Samsung set to extend foldable smartphones costs in India (File Photograph/IANS)
New Delhi, August 19 (IANS): Samsung is more likely to enhance the costs of its newest foldable smartphones in India, together with the Galaxy Z Fold8 Extremely, Galaxy Z Fold8 and Galaxy Z Flip8, as rising reminiscence chip prices put stress on smartphone makers, main retailers and trade analysts stated.
The brand new Samsung foldables, priced between Rs 1.25 lakh and Rs 2.6 lakh, have obtained an unprecedented response in India. Samsung India stated almost 2.71 lakh shoppers pre-ordered the three units inside simply 72 hours of their launch, marking report pre-orders for the corporate’s foldable smartphone portfolio.
Retailers now anticipate the sturdy demand for reminiscence chips, a essential part in smartphones, to push up system prices additional. Analysts additionally consider Samsung could ultimately move on a part of the upper part prices to shoppers after absorbing a good portion of the rise thus far.
The most recent foldables symbolize Samsung’s most superior foldable lineup but, with enhancements throughout hinge design, shows, sturdiness and efficiency, together with purpose-built Galaxy AI options. The Galaxy Z Fold8 Extremely measures simply 4.1mm when unfolded, making it the corporate’s thinnest Galaxy Z Fold system, whereas the Galaxy Z Fold8 weighs 201 grams, making it the lightest Fold mannequin from Samsung.
Samsung President and CEO, Southwest Asia, JB Park, not too long ago stated the corporate has been absorbing a considerable portion of the rising smartphone prices to guard shoppers from the complete affect of value will increase.
“When you examine how a lot they (competitors) have elevated the value, Samsung’s increment is comparatively lesser than competitors as a result of we now have been absorbing the price,” Park stated in London on the launch of the brand new Galaxy foldables.
He added that the price burden being absorbed by Samsung in 2026 is “humongous”, whereas stressing that the choice was pushed by the corporate’s give attention to offering premium units reasonably than merely defending or increasing market share.
Samsung has additionally launched long-tenure zero-cost EMI choices for patrons of the Galaxy Z Fold8 Extremely, Galaxy Z Fold8 and Galaxy Z Flip8 in India, doubtlessly serving to cushion the affect of upper upfront costs for shoppers.
Business analysts anticipate the broader reminiscence scarcity to have an effect on smartphone shipments within the second half of 2026. Abhilash Kumar, Lead Analysis Advisor (Director) at Sensible Analytics International (SAG), stated the Indian smartphone market might see annual cargo declines within the third and fourth quarters as reminiscence shortages drive up part and retail costs.
“The smartphone market in India will proceed to see annual cargo decline in Q3 and This fall 2026, given the worldwide reminiscence scarcity within the smartphone trade resulting in costs enhance,” Kumar stated.
