<\/p>\n
There was a time when $1,000 for a phone seemed absurd.<\/p>\n
Now Samsung is asking certain customers to pay more than twice that.<\/p>\n
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra starts at $2,099.99, making it one of the most expensive mainstream smartphones consumers can buy in the U.S., The Guardian reported.<\/p>\n
So what is the consumer getting for that price?<\/p>\n
They’re getting an 8-inch foldable screen, a 200-megapixel camera system, a top-of-the-line processor, multitasking software, and a device that tries to be both a phone and a tiny tablet. The Fold 8 Ultra is 4.1 millimeters thick when unfolded and weighs 215 grams, Samsung said.<\/p>\n
But perhaps the more compelling data point is consumer desire.<\/p>\n
Samsung said preorders for its newest foldable lineup were 70% higher than a year earlier, according to remarks from Samsung Co-CEO TM Roh reported by T3.<\/p>\n
This means the $2,000 phone category is no longer just a technological curiosity. It may be developing into a real premium market.<\/p>\n
Samsung is betting people will pay laptop money for a phone<\/p>\n
The psychological gap between a $999 phone and a $2,099 phone is huge.<\/p>\n
The Fold 8 Ultra starts at more than $2,100, more than many high-end computers, big-screen televisions, and family vacations.<\/p>\n
Consumers must feel that they are replacing more than a typical smartphone.<\/p>\n
Samsung’s argument is that the Fold can replace numerous gadgets. You can run numerous apps at once on the built-in 8-inch display, and the bigger format makes video, reading, and productivity feel more like a tablet. The phone also has Samsung and Google’s AI software, including Gemini features.<\/p>\n
That’s the human case for foldables.<\/p>\n
You can open the tablet to read documents on the train during your ride. A tourist can watch a movie without a tablet. A worker can have maps, messaging, and mail open at the same time.<\/p>\n
Whether those amenities are worth $2,100 is a different question.<\/p>\n
Related: Apple may finally have a $2,000 reason to enter foldables<\/p>\n
Samsung, which is currently expanding the category, clearly believes enough buyers are saying yes.<\/p>\n
This week, Samsung is already looking at broader foldable designs for 2027, possibly adding more to the roster, SammyGuru noted.<\/p>\n
That comes as Apple is also anticipated to enter the foldables market, potentially making today’s niche one of the most crucial premium battlegrounds in the business.<\/p>\n
Foldables are growing while the broader smartphone market struggles<\/p>\n
That’s where the stats get really intriguing.<\/p>\n
Reuters reported that overall global smartphone shipments are projected to fall 14% in 2026, while foldable shipments are expected to increase 20%, citing IDC.<\/p>\n
More Tech:<\/p>\n
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A European rival to SpaceX is chasing a $2B valuation<\/p>\n
SK Hynix denies Intel Ohio fab deal, but the market didn’t care<\/p>\n
That’s the other direction from the overall market for foldables.<\/p>\n
Consumers are holding onto their traditional phones longer as the annual improvements seem more modest.<\/p>\n
Foldables have something different to offer.<\/p>\n
Samsung has likewise lifted pricing as memory-chip costs climb. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 is $1,899, the Fold 8 Ultra is $2,099, and the Flip 8 starts at $1,199. Those prices were often roughly $100 higher than the preceding generation, Reuters reported.<\/p>\n
That creates a fascinating test of consumer psychology. Apple users are always complaining about expensive smartphones. Yet the fastest-growing part of the category is one of its most expensive.<\/p>\n
Samsung’s $2,100 foldable is testing the limits of consumer spending.<\/p>\n
Bloomberg \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n
The $2,000-phone problem is really a value problem<\/p>\n
You don’t need a $2,100 phone to wow everyone.<\/p>\n
Not every driver needs a luxury vehicle. Not every wrist needs a high-end watch. Samsung just needs enough affluent users and enthusiasts to believe that the bigger screen, versatility, and status are worth the extra cost.<\/p>\n
That’s why the foldable market could be less about tech and more about segmentation.<\/p>\n
For years, the smartphone industry has been pushing people to upgrade to more expensive Pro, Ultra, and Max models.<\/p>\n
Foldables are simply an additional option.<\/p>\n
What consumers are paying for<\/p>\n
$2,099.99: Starting price of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra<\/p>\n
$1,899: Starting price of the Galaxy Z Fold 8<\/p>\n
$1,199: Starting price of the Galaxy Z Flip 8<\/p>\n
70%: Reported year-over-year increase in Samsung foldable preorders<\/p>\n
20%: Expected 2026 growth in foldable shipments<\/p>\n
14% decline: Expected contraction in the overall smartphone market<\/p>\n
8 inches: Fold 8 Ultra’s main display<\/p>\n
It’s no longer a surprise that there’s a $2,000 phone. What is surprising is that there seems to be enough demand for producers to keep expanding the sector.<\/p>\n
Samsung is wagering that smartphones may follow the same route as watches, vehicles, and laptops: The general market remains huge, but the big profit opportunity is at the top.<\/p>\n
If foldables continue to proliferate and regular smartphone shipments fall, the $2,100 price tag will look less and less ludicrous.<\/p>\n
This could be the new definition of premium.<\/p>\n
Related: Apple’s next iPhone battle just got more complicated<\/p>\n
#Samsungs #phone #tests #consumers #pay #fold<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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