Samsung’s Ambitious Galaxy Z TriFold Phone Faces a Harsh Reality in Durability Testing

In the latest installment of JerryRigEverything’s durability tests, Zach Nelson put Samsung’s Galaxy Z TriFold through the wringer. This extremely cool device folds twice to change a 10-inch tablet into a super compact phone, and its profile is incredibly small, measuring only 3.9 millimeters at its slimmest point, with two hinges and everything neatly organized.

Nelson starts by scratching the essential components to evaluate how well they’ll withstand everyday damage. The outside cover screen, which is protected by some high-quality Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2, performs nicely. A good scratch leaves a mark at level 6 on the Mohs hardness scale, while deeper grooves appear at level 7. To be honest, that is precisely what you would expect from a high-end glass screen on a premium gadget. When you flip it over to the large inside display, it’s a completely different story. Made of flexible plastic, it begins to scratch about level 2, with deeper damage appearing around level 3. Even a fingernail can leave some unsightly lines; this is rather frequent with foldables, but it serves as a good reminder that this item should be handled with care.

Dust is another issue that will cause problems with the TriFold. Samsung has classified it IP48, which is adequate for keeping water out but not particularly effective at keeping dust out. Nelson dusts the hinges, which results in some loud grinding noises as dirt is sucked into the machinery. It’s not only the noise that’s an issue; when you fold the thing, the hinges begin to crunch much more, which is significantly worse than on previous Samsung foldables. If you intend to keep this device in your pocket for an extended period of time, you should consider purchasing a case to protect it from the dust and filth that builds there.

Flame testing is where things become more serious. The exterior OLED screen appears to perform well, lasting approximately 17 seconds under a lighter before the pixels begin to become white and refuse to return. The inner screen, on the other hand, fared far worse, disintegrating after only 10 seconds of heat exposure. Both will ultimately return to normal, but extended exposure to a flame will most likely permanently damage the screen.

Structural integrity is the true deal-breaker in the bend test, and the TriFold fails miserably. Previous Samsung foldables passed the test with ease, but not this one. The ultra-thin aluminum frame is simply not up to the task, and when Nelson puts pressure in the other fold direction, the phone buckles under it. The hinges become out of alignment, the frame warps, and areas of the display begin to go dark as the pixels are torn. To make matters worse, one of the hinges snaps with hardly no effort. To be honest, it’s the first time a Samsung foldable has failed this test entirely.

Inside the phone is a smartly designed battery layout: three independent cells totaling 5,600 mAh, all connected together to power the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite processor and triple camera setup. The way they’ve done it is quite great, however one thing that worries me is the battery pull tabs; they’re a little flimsy and might cause the battery cells to bend up pretty significantly when you want to remove them. This is not ideal, especially if you want to conduct any repairs on your phone.

Nelson concludes the review with some practical recommendations. The Galaxy Z TriFold is a truly amazing device that transforms into a pocket tablet, but it’s not designed for harsh handling. A suitable case appears to be almost vital in preventing accidental bends or scratches. To top it all off, owners must be more careful when folding the device, prevent getting it dusty, and avoid applying incorrect pressure.