Samsung is expected to launch the Galaxy G Fold, a tri-fold larger than existing folding phones, in the next year. Huawei has already beat them to the punch. But based on my personal experience, bigger doesn’t necessarily mean better. The ideal shape for a foldable may be the one we already have.
A Wider Inner Screen Is Less Portable
Book-style foldable phones like myGalaxy Z Fold 6have long been thicker than your typical smartphone. They’re not twice as thick, as you might expect, but they’re still thicker (though phones like theOppo Find N5have largely closed the gap). We can expect a phone that unfolds twice into a larger, 10-inch tablet to be even thicker. The world’s first tri-fold to hit the market, theHuawei Mate XT, is 12.8mm thick when closed.
But that’s not the thing that concerns me personally. Rather, how we use 10-inch tablets is fundamentally different from how we use 7-inch ones.
Small tablets are easy to hold one-handed. I happily use my Z Fold 6 unfolded all throughout the day. It’s an ideal size and aspect ratio for webpages, eBooks, and comics alike. It’s easy to use with an S Pen because it’s far more similar to a notepad than theGalaxy S25 Ultra.
A larger display with a traditional widescreen aspect ratio isn’t better for any of these. That’s a size better suited for use in a lap or on a desk.
I have owned various 10-inch tablets in my life, and I have never enjoyed carrying them around as much smaller ones.
Typing on a Large Tablet Is Awkward
I unfold my Z Fold 6 almost every time I want to type—not because the outer screen is bad, but because the inner screen is so much better. My phone is just wide enough that my fingers don’t feel cramped, and the weight is balanced so well that the phone never feels heavy. The outer screen of the Z Fold series has been narrow until now because Samsung has prioritized getting the inner screen just right, and you’re able to’t change one without changing the other.
Large, tall tablets are not as pleasant to type on. Using them widescreen is awkward, because the keyboard needs to be split, but the two halves are so far apart that your eyes have to switch back and forth across the bottom of the screen to see where your fingers are landing.
Rotating such screens into a portrait orientation makes them top-heavy. The result is a phone that’s probably more comfortable to type on when closed or paired with a Bluetooth keyboard, just like any other phone. Unfortunately, compared to book-style foldie phones, that’s a step backwards.
Double the Hinges, Double the Fragility
I’m not all that concerned about my phone’s durability. I’ve watched Z Fold phones walk away from drops with more grace than several of my previous slab phones. I continue to use my phone naked, even though it folds.
Yet not everyone has had this experience. A hinge is a moving component, and those are inherently more fragile than non-moving ones. When you see used foldable phones on sale with damaged screens, it’s usually along the hinge.
Tri-fold phones introduce a second hinge into the equation. That’s twice the places where dust can get in and cause damage. That’s twice the places where a folding screen may come away scarred.
Expect to Pay More for Repairs
If you do find yourself in a situation where you need to repair your phone, fixing a screen that folds costs more than replacing one that doesn’t. Replacing a bigger folding screen costs more than a smaller one. We can see this by comparing the costs of repairing a Z Fold 6 compared to the more conventionally-shaped Z Flip 6.
That’s a number you have to swallow after having already paid more for the device upfront. Even if we assume tri-fold phones won’t hold their value in the second-hand market all that well, like existing folding phones (I’ve bought every foldable I’ve had in open box or like new condition for around 50% off MSRP), you’re still looking at paying more than you would for a book-style foldable.
Fortunately, there are various types of phone insurance. If you don’t already have a protection plan for your phone, buying a foldie is a good time to get one.
Twice the Unfolding Before Using Your Phone
Unless I’m taking a photo or my phone is propping itself up for me to watch a video, I unfold my phone to do just about everything. The way I see it, I didn’t buy this phone just to continue using the same screen I already had. I’m here for the bigger one.
That means I unfold my phone dozens of times a day. I personally don’t mind. I’m a book nerd, and I don’t have an issue opening books or notebooks either.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 is a foldable smartphone that combines the functionality of a tablet with the convenience of a phone. It features a large, flexible internal screen that automatically picks up where you left off on the cover display.
A tri-fold is different. It doubles the number of folds it takes to get started. Due to the larger size, each fold is also likely a bit more awkward. That’s a bigger barrier between you and the screen you have paid all this money for.
How annoying this is varies based on the phone. One that opens like the Huawei Mate XT can still be used when it’s only half unfolded. A phone that opens in the more durable way Samsung has shown off needs to be fully-opened to be used.
I’m not here to say tri-folds shouldn’t exist or that they’re inherently bad. I haven’t ruled out owning one myself someday. After all, my phone is my PC. I’ve written, edited, and submitted these words entirely from my phone. That makes me a target demographic for this type of device more than most.
Tri-folds aren’t superior—they’re just different. They are likely better for watching video, offer more space for multitasking, and have a more conventional aspect for games. Do those gains outweigh the sacrifices? Considering how often I read and write on my phone, for me, I’m not so sure.
