At CES 2026, I finally got to go hands-on with the Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold. I've been covering the phone for months, and so far it's only received a limited release in Korea, but mobile watchers are hoping it will make its U.S. debut in the coming months. Fingers crossed.
Of course, seeing something on YouTube or reading a specs sheet isn't the same as actually holding the device in your hands.
Or, in my case, almost dropping it (as you can see about 25 seconds into this TikTok video).
One of our go-to Android reporters has already gone in-depth on the phone, and it's definitely got some quirks. However, as Mashable's tech editor, I have to tell you that I can't stop thinking about this phone.
Up close, the TriFold is absolutely gorgeous. It's the closest we've ever gotten to those Westworld-style foldable tablets, and it really does feel like it was plucked right from the screen of a sci-fi drama on Apple TV.
Most of the problems we found are software and UI quirks that could easily be addressed in an over-the-air update. And you can do things on its tablet-sized display that you just can't do on a typical foldable phone. For complex tasks like photo editing, gaming, or word processing, you'll suddenly have a lot more screen real estate.
During a demo, a colleague and I conducted a mini stress test, opening as many apps on the TriFold as possible, and it didn't break a sweat. The phone uses Samsung DeX, which brings a desktop-style display to your Galaxy tablet or smartphone. You can have four separate DeX going at once, and multitasking will definitely be a focus of the UI.
If you're watching a YouTube video on the 10-inch AMOLED inner display and click on the comments, they open in a side panel on the right-third of the page, which is a neat little trick.
Even simple things like searching for files or using the touchscreen keyboard are easier on the 10-inch display.
I've seen commentators complain about how thick the phone is, and yes, it's on the thick side when it's all folded up. However, when unfolded, it's remarkably thin. We raved about the thinness of the 4.2mm Galaxy Z Fold 7, but Samsung says the TriFold measures just 3.9mm at its thinnest point.
This phone is going to be the ultimate flex in 2026
In my experience, foldable phones are still a big conversation starter. Whenever I break out my Motorola Razr Ultra, I get comments and questions. Personally, I strongly prefer these smaller flip-style foldables, but the TriFold could convert me.
For early adopters and mobile nerds, this first-of-its-kind phone will be a major flex — if you can get your hands on it.
Korean publication The Bell recently reported that Samsung is selling the TriFold at a loss, making it more of a proof of concept than a mass-market smartphone. That could explain why it's getting such a limited release, and probably means it will be hard to find, even when it's officially available here in the States.
In addition to being a flex, it's also quite the dunk on Apple.
While the world awaits Apple's first foldable, likely coming in the fall of 2026, Samsung is already showing off a tri-folding phone. And if the leaked renders of the iPhone Fold prove to be accurate, the design of the iPhone Fold is closer to the clunky Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold than the Z Fold 7, widely regarded as the superior handset, both in terms of design and performance.
The bottom line is this: After dancing with robots and trying on over a dozen pairs of smart glasses, the Galaxy Z TriFold is the CES product I'm still thinking about the week after. And this phone wasn't even a CES debut — it's been around.
If you're an early adopter with about $2,500 to spare, I would strongly consider hopping aboard the hype train for this tri-folding phone, despite its quirks. Just try not to drop it.