According to a report from The Elec, Samsung is considering a cheaper Galaxy Z Fold 6 this year.
This is the first time Samsung is considering making a large entry-level foldable device.
This step is possible because Samsung is facing increasingly tough competition from Google and OnePlus.
The days of Samsung's big foldable displays that cost around $2,000 may be over. According to a report from The Elec, the electronics company is considering a cheaper Galaxy Z Fold 6 model that could launch this year. Perhaps Samsung is looking to repeat the success of its $999 Galaxy Z Flip 5.
“Samsung Electronics is considering making a base model for its new Galaxy Z Fold 6 foldable phone, which will be released in the second half of this year,” the report reads. “This is the first time Samsung Electronics has considered developing a basic model foldable phone.”
Regardless of whether Samsung actually launches an entry-level foldable device on the market, the regular Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 will still be released. Presumably, they will be priced the same at $1,799 and $999. Samsung's goal in creating an affordable foldable phone was to make foldable phones more popular in general, which would ultimately differentiate the company from its competitors.
The move may also be related to Samsung's market share in China, where foldable phones are more affordable than in North America and Europe. Samsung has managed to control less than 1% of the mobile phone market in China. By comparison, its share of the foldable cell phone market is in the double digits. These numbers come from The Elec and suggest that entry-level foldable devices could represent a small part of China's larger expansion plans.
In other markets, cheap foldable phones with large screens could give Samsung competition among new entrants in the foldable phone market. Last year, OnePlus and Google released foldable devices at prices equal to or lower than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5.
The OnePlus Open and Google Pixel Fold smartphones have been generally well received. Both foldable devices feature large clamshell displays, while the Galaxy Z Fold 5 has a smaller, narrower display. Likewise, some potential buyers and reviewers have been unhappy with Samsung's constant updates to the Z Fold line over the past few years.
One thing to keep in mind is whether Samsung will be able to launch a new foldable smartphone in 2024 and the company is currently evaluating this question. The company usually releases its foldable phones in August, which means Samsung has less than eight months to get the product to market. There are several reasons why Samsung could beat the odds and introduce an entry-level foldable model this year, but the proposed timing is one reason that remains questionable.
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