TECH

How will Samsung manage to lower the price of its next foldable phones?

Samsung seems poised to break one of the most deeply rooted traditions in its premium device line. If you follow the market, you know that for years, the South Korean giant's foldable phones were the last bastion where Qualcomm reigned unopposed. However, a radical change in processor strategy is looming on the horizon, and the upcoming Galaxy Z Flip 8 may be the protagonist of a small disruption that promises to generate buzz among tech enthusiasts.

According to recent leaks, detected in Samsung's own source code by informant Erencan Yılmaz, the Galaxy Z Flip 8 may not arrive on the market with a single processor globally. The brand is reportedly considering — or at least testing — a split strategy: one version equipped with Qualcomm's future Snapdragon and another powered by Samsung's own Exynos processor.

This isn't a completely unprecedented maneuver, as we've already seen signs of this transition in the Galaxy Z Flip 7, but the scale this time seems to be different. The big question is whether this division will be geographical, as was the case in the past with the Galaxy S line, or whether Samsung is simply keeping its options open before pressing the mass production button. For you, as a user, this means that the choice of model may depend much more on where you buy or how much you are willing to pay.

While the waters seem turbulent with the "Flip" model, when it comes to book-style design, Samsung prefers not to take risks with winning teams. Everything indicates that both the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and the new Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide will maintain exclusivity with Qualcomm, using the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 "for Galaxy".

This decision makes perfect sense from a market positioning standpoint. The Fold is the quintessential productivity device, the most expensive in the catalog, and Samsung knows that its target audience does not forgive any hesitation in performance. By keeping Qualcomm's best processor in these models, the brand avoids the growing pains of new architectures and ensures that its flagship continues to be seen as an infallible raw performance machine. 

Between cost-cutting and renewed confidence...Why would Samsung decide to swap a widely praised Snapdragon processor for an Exynos in one of its most popular phones? The answer lies in two fundamental pillars: economy and technical maturity.

Price control: With component costs rising year after year, using its own processor is the most effective way for Samsung to lower the final price of the device or, at least, maintain profit margins without inflating what you pay in the store.

-Real-world performance: Tests of the Exynos 2500 showed that, although benchmark numbers may lag slightly behind the competition, the day-to-day user experience is extremely fluid.

-Battery life: Vertical integration between hardware and software allows for power optimization that sometimes compensates for a lack of raw power.

-Independence: Reducing dependence on Qualcomm gives Samsung greater bargaining power and control over its release schedule.

What does this change in your next purchase...Ultimately, the big question is whether you'll notice a difference if you have a Galaxy Z Flip 8 with Exynos instead of Snapdragon. The truth is that Samsung has shown increasing confidence in its own silicon. If this change helps put a foldable phone in your pocket at a more affordable price, most users will hardly complain about a slightly lower score on a synthetic test they'll never even run.

The foldable landscape is changing, and Samsung has realized that to mass-market these devices, it can't be held hostage by prices imposed by third parties. Now we're waiting to see if this mixed strategy is confirmed at the official launch or if the brand decides to make the full leap to Exynos in the Flip line, leaving Snapdragon only for those who demand (and pay for) the luxury of the Fold.

As of mid-2026, Samsung is aiming to lower the price of its foldable phones—specifically the Galaxy Z Flip 8 and upcoming "Wide Fold" models—by adopting a strategy of component cost-cutting, diversified supply chains, and, in some cases, utilizing older, proven technology. Despite facing intense pressure from rising memory costs, Samsung is pushing to make foldables more accessible to maintain market share against competitors and Apple.

Strategies for lowering costs(below):

-Introducing "Fan Edition" (FE) foldables: Samsung is expanding its portfolio with lower-cost options, such as the rumored Galaxy Z Flip 8 FE, designed to offer the core folding experience at a reduced price point.

-Utilizing older display technology: To control costs, Samsung is reportedly opting to use older "M13" organic material panels for the Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8, rather than the more expensive, newer "M14" materials found in the Galaxy S26 Ultra. This strategy helps avoid steep price increases caused by the high costs of the newest folding displays.

-Supply chain diversification & third-party Suppliers: In a major shift, Samsung is evaluating third-party display suppliers to break away from exclusive, higher-cost in-house components from Samsung Display. For example, replacing Samsung SDI batteries with alternatives from companies like Amperex Technology Limited (ATL) is considered a key step in reducing costs.

-Mixed chipset strategy: While the premium Galaxy Z Fold 8 is expected to use high-end Qualcomm Snapdragon processors, Samsung is planning to use its own Exynos 2600 chips for the Galaxy Z Flip 8 in many regions to mitigate high manufacturing costs.

-Increased production efficiency: As technology matures, Samsung is improving yield rates on its manufacturing lines, reducing the expense per unit.Enhanced Trade-in & Promotional Deals: Samsung heavily utilizes aggressive trade-in incentives, such as the $1,000 discounts seen with the Z Fold 7, to make the effective price comparable to traditional flagship phones.

Enhanced trade-in & promotional deals: Samsung heavily utilizes aggressive trade-in incentives, such as the $1,000 discounts seen with the Z Fold 7, to make the effective price comparable to traditional flagship phones.

Challenges affecting costs in 2026(below):

-Rising memory prices: Surging AI-related demand has caused RAM to account for over 30–40% of a smartphone's cost, putting massive pressure on Samsung to keep prices stable.

-Competitor pressure: Chinese manufacturers offering cheaper foldable alternatives have forced Samsung to innovate on design—making them thinner and lighter—while simultaneously trying to keep costs down.

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