Samsung may not launch a cheaper foldable this year

We heard rumors of a cheaper Galaxy Z Fold 6 earlier this year, with reports of an incredibly low price for a foldable phone. Unfortunately, it seems that this inexpensive model will not see the light of day.

The Elect reports (via SamMobile) that Samsung is reviewing its plan to launch a cheaper Galaxy Z Fold 6. It is believed that the “lack of product differentiation factors” and “uncertainty of the business situation” are the reasons why the Galaxy maker might cancel the device.

The Korean outlet reiterated reports that this cheaper model would not have had the digitizer needed for S Pen support. It also claimed that the cheaper model underwent the same bend test (200,000 folds) as the more expensive device while boasting a “water and dustproof feature.” We’re not entirely sure about the latter, as none of Samsung’s previous foldables were rated for dust resistance. Still, the outlet added that the device is not thinner than Chinese foldables.

Leak Revegnus was more definitive on X, alleging that the device had in fact been canceled.

The Elect also reports that Samsung plans to release a cheaper Galaxy Z Flip 7 next year. This makes sense since we’ve seen several mid-range Flip foldable phones launched over the past year, such as the Motorola Razr 2023 and the Nubia Flip 5G.

We wonder, however, what Samsung will sacrifice to achieve a lower price. It stands to reason that a cheap Z Flip 7 might compromise on the chipset, cameras, cover display, and build quality. But there is also no guarantee that this cheaper Flip 7 will see the light of day.