Samsung launches Galaxy Z TriFold in the U.S. for $2,899

On Tuesday, Samsung announced that its Galaxy Z TriFold smartphone will go on sale in the U.S. on January 30. The device enters the U.S. market with a price tag of $2,899. This launch represents a new development for the mobile hardware sector, as the Galaxy Z TriFold is the first foldable smartphone of its kind to be available to consumers in the U.S. market. The announcement establishes Samsung’s position in the folding smartphone segment within the U.S., introducing a new form factor to the domestic market.

The device’s screen unfolds twice to reveal its full display. Samsung has engineered the hardware with the following specifications for the U.S. release, focusing on durability and a slim profile:

• Display Size: A 10-inch display when fully unfolded.
• Thickness: Measures 3.9 millimeters at its thinnest point.
• Durability: Engineered to withstand up to 200,000 folds over its lifetime.
• Storage and Color: Comes in black with 512GB of storage in the U.S.

The $2,899 price tag positions the Galaxy Z TriFold as the most expensive smartphone on the U.S. market, surpassing the cost of Samsung’s own Galaxy Z Fold, which retails for $2,000, as well as an iPhone 17 Pro Max configured with 2TB of storage. To distribute the device, Samsung is bypassing traditional telecom channels; the Galaxy Z TriFold will not be available through mobile carriers. Instead, the company will sell the phone directly to consumers throughout the U.S. at physical Samsung Experience Stores and online via Samsung.com. This direct-to-consumer approach represents a departure from typical smartphone distribution models in the U.S., where carriers typically handle retail distribution.

This launch makes Samsung the first company to offer a trifold device in the U.S. market. While competitor Huawei has developed a trifold phone, the Mate XT, that device is not sold in the U.S., leaving Samsung without direct trifold competition in the country. However, Samsung will face competition in the folding category, as rival Apple is rumored to be releasing its first folding phone later this year. The rumored entry of Apple could shift the dynamics of the folding phone market in the U.S. later in the year, intensifying competition among major hardware manufacturers.

Why it matters

The Galaxy Z TriFold is the first foldable of its kind to be available in the U.S., and it carries a higher price tag than any other smartphone on the U.S. market.