I splurged and bought the Galaxy Z TriFold for over $3,000, and I'm here to share my experience with you. On the morning of January 30th, I joined my colleagues in a virtual race to secure Samsung's newest gadget. It wasn't for a limited-edition sneaker or a once-in-a-lifetime concert ticket; it was for a phone. But not just any phone. We were all vying for Samsung's Galaxy Z TriFold, which had already launched in other parts of the world and reportedly sold out in minutes. Despite its hefty price tag of $2,900, we expected a similar outcome in the US, given the buzz it had generated and the seemingly limited supply. The scarcity of the Galaxy Z TriFold devices is so notable that Samsung didn't provide CNET or other journalists with review units, which is usually the case when launching a new phone. Hence, we were all online shopping before the sun had even risen. At 7 a.m. PT, the race was on. Four of my teammates and I attempted to secure Samsung's new dual-folding phone. We just needed one person to succeed. Almost instantly, everyone was met with a 'sold out' notice, except for me. Miraculously, I was able to add the trifold to my shopping cart and complete the $3,164.05 transaction (my total after taxes and a California Battery Recycling Fee). In the end, it was truly a game of chance, and the odds were apparently in my favor. Now the fun begins. I'm excited to share my thoughts, big and small, as I use the Galaxy Z TriFold every day. I got some hands-on time with the phone during CES, but now, I'll actually get to live with it and see if it really can function as a practical phone-tablet hybrid. Is the 6.5-inch cover display a good size for most tasks? Will I get used to how the phone feels when it's folded shut, or will those three panels stacked together be a little clunky? Is the 10-inch internal display really helpful for multitasking and doing work? I'll be sharing those insights, and many more, in this blog. Be sure to follow along for my many musings along the way.
