The Galaxy Z TriFold has been discontinued.

After weeks of speculation and conjecture, Samsung confirmed on March 17th that the Galaxy Z TriFold would be discontinued (according to Bloomberg). This move comes just months after the device's launch.

 

In South Korea, sales of the TriFold officially ended on the 17th. In the US, sales will continue until stocks run out, but no additional stock will be available. The device is sold out on Samsung's website, so if you still want one, you'll have to try your luck at Samsung Experience Stores (or find a used one).

TriFold is great, but impractical.

 

To be honest, the TriFold is probably difficult to sell for two reasons: price and size.

The Galaxy Z TriFold is extremely expensive.

There's no denying the price tag is exorbitant. At $2,900, it's the most expensive mass-market smartphone ever from a major brand. That price probably means the TriFold will never truly break into the mainstream market.

The Galaxy Z TriFold is a large device.

When folded, the TriFold is a hefty 12.9mm thick and harder to slip into a pocket than a typical smartphone or even the Galaxy Z Fold 7 (though significantly thinner than the original Z Fold). When unfolded, it's incredibly slim, but the 10-inch tablet size is still large enough that you only really unfold it when necessary.

Nevertheless, you can't deny that this device has a special appeal, and losing that would be worrying.

 

A tribute to innovation

There was a time when smartphones felt innovative and exciting. Manufacturers used to experiment with new technologies and bold designs to compete with each other (remember the LG G Flex or Wing?). Today, at least in Western markets, new phones have become predictable. Even conventional foldable phones feel boring, and some, like the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE, are difficult to sell and not recommended for use.

When it was announced last December, the TriFold felt like a return to the "Wild West" era in smartphone history. With its discontinuation, perhaps we'll have to return to the old ways. Sure, modern phones work well, but variety is the spice of life, isn't it?

For its part, Samsung has yet to comment on future plans (or the lack thereof) regarding the TriFold. It seems the company simply considers it a test product and hasn't decided what to do next with the idea. We may see a return of the product when the technology becomes easier to manufacture. Hopefully, this device will prove that there is still a place in the market for these quirky and unique designs.