But that doesn’t mean the Galaxy Z Flip 4 isn’t expensive (unless you opt for Samsung’s great trade-in deals on pre-orders). Standalone, the Galaxy Z Flip 4 still starts at $999, which may be affordable by foldable standards, but it’s very much in the upper echelons of smartphone pricing. The company may have no choice but to keep its prices static. However, a relatively affordable “Fan Edition” phone would convert more buyers to foldables for life. Hear me out on this one!
Samsung’s ‘gateway device’ in foldables needs to be cheaper
Samsung’s Galaxy S20 “Fan Edition” phone has arrived during the unfortunate times of a global pandemic. But it was definitely the right time for a phone with differentiated features for the price people were willing to pay during a pandemic with less purchasing power. None of Samsung’s “Fan Edition” phones established themselves as one of the best phones to buy, but they offered a lot of bang for the buck. A similar approach to the foldable space may just change the trend for Samsung and attract many new customers. Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 4 is priced at a whopping $1,800, making it one of the most expensive smartphones you can buy right now. Only those with deep pockets can afford the Galaxy Z Fold 4, an exclusivity that makes it more exciting in the smartphone space. It essentially creates a lot of buzz and attracts eyeballs to its fold-out line, which can then be converted into potential customers. So what Samsung is cooking up behind the scenes right now seems to be perfect — use the most expensive and niche device out of reach for all but the deep-pocketed consumers to drum up interest and sell the compelling proposition of using a unique device to make people buy the foldable entry level. Getting an “entry-level device” into the hands of consumers would potentially turn them into foldables that would eventually be upgraded to more premium options in the lineup. Samsung dominates the foldable space right now, and getting as many people into its ecosystem will help it establish itself in a category that others will struggle to break into. But this “entry-level device” needs to be something a little more attainable than the Galaxy Z Flip 4, especially in markets where Chinese phone makers offer great phones at a significantly lower price. That’s why a Galaxy Z Flip FE makes more sense to enter the foldable scene with cheaper parts. A more affordable foldable Galaxy A series would mean the world to budget buyers, but it seems too early to expect an “affordable” foldable as most OEMs are still covering Samsung’s dominance in this space. But how do you go from a $1,000 Flip to, say, a $600 or even a $700 Flip FE?
Cutting the right corners on folding
The supply chain plays a big role in adding numbers to a price tag. You can’t make a cheaper phone if the parts needed to make that phone aren’t cheaper themselves. If you know anything about supply chains, then you probably already know that parts can’t get cheaper until they’re manufactured at scale. Samsung is selling more foldables than in the past, but it’s certainly not selling as many foldables as, say, a regular Galaxy S-series flagship. That’s one of the reasons why it can’t lower the price of existing foldables her. Samsung can, however, make a new foldable by cutting the right corners. It’s one of those things that’s easier said than done, but I’d only rely on a big player like Samsung to get the job done. Many Android OEMs are leading by example in making quality phones without breaking the bank. This includes almost all Chinese smartphone manufacturers with a laundry list of phones capable of delivering an incredible experience for a fraction of the price. Samsung itself makes a lot of great phones that don’t cost you an arm and a leg, so it’s no stranger to cutting corners when the product calls for it.
Reuse old smartphone chips
Judging by what Samsung managed to achieve with the ‘Fan Edition’ phones, it doesn’t necessarily need to compromise on the chipset. All “Fan Edition” phones in the past have been powered by the same chipset used in their flagships. That said, there’s no shortage of reliable chipsets in 2022. Older chipsets may not get the same attention as the new Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 or the latest Exynos processors, but there’s still a lot of value in these chips. Older chipsets may not get the same attention as newer ones, but there’s still a lot of value in these chips. A Snapdragon 778G or its slightly modified version powering the Nothing Phone 1 is a great example to consider. Qualcomm has also rebranded many of its older brands in the past. The Snapdragon 870 SoC, for example, is really just a better optimized version of the Snapdragon 865 SoC. Many of these chips are at the forefront, powering some solid devices in the Android space in 2022. Samsung may also turn to some of its older Exynos chipsets to clear out its inventory, something we’ve already seen many manufacturers do.
Cheaper construction materials
Rumors of Samsung making a cheaper foldable may date back to 2020, when the company was said to be working on a Galaxy Fold Lite. It is said to have a folding screen without UTG, which costs less. That cheaper foldable never materialized, but Samsung can always use cheaper materials for the other parts of its phone. The Galaxy S20 FE’s plastic back with a matte finish mimics the look and feel of premium devices, and the same playbook can be applied here. The Galaxy S21 is also a great phone to mention here, which I think looks just as good as its glass-backed siblings. There’s also the Pixel 6a which easily ranks among the best phones of 2022 in my books. There are so many other phones I can think of with plastic backs that look more expensive than their price might suggest.
Remove the least important features
Stripping away less important features like wireless charging to keep the price down is a playbook move Samsung has used in the past. It’s a compromise that I think many users would be willing to take in exchange for more important features. Samsung hasn’t made any leaps in the battery department, so it’s not like they have huge expectations to live up to, especially on a cheaper phone. In fact, I don’t mind going back to the Galaxy Z Flip 3’s 15W charging speeds if I don’t have to spend so much money. It will become an easier pill to swallow in the case of a relatively cheaper phone. While this doesn’t sound like an exhaustive list of changes to existing foldables to make them more affordable, it’s enough for Samsung to set things in motion. The truth is — Samsung doesn’t really have to go to great lengths to make a great affordable foldable. They already have some solid budget phones and affordable flagships, and it’s only a matter of time before we see something similar in the foldable space. Maybe global competition in the folding space is what they need to make some moves. Not only will it allow Samsung to get a bigger piece of the pie, but it might just help create more demand and make more expensive parts for the foldable at scale.
The Galaxy Z Flip 4 is Samsung’s latest flip phone, which has now been upgraded with a better camera, better battery life and a new chipset.
What are your thoughts on Samsung making a cheaper foldable? Let us know by dropping us a line in the comments below.
