Samsung's Galaxy Z TriFold has a reported screen defect with a vertical line and dead pixels, raising concerns about reliability and high repair costs in its early release.
© A. Krivonosov
Samsung is facing its first major reputational crisis over its boldest device yet—the foldable Galaxy Z TriFold. In South Korea, one owner reported a critical screen defect less than a month after purchase. The incident was posted on the Samsung Members community and quickly sparked widespread attention, as the smartphone remains in short supply due to low production yields.
The user described a thin vertical line appearing on the main 10-inch display in the left fold section, alongside an area of completely dead pixels. Based on photos, this zone appears to be the starting point of panel failure. The damage affects part of the screen that undergoes the most stress during double folding, since the Galaxy Z TriFold uses two Armor FlexHinge mechanisms.
The owner claims the device was not dropped or exposed to moisture, which heightens suspicions of a manufacturing defect or fatigue damage to the flexible OLED matrix. This matters because the TriFold is rated for 200,000 folds, while the standard Galaxy Z Fold 7 withstands 500,000 cycles. Such an early screen failure calls into question the real-world reliability of this new design in everyday use.
The financial aspect of the problem is particularly painful. Unofficial estimates from 2026 suggest a full internal display replacement could cost around 1.8 million won, equivalent to about $1,240. Samsung offers TriFold owners a one-time 50% discount on screen repairs, but even with that, the restoration cost exceeds the price of a new Galaxy S25 Ultra. Reports indicate that at launch, the TriFold was excluded from some Samsung Care Plus plans due to its high price, leaving buyers without comprehensive insurance coverage.
Industry sources note that Samsung sells the Galaxy Z TriFold with minimal margins or even at a loss, treating it as a pilot project for the three-panel form factor. If similar cases multiply before a global rollout, the company may need to pause sales and refine the hinge design. For Samsung, this experiment increasingly looks not just like a technological breakthrough, but a risky bet on its reputation in the ultra-premium segment.