Samsung releases three new foldable screen phones and raises prices to compete with Apple

Samsung releases three new foldable screen phones and raises prices to compete with Apple.

Samsung released its latest generation of foldable smartphones on Wednesday and raised the prices of two upgraded foldable phones. Samsung launched the Galaxy Z8 series at a press conference in London. All three products are powered by Google's large model Gemini to provide AI functions.

In the past, Samsung's folding screen products usually included two models: the Fold series, which unfolds like a book, and the Flip series, which uses a traditional clamshell design. Today, Samsung has expanded its product line to three models, of which Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra is the highest-configuration flagship model.

The overall design is similar to the previous generation Galaxy Z Fold7. Specifically, the Galaxy Z Flip8 is priced at $1,199, the Galaxy Z Fold8 is priced at $1,899, and the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra is priced at $2,099. Fold8 is a new product form in the Fold series. It also uses a book-style folding design, but the body size is smaller than the Ultra version.

Samsung said that the machine uses a 4:3 screen ratio and is designed to provide a better display experience for watching videos and other content. In terms of processor, both Fold8 and Fold8 Ultra use Qualcomm's latest processor, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen; Flip8 is equipped with Qualcomm chips or Samsung's self-developed Exynos chips depending on the market.

In addition, Ultra is equipped with a more advanced three-camera system and has a larger battery capacity. Fold8 Ultra is $100 more expensive than the previous generation Fold7, and Flip8 is also $100 more expensive than the previous generation Flip7.

The price increase is basically in line with market expectations, mainly due to the increase in component costs, especially the price of memory chips. Affected by strong demand from the artificial intelligence industry and tight supply, memory chip prices have risen sharply.

IDC predicts that although the global smartphone market may shrink by a record 14% in 2026 due to factors such as a shortage of memory chips, Samsung's global smartphone market share is still expected to increase. At the same time, shipments of foldable screen mobile phones are expected to grow by 20%.

Some analysts predict that Samsung's mobile business may post its first quarterly loss in the second quarter of this year as soaring chip prices squeeze profit margins. At the same time, chip price increases may push the profit margin of Samsung's semiconductor business to historical highs.

Omdia data shows that in entry-level smartphones, storage and storage chips account for more than 60% of the material cost; in high-end models, this proportion also exceeds 30%.

Sheng Win Chow, senior analyst at Omdia, said: "In devices priced over $1,500, the proportion of memory chips in the bill of materials cost is much lower than that of mid-range phones, so high-end models have more room to absorb chip price increases." He added: "The harder question to answer is how the product supports a higher price.

Simply enlarging the screen is no longer enough." Multiple media previously reported that Apple is expected to launch its first foldable screen iPhone this year. This will further intensify competition in a market that Samsung has dominated since launching its first foldable phone in 2019.

Ben Wood, chief analyst and chief marketing officer of CCS Insight, said: "2026 will be an extremely important year for folding screen phones, as Apple is almost certain to launch a folding screen iPhone later this year." He said: "Therefore, this is a crucial new product launch for Samsung.

Samsung is the pioneer of this category, and any market Apple enters will immediately increase the market recognition of this category."

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