Samsung does not intend to launch a more affordable, midrange segment foldable soon, the South Korean major has confirmed, quashing ongoing rumours that such a product was under active development for next year. As per some online reports, Samsung was claimed to be hard at work on a USD 400-500 foldable, potentially billed to launch in 2o24, but no such product is in the works at the time of writing.
“We don’t plan to manufacture foldable smartphones that are priced in the midrange, and the latest rumours are groundless,” a Samsung Electronics spokesperson was quoted as saying by Korea Joongang Daily.
That is not to say that a more affordable Galaxy Fold or Flip isn’t on Samsung’s radar completely. When asked about a potential Galaxy Fold or Flip Fan Edition at company’s Unpacked Galaxy Fold 5 and Flip 5 launch event in Seoul, Samsung’s MX Business head TM Roh, had told FE, that Samsung “is working very hard [internally] and with strategic parts suppliers [to make foldables more affordable].”
As for timeline of launch, Roh had mentioned, “since we are currently working on future technologies, it is difficult to specify the timing of when such solutions will be made available. But when the time comes, then we will unveil more affordable foldable[s] as well.”
Samsung’s current-generation Fold 5 and Flip 5 and all the foldables that have come before them are marketed as “super-premium” devices globally selling for USD 1000 and higher. In India, the Fold 5 starts at Rs 1,54,999, while the Flip 5 starts at Rs 99,999.
Conversations around cheap foldable devices have picked up steam especially after Motorola launched the midrange Moto Razr 2023/Razr 40 for USD 700 (Rs 50,000 in India) and with Samsung’s years of experience in building phones that can fold and flip, expectations are obviously high for foldables at mainstream prices that more people can buy. Apparently, there’s some more time to go before such a thing happen, but in the meanwhile all eyes would be on the upcoming Galaxy S24 series that’s tipped to launch earlier than usual, on January 17, 2024, at a purported Unpacked event in San Francisco.
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