Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold: Hinge test shows initial problems after 144,000 folds
The brand new triple foldable smartphone Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold is at the center of a new debate about its durability. A South Korean YouTube channel recently streamed an extreme stress test that pushed the device far beyond its limits.
Since the Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold launched last month, there has been skepticism surrounding its complex dual-hinge design. Although Samsung claims the device is particularly durable, this independent test provides a much more realistic – and somewhat worrying – look at its long-term stability.
Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold stress test shows first warning signs
The YouTube channel OMG_electronics Droid-Life conducted an automated eight-day marathon test, continuously folding and unfolding the Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold. According to a summary by Droid-Life, problems arose quite early on. The first hinge began to creak audibly after just 61,000 folds. The second hinge followed suit after 121,000 folds. By 144,000 folds, the hinges had visibly lost rigidity and felt loose.
The testers found that the smartphone no longer stayed fully open on its own – it had to be gently pressed down to keep it flat. The display, however, performed excellently in this test. Despite the material fatigue in the hinges, the display showed no pixel defects or cracks throughout the entire test.
This test provides the first insight into the practical suitability of a triple-hinge system. The mechanisms are significantly more complex than those of a conventional foldable smartphone, and this complexity generally also introduces more potential sources of error.
Samsung states 200,000 folding cycles
For anyone considering buying the Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold, this test provides a good overview. Samsung officially states that the TriFold can withstand 200,000 folds, which equates to roughly 100 folds per day over five years. While the YouTube test doesn’t directly refute this claim – especially since the automatic folding was significantly more aggressive than manual folding – it does suggest that the smartphone’s age can be heard and felt long before reaching the five-year mark.
The test results will likely put pressure on Samsung to rethink the hinge design. The Galaxy Z Fold7 is already designed for 500,000 folds, which is two and a half times the standard. The TriFold therefore clearly needs improvement in terms of hinge durability to strengthen user confidence in its everyday usability.
