Samsung may launch a cheap Galaxy Z FE after the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6
Foldable phones are inevitably expensive, even the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 has a hefty price tag and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 starts at $1,799.99 / £1,749 / AU$2,599. So price is a big barrier to entry, but that may not always be the case, as Samsung is reportedly working on a Galaxy Z-series FE foldable.
This is according to @Tech_Reve (who has accurately leaked stuff in the past). In a post on X, they make a number of claims, including that the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE is launching soon and new Galaxy S FE models may launch annually from now on.
But most interesting is the mention of a Samsung Galaxy Z series FE model, which is apparently being tested to launch after the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6. Judging by how Samsung used the FE name earlier has been using, this would be a cheaper version of whatever the latest Z Fold or Z Flip device is at the time of launch.
The S23 FE will be released soon and there are possibilities that Samsung plans to consistently introduce the FE brand annually. At the same time, there are rumors of ongoing tests for the launch of the Galaxy Z FE (lite model), after the Fold/Flip 6.August 20, 2023
Of course, we’d take this with a grain of salt, all the more so since their actual words are that “it’s rumored” that a Galaxy Z FE is being tested. So it sounds like they aren’t sure, and something being tested doesn’t necessarily mean it will launch either.
But this is a credible claim, as it makes sense that Samsung is aiming to lower the cost of foldable phones so they can become more mainstream. Not too long ago, Drew Blackard, vice president of mobile product marketing at Samsung, specifically said in an interview with Tom’s guide that “foldables will eventually come down in price.”
So sooner or later we’re likely to see more affordable foldable phones from Samsung, whether they carry FE branding or not.
Questions remain
However, even if we believe @Tech_Reve’s claims, there are still a few important questions. For starters, they don’t specify whether this will be a Galaxy Z Flip 6 FE or a Galaxy Z Fold 6 FE, or if we’ll be seeing both. The Fold is arguably more in need of a cheaper version, as it costs so much more, but a lower-priced Flip model could have more of a mid-range price tag, which we couldn’t see Samsung doing with a Galaxy. Z Fold FE anytime soon.
Then there’s the question of when Samsung would actually launch this device. If it comes after the Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Fold 6, as @Tech_Reve claims, then that probably means sometime after August 2024, but it could be a long time – maybe 2025.
Finally, it will be interesting to see how Samsung cuts costs. Of course, the price of foldable phone tech could drop over time, but for an FE model, Samsung would inevitably deliver lesser specs. With the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE (the latest FE model) that usually meant less RAM and worse cameras than the standard Samsung Galaxy S21, so maybe we’re seeing the same thing here.
We doubt Samsung would want to compromise too much with the screens anyway, as these are the main selling points of the best foldable phones.