The Samsung Galaxy Z Trifold's best feature won't be its hardware – here's why I'm more excited for DeX
Hit the DeX
· TechRadarFeatures By Jamie Richards published 16 December 2025
(Image credit: Samsung) Share Share by:
Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google
After months of rumors, Samsung has officially confirmed that the Samsung Galaxy Z Trifold, its first tri-fold phone, is on the way to a handful of markets including the US.
Naturally, much of the discussion around the Galaxy Z Trifold has concerned its shiny new hardware – the phone comes with a 6.5-inch cover screen and a 10-inch inner folding display supported by two hinges. Within its svelte 3.9mm-thick chassis sits the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chipset and 16GB of RAM – in short, it’s due to be an absolute powerhouse.
But although I was preoccupied with the new hardware in the days after announcement – specifically the phone's cool new hinge mechanism – as time goes on I find myself thinking more about the software possibilities Samsung’s new foldable presents.
It’s true that I have my issues with Samsung’s Android wrapper One UI, but the Korean tech giant does offer some superb features. nd there’s one in particular that I think could make the Samsung Galaxy Z Trifold the leader in an absolute revolution for mobile productivity.
I’m talking about Samsung DeX, the desktop-style experience Samsung offers for its tablets. Though Apple made headlines this year with iPadOS 26’s new desktop-style features, Samsung has been leading the way in this field for years with its DeX software environment, which transforms its mobile devices into serious multitasking machines. For me, it's a big part of why Samsung Galaxy Tab devices rank amongst the best Android tablets.
Samsung also enables tablets and select smartphones to use DeX when connected to an external monitor, meaning you can effectively carry a desktop computer in your pocket (so long as you have the right adapters). But this still demands a choice between the portability of a smartphone and the large display of a tablet.
Enter the Samsung Galaxy Z Trifold – Samsung has confirmed that its upcoming 10-inch foldable will be the first Samsung phone to support DeX in the standalone mode native to Galaxy tablets. Users of the Samsung Galaxy Z Trifold will be able to access DeX with up to four workspaces of five windowed apps each. That’s 20 apps open at the same time, without even needing an external monitor.
Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox
Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more.
Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors