Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold unfolds twice and leaves one big question hanging

Samsung’s Galaxy Z TriFold is on the market, offering a multi-fold device aimed at users wanting a blend of work and play, not just novelty.

The promotional material does an impressive job in revealing why tech enthusiasts will look to level up with this one.

Samsung pairs the large screen and multitasking features with a six-month Google AI Pro trial. That bundle makes the purchase decision the start of a services journey, rather than the end of a handset sale.

TM Roh, who is the CEO and head of the Device eXperience Division at Samsung Electronics, said it best.

The official word is that productivity is the most important thing. This means there is a 10-inch inner display, layouts with multiple windows, and updates that allow more than one app to run at the same time.

By linking those workflows to a timed trial, Samsung makes sure that early adopters can use the best AI tools. This is when the excitement and newness of the setup are at their highest. That's when habits start to form.

Timing is also very important. Samsung says that sales will start in Korea on Dec. 12 and then move to other places such as the U.S. That lets you see clearly if the carriers are making the offer better.

If operators later add the AI plan to service bundles, more people can sign up without having to pay the bill in the seventh month.

Samsung's sticky bundle is Google AI Pro

Google AI Pro is its best plan for consumers. It has more advanced Gemini features and 2 terabytes of cloud storage through Google One. The U.S. price is $19.99 a month after the trial.

These two numbers are all you need to make simple, clear plans for how much money each user will make.

More AI Stocks:

• Cathie Wood sells $21.4 million of surging AI stocks
• As Palantir rolls on, rivals are worth a second look
• Palantir quietly makes massive AI war play

Google often talks up its premium generation tools, such as its Veo model for making videos, as well as prompts with more storage space and priority access. The structure encourages people to remain engaged instead of just getting a one-time benefit, which is what subscription economics needs.

Related: Walmart dominates online shopping with game-changing new tools

The language used in Google's support also explains credits, limits, and how plans work. That paperwork tells customers how to "use what they pay for," which makes the value clearer.

When customers automatically choose to renew instead of having to make a decision, it is because they are aware of the allowances and see them reset every month.

According to Google, the plan includes:

• Access to higher-level Gemini features and creative tools, such as Veo-powered video creation.
• The plan comes with 2 TB of Google One cloud storage.
• The monthly price in the U.S. is $19.99 after the TriFold trial ends.

Samsung DeX and foldables help work go smoothly

Samsung says the TriFold is the first Galaxy phone to offer Samsung DeX. It has an Extended Mode for an external display, can support up to four workplaces, and lets users run five apps in each workspace.

It turns a table into a two-screen workstation in just a few seconds, and it's precisely where AI help is needed.

Related: Tesla has problem no one was pricing in

The large canvas feature is not a gimmick. Samsung discusses features such as the ability to drag and drop between windows, resize programs, maintain the taskbar at the top, and quickly access recent apps.

AI can resolve these problems by summarizing a paper, translating a tab, cleaning up a picture, or making a draft without breaking the flow.

Specs that support real work and the revenue math behind it

Samsung sells hardware as more than just marketing. The phone sports a 10.0-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X inner display that runs at 120 Hz and a 6.5-inch cover screen. Standalone DeX adds a taskbar that shows recent apps, multi-desktop flow with up to four workspaces and five processes, and Extended Mode for a second monitor.

AI can summarize, translate, create, and change things without interrupting the flow over longer, two-screen sessions. This means the phone, instead of being a "toy that tries to be a toy," actually saves time via the premium plan.

Related: Tesla makes major move to fend off overseas rivals

Alphabet sees subscriptions as a good thing. After the TriFold's six-month trial, Google AI Pro under Google One costs $19.99 a month. Samsung's bundle lowers the cost of acquiring the service by putting it in the right hands and context.

If some owners keep paying, they get recurring money without ads. Investors care less about the hinge than they do about conversion at month seven and retention at month 12.

Ecosystem cues help people stick with a product. Samsung advertises the creative and browsing features of Galaxy AI and offers a one-time 50% discount on display repairs to retain consumers' trust throughout the trial-to-paid phase.

Google's ambitions focus on premium Gemini access and storage for both home and business. Just wait until month seven to month nine, when TriFold owners may get U.S. carrier bundles that cover the cost. The first year of renewal may also see a significant rise from a permanent annuity.

What the financial plan means for Alphabet and Samsung and how big it could get

Alphabet books Google AI Pro in its subscriptions section, along with Google One.

Using a device-led funnel, let's say that 1 million Galaxy Z TriFold devices are sold in areas that accept the strategy. By the seventh month, 10%, 20%, or 30% of those units will have undergone conversion.

Related: Goldman Sachs issues grim job warning as FedEx axes 856 in Texas

That means there are 100,000, 200,000, or 300,000 paying accounts. At $19.99 a month, the annualized run rate is roughly $24 million, $48 million, or $72 million after everyone is paid.

In the first year, the revenue is approximately halved because six months are spent on a trial period.

• Alphabet: 1 million units; 10% to 30% convert; about $24 million to $72 million run rate.
• Levers: Availability by market, U.S. carrier bundles, 12-month retention.

Samsung doesn't charge the AI Pro fee, yet the package may help from a financial perspective. If it keeps the average selling price at $2,500 for 1 million devices, that's nearly $50 million more in sales.

If 20% of consumers choose greater storage for $100 more, that's nearly $20 million more. Accessory attachments and the one-time 50% discount on display repairs may further support margin, mix, and upgrade intent.

• Samsung: A 2% increase in ASP on 1 million units is about $50 million. Storage step-ups add about $20 million.
• Levers: Attach in month seven, keep in month 12, and roll out to more people.

Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold becomes paid-AI device, but not everywhere

The six-month trial, which costs $19.99 to renew, only works in areas where Google offers it; therefore, conversions should only be modeled in those areas, not everywhere.

Even if the gear delivers on time, China and other regions not served by Gemini should be in the low- or no-conversion buckets. Consider total shipments and the total addressable software market as two separate statistics, and then scale the pool based on the actual number of plans available.

DeX on a bigger screen changes its status from a novelty to a daily workplace, which is what makes a trial convert into a renewal.

Apps that run side by side, a taskbar that stays on top, and rapid app resurfacing provide AI many chances to summarize, translate, create, and modify without disturbing the flow. When such habits become second nature, the premium plan seems like a way to save time instead of a new price.

To find out whether services, not specifications, are behind this launch, investors should look for three signs.

• First, from month seven to month nine, TriFold owners will have to pay for the trial.
• Second, watch for any U.S. carrier bundles that include the charge in plans and surreptitiously raise conversions.
• Third, a 12-month retention period will tell the difference between a surge in promotions and a long-term annuity.

Related: AMD plans frustrating GPU chip change