Samsung has halted sales of its high-end Galaxy Z TriFold smartphone in the US and South Korea, just three months after its debut. Priced at nearly $3,000, the device flew off shelves despite its steep cost, as the company intentionally produced only a limited number to highlight its cutting-edge tri-fold technology.
The Galaxy Z TriFold stands out with its innovative design. It features a 6.5-inch outer screen for everyday use, which unfolds via two sturdy hinges into an expansive 10-inch inner display perfect for watching movies, working on documents, or running multiple apps at once.
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Powered by the latest processor, it delivers smooth performance with all-day battery life, even when fully extended.The camera works really well for taking photos and making video calls. It also comes with up to 512GB of storage, so you can save a lot of files, but you can’t add extra storage with a memory card.
Even though the phone becomes large when unfolded, it still feels light and easy to hold. It also looks and feels premium, as it is made with strong glass and metal materials.
The launch happened very quickly. Samsung announced it on December 1, 2025, released it in South Korea on December 12, and then brought it to US stores on January 30, 2026.
Now, the phone is no longer available on Samsung’s US website. The last few units are available at only a few Samsung Experience Stores, such as the ones in Frisco, Texas, and Queens, New York. Buyers recently snapped up stragglers there, and Reddit’s r/GalaxyZTriFold community buzzes with unboxing tales.
Bloomberg broke the story on March 17, quoting Samsung’s description of it as a “super-premium device in limited quantities.”
Demand proved overwhelming. In South Korea, every unit sold out quickly, with Dong-A Ilbo reporting 3,000 units gone on launch day and another 3,000 five days later on December 17, a strong showing for such an exclusive phone. US sales echoed this, selling out online in minutes, as CNET observed. IDC analyst Francisco Jeronimo views this as evidence of tri-fold phones’ promising future, citing Huawei’s Mate XT Ultimate, which sold 1.2 million units globally and generated $3.2 billion, showing clear consumer interest in larger folding screens.
Hands-on reviews raved about its versatility. CNET’s Abrar Al-Heeti spent two weeks with it and praised its adaptability from pocket-sized to laptop-like half-open mode to full tablet mode. “Versatile, innovative, practical,” she wrote, calling it “just a joy to use” for multitasking, streaming, or productivity. However, the $2,899 price tag limits it to enthusiasts, not everyday buyers.
The announcement received a mix of skepticism and practical analysis from users on X (Twitter).
One user said that while the technology is impressive, most people would not be willing to pay such a high price just for a folding phone, showing concerns about affordability.
Another user said the product is meant for a small group of people and not for everyone. They felt it wasn’t promoted enough and was probably expensive to produce, which could be why it didn’t earn much profit. However, they still said that regular fold and flip phones are good.
Meanwhile, a third user gave a more detailed view, explaining that being among the first to launch such technology can be a disadvantage because prices are high before mass production brings costs down. They compared prices of current foldable phones and predicted that as competition increases, more affordable foldables under $1,000 will become common in the near future.
Samsung stopping sales makes sense because making the device has become expensive and difficult. Important parts like DRAM memory, NAND storage, and processors now cost much more, mainly because AI technology is increasing demand for these components.
Experts say that this product was not really meant to make big profits. Instead, it was more like a way for Samsung to show its advanced technology and capabilities. Samsung’s mobile chief, Won-Joon Choi, also said they might bring it back later with some improvements or sell it more widely, but nothing has been decided yet.
If you’re looking at other options, there’s Huawei’s tri-fold Mate XT Ultimate (but it’s not available in the US) and Tecno’s Phantom Ultimate G, which was shown as a concept at MWC 2026.
Samsung is taking a smart approach by trying new ideas like this to see how people respond. Many people are interested in these phones, but the main problem is their high price. In the future, tri-fold phones could completely change how smartphones look and work.
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