Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip was the second foldable clamshell smartphone to hit store shelves shortly after the Motorola Razr 2019. Launching at a cheaper price than the Galaxy Fold, it was an affordable way for people to jump on the foldable smartphone train. Over the years, the launch price of the Galaxy Z Flip series has seen a significant reduction; from charging $1,380 for the first-gen model, to a $1,000 starting price for the Galaxy Z Flip 5. However, while the Galaxy Z Flip is now cheaper, it isn’t the most affordable clamshell foldable smartphone on the market, which begs the question ‘Where is Samsung’s budget Galaxy Z Flip smartphone?’
Despite releasing five models, Samsung is yet to introduce a budget-friendly Galaxy Z Flip smartphone, which should help strengthen its position in the foldable smartphone market. Instead, it has left that segment of the market to rivals such as Motorola with its Razr 2023 a.k.a. Razr 40 (curr. discounted to $499 on Amazon), ZTE with its Nubia Flip 5G (curr. €504 on Amazon.de), and the lesser-known Chinese brand, BlackView, whose Hero 10 clamshell foldable can be purchased for just $429! The Blackview Hero 10 isn’t just the cheapest clamshell smartphone on the market, it even beats the Galaxy Z Flip 5 in the battery and charging department with its 4,000 mAh battery and support for 45 W wired charging compared to the 3,700 mAh battery and 25 W wired charging available on Samsung’s phone.
A more affordable Samsung foldable is long overdue and it is not clear why the Korean giant is yet to announce one. Samsung has amassed more experience than most of its rivals in the foldable smartphone segment; of course, that doesn’t mean its foldable device is the best. However, considering it has more market reach than its rivals, it has failed to use this advantage. The high cost of foldable smartphones has discouraged some buyers from purchasing a foldable smartphone, and a budget Galaxy Z Flip smartphone would help convert this group of people.
Two years ago, it was reported that Samsung was developing an affordable foldable smartphone. It would have a design similar to the Galaxy Z Fold series and not the Galaxy Z Flip. The source also reported that it was called the Galaxy A Fold. While we wait for the arrival of this budget Galaxy A Fold, a budget clamshell foldable phone in the style of the Galaxy Z Flip would be better as it should cost less. Samsung doesn’t even have to spend much on development. All it has to do is relaunch an older Galaxy Z Flip model such as the Galaxy Z Flip 3 with a mid-range chipset and a sub $500 price tag. Heck, it can even be called the Galaxy Z Flip FE!
There is a market for a pocket-friendly Galaxy Z Flip Smartphone, and all Samsung has to do is announce one. However, with no reports of such a device in the pipeline this year, we may have to wait until 2025 or later to see one.
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