Holding the Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold gave me faith in foldable phones again - and I'm not alone

Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.

In between the humongous TVs, hypnotic slot machines, and whiffs of smoke and alcohol at CES, I slipped into a private showroom this weekend to go hands-on with the elusive Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold. 

While the foldable hadn't officially launched in the US, there was little left to the imagination in terms of its specs, design, and capabilities. Customers in South Korea got their units weeks ago.

Also: CES 2026 news: Live updates on TVs, smart glasses, robots, and more we've seen so far

But one thing did catch me by surprise. For a split moment, as I fidgeted with the various crevices, buttons, and hinges of the TriFold, I felt a sense of nostalgia. Specifically, back in 2019, when the very first Galaxy Fold was released. It was far from being a lavish or ...