When the first foldable phones came out, they were gimmicky, fragile, and expensive. Nowadays, well, they’re just expensive. Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold phones still sit just shy of $2,000. However, according to a new report, Samsung may be working on a more affordable Galaxy Z Fold 6.
With a few clamshell foldable phones like the Motorola Razr 2023 and the Tecno Phantom V Flip comfortably under the $1,000 mark, the world is waiting for notebook foldable phones to start coming down in price. Phones like the OnePlus Open are rather affordable at $1,699, so there’s still a way to go before they’re considered what we call affordable.
Samsung could be working on a more affordable Galaxy Z Fold 6
From the sound of it, it appears that Samsung could launch two versions of the Galaxy Z Fold 6. One could have all the latest and greatest specs, while the other one could have less robust specs. It’s possible that it could get a smaller battery, less pixel-dense display, weaker processor, less powerful cameras, and RAM/storage. That’s only speculation, as those are the typical cutbacks you would get in a cheaper phone.
As per the report, Samsung could be considering bringing an entry-level Galaxy Z Fold 6. This could possibly be a move to make the device more appealing to the Chinese market. Several Chinese companies such as Oppo and Xiaomi have been able to bring more affordable foldable phones compared to what Samsung is offering. While that is the case, Chinese phones still manage to bring a ton of power and usability.
The report states that the entry-level Galaxy Z Fold 6 could launch sometime in the second half of the year. This is consistent with the Galaxy foldable launch cycle. Samsung usually launches its second wave of premium devices around August. Last year was an exception, as a company launched its foldable phones in July.
The Galaxy Z Fold phones might lose some weight this year
The report also states that Samsung could also make the Galaxy Z Fold 6 rather thin compared to the Z Fold 5. This could also be a play to make the phone more appealing to the Chinese market. Many affordable phones in the Chinese market are notably thinner than the Galaxy Z Fold phones.
Is Samsung finally waking up?
If the source is right, and Samsung is making these changes in order to appeal to the Chinese market, then it could be hinting at something that we’ve been wanting for a while. We’ve been pining for Samsung to be more conscious about competition and more willing to make changes to adjust to the times. Other companies have been leaving Samsung in the dust in terms of exciting features, innovative designs, and pushing foldable technology forward.
Samsung has gotten too comfortable being the top foldable maker in the world. This means that, year after year, the company has been able to basically regurgitate the design of its phones without making any changes. Samsung’s foldables haven’t really been exciting for a few years.
Well, hopefully, this means that Samsung is willing to make changes and deliver devices that are more competitive.
2024-01-24 15:07:37