Samsung’s Premium Foldable Strategy May Be Right on Time

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Samsung is about to double down on foldables later this month with the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, and Galaxy Z Flip 8. A new report says the foldable market is shifting toward premium devices. Counterpoint Research expects the global average selling price (ASP) of foldables to increase by 18% year over year in 2026, even as smartphone prices continue to fall overall.

Counterpoint expects premium foldables to dominate shipments by 2026

The research firm says book-style foldables are driving this shift as they make up a larger share of the market. These devices offer bigger displays, better hinges, larger batteries, improved cameras, and stronger productivity features, which let brands charge higher prices. Flip phones, meanwhile, are becoming more affordable as more companies enter the segment and production ramps up.

Counterpoint also expects a major shift in pricing. This year, more than half of foldable smartphones will likely have wholesale prices of $1,200 or less, while about one in three will cost at least $1,600. By 2026, devices priced at $1,600 or more could make up 60% of foldable shipments, while the share of models priced below $1,200 could drop to less than 30%.

The report says larger foldable displays are becoming more important as AI features move beyond simple chatbots. Bigger screens make it easier to compare results, multitask, and switch between apps without losing context. That’s where book-style foldables have an advantage over traditional smartphones.

The report arrives just ahead of Samsung’s next foldable launch, where the company is expected to unveil the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, and Galaxy Z Flip 8. Counterpoint also expects Apple’s entry into the foldable market to keep the spotlight on premium devices and strengthen the high end of the category. We’ll have to wait and see how much of that actually plays out.

Written by

Abhinav Anand

Abhinav Anand is the News Editor at SammyGuru and a technology journalist based in New Delhi. Before joining SammyGuru, he contributed to numerous outlets, including Android Headlines, ExtremeTech, The Mac Observer, Financial Express, Economic Times, iGeeksBlog, KnowTechie, PhonesWiki, SlashGear, and more. You can reach him at [email protected].

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