Samsung recently showed off its strongest foldable phones to date, yet all models carry higher prices than the previous generation. Folding devices have long ranked as top-tier options with matching costs, but this year's versions push the limits even further.

I felt shocked when foldables first appeared near the $2,000 mark years back, and costs have not eased since. Although base prices hold steady, these devices remain beyond reach for many buyers amid ongoing economic pressures.

Base figures cover only the entry 256GB storage level. Adding space for more media and programs drives costs higher: A loaded Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra with 1TB storage hits $2,700, which stands out since the Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold from January cost just $200 more at $2,900. For that small difference, buyers gain an inner display 25% larger.

Yet that option has closed, as Samsung ended TriFold sales in March. The company described the TriFold as a super-premium item produced in small numbers at the time.

I suspect the RAM shortage explains both this move and the Z Fold 8 price climb, as it raises expenses across tech products. Links between higher memory and part costs plus the halted device seem clear.

Under these pressures, Samsung joins other brands and its own prior lines like the Galaxy S26 series by lifting prices $100 or more above last year's models. The firm noted that Z-series increases stem from elevated memory and component expenses affecting the broader industry. It also highlighted upgrades such as new Titanium Flex displays, bigger batteries, and improved 50-megapixel ultrawide cameras on the Z Fold 8 and Z Fold 8 Ultra.

The path to $2,700 for a maxed Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra follows the common step of charging more for larger storage options. Last year's Galaxy Z Fold 7 reached only $2,500 at its 1TB peak.

Even that sum felt steep, yet the memory crunch adds further strain to flagship device prices. The iPhone X broke the $1,000 barrier in 2017, while the first Samsung Galaxy Fold launched near $2,000 in 2019.

The Galaxy Z Fold series has advanced greatly with gains in durability, design, and features. The newest Z Fold 8 Ultra starts at $2,100 for 256GB storage, though expansion via microSD remains unavailable. Still, with top prices nearing $3,000 and limited added capability, the Z Fold 8 Ultra signals shrinking access at the premium smartphone level.

With the RAM shortage pushing costs higher, users may face reduced storage or continued high prices that place advanced foldables out of reach.

David Lumb

Managing Editor, Mobile

David Lumb serves as managing editor for the mobile team, focusing on mobile and gaming topics. Prior to CNET, he wrote about tech, gaming, and culture for TechRadar, Engadget, Popular Mechanics, NBC Asian America, Increment, Fast Company and additional outlets. As a native Californian, he values coffee, beaches and burritos.

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