
That leaves imports and the second-hand market. In December 2025, European resellers were listing imported units at between €2,416 (around 1,585,000 FCFA) and more than €4,000 (around 2,624,000 FCFA), L’Éclaireur Fnac noted. You get neither a local Samsung warranty nor parts that are easy to find, and VAT is paid at customs. No product page exists on Amazon, Fnac, Darty or Cdiscount in France as of the date of this article.
Africa: import only, and network bands to check
Samsung did not distribute the Galaxy Z TriFold in any country in West and Central Africa. In Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire or Senegal, buyers have to go through an importer or a traveller. Local Samsung service centres are under no obligation to repair a Korean or American model.
Check network compatibility too before paying. The Korean and American versions do not necessarily cover the 4G and 5G bands used by your carrier. Ask the seller for the exact model number. During the harmattan season, the IP48 rating also weighs in the balance.
Galaxy Z TriFold 2: what the rumours say
Samsung is not giving up on the format. GSMArena, SamMobile and 9to5Google report that a Galaxy Z TriFold 2 is said to be planned for 2027, thinner and lighter, with a slimmed-down hinge. Nothing is official. The rising cost of components, described in our article on the memory crisis, does not point towards a price cut.
Pros and cons of the Galaxy Z TriFold
Pros
- A 10-inch display in a 4:3 format inside a pocketable device.
- An inward fold that fully protects the flexible panel.
- A 6.5-inch cover screen with the proportions of a conventional phone.
- Standalone Samsung DeX, with four workspaces.
- Seven years of updates promised by Samsung.
Cons
- Limited run sold out, never sold in Europe or in Africa.
- 309 g and 12.9 mm thick once closed.
- Resistance to dust and twisting falls short, according to published tests.
- Camera hardware identical to that of a foldable sold for $900 less.
- Battery and charging overtaken by the foldables of 2026.
These scores are based on the spec sheet and on published reviews. The overall score of 7.2 out of 10 also takes into account price and availability, which are not among the five criteria.
Alternatives to the Galaxy Z TriFold
Huawei Mate XT 2 Ultimate Design 16 Go + 256 Go
Vivo X Fold 6
The Huawei Mate XT 2 is the only other recent tri-fold: 10.2 inches, 299 g, but sold in China without Google services. The Honor Magic V6 is the sensible choice, at €2,299.90 (around 1,509,000 FCFA) in France with a warranty. The Vivo X Fold 6 offers 6,900 mAh for €2,199 (around 1,442,000 FCFA) in Germany.
Apple is also entering this market with the iPhone Duo, its first foldable. Xiaomi, for its part, is preparing the Xiaomi 18 Fold.
Conclusion: should you buy the Galaxy Z TriFold?
The Galaxy Z TriFold proved that a 10-inch display could fit in a pocket without leaving its panel exposed. Its standalone DeX mode makes it a small workstation, not just a big phone.
Buying one today is another matter. It means going through an importer or the second-hand market, with no local warranty, for a device that is heavy, sensitive to dust and fitted with a chip from the previous generation. If the large display serves your job, the purchase can be justified. For everyone else, a two-panel foldable from 2026 does better for less money.
Good to know — If the format appeals to you and there is no rush, patience is the best option. A successor is mooted for 2027, and the Huawei Mate XT 2 already shows what one more generation brings: 10 g less and faster charging.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Galaxy Z TriFold cost?
Samsung launched it at 3,590,400 won in South Korea, or about €2,100 (around 1,378,000 FCFA) at the end of 2025, and at $2,899 in the United States, or about €2,500 (around 1,640,000 FCFA) before taxes. It never had an official price in euros. The run has been sold out since April 2026: current prices are those of imports and the second-hand market, set by sellers.
Is the Galaxy Z TriFold available in Europe?
No. Samsung never sold it in France or anywhere else in Europe. Official sales covered South Korea from 12 December 2025 and the United States from 30 January 2026. The manufacturer then ended the run in spring 2026. Only importers and second-hand sellers offer it, without a local Samsung warranty.
Why did Samsung discontinue its tri-fold smartphone?
Samsung presented it from the outset as a limited run. According to SamMobile, the device served as a technical showcase and was not aimed at the general public. Korean and American stock went in a matter of minutes at each restock. The manufacturer gave no other explanation, and did not comment on the harsh durability tests published in the meantime.
Is the Galaxy Z TriFold water-resistant and sturdy?
It is IP48 certified: it withstands immersion at 1.5 m for 30 minutes, but only blocks particles larger than one millimetre. Fine dust can therefore reach the hinges. Samsung claims 200,000 folds, and an independent test went past 150,000. On the other hand, the JerryRigEverything torture test broke the display and one hinge when the device was bent backwards.
When will the Galaxy Z TriFold 2 be released?
Nothing is official. Several specialist outlets, including GSMArena, SamMobile and 9to5Google, mention a successor for 2027. It is said to be thinner and lighter, with a reworked hinge. Samsung has confirmed neither the date, nor the price, nor the countries concerned. In the meantime, in April 2026 the manufacturer was pointing interested buyers towards the Galaxy Z Fold 7.
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