I don't quite understand this comment. I unfolded my Fold 4, 5, and 6 outdoors all the time, in the car, while shopping at Costco, at the park, etc. That is what it's meant for. Whether calling into a Teams meeting, reading a PDF or spreadsheet, or consuming content, it's all better on a larger screen wherever I am (indoors or out). And I expect to do the same with the TriFold.
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Phones Folding phones the next frontier
- Thread starter Tulani
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Its the extra screen space.
A regular book-fold is, as you say a great phone for quickly unfolding when you need some extra screen space whether thats to edit a photo or read a document. The hinge is also useful by itself as a tripod or perhaps to just watch a video on the outer screen. The slight loss in camera quality and battery compared to a flagship is made up by the flexibility.
The Trifold has none of these conveniences. The screen it unfolds to is far too large and unwieldy to unfurl in the street (making you a bigger target for thieves in the process. It immediately loses all the hinge advantages of a book-style model. If you want to avoid the risks of theft or concrete then you'll have to sit down or take it indoors to unfold. And whilst the larger screen invites a keyboard and mouse for productivity, at this point you may as well just buy a tablet to complement your existing phone and save some cash.
It is essentially a weak-sauce tablet that collapses down into an average phone which isn't worth $3000 of anyone's money when you could buy both a better phone and a beter tablet for half the price.
I see your point, and raise you another.
With rumors of the Fold 8 being a wider passport-size dimension, it reminds me of comparing bi-fold wallets to tri-fold wallets. Both types of wallets are still in circulation and you choose between a wider, slimmer wallet versus a thicker but narrower one. Similarly, the TriFold phone will be thicker but narrower in your pocket than the future Fold 8.
I don't think the TriFold will be to unwieldy because it is actually still thinner than all previous Fold models, except the 6 and 7. Weight, on the other hand, will be noticeably heavier, but again comparable to my heaviest phones with screen protectors and case. As great as the Fold 7 is, I still sometimes wish for an even larger inner screen on my Fold 6 and that is where the TriFold comes in. The TriFold doesn't collapse down to an "average phone" because it's practically the same as a Fold 7 with an additional screen layer, and nobody asserts that the Fold 7 is a poor phone.
Yes, the extra folding motion is an additional step when opening and closing the TriFold, but I still much prefer that to carrying an additional tablet that brings added weight, additional power needs, potential extra data plan, and now also a backpack or messenger bag so I don't have to keep holding the tablet (since it definitely won't fit in my pocket). Not only that but, unless you have the more expensive Tandem OLED iPad Pros, I found my last M2 11-inch iPad Pro's display couldn't match the black levels and quality of my Fold 4 at the time.
I am fully prepared, mentally and financially, for [up to] a $3000 U.S. TriFold and am willing to pay for the convenience of that expansive display. I plan to keep it at least two years so the price isn't too much more compared to annual upgrades. On top of that, I'll be able to trade-in my current Fold 6 and there may be additional pre-order promotions too. I wish it had S Pen support for such a large foldable, but oh well. I do have concerns about longterm durability and the lack of Samsung Care+ option in other territories. I am hoping the U.S. release will still have a protection plan available or I may have to look into SquareTrade/Asurion.
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Don’t buy it then
Worth every penny for me for my use cases
I have it on a socket where I have my hand in the case so it’s secure and it’s not an iPhone so people won’t try and steal it
I can see how, much like the Vision Pro it is the right device for the right sort of person. Even if it requires a coffee shop or park bench if you need that sort of power on the road it will be invaluable.
Would you need a coffee shop or park bench when handling an 11-inch iPad? Me thinks not. If people and professionals can handle the standard iPad in home/office/work settings then the comparatively slimmer and lighter TriFold will be just as easy to manage, if not more so. The TriFold is just more expensive, but is also more versatile and capable than any iPad or tablet.
I like the TriFold... but I'd choose my iPad over it every time. But you already know my stance on it... it's not for me, my thoughts mirror @Ctrlos on the public aspect of it. And this is someone who travels with their iPad everywhere they go in a small backpack... I don't take it out in public (unless it's necessary), prefer to unfold in use the Galaxy Fold.
While I'm still drooling over the thought of the TriFold, I'm pretty much of the same line of thinking. When I'm on the go, the size and portability of the ZFold 7 make it my go to device. The TriFold, while impressive, is a bit more unwieldy. Not sure I'd ever need a tablet of that size when I'm out and about. If I'm going to meetings, I usually have my iPad or MBP stuffed in a bag to bring along. The ZF7 is the perfect medium in my mind to use as a daily driver. I can see the allure of the TriFold, and who knows, I've been known to let temptation get the best of me, but I see myself sticking to the ZF7 until the Apple foldable comes along or the passport style Z Fold design arrives.
Here we go! Closest store to me is 6-7 hours away, so won't be making the trip. Still good news.
Closet store for me is about an hour away, curious if they plan to have this available in person in other stores… I’d wager they keep at Samsung similar to how Apple does with their Vision Pro.
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ah hell, looks like I'll be making a trip to the mall tomorrow. 25-30 minutes from me.
Yea, it doesn't sound like Samsung has too many units to spare to send to other retailers.
Maybe, but I think it’s more so they want to manage the whole experience… be in control of everything especially when it comes down to returns.
Did you happen to make it out today? Any chance an employee knows the release price?
So I went ahead and ordered a 4-in-1 stylus to test on my Fold 6 (in anticipation of using the stylus on the TriFold).
I like that all tips are integrated and concealed in the pen, including a real ink tip for writing on paper. Straight out of the box, none of the capacitive tips had the desired level of precision for the front cover screen, but I was pleasantly surprised that the big mesh tip gave just enough tactile feedback to scribble down some quick notes on the inner screen without having to adjust my writing speed. I initially expected the disc tip to perform the best but the wide mesh tip was actually better at creating thin accurate lines.
Of course, it isn't as good as the S Pen and it lacks palm rejection, but I'd say my handwriting is still 80-90% legible with the capacitive stylus and I can get around palm rejection by anchoring my wrist along the edge of the screen. This definitely works best on the Fold 6 inner screen and hopefully works just as well on the expansive inner screen of the TriFold for work meetings.
Here is a sample of my writing on the first try with the Fold 6 inner screen:
I like that all tips are integrated and concealed in the pen, including a real ink tip for writing on paper. Straight out of the box, none of the capacitive tips had the desired level of precision for the front cover screen, but I was pleasantly surprised that the big mesh tip gave just enough tactile feedback to scribble down some quick notes on the inner screen without having to adjust my writing speed. I initially expected the disc tip to perform the best but the wide mesh tip was actually better at creating thin accurate lines.
Of course, it isn't as good as the S Pen and it lacks palm rejection, but I'd say my handwriting is still 80-90% legible with the capacitive stylus and I can get around palm rejection by anchoring my wrist along the edge of the screen. This definitely works best on the Fold 6 inner screen and hopefully works just as well on the expansive inner screen of the TriFold for work meetings.
Here is a sample of my writing on the first try with the Fold 6 inner screen:
Thanks for sharing, @Ludatyk!
Oh man, in-store only makes it a little tough, on top of no guarantee of available stock when I arrive. Why oh why does Samsung place two Experience stores in LA and nowhere else in California? Actually, I believe there used to be an Experience store in the Bay Area but that closed a few years ago. Man, January 30th feels so close yet the stores are so far.
My family has twice flown to LA for a full day at Universal Studios and then flew back home same-day, but I don't think I want to do that for a phone. And it would suck if I made the trip only to find out it's OOS. Sigh. Hoping Samsung comes through with other options.
I'm so disappointed the Samsung removed S Pen support from the Fold. Means I have to carry another device, currently a Supernote Nomad, which is much less convenient than being able to draw on my phone.
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I did not 🫤
With the winter storm moving into Texas our daughters cheer competition that was supposed to be this weekend got moved up to today. Hope to get out there sometime next week.
Well, come the 30th... supposedly Samsung will have them available for order online and in store.
More and more plot twists as the story, uh, unfolds. Good that you can order online next week, bad that there's no trade-in. And at first it was reported you can only buy in-store. It is as if Samsung really doesn't want anyone to buy the TriFold. Also supposedly no SamsungCare+ so you'll need a card like VentureX or Amex for extended coverage, which I do have but then you gotta pay for the TriFold all up front instead of 0% financing through Samsung. Or, I suppose, get monthly coverage through Verizon or SquareTrade/Asurion.
None of this deters me, but it's just a lot of head-scratching keeping up with all the restrictions and changing landscape. At least it will be sold online, that's a relief because in-store purchase would've been the greatest barrier.
None of this deters me, but it's just a lot of head-scratching keeping up with all the restrictions and changing landscape. At least it will be sold online, that's a relief because in-store purchase would've been the greatest barrier.
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Thanks. I think we will be fine. At least in DFW. The freezing rain wasn’t quite as much as anticipated. That’s what killed tree limbs and power lines last time. Transitioned to sleet sooner than expected and looks like mostly sleet and snow left. I was hoping for the opportunity to test my whole home generator I purchased after the last one but glad others won’t have to endure any issues.
I’ll definitely be getting out to check out the TriFold as soon as the road conditions are a bit better. Especially if the 1/30 date is for real.