The Galaxy Z TriFold Sold Out Immediately

After multiple reports of the Galaxy Z TriFold vanishing from shelves in South Korea, the same thing has now happened in the United States. The device opened for orders on January 30, but if you were hoping to put down $3,000 for this new piece of tech, you likely missed your chance.

A Vanishing Act at Checkout

I was on the website the moment it opened, yet even then, my cart was emptied before I could finish checking out. Samsung sold through their entire US allotment almost immediately. While that sounds impressive, it is important to remember that they likely did not have a massive supply to begin with. Rumors from late last year suggested Samsung only planned to ship between 20,000 and 30,000 units globally. With numbers that low, a rapid sell out was almost guaranteed.

This situation feels like a classic example of artificial scarcity. By keeping stock extremely limited, Samsung makes the device feel more desirable, which drives potential buyers a little crazy as they scramble to get one before the next window closes.

There is also the possibility that Samsung is actually losing money on every TriFold sold. If that is the case, this launch is more about brand prestige than immediate profit. Samsung wants to be seen as the bleeding edge of the industry, allowing them to point at their tri-folding technology when competitors finally release their own standard foldables. This mirrors the way game consoles are often sold at a loss early in their life cycles, with the hope that manufacturing costs will eventually drop enough to see a return.

The $3,000 Question

Despite the hype, it is incredibly difficult to recommend a $3,000 phone to the average user. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is currently available for $1,600, and it offers a fantastic folding experience for nearly half the price. Many people who were curious about the TriFold likely saw that price tag and decided the standard Fold was the better deal. There are already several great foldables on the market that provide most of what the TriFold offers without the astronomical cost.

If you were one of the lucky few who actually managed to get an order through, I would love to hear about it in the comments. It is a wild situation to watch unfold, so make sure to subscribe for more updates as this tech continues to evolve.

You can attempt to buy the TriFold here: shanecraig.tech/trifold

or settle for the Z Fold 7 here: shanecraig.tech/zfold7

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