What you should know
- Rumors of an affordable foldable Galaxy phone have been shot down by Samsung
- Foldable phones are expensive due to premium parts and complex engineering
- Samsung denied rumors of releasing a mid-tier foldable phone
- Samsung may not release an affordable phone in the foreseeable future
Full Story
Rumors of an affordable foldable Galaxy phone have been shot down again, this time by none other than Samsung. Even though bendable phones still make up a small fraction of the broader market, it’s the only category that’s growing. Samsung is the market leader but its foldable phones are quite expensive, starting at $999.99 for the clamshell Flip 5 and $1,799.99 for the book-style Fold 5.
At $699, Motorola‘s Razr 2023 is the most affordable foldable phone available in the US and a recent report said that Samsung could release a foldable phone priced between $400 and $500 in 2024. However, many are skeptical of this possibility, questioning whether it is feasible for Samsung to significantly reduce the price of its foldable phones.
Manufacturing a stripped-down foldable phone is not as straightforward as making a regular smartphone, as foldable phones consist of premium parts such as a flexible screen and hinge and require complex engineering and research and development. Therefore, it will be incredibly hard for companies to come out with cheaper models. Samsung has denied rumors that it will release a mid-tier foldable phone, stating “We don’t plan to manufacture foldable smartphones that are priced in the midrange, and the latest rumors are groundless.”
Despite this denial, there is still a glimmer of hope for a Fan Edition model, as Samsung has not made any decisions on the matter. At this time, it seems that Samsung continues to position foldable phones as premium devices, which may present challenges in meeting its goal of selling 20 million bendable phones next year.
