Exclusive: Is this the first sign of a budget Samsung foldable phone?

Samsung will release its third foldable smartphone next month, but none of the devices it has launched so far can be categorized as “budget”. The lowest price you can pay for any of its foldable smartphones right now is $ 1,380. Then again, the clamshell Galaxy Z Flip has premium specs and the world’s first ultra-thin glass display.

Low budget foldable smartphones are obviously the dream and at some point in the future there might come a day when that dream will come true. However, there are already rumors of a potential budget foldable phone. If the price was less than $ 1,000, such a device would be relatively cheaper than the cheapest foldable one currently, which costs as much as a Galaxy Note 20 Ultra.

Samsung’s foldable budget could be a shell

We hear that Samsung has a new device in the works and it could be a foldable smartphone. It bears the model number SM-F415. Those of you who keep an eye on Samsung model numbers already know that the “F” is what Samsung uses for its Galaxy Z series handsets. It used the model numbers SM-F900, SM- F700 and SM-F916 for Galaxy Fold, Galaxy Z Flip and Galaxy Z Fold 2 respectively.

Details are extremely limited at the moment, but we’re told it will be available with 64 / 128GB storage options and in black, green, and blue colors. We cannot yet weigh the source of this information, because while all of this seems plausible, the evidence is circumstantial at best.

It’s no secret that Samsung plans to release more foldable smartphones in the future and it wouldn’t be surprising if a budget handset is also on the cards. A clamshell foldable budget might be possible as it wouldn’t need a big screen cover like the Galaxy Z Fold 2. Samsung might also go for mid-range specs to keep the price down further. The foldable screen and hinge will be expensive components, however, as a compromise on durability simply won’t fly.

Lowering the price will allow more customers to try their luck on foldable phones. There may be many potential customers for this device if it is priced between $ 600-700, for example. It will be interesting to see how that goes. We will keep our ear to the ground for this device, hopefully it will see the light of day eventually.