Our Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold vs Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max comparison is here. Two very different, but very compelling phones.
Samsung introduced its first tri-fold smartphone not long ago. We’ve compared it to a handful of devices thus far, and we’re here for yet another comparison. This time around, we’re comparing the Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold vs Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max. In other words, we’ll be comparing Samsung’s first tri-fold with the very best phone Apple has to offer. The company still doesn’t have a foldable, let alone a tri-fold, so we’re going with the regular flagship from Apple.
Needless to say, these two phones are very different. They’re as different as they can possibly be, actually. That should keep things fresh here. Just to note that we still haven’t reviewed the Galaxy Z TriFold, as it still hasn’t become available in global markets. We did have some hands-on time with the device, though. With that being said, let’s get down to business, shall we?SpecsSamsung Galaxy Z TriFold vs Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max: Design
The moment you look at these two phones, you’ll realize how different they are. Even without the foldable aspect of the Galaxy Z TriFold, they simply look a lot different. The Galaxy Z TriFold has two flat displays, one of which is foldable. A display camera hole sits on both of them, while the frame is flat all around. The phone has a titanium hinge, fiber-reinforced polymer back, and an aluminum frame.
The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max has a flat display too, with a Dynamic Island at the top aka a pill-shaped cutout. The bezels are uniform on both smartphones, though they’re a bit thinner on the iPhone 17 Pro Max. The frame on the iPhone is also flat all around, and it’s made out of aluminum. On the back, the phone has a glass panel. The Galaxy Z TriFold has a power/lock and volume up and down keys on the right, though are all its physical buttons. The iPhone 17 Pro Max has a power/lock button on the right, along with a Camera control key. The Action key is on the left, along with the volume keys.
When folded, the Galaxy Z TriFold has three cameras on the back. When unfolded, in addition to those three cameras, its cover display is on the back too, as is another empty backplate. It has three vertically-aligned cameras, which are on top of a camera island. The iPhone 17 Pro Max has three cameras on the back as well, though it also includes a camera bar and a recognizable iPhone Pro camera layout. It also has a two-tone design on the back, with different shades of the same color.
The Galaxy Z TriFold is IP48 certified for water and dust resistance. The iPhone 17 Pro Max comes with an IP68 certification. Samsung’s tri-fold is noticeably heavier, of course, while it’s also thicker when folded. Both phones are quite slippery in the hand, though.Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold vs Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max: Display
The Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold has a 10-inch tri-foldable Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X main display.
