Samsung Galaxy Z Trifold screens failing for early users

Early Samsung Galaxy Z Trifold units are failing

Samsung’s first trifolding phone is already suffering from screen failures. Two U.S. owners of the $2,900 Galaxy Z Trifold have reported their inner displays becoming unresponsive within weeks of purchase.

A third user in Korea reported a separate issue with dead pixels. All three have posted photographic evidence of the problems.

Reports detail green flashes and white screens

One user, who had the phone for about a month and a half, reported the inner screen flashing green before cutting to black. The screen would then be unresponsive, with fixes requiring restarts that sometimes took hours to work.

A second user’s experience was more severe. Their inner screen reportedly died within just five days. The failure was preceded by ghost touching, followed by a permanent white screen.

This user also reported hearing a “strange popping sound” when closing the device and seeing what looked like an air bubble under the screen. The Korean user’s report described a vertical line of dead pixels on the left side of the display.

Samsung is repairing and replacing the phones

All three users have had success contacting Samsung support. The company is handling the issues, but the solutions vary.

• The user with the green-flashing screen is getting a free repair, with a turnaround time of 1-3 weeks.
• The user whose screen failed in five days opted for a full return, stating they would revert to a cheaper Galaxy Z Fold 7.
• The Korean user with dead pixels received a free device replacement, with Samsung taking the original unit “for research.”

Speculation points to first-gen foldable woes

Neither U.S. user reported subjecting their device to unusual stress. One said the issue occurred during “normal usage,” while the other claimed to have done “nothing but baby” the phone.

On Reddit, users speculated about potential causes. The green flash symptom was suggested to indicate a bad ribbon cable. The complete white screen failure was compared to defects seen in other first-generation foldables, like the original Galaxy Z Fold and Pixel Fold.

A cautionary tale for early adopters

These failures present a poor initial durability record for Samsung’s most ambitious and expensive foldable. For potential buyers, the incidents underscore the risks of early adoption for complex first-generation hardware.

If purchasing the device, investing in a Samsung Care+ protection plan is a prudent step to safeguard the $2,900 investment beyond the standard warranty. The Galaxy Z Trifold is currently out of stock in the U.S., but a new batch is scheduled for release soon.