Samsung’s first budget Galaxy foldable might arrive next year: Reported to cost around $500

Samsung’s budget Galaxy foldable might carry the FE branding and is reported to be called Galaxy Z FE (lite model), which might launch in the latter part of 2024, post Galaxy Z Fold6/Flip6 lineup. Considering the speculated price, it will be a lot more affordable and is likely to come in the clamshell form factor. This means we can only expect this to launch by the end of 2024.

If this leaked pricing is indeed true, then it will be cheaper than the latest Galaxy S23 FE (review), which is priced at $599 in the US and Rs 59,999 in India. If it comes at around the $400 price range, then it will be cheaper than the Galaxy A54, a mid-range 5G phone. Right now, there isn’t much of an update on the features or specifications of the Galaxy Z FE; however, the South Korean tech giant is likely to cut some corners to achieve a lower price, especially when compared to the flagship offerings. However, brands like Motorola already offers foldable phones with clamshell form factor for less than Rs 50,000 in India.

While the foldable market is seeing steady growth, especially with more brands participating by offering lower-priced devices, they are still not as affordable as a candy bar-style phone. With Samsung pushing the envelope for an affordable foldable, we could see a similar approach from other brands, which should result in more options in the affordable foldable phone segment.