Unfold a phone once and you get a tablet-sized screen. Unfold it twice and the idea stops being a novelty and starts feeling inevitable.
At CES 2026, the Galaxy Z TriFold gave reporters a short but vivid reminder of what a two-hinge foldable can do: a 10‑inch interior canvas that, for a moment, makes the rest of your pocketed devices feel redundant. The reaction from hands-on reviewers ranged from giddy to pragmatic — it’s impressive, but not unproblematic.
What it is and how it feels
Samsung’s TriFold folds inward along two hinges to pack a true tablet into a form that still zips into a pocket. When closed you get a 6.5‑inch cover display suitable for quick texts and calls; open it and you’re looking at an expansive 10‑inch screen. It’s light on the eye when open — as thin as 3.9mm at the flattest point — but when closed it can feel chunky (makers list 12.9mm thickness) and like you’re carrying two phones stacked together.
Hands-on impressions emphasize tactile surprises. You can feel the extra “ridges” from the triple panels; some testers liked the added grip. The TriFold’s two creases are present but reportedly less obtrusive than earlier single-hinge foldables, and the phone gently nudges you (with haptics and an alert) if you try to close it the wrong way — useful, because learning the correct folding sequence takes a few tries.
Cameras and battery aren’t skimped on. The rear array mirrors Samsung’s higher-end hardware — a 200MP main, 12MP ultrawide and a 10MP telephoto — plus two 10MP selfie cameras. The 5,600‑mAh battery and 45W charging promise better endurance than many current foldables, and Samsung even includes a charging brick in the box.
Who this is for — and who it isn’t
Samsung pitches the TriFold at productivity users: people who want a pocketable device that doubles as a mini laptop, with support for multiwindow apps and desktop‑like workflows via Samsung DeX. With enough screen real estate to run multiple apps side‑by‑side, pair a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse and you have a convincing on-the-go workstation.
That said, the device still makes compromises. Folded, it’s thicker and a little clumsy as a phone; unfolded, it’s delightfully tablet-like but some apps still behave like oversized phone apps rather than full tablet experiences. And the question many reviewers kept returning to: how many people will pay to carry a true tablet in their pocket when an existing tablet plus a standard phone will cost less?
Analysts and Samsung execs have hinted that this is a strategic experiment — a way to see which form factors resonate. Samsung has shown prototypes and iterations before, and the TriFold feels like the next, more polished step in that exploration. For background on Samsung’s tri-fold efforts and how the company is positioning these bold form factors, see earlier coverage of the device’s prototype phase Samsung’s Tri‑Fold Prototype: A Bold Step — With Compromises — Into Next‑Gen Foldables.
Small details that matter
Two hinges mean two creases, yes, but reviewers noted the creases are less of a visual distraction than expected. The phone’s 309‑gram weight (as measured by some outlets) is noticeable in hand but not unwieldy when using the device as a mini tablet. Samsung also added helpful features like fold‑aware UI cues and deeper assistant integration: the company showed off how Google’s Gemini can help manage multiple apps open on the large canvas and answer questions that span them — an example of phone/tablet convergence that’s as much about software as hardware. For more on how Gemini is being woven into productivity workflows, read our piece about Gemini’s deeper research and integrations.
Availability is staggered: the TriFold launched in South Korea and several other markets late last year and will arrive in the US in the first quarter of 2026. Price remains the sticking point. Samsung didn’t announce a US price at CES; expect it to sit well above most flagship phones. If you want a rough benchmark, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 started around $2,000; early hands-on commentary has suggested a TriFold could command a premium beyond that, which will keep this firmly in the early‑adopter lane.
If you’re weighing whether this replaces a laptop or a tablet, the honest answer is: maybe for some. It’s a compelling one‑device fantasy for travelers, mobile professionals, and people who genuinely will unfold daily. For everyone else, it’s a beautiful experiment — a peek at what phones could be when designers stop agreeing that a rectangle is the only shape that makes sense.
If you’re picturing the TriFold as the device that eliminates the need for a secondary laptop, remember the practical gap: keyboard comfort, app maturity, and price. Still curious about alternatives while you wait to see how the TriFold lands? A lightweight laptop like the MacBook remains a different kind of tool for heavy typing and sustained productivity — if you want to compare options, check the current MacBook models available on Amazon MacBook.
The TriFold won’t be for everyone. But unfold it, and for a few minutes, it’s hard not to imagine a pocketable future where a phone can turn into a proper tablet — and that alone explains why Samsung keeps betting on hinge number two.