Details on Samsung’s next foldable smartphone, the presumptively named Galaxy Z Fold 6, suggest that the next foldable will see an updated design and new displays, but one decision could see Samsung trump its classic foldable phone.
Export data lists three model codenames with interesting modifiers, Q6 and B6; given the Q5 moniker reflected the Z Fold 5 and the B5 reflected the Z Flip 5 last year, it’s safe to assume these are the parts for this year’s two flagship foldables, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6. The team at Winfuture has spotted another modifier… Q6A.
Given the A designation, this could be the long-hoped-for cheaper version of the Z Fold series. Samsung’s Galaxy A range offers a balance between price and performance, which would make the “A” a logical modifer. On balance, it’s more likely that Samsung would market this under its Fan Edition brand, with the Galaxy Z Fold 6 FE sitting alongside the likes of the Galaxy S23 FE and Galaxy Tab S9 FE.
Samsung is working to lower the price of both the Z Fold 6 and the Z Flip 6, with construction changes to the bezels as one of several steps to cut the bill of materials. The inclusion of an FE model would mean that features seen as necessary for the main model can be compromised or even sacrificed to offer a cheaper version that delivers on the promise of a foldable.
Foldable phones remain expensive, especially in the book fold variant seen on the Galaxy Z Fold series (list prices for the Z Fold 5 start at $1799. An FE version would likely command a premium over a standard smartphone with similar specs. Still, it could undercut other folding smartphones in the market, such as the Pixel Book, which starts at $1799 and the OnePlus Open, which starts at $1699.
There’s no guarantee that any phone under development, such as the Z Fold 6 FE, will reach consumers.
Nevertheless, an FE edition debuting in this year’s Z Fold series would see Samsung take back the initiative from other manufacturers pushing their foldables to market, would have first mover advantage in the ironically-titled “budget foldable” category, and would no doubt support the company’s push to bring Galaxy AI to as many customers as possible.
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