Samsung has launched the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, its latest premium foldable smartphone, with prices notably higher than previous models due to increased component and memory costs.
The base model with 256GB storage starts at $2,100, while the 1TB version reaches $2,700.
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This price approaches that of Samsung's discontinued Galaxy Z TriFold, which launched at $2,900 earlier this year but was pulled from the market in March.
Samsung attributed the price increase to a global RAM shortage and rising costs for memory and components affecting the tech industry.
The company also highlighted improvements including Titanium Flex displays, larger batteries, and upgraded 50-megapixel ultrawide cameras on the Fold 8 and Fold 8 Ultra models.
Journalist Andrew Lanxon expressed surprise at the sustained high prices of foldable phones, which have remained out of reach for many consumers since their initial debut around $2,000.
Lanxon suggested the RAM shortage as a likely cause behind both the rising prices and the discontinuation of the TriFold device.
"I was aghast when the first foldables debuted around $2,000 years ago, and they haven't gotten more affordable," Lanxon said.
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"Even though the starting price has stayed the same, these phones are still out of reach for many phone buyers, especially in these financially strained times."
Meanwhile, T-Mobile announced a preorder promotion offering a $1,100 discount on the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra for customers activating a line on select plans, reducing the price to $999.99 ahead of the phone's August 7 release.
Senior shopping reporter Samantha Mangino described the Galaxy Fold 8 Ultra as Samsung's most advanced foldable, featuring a 6.5-inch AMOLED cover display that opens to an 8-inch screen with an almost undetectable hinge for a seamless experience.
It also includes a new My FanCam feature that automatically reframes video to follow subjects.
"This week, Samsung dropped a whole new line-up of redesigned foldables," Mangino said. "The new collection includes the Galaxy Fold 8 and Fold 8 Ultra.
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The Fold 8 Ultra is the most expensive of the bunch but also the most advanced."
