The Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold might fold three ways, but it doesn’t hold up once pressure is applied. In a brutal durability test by teardown veteran Zack Nelson (JerryRigEverything), Samsung’s latest experimental foldable becomes the first in the lineup to break under stress and not just at the hinges.
Galaxy Z TriFold crumbles under basic pressure
At just 0.15 inches thick in its slimmest spot, the TriFold was always going to be fragile. But even before the actual bend test started, things already looked rough. When the phone was folded incorrectly rear camera side in first the device vibrated and strained, despite Samsung’s own warning not to do exactly that.
That alone set the tone for what came next. Unlike previous Z Fold models that have withstood years of teardown abuse, the TriFold broke. Fast.
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Scratch-prone plastic and fiberglass panels
It’s not unusual for foldables to use soft plastic for the internal screen, and the TriFold is no different scratching at a level 2 on Mohs hardness picks, with deeper grooves at level 3. But Samsung also used fiberglass for the back panels, which turns out to be plastic in disguise. It scratches easily, collects scuffs fast, and doesn’t inspire much confidence.
Key durability issues found:
- Plastic screen scratches extremely easily
- Fiberglass back is softer than expected
- Dust exposure causes hinge grinding
- Hinges lack structural resistance under stress
- Battery tabs bend dangerously during teardown
The bend test ends exactly how you think
When folded the wrong way, the TriFold’s hinges fail and the frame gives out. Zack bends the device backward, and it doesn’t just creak it snaps. It’s a clean break, and the moment marks a first for Samsung: their flagship foldable fails the physical test.
The teardown reveals three batteries inside, and oddly enough, trying to remove them by pulling the tabs actually bends the cells. That’s not just inconvenient, it’s potentially hazardous.
Galaxy Z TriFold looks slick but isn’t made to last
Samsung’s design ambition is undeniable. A tri-fold display, three batteries, ultrathin chassis it’s a feat of engineering. But it’s also a fragile showcase. Between the easy scratches, weak hinge structure, and poor internal battery layout, this is not a phone that wants to live outside a padded sleeve.
If you’re tempted by the idea of a pocketable 10-inch screen, just know: one wrong fold or an accidental sit-down could end it. The Galaxy Z TriFold may be a tech flex but it folds under real-world pressure.
