Galaxy Z TriFold Durability Tested: Hinge Fails Before 150K Folds
Is Samsung’s new Galaxy Z TriFold as durable as advertised? A recent real-world torture test suggests the answer might be “not quite.” While Samsung claims the device can withstand 200,000 folds—equivalent to 100 folds per day for five years—independent testers found significant hinge degradation after just 144,000 folds. That result casts doubt on long-term reliability for early adopters of this ambitious three-panel foldable.
Samsung’s Foldability Promise Under Scrutiny
Samsung positioned the Galaxy Z TriFold as a bold step forward in mobile form factors, touting robust engineering and a design built for daily use. The company’s official claim of 200,000 folding cycles was meant to reassure buyers worried about mechanical longevity. But compared to the Galaxy Z Fold 7’s 500,000-cycle rating, the TriFold’s benchmark already seemed modest—especially for a device with two hinges and three screen segments. Skeptics questioned whether complexity would compromise reliability, and now, early testing appears to validate those concerns.
The Torture Test That Made Headlines
Korean tech channel OMG_electronics recently conducted a widely watched livestreamed durability test of the Galaxy Z TriFold. Over the course of several days, a team manually folded and unfolded the device repeatedly, documenting every milestone. The experiment wasn’t just a stunt—it was a real attempt to simulate real-world usage under extreme conditions. Viewers tuned in to see whether Samsung’s engineering could hold up under pressure, and the results surprised even seasoned foldable enthusiasts.
Hinge Trouble Emerges Around the 60K Mark
The first signs of trouble appeared far earlier than expected. After roughly 61,000 folds, testers noticed a faint but audible creak coming from the primary hinge. While not catastrophic, this subtle noise signaled mechanical wear—and a potential red flag for long-term performance. By the 121,000-fold mark, the second hinge began exhibiting similar behavior. These weren’t just cosmetic quirks; they indicated that internal tension mechanisms were beginning to lose elasticity, a crucial factor in how smoothly the device opens and closes.
The Breaking Point: 144,000 Folds In
At approximately 144,000 folds—still 56,000 short of Samsung’s stated limit—the Galaxy Z TriFold reached what testers described as a functional breaking point. The hinges no longer held the device firmly in its fully opened position. Instead, the phone would partially collapse unless manually propped open. Opening and closing also became noticeably stiffer, disrupting the seamless user experience Samsung promised. Importantly, the display itself remained fully functional—no cracks, flickering, or dead pixels—highlighting that the failure was mechanical, not visual.
Not “Broken,” But Hardly Ideal
Technically speaking, the Galaxy Z TriFold didn’t “die” during the test. The screen worked, the software ran fine, and the device powered on without issue. But from a usability standpoint, the hinge degradation severely impacted day-to-day functionality. Imagine having to prop your phone open with your fingers mid-video call or struggling to snap it shut one-handed. For a premium $1,800 device, that’s a tough pill to swallow—especially when Samsung’s marketing heavily emphasizes seamless multitasking and effortless folding.
A First-Gen Reality Check
It’s worth remembering that the Galaxy Z TriFold is Samsung’s first attempt at a tri-fold smartphone. Unlike the refined Z Fold line, which has iterated for seven generations, this new form factor is inherently more complex. Two hinges mean twice the moving parts, more stress points, and greater potential for wear. Experts argue that some early compromises are to be expected—but that doesn’t ease concerns for consumers investing in cutting-edge tech without a proven track record.
How Does This Compare to Competitors?
While Samsung dominates the foldable market, rivals like Huawei and Motorola have also ventured into multi-panel designs. Huawei’s Mate XT, for instance, underwent rigorous internal testing before launch, though independent durability data remains scarce. What sets Samsung apart is its transparency about fold counts—but this test reveals a gap between lab conditions and real-world mechanical stress. Consumers comparing options may now weigh not just features, but also how those hinges hold up over time.
What This Means for Early Adopters
If you’re considering the Galaxy Z TriFold as your daily driver, this test suggests caution. The device may last years for light users—but heavy multitaskers who frequently open and close their phone could hit the hinge’s wear threshold sooner than expected. Samsung’s warranty may cover outright failures, but gradual degradation like loss of hinge tension often falls into a gray area. For many, that uncertainty could be a dealbreaker in a category already battling perceptions of fragility.
Samsung’s Silence Speaks Volumes
As of publication, Samsung has not publicly responded to the OMG_electronics test. The company typically avoids commenting on third-party durability experiments unless results contradict official specs dramatically. Still, the optics aren’t great: a flagship device falling short of its advertised endurance by more than 25% could dent consumer confidence, especially as foldables aim to go mainstream in 2026.
The Bigger Picture for Foldable Innovation
Despite the hinge hiccup, the Galaxy Z TriFold represents a significant leap in smartphone design. A working tri-fold device that fits in your pocket is no small feat. The test results shouldn’t be seen as a failure, but rather as growing pains in an evolving category. As materials science and hinge engineering improve, future iterations will likely close the gap between promise and performance. For now, though, buyers should temper expectations.
Innovation Comes With Caveats
The Galaxy Z TriFold is a marvel of engineering—but like all pioneering tech, it carries trade-offs. This durability test doesn’t render the phone unusable, but it does highlight that Samsung’s 200,000-fold claim might be optimistic under real-world conditions. If you value novelty and are willing to accept some mechanical quirks, the TriFold delivers a glimpse into the future. But if rock-solid reliability is your top priority, you might want to wait for Gen 2.
