The MacRumors Show: Galaxy Z TriFold vs. Apple's Foldable iPhone

[MacRumors]

On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we discuss Samsung's new Galaxy Z TriFold smartphone and how it could compare to Apple's upcoming foldable iPhone.

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Samsung this week introduced the Galaxy Z TriFold, its first smartphone with two folding sections instead of one. When unfolded, the device presents a 10-inch screen, while the cover display measures 6.5 inches. Samsung says it has minimized visible creasing across the panels.

The Galaxy Z TriFold uses an inward-folding design intended to protect the main display. The folding mechanism has been engineered with an alert system that notifies users if the device is being folded incorrectly. Samsung is using a titanium Armor FlexHinge with two differently sized hinges joined by a dual-rail structure. According to the company, this enables a smoother and more stable fold despite uneven panel weight distribution, and increases durability thanks to a thin metal reinforcement that protects the hinge assembly.

A third of the unfolded display measures 3.9mm thick, increasing slightly around the triple-lens camera module. The center display section is 4.2mm thick, while the segment containing the side button is 4mm. The device includes a reinforced overcoat atop a shock-absorbing display layer for impact resistance, and an aluminum frame prevents the screens from coming into contact when closed.

Samsung has equipped the Galaxy Z TriFold with a 5,600 mAh three-cell battery, with one cell behind each display panel. The company says this is the largest battery it has ever used in a smartphone. The rear camera system includes a 200-megapixel wide camera, a 12-megapixel ultra wide camera, and a 10-megapixel telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom. Two 10-megapixel selfie cameras are integrated into the cover display and the main display.

The Galaxy Z TriFold supports three portrait-layout apps running side-by-side, multi-window resizing, full-screen video viewing, and a vertical reading mode. Samsung has also added standalone Samsung DeX, enabling up to four workspaces with five apps active simultaneously. Samsung apps have been optimized for the triple-panel layout, and Google's Gemini Live has been optimized as well.

The Galaxy Z TriFold launches in Korea on December 12, followed by China, Taiwan, Singapore, and the UAE. It will arrive in the United States in the first quarter of 2026. Pricing has not yet been announced.

Meanwhile, recent rumors suggest that Apple's first foldable iPhone will feature an industry-first 24-megapixel under-display camera for the inner display, as well as a Samsung-supplied OLED panel, virtually no crease, a hybrid titanium and aluminum frame, and a 5,400–5,800 mAh battery. Analyst estimates currently place pricing at around $2,400.

The device is only expected to include two rear cameras, unlike the TriFold and all of Samsung's book-style foldables. Apple will likely use a wide and an ultra-wide camera, similar to the iPhone 17, while reserving a telephoto camera for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. Early information also suggests it will also not be as thin as Samsung's Galaxy Fold 7.

We discuss the importance of rear camera setups on foldables, the rumored price point of Apple's version, and the risk of it falling victim to some of the same pitfalls as the iPhone Air. The MacRumors Show has its own YouTube channel, so make sure you're subscribed to keep up with new episodes and clips.

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If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up to hear our discussion about we talk through the latest rumors about Apple's upcoming iPad mini 8.

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Article Link: The MacRumors Show: Galaxy Z TriFold vs. Apple's Foldable iPhone

 

[MarkNewton2023]

Great discussion! I am so tempted now to switch from Apple to Samsung for the trifold. The trifold size will be about iPad 10 inches size 👍👍👍😍😍😍🥰🥰🥰. I feel I cannot wait anymore to get the foldable phone with the trifold release😰. The trifold unboxing video in YouTube seems amazing. The trifold is my definite and ultimate phone and tablet in one device. Two fold now seems outdated. I think I will switch to trifold when it is released in US. Let me see if I can overcome my temptation on switching to trifold. 😉

 

[frenchcamp49er]

Who wants a brick in their pocket

 

[hybrid_x]

Haha! You have GOT to be kidding me.

 

[castlema]

This is going to be another niche product, like the Vision Pro. It's just going to be too expensive for the majority of consumers, especially those who are content with the phones that they have. I am still using an iPhone SE and it is perfectly adequate for my needs.

 

[Onelifenofear]

Everyone I know with folding phones has had nothing but issues with them.

I think they they are stupidly expensive for what they are and barely solve any issues.

I'd not buy an Apple version - I'd rather have a tiny phone and Big iPad pro for about the same money.

 

[kenta_]

Reality vs vaporware comparison. 🤔

 

[jakey rolling]

Who wants a brick in their pocket

Better question: who wants a tablet that fits in their pocket.
Answer: Me. Though not for $3 grand (CAD).

 

[Someyoungguy]

Interesting title. Only one exists.

 

[swm]

hey, you could get an iPhone air and wrap it into a samsung tri-fold.

 

[sherwinzadeh]

APPLE PLEASE LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST. The Fold needs to have 3 cameras or it'll fail.

 

[MartiNZ]

Have loved the Z Flip since the beginning. No interest in something that sits with cameras to the back and has -that- much of a bump, but we are slowly approaching what was shown in fantasy style telco ads at least a decade ago, a laptop that folds down into your pocket ... just in time for when we hardly need the larger devices anymore.

As far as the form factor, I feel the flexible screen thing is still a bit too delicate for going big like this ... but liteal alerts for "you're folding it wrong" do sound like something Apple would want to get on board with!

 

[Shere Khaan]

I am with you 100% Hartley, there is no way in hell I will buy a $2000+ phone that does not have the zoom camera. Anything else is a step backwards.

 

[zenmacx]

Great discussion! I am so tempted now to switch from Apple to Samsung for the trifold. The trifold size will be about iPad 10 inches size 👍👍👍😍😍😍🥰🥰🥰. I feel I cannot wait anymore to get the foldable phone with the trifold release😰. The trifold unboxing video in YouTube seems amazing. The trifold is my definite and ultimate phone and tablet in one device. Two fold now seems outdated. I think I will switch to trifold when it is released in US. Let me see if I can overcome my temptation on switching to trifold. 😉

The amazing functionality and exemplary experience I'm having with my Z Fold7 has been an eye opener.

Durability continues to be very impressive. The crease is minimal and after a few days it's a non-issue. What is noticeable is the excellent build quality, and how relatively thin it is compared to the fact that it has two displays.

As soon as the Tri-Fold becomes available in the USA I will pass my Z Fold7 on to a family member and purchase a Tri-Fold to replace it.

 

[carrrrrlos]

How about an option to not integrate Health in the clock, so i can simply set an alarm to wake up when i want? The sleep/wake up at the very top of the alarm is annoying. Yes i have different sleep times based on travel and weekend, no i dont want to have to make more and more sleep schedules.

 

[DownUnderDan]

I cant see how these phones will be anymore popular then a mini.

 

[JonneyGee]

I still have zero interest in a foldable phone, but the tri-fold is the first one that makes any sense. Unfolding to a square is stupid because the whole advantage of a bigger screen is for watching videos and videos aren’t square. This one at least gives you a regular tablet and a phone.

I’m personally trying to lighten what’s in my pockets as much as possible, so I don’t want a phone that heavy. But for the first time, I can at least understand the draw.

 

[Kidseeghost]

We know why the iPhone Ultra/Fold will only have two cameras. So they can add another one the following year to make people upgrade.

 

[Kidseeghost]

For 2400 it will end up like Vision Pro. Too expensive for just a gimmick.

 

[dmr727]

Apple should go straight to five folds.

 

[Allen_Wentz]

This is going to be another niche product, like the Vision Pro. It's just going to be too expensive for the majority of consumers, especially those who are content with the phones that they have. I am still using an iPhone SE and it is perfectly adequate for my needs.

Just because you are satisfied with an iPhone SE, does not mean that the rest of the world does not prefer other devices. In fact, the SE is about his niche as it gets.

 

[ikramerica]

Better question: who wants a tablet that fits in their pocket.
Answer: Me. Though not for $3 grand (CAD).

I can buy a $200 tablet and fold it. The problem is unfolding it.

 

[NeonNights]

Love my Fold 6 but will immediately trade it in for the Tri Fold as soon as pre-orders become available in the US. The rumored $2500-3000 isn't a big deal, especially with trade in. Heck, I paid $1400 for a 1TB iPhone 12 Pro Max back in the day, and only kept it a year, so the Tri Fold price isn't all that exorbitant to me spread over 2-3 years. For the money, I would much rather have the Tri Fold than the eventual iPhone Fold (or AVP).

 

[Shahar0912]

How can you compare a product with a product that doesn’t exist?!
You’re out of content

 

[leifp]

The iPhone Air is the only new iPhone of interest to me. But I’m not really a target market because I will not replace my iPhone until I feel a compelling need to. I expect that to be a five year lifecycle and since I have the 15 Pro… as to the foldable iPhone: hard pass. Why? A question of compromises. Three of the four dimensions we live in: if you fold it, it becomes thicker. If you add tech to compensate for how it folds, e.g. cameras, you add complexity and cost with no net benefit. Any visible crease, no matter how minimal, will be noticed by me, and will drive me nuts (definitely a “me” problem).

As to the destruction of macOS should it ever get locked down like the other Apple OSes: the reason I’m minimizing my iPad use is because the things of greatest value to me are the very things those devices lock away. Control. If it happens, my leanings towards Linux will become full blown biases… I already expect to install Asahi on my M1 generation MBPro when it ages out of macOS updates. I’ll also install Bazzite or SteamOS on my NUC next year… my main systems will remain macOS for most things, Windows for gaming. For now…