Samsung plans budget foldable phone, report claims

Mystery device with the model number SM-F415 could finally make folding smartphones affordable

A Samsung Galaxy Z Flip phone on display during the Unpacked 2020 event in San Francisco, California on 11 February, 2020 (AFP via Getty Images)

Samsung may be about to make folding phones much more affordable, according to a new report.

The South Korean giant announced that it will unveil its third foldable smartphone on 1 September – the Galaxy Z Fold 2 – but another mystery device may also be revealed.

Unofficial Samsung news site SamMobile reported on Thursday that a phone with the model number SM-F415 is under development.

The name is not yet known but the ‘F’ in the model number indicates that it will likely be the latest smartphone in the Galaxy Z series, following on from the Galaxy Z Flip (SM-F700) and Galaxy Z Fold 2 (SM-F916).

The price of the Galaxy Z Fold 2 is not yet known, but its predecessor cost £1,900 when it launched last year.

This is inline with other folding phones released by major smartphone manufacturers, with the Huawei Mate X costing around £2,000

Microsoft’s Surface Duo, which starts shipping on 10 September, costs slightly less. But at $1,399 (£1,070), it will still be among the most expensive smartphones on the market.

Any foldable phone that costs below £1,000 will be considered budget, especially considering the trend in recent years of top-of-the-range iPhones and Android smartphones costing close to £1,500.

Little is known about the SM-F415 device, though SamMobile claimed it will be available with 64GB and 128GB storage options and come in black, green and blue.

The publication speculates that mid-range specs could indicate that it will be a budget clamshell foldable phone that cuts costs by having a smaller screen than the Galaxy Z Fold 2.