The Galaxy Z Wide Fold might be the perfect tri-fold alternative

What's more interesting is the UI images found inside One UI 9. They point toward a 4:3 aspect ratio for the Galaxy Z Wide Fold, and this is the aspect ratio of most tablets on the market. It's supposed to be close to what the iPhone Fold will rock, but there's a different take here. Let's compare the Galaxy Z Wide Fold to the two tri-folding devices we have.

Better than a tri-fold in almost every way

Both the Huawei Mate XT and the Samsung Galaxy TriFold share certain similarities. They both fold in three, they're quite heavy, and they're both very expensive. In the case of the Galaxy Z TriFold, Samsung used the same 4:3 ratio for the 10-inch screen when fully unfolded as the one expected on the Galaxy Z Wide Fold.

Has Samsung created a strong competitor and a substitution to its own tri-fold? The upcoming Galaxy Z Wide Fold will almost certainly be lighter, more durable, and cheaper than the Z TriFold, while also offering the same screen estate and one less action to unfold it. The fact that Samsung has now officially discontinued the TriFold speaks in favor of the Z Wide Fold as well.

Comparing it to the Huawei Mate XT yields similar results. The XT features a different 16:11 aspect ratio, and it folds in a cleverer way than the Galaxy Z TriFold, but the main disadvantages remain the same. The device is expensive, heavy, and fragile.

The only advantage of the tri-folding design is the more compact form factor when the device is fully folded. And this compactness benefits only the height and width of the phone, as both the Galaxy Z TriFold and the Huawei Mate XT are rather thick when fully folded.

The real folding tablet?

This brings us to the old question — do we really need a tablet that can fold in two? Because that's exactly what the Galaxy Z Wide Fold is shaping up to be. Most of the book-style foldables have been sub-optimal to use in an unfolded state due to their strange, square-ish aspect ratios.

We use tablets in a very different way from smartphones. There are some niche and clever use cases, but most of the time it's Netflix and chill in the bed or on the sofa. Do we really need that everywhere we go? Probably not.

It'd be nice to have that 4:3 aspect ratio occasionally, on the plane or in the subway, but most of the time people will use the Glaxy Z Wide Fold in a folded state. And this comes with some drawbacks.

The cover screen of the device will have a strange 2:3 aspect ratio. Imagine what it would be like to hold such a wide device to your ear to make a call. Then try to put this wide device in your front pocket. Not very practical, to say the least.

Is the Galaxy Z Wide Fold going to be a huge hit?

No, I don't think so. I'm in the skeptical camp at the moment, and I don't think that a wider foldable has any significant advantages over a normal candy-bar phone.

That said, when we compare it to the triple-folding devices that stand at the radical edge of modern smartphone technology, I believe that the Z Wide Fold definitely has an edge.

It's the better way to create a folding tablet if there were ever a need for one, and for that specific purpose, the Z Wide Fold is superior to the tri-folds. Of course, this is just an opinion piece, and I'd be glad to see what you guys think. Share your thoughts on the Galaxy Z Wide Fold in the comments and drop a vote in our poll.