Samsung launches new, more expensive foldable smartphones

South Korean tech giant Samsung has unveiled its latest generation of foldable smartphones, featuring sleeker designs and advanced capabilities, but also carrying a higher price tag. The new lineup, launched in London, includes the Galaxy Z Fold8 and the pocket-sized Z Flip8, as Samsung seeks to solidify its dominance in the rapidly evolving foldable market.

The Galaxy Z Fold8, which unfolds into a 7.6-inch tablet-like device, starts at $1,900. Its successor, the Z Fold8 Ultra, begins at $2,100. The more compact Z Flip8 is priced from $1,200. These prices reflect an increase from previous models, a move attributed to rising component costs, especially for memory chips essential for artificial intelligence applications.

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By setting a new standard for foldables, we are once again advancing the premium mobile experience.

"By setting a new standard for foldables, we are once again advancing the premium mobile experience," stated TM Roh, head of Samsung’s mobile division. Technology analyst Paolo Pescatore noted the Fold8's significance, saying, "Galaxy Z Fold8 is the clear star of the show. It underscores Samsung’s dominance of the foldable category and its determination to expand the market with a device for almost every type of user."

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Galaxy Z Fold8 is the clear star of the show. It underscores Samsung’s dominance of the foldable category and its determination to expand the market with a device for almost every type of user.

Samsung's aggressive strategy in the foldable space is partly driven by the anticipation of Apple's potential entry into the market. Francisco Jeronimo of IDC commented, "Apple is about to do for foldables what it has done for every category it has entered, which is legitimize it for the mainstream. Samsung has to defend the category it created, and that’s why it cannot play it safe."

The increased costs for memory chips, crucial for powering AI features, have also impacted other manufacturers. Apple, for instance, cited similar reasons for price increases on its Mac and iPad lines last month. Samsung's latest releases underscore its commitment to innovation in the premium smartphone segment, even as it navigates rising production expenses.

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Apple is about to do for foldables what it has done for every category it has entered, which is legitimize it for the mainstream. Samsung has to defend the category it created, and that’s why it cannot play it safe.