Galaxy Z TriFold vs. S25 Ultra + Tab S11: Which is the smarter buy?

Samsung has launched the Galaxy Z TriFold in the US, making it the first smartphone in the country to feature a tri-folding display. It’s a portable device that can function as a regular smartphone and, when unfolded, transform into a full-fledged tablet. That level of versatility doesn’t come cheap, as Samsung has priced it at $2,899. What makes that price particularly interesting is what else you can buy for the same money.

For $2,899, you could instead purchase Samsung's flagship non-foldable phone, the Galaxy S25 Ultra, which starts at $1,049.99, and the brand's flagship 11-inch tablet, the Galaxy Tab S11, priced at $699.99 for the base variant. Even after buying both devices, you’d still have $1,150 left. That raises an important question: should you buy Samsung’s futuristic tri-fold device, or does the Galaxy S25 Ultra and Galaxy Tab S11 combo make more sense?

The Galaxy Z TriFold is built to be an all-in-one device. Folded up, it behaves like a conventional smartphone, making it great for calls, messaging, social media, and web browsing. Unfolded, it becomes a full-fledged tablet, making it ideal for multitasking, reading, media consumption, and gaming.

The phone’s cover display is a 6.5-inch AMOLED panel with a 2,520 × 1,080 resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. Meanwhile, the tri-folding inner screen is a 10.1-inch AMOLED display with a 2,160 × 1,584 resolution and the same 120Hz refresh rate.

Under the hood, it runs on Qualcomm’s latest flagship mobile processor, the Snapdragon 8 Elite, paired with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. This setup is more than capable of handling demanding tasks.

For photography and videography, it features the same 200MP primary, 12MP ultrawide, and 10MP 3x telephoto rear camera setup as the Galaxy Z Fold 7, which has proven to be more than sufficient for day-to-day use.

Despite its ultra-thin design, the Galaxy Z TriFold packs a 5,600mAh battery, which can handle a mix of smartphone and tablet duties for a full day. It also has an IP48 rating for dust and water resistance.

Its biggest strength is convenience. You get a phone and a tablet in a single device that’s easy to carry, which is especially appealing for frequent travelers or users who don’t want to juggle multiple gadgets.

As a smartphone, the Galaxy S25 Ultra clearly has the edge over the Galaxy Z TriFold. It offers a display with higher resolution, lower reflectance, and better protection, a significantly more advanced front and rear camera system, and much better overall durability thanks to its slab-style design.

To quickly recap its specifications, the Galaxy S25 Ultra features a 6.9-inch AMOLED display with a 3,120 × 1,440 resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, and Gorilla Armor 2 protection. It is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy processor and offers up to 12GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. The phone has a 5,000mAh battery and carries an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance.

Its rear camera setup includes a 200MP primary sensor, a 50MP ultrawide camera, a 10MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom, and a 50MP periscope camera with 5x optical zoom. On the front, it has a 12MP selfie camera with dual-pixel PDAF. The built-in S Pen further enhances productivity, making it better suited for note-taking and creative work.

Overall, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is simply a more reliable device for everyday use than a complex folding phone.

When used as a tablet, the Galaxy Tab S11 pulls ahead of the Galaxy Z TriFold just as decisively as the Galaxy S25 Ultra does as a smartphone. Its display is larger and completely free from folds and creases, offering a more comfortable viewing experience for videos, documents, and creative work.

The larger chassis also allows for a bigger battery, resulting in longer usage times. Like the Galaxy S25 Ultra, it supports the S Pen and benefits from better durability thanks to its conventional tablet design.

For those who care about specifications, the Galaxy Tab S11 features an 11-inch AMOLED display with a 2,560 × 1,600 resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. It is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ chipset, and you can get it with up to 12GB of RAM and 1TB of storage.

It also includes a 13MP rear camera, a 12MP front camera, an 8,400mAh battery, and an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance.

If you want a single device that’s easy to carry, can act as both a smartphone and a tablet, and you’re willing to pay a premium for that convenience, the Galaxy Z TriFold is the ultimate option.

But if you prefer having the best possible smartphone experience alongside a more capable and comfortable tablet—without the compromises that come with foldable hardware—the Galaxy S25 Ultra and Galaxy Tab S11 combo is the more practical and better-value choice for most users.