Samsung's foldable clamshell could be reasonably priced

[Shawn Knight]

The big picture: Samsung is reportedly planning to unveil a clamshell-style folding phone in February alongside the Galaxy S11, likely at the annual Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Could 2020 be the year of the affordable foldable?

Industry sources familiar with the matter recently told the Korean Herald that the handset, which Samsung teased back in October, will likely check in at a much more reasonable price point.

We haven’t heard much about Samsung’s Galaxy Fold since its launch in September. Given the handset’s early troubles (which led to a lengthy delay), that’s probably a good thing. Suffice to say, at $1,980, sales weren’t spectacular. According to the publication, Samsung has sold roughly half a million units since launch.

The first successor to the Fold will reportedly be priced around $850. A second revision – more of a true successor to the current vertically-folding device – will reportedly break cover in August. No word on how much that variant may command.

Pricing the next Fold in line with other modern flagships is a wise move as it puts it in the ballpark of far more potential buyers. Surely there are plenty of people interested in a folding smartphone that simply can’t get past the idea of spending nearly two grand on a handset. Motorola’s new Razr is a bit more reasonable at $1,500, but still, that’s a heck of a lot for a mobile phone.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/83033-samsung-foldable-clamshell-could-reasonably-priced.html

 

[QuantumPhysics]

Can someone please explain to me what practical benefit a folding clamshell phone has???

I've been carrying around a phone with glass so hard that keys and pocket stuff can't scratch it. Why the hell would I want to go back to a plastic display?

Glass don't fold.

 

[captaincranky]

Can someone please explain to me what practical benefit a folding clamshell phone has???...[ ]...

Samdung has built a bridge from the past to the future. At long last, a phone that will truly bring generations together!

It's what the world has long awaited, a flip phone without a hinge! Magnificent!

FWIW: "Samdung" was a typo. But in this case, (and like the "Galaxy Note 7" & "Fold" before it), it's appropriate, so I left it in..

 

[kira setsu]

I think a vertically folding phone seems neat, its a cool idea, but the prices on these phones are ridiculous now and imo the folding ones have only appeared to keep the prices going up.

I use android and gotta admit, the only way I'd snag a phone like this is if apple made it, android is awesome but between how all the companies deal with updates and features and life of device support.....apple wins, not gonna drop 1500+ for samsung or whoever to ditch it less than a year later for some obtuse reason.

 

[Lew Zealand]

A second revision – more of a true successor to the current vertically-folding device – will reportedly break cover in August.

Lol, well played sir. [golf clap]

 

[IAMTHESTIG]

Can someone please explain to me what practical benefit a folding clamshell phone has???

I've been carrying around a phone with glass so hard that keys and pocket stuff can't scratch it. Why the hell would I want to go back to a plastic display?

Glass don't fold.

Its smaller when folded... some of us don't like a tablet in our pocket - it is uncomfortable. I find my 4" screen iPhone SE doesn't really bother me resting in my pocket, but even a 5" screen phone is uncomfortable. Most phones now have over 6" screens, and combine that with the stupid 18:9 and other annoying aspect ratio screens the problem is getting worse in my opinion.

Now give me a folding clam shell phone with a 6" or so screen that folds into a roughly 3.5x3.5" square is a lot more comfortable in my pocket - even more so than my 4" screen iPhone.

Granted this isn't a problem for everyone, but myself and plenty of others do find large screen phones in their pocket as an uncomfortable annoyance.