I can say with quite some certainty that the biggest thing that keeps the average person away from buying a foldable phone is the ridiculous pricing. Most foldables, especially book-style ones, start over $1,000. Sadly, things haven't gotten cheaper, despite early hopes that as the tech improved, the phones would become more affordable.
Instead of hoping that the current models of foldable phones will get cheaper (that won't happen), we can instead look at foldable models that are designed to be more affordable, and that's what the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE is meant to be doing. It has had its price leaked, and it will be the cheapest foldable phone that Samsung has made as of now.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE Could Undercut the Regular Z Flip By $300
Last year, Samsung increased the price of its foldable phones. Instead of a $999 price tag for the Z Flip 6, it got bumped up by $100 to $1,099. The Z Fold 6 also saw an identical price hike, going up to $1,899. The Z Flip 6 crossed the painful $1,000 threshold and the Z Fold 7 is dangerously close to costing two grand. If it wasn't evident yet, it should be now that the current portfolio of foldable phones will only keep getting more expensive.
However, if you want to buy a foldable for a lot less and you're not a fan of older models or used phones, then you can always look at the foldable options that cut corners and are designed to be cheaper. As of now, Samsung doesn't have one of those, but next month, we expect it to launch the Z Flip 7 FE, an affordable clamshell foldable.
| Launch Price | |
| Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE (Rumored) | $799 |
| Galaxy Z Flip 7 (Rumored) | $1,099 |
| Galaxy Z Flip 6 | $1,099 |
| Motorola Razr (2025) | $699 |
| Motorola Razr Ultra (2025) | $1,299 |
According to Sisa Journal-e, a Korean outlet, the Z Flip 7 FE should start at a price of around 1M Korean Won. That comes to approximately $740, but I doubt Samsung will choose to price it at $750. Instead, $799 pricing seems more likely, and if that's what happens, it means the Z Flip 7 FE will be $300 less than the regular Z Flip 7 (which is expected to retain last year's pricing). That'll make it the cheapest foldable Samsung has.
What Corners Will the Z Flip 7 FE Cut to Be More Affordable?
If you're really thinking about it, you'll know that there's no way the Z Flip 7 FE is that much cheaper without cutting a bunch of corners. It's not going to be the foldable for power users, but will give those who want a Z Flip for fashion reasons an easier entry point. Here's what we can know (and can guess) about the Z Flip 7 FE so far:
- 128GB and 256GB storage options
- 8GB RAM
- Samsung Exynos 2400
- Android 16, One UI 8
- 3.4-inch “folder-style” cover display
- Black and white colorways
The Z Flip 7 FE will be cheaper, but it will also scale down on performance in almost every aspect. On top of that, it seems like the device will adopt the design of the Z Flip 6 instead of getting the update that we've seen rumored for the Z Flip 7. You'll still get modern software, though performance constraints might give Samsung a reason to bar you from some of them.
