I tried Samsung's tri-foldable phone for only a few minutes - it quickly made my Z Fold 7 feel outdated

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

ZDNET's key takeaways

• Samsung's TriFold feels like the future of foldables.
• The wider 10-inch screen makes multitasking feel natural.
• Two-handed use and no stylus are still trade-offs.

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

Also: CES 2026: Biggest news stories on TVs, smart glasses, robots and more

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.

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 ...