I’m excited about the Samsung Trifold, but its design might be a weak point

Since I used the Huawei tri-fold phone for the first time, it has become… Mate XT UltimateI’ve been wanting Samsung to release a similar foldable phone. lucky for me, Rumors It suggests that Samsung has been developing one for a long time and that the new foldable device will be released on December 5, in just two weeks. In the August earnings call, which… Searching for Alpha has been sharedSamsung has teased its foldable triple screen, saying it aims to pioneer “innovative form factors like the upcoming tri-folding device.”

I’m looking at the Samsung tri-fold because the Huawei tri-fold, which I’ve used, is great. I should mention that neither device can be folded three times; Each has just two hinges, dividing the screen into three sections, hence the name. And yes, calling either of these phones a tri-fold phone makes about as much sense as calling a two-wheeled horizontal board a hoverboard.

The Huawei Mate XT Ultimate has two hinges that allow it to fold into a Z-shape. These hinges also allow it to transform into multiple devices. Unlike Galaxy Z Fold 7which has a single hinge and can be used as a phone or small tablet, the Huawei device can function as a standard phone, a small tablet, or a full-sized tablet. The Huawei tri-fold has one of the most useful designs I’ve tested, with an interface that’s as innovative as it is intuitive. As rumors of a Samsung tri-fold phone leaked, I kept imagining how its phone could take what Huawei has done to the next level.

But then Samsung Shown Its dual-hinged phone at a technology exhibition during the CEO Summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum in South Korea, where Chosun Daily newspaper The Galaxy trifold pictured in all its glory. When I saw the video, I was worried. This is not what I was hoping for. From what I’ve seen, the Samsung tri-fold phone may not live up to my expectations. I’m sure it will have unique use cases thanks to its large, tablet-sized foldable screen, but it might miss the mark.

Huawei vs Samsung trifold: two hinges and two different designs

The Huawei Mate XT and Samsung’s upcoming tri-fold phone both have two hinges, but there are major hardware differences between the two devices.

First, the Mate XT’s hinges fold in opposite directions, giving it a Z shape. In comparison, Samsung designed the two hinges so that they fold in the same direction — inward, to form a G shape. Like CNET’s David Lomb I mentionedIt is ironic that the company that owns the Z series of foldable phones did not adopt this shape and form in its triple phones.

Secondly, the Huawei trifold has a single screen that can be converted into a larger screen. On the other hand, Samsung added a separate cover screen because you can’t access the inner screen once it’s folded and closed.

Both of these design options come with their own share of concerns regarding durability and functionality.

Huawei’s design is more flexible than its Samsung counterpart in terms of functionality. The Mate XT only has one display, but that one is large and can be converted into three smartphone/tablet designs – at least that’s why I always thought people called this phone a tri-fold, even though it only folds twice. You can use the Mate XT as a regular phone (fully folded), a book-style foldable (one hinge folded and one hinge open), and a tablet (fully folded).

In comparison, Samsung will likely offer two ways to use its tri-fold device – as a phone or a tablet. Samsung’s design can protect the internal screen when it’s closed, but there’s a separate screen for external use, like the Galaxy Z Fold 7. The Huawei Tri-Fold Display has its soft, foldable screen exposed at all times. Samsung’s design may be more durable in the long run, but it also limits the functionality of the device.

The whole point of using a tri-fold is to have a three-in-one device in your pocket, which is why I think Huawei’s design makes more sense.

This all goes back to the early days of book-style versus taco-style folding designs. Book-format editions, e.g The original Galaxy FoldIt had a screen folded in half and protected inside the body of the phone when closed. Taco style variants, e.g Original Huawei Mateit had a screen curved in half to wrap around the outside of the phone like the shell of a taco: always visible, less protective.

It’s all about aspect ratios

I didn’t expect to like the Huawei Mate XT when I first started using it. After all, it’s (relatively) thick and weighs 298 grams. However, I saw unique use cases when I started traveling with the phone. I used it to read, browse, multitask, watch my favorite movies, and play games, among other things. I also installed Google apps, eliminating the need to carry a separate tablet for content consumption or productivity-focused tasks.

The thickness of the Huawei Mate XT Ultimate is 3.6mm when fully opened and 12.8mm when folded. For context, Apple iPhone Air Its thickness is 5.6 mm, while the thickness of the Samsung 2024 Galaxy Z Fold 6 Sizes 12.1mm when folded. (The Galaxy Z Fold 6 was launched in the same year as the Huawei tri-fold.)

When I use the Galaxy Z Fold 7, I’m mostly on the cover screen for browsing and reading, just like I do with any other phone, and I rarely open it — mostly because it’s so thin when closed. I open it just to watch a video, but when I do that, the message box on the home screen drives me crazy. (This happens all the time, even on… iPad Air 13 inch.) So, I tend to use the hinge to prop it up and watch videos on half the screen.

But in my time with the Huawei trifold, I’ve opened it up to use as a mini tablet for browsing and reading, and opened it fully when I want a truly immersive movie-watching experience on its full 10.2-inch main screen.

The Huawei Mate XT Ultimate gives you three different screen experiences, depending on how many slides you have open or closed. It’s a 6.4-inch display with a resolution of 2232 x 1008 pixels (think… Pixel 10 Pro Foldcover display), a 7.9-inch display with a resolution of 2232 x 2048 pixels (think a little smaller than the Galaxy Z Fold 7’s main display), and a 10.2-inch display with a resolution of 3184 x 2232 pixels (think about the size of a iPad).

Unlike the book-style foldable model (like the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold), when the Huawei Mate XT is fully unfolded, its 10.2-inch display offers a 16:11 aspect ratio, which is closer to what you’ll get on a foldable smartphone. MacBook AirThe display is 16:10, so there are fewer messages when watching movies, TV shows or YouTube videos. It also retains the reading-friendly square aspect ratio of a book-style foldable phone and folds up into a ‘regular’ proportioned phone.

In comparison, the Samsung trifold will likely skip the option of turning it into a small book-shaped tablet. The Samsung tri-fold will have a 6.5-inch external display and a 10-inch tablet-sized foldable display, according to a report from The Chosun Daily. This would allow Samsung to have two distinct foldable phones: a book-shaped foldable for productivity-focused workloads (Galaxy Z Fold) and a G-shaped fold for better content consumption (Galaxy trifold).

However, after using the Huawei trifold full time, I want the dual-hinge phone to be an all-in-one device, one that I can use as a phone and that can also convert into a small book-style tablet for reading/browsing, as well as a full-sized tablet for watching movies on the go. I found the Mate XT Ultimate particularly useful during long commutes or long flights due to its three distinct shapes.

As for durability, I did not notice any scratches on the Mate XT phone after a month of intensive use. The two creases have held up well, and the hinges are as sturdy as ever. When traveling, I always make sure to use the included case, which always protects the exposed side of the screen. I can also use the built-in kickstand in the case to prop it up when the screen is fully open. I even dropped the phone once, but luckily it didn’t break.

I’m still excited to see what Samsung has to offer with its new foldable phone. I understand that the G-shaped design may increase the phone’s durability (compared to the Mate XT Ultimate) and that the South Korean company probably needs a device ready for mass production. However, Huawei has already sold more than 470,000 Mate XT tri-fold devices, according to an IDC report (via CNBC). If I’m going to pay $3,000 for a tri-fold phone, I won’t have to choose a phone with a screen that doesn’t allow me to have the design I want. I’d rather get the Mate XT Ultimate, where I can have it all.