In summary:
- Macworld examines Samsung’s new Galaxy Z TriFold, a multi-folding phone that opens to a 10-inch tablet with premium features like triple cameras and 5,600mAh battery.
- The device’s exceptionally high $2,899 price point makes it comparable to purchasing multiple Apple products, including a MacBook Air and iPhone combined.
- This pricing strategy positions the TriFold as a luxury item that may challenge consumer value perceptions in the premium smartphone market.
While the world waits until September for Apple to unveil its first folding iPhone, Samsung is taking its own folding ambitions to new heights with the Galaxy Z TriFold, a multi-folding phone that opens to a 10-inch tablet.
It’s definitely an impressive device. Less than 4mm thick when unfolded, it’s got a 6.5-inch cover display, a triple camera system with 3X optical zoom, a 5,600mAh battery, and super-fast 45W charging. It’s also got a commensurate price tag: $2,899.
Apple may have a reputation for luxury prices, but Samsung’s premium devices aren’t exactly cheap. The Galaxy S25 Ultra costs as much as an iPhone 17 Pro Max, while the super-skinny S25 Edge rivals the iPhone Air. Even the cheap S25 FE is still about the same as an iPhone 16e. It sells a $1,499 tablet. You can quibble over the specs, of course, but Samsung’s premium devices are hardly bargains.
So we expected its new TriFold phone to cost a lot. After all, its regular folding phone starts at $1,999. But $2,899 is a shockingly high price for what is essentially a fancy phone. How high? Consider you could buy these Apple products for the same price:
- M4 MacBook Air: $999
- iPhone 17: $799
- iPad: $349
- Apple Pencil USB-C: $79
- AirPods Pro 3: $249
- Apple Watch Series 11: $399
- Total: $2,874
And that’s at full MSRP. Shop at Amazon or Best Buy, and you can save enough to buy an Apple TV 4K and a 4-pack of AirTags, too. (Though you’ll still need to kick in a few hundred bucks to get an Apple Vision Pro.)
When Apple’s folding iPhone arrives in September, it won’t be cheap. It might even be more expensive than the Galaxy Z Fold7. But Samsung fans probably shouldn’t throw any stones.
Author: Michael Simon, Executive Editor, Macworld
Michael Simon has been covering Apple for more than 20 years. He started covering rumors with Spymac when the iPod was the iWalk, and has owned nearly every iPhone Apple has ever made. He lives in Connecticut with his wife, son, and far too many gadgets.