Samsung's foldables are getting a lot more expensive — here's why
Samsung's upcoming foldables are set to cost significantly more than their predecessors. Leaked European retail prices show the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra starting at €2,199 and reaching €2,799 for the 1TB model — increases of roughly €100–€280 over the Fold 7. For UK buyers, that signals an entry price likely in the £1,899–£1,999 range, up from the Fold 7's £1,799 launch price.
The memory bill
The price hikes aren't arbitrary. Samsung Co-CEO TM Roh warned earlier this year that a global DRAM shortage is hitting every corner of consumer electronics, per Network World. Memory contract prices have risen 30–60% compared to late 2025 — a surge Roh called "unprecedented." Smartphones, fridges, laptops: everything with a chip inside is getting more expensive to build. Samsung's foldables, which pack more RAM than almost any device on the market, absorb that cost the hardest.
The full lineup, as leaked by insider Roland Quandt and reported by Notebookcheck, breaks down like this:
| Model | Storage | Price | |---|---|---| | Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra | 256 GB | €2,199 | | Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra | 512 GB | €2,399 | | Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra | 1 TB | €2,799 | | Galaxy Z Fold 8 | 256 GB | €1,999 | | Galaxy Z Fold 8 | 512 GB | €2,199 | | Galaxy Z Fold 8 | 1 TB | €2,599 | | Galaxy Z Flip 8 | 256 GB | €1,299 | | Galaxy Z Flip 8 | 512 GB | €1,499 |
The Apple factor
Timing matters here. Samsung is set to officially unveil the new lineup at Galaxy Unpacked on July 22, 2026 in London — the first time the event has been held in the UK. Pre-orders open the same day, with in-store availability expected around August 7.
That window is deliberately narrow. Apple is expected to launch its first foldable iPhone in September 2026, which would be the first direct premium competitor Samsung's foldables have ever faced. Locking buyers in before Apple's event — with trade-in deals that have historically reached $600–$900 in the US — is central to Samsung's strategy. US carriers including Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T; are expected to offer aggressive bundles; UK and European operators are likely to follow with their own promotions in the weeks after launch.
Worth the price?
At €2,799 — or a potential £2,400+ for 1TB in the UK — the Fold 8 Ultra is priced well into luxury phone territory. The memory shortage gives Samsung a credible structural explanation for the increases, but it also arrives at the worst possible moment: just as a well-resourced rival is about to enter the market. Whether trade-in incentives are enough to keep buyers in Samsung's ecosystem before Apple's announcement will define how this launch is remembered.
