Eric Zeman
“Get ready to unfold,” says the invitation to Samsung’s next Galaxy Unpacked event, which is scheduled for August 11th.
The company is widely expected to announce at least two new flip phones along with some smartwatches and possibly headphones. The devices are sure to have a host of new and exciting features that go beyond the dazzling technology of folding screens. However, if there’s one thing new to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3 that interests me, it’s lower prices. Here’s why.
Mermaid the niche
Eric Zeman / Android Authority
At $ 2,000, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 was a luxury that few could afford. The phone was so expensive that Samsung offered 48-month financing to prospective buyers. Even when broken down over four years, the Z Fold 2 costs $ 42 per month. The original Samsung Galaxy Fold wasn’t cheaper at $ 1,980. At double the price of the Galaxy S21, these aren’t phones that most people can afford.
The same goes for the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip. The Z Flip was a smaller phone than the Z Fold in every way, and it sold for $ 1,380. Samsung later released a 5G version for $ 1,450. These prices exceed those of the most expensive Apple iPhones, which means the Z Flip was out of reach for most people as well.
That’s a shame, because the folding screen technology is one of the most interesting developments that has been on the cell phone market for years. Bending displays has brought us new form factors that bring together some of the best ideas old and new. Given the advanced use cases these phones offer, it’s a shame that so few people are able to use them.
Lower prices could help move the flip phone from a niche game to a mainstream device.
Samsung isn’t the only one charging a lot for flip phones. Huawei’s Mate X2 is priced at nearly $ 3,000. Motorola wants $ 1,400 for its foldable Razr 5G.
Lowering the price of these tech marvels could help transform the flip phone from a niche game into a mainstream device.
Can Google do that? It is widely believed that Google has its own flip phone in the works. Given the affordable prices for Google’s newer Pixel phones, the Android maker may well be the company to bring flip-top phone prices to the ground.
More accessible
There is little hope that the prices for this new generation of flexing phones from Samsung will actually be lower. Last December, Samsung President and Head of Mobile Communications Business TM Roh wrote a blog post about the coming year. In this post, Roh hinted that prices will go down.
“We will be expanding our portfolio of foldable products to make this breakthrough category more accessible to everyone,” said Roh. In this context, the statement “more accessible” code can mean less expensive. It’s not a slam-dunk guarantee, but it’s a strong indicator nonetheless.
Where these prizes will end up is still a mystery. Even if Samsung cuts prices by 20% (which is likely a range), you’re still seeing wickedly expensive devices. The Z Fold 3 would cost $ 1,600 and the Z Flip 3 would cost around $ 1,200. These price tags remain in the unaffordable league for most.
The very latest news dash my hopes a little. Samsung is already accepting pre-orders for the new phones on its website. As is so often the case, Samsung is giving people the chance to cut the cost of their new phone by trading in an old one. However, rather than restricting potential buyers to a single trade-in device, Samsung allows people to trade in up to two devices to pay for the price of the Z Fold 3 or Z Flip 3. Why should you trade two? Devices when it is “more accessible”?
It would be a shame if Samsung kept the price of the Galaxy Z Fold 3 out of reach.
Even more problematic are a number of leaked prices for the new phones, which indicate significant price increases rather than price decreases.
For sure, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3 will be fun, combining the best of design with the most advanced technology available. It would be a shame if Samsung kept the price of the Galaxy Z Fold 3 out of reach.