New Renders Unveil Galaxy Z Flip7 FE, A Cheaper and More Affordable Foldable
New renders of Samsung’s rumoured Galaxy Z Flip7 FE (Founders Edition), a more budget-friendly alternative to last year’s Z Flip 6, have emerged online. Shared by well-known leaker Evan Blass and reported by Phone Arena, these images offer a glimpse into Samsung’s strategy to expand its foldable phone market share.
What is the “FE” Edition?
The “FE” moniker, signifying “Founders Edition,” is Samsung’s approach to providing devices with comparable features but slightly reduced specifications, making them more accessible. Previous FE models include the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE and the Galaxy Tab S10 FE and FE Plus.
Design and Specifications Leaked
The newly revealed renders depict the Z Flip7 FE closely resembling the Galaxy Z Flip 6, available in classic white and black colourways. Phone Arena suggests that while the Flip7 FE will share much of its hardware with its predecessor, it might feature a Samsung-made Exynos processor instead of a Snapdragon chip.
In addition to the FE model, Blass also released renders of the flagship Galaxy Z Flip 7. If these prove accurate, the premium model will feature a sleek, edge-to-edge screen design with camera cutouts, moving away from the previous camera cutaway.
The State of the Foldable Market
Once considered a luxury item with hefty price tags, foldable phones have gradually become more affordable as design innovations continue and more manufacturers enter the segment. Despite this trend and an increasing number of foldable handsets, the market segment remains a small fraction of the broader smartphone industry.
While Samsung maintains its leading position in the global foldable market, shipments for its Z Flip and Fold 6 models saw a significant 21% fall. The rise of compelling new handsets from Chinese manufacturers, where Samsung has less market penetration, suggests consumers might be delaying purchases in anticipation of either lower prices or more innovative designs. Furthermore, rumours of Apple potentially entering the foldable market could further expand the segment while also posing a challenge to Samsung’s dominance.
The Future of Affordable Foldables
The introduction of more affordable foldable options could be a game-changer. It could significantly boost consumer interest and adoption in the foldable market. We’ll just have to wait until Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked event to see if this leak is indeed real or not.
