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Why the Galaxy Z Flip 8 won't be the last of its kind
The rumors of the Galaxy Z Flip's death might be greatly exaggerated.
This article may contain personal views and opinion from the author.
The clamshell market is a cruel lover, but Samsung shouldn't drop out. | Image by PhoneArena
In case you've missed the news, numerous reports claim that Samsung could be considering to ditch the Galaxy Z Flip lineup altogether next year. This means that the Galaxy Z Flip 8 will remain the last flip-style foldable phone in Samsung's vast portfolio for now, and for now, it doesn't seem like a replacement could be in the works.
That's it, that's the kicker.
Cited reasons for this rumored cancellation of the Z Flip 8 are most certainly the rising production costs, tight profit margins, as well as reaching the ceiling of potential design improvements. Yet, the most important reason is certainly the market's shift towards larger book-style foldables that offer more flexibility and screen real estate.
But you know what? I don't buy it. I don't think Samsung should or will drop from the clamshell foldable race, and there are a few good reasons for that.
But first, let's explore why it could consider ditching the Galaxy Z Flip range.
An end of an era?
The Galaxy Z Flip lineup was definitely intriguing when it first launched as a direct answer to Motorola's first contemporary foldable, the Razr. The first Galaxy Z Flip was a device that perfected the flip-style foldable phone and set the benchmark for all future members of the lineup, one that Samsung hasn't escaped since.
And despite a few meaningful updates to the design of the phone that elevated it to the current zero-wedge design that's close to perfect, there's little room for further improvement while remaining within the constraints of the flip form factor. I mean, you can only make the phone so thin or enlarge the cover display so much.
But the limitations of the form factor are not the main reason why the Z Flip lineup might be one foot out of the door. It's the ever-rising bill of materials and shrinking profit margins that are pushing out low-tier premium devices like the Z Flip. That's why the Galaxy Z Flip 8 is rumored to score a price increase despite reportedly scoring the minimal amount of intergenerational upgrades.
Another reason for the Z Flip's rumored demise is, ironically, Motorola's rise in the foldable market. The company that gave us the first modern clamshell foldable has a much healthier range of flip-style foldables devices and is releasing multiple models annually and saturating multiple different price points.
For example, you have the Razr Ultra in the super-premium $1,500 segment, you have the Razr Plus in the $1,100 segment, and the Motorola Razr in the entry-level $800 price point. That's way more options in the same form factor that Samsung only counters with a single Flip phone.
What does this mean for consumers?
As usual, deprecating a product hurts consumers both directly and indirectly by limiting the market competition. In the US, for example, those willing to get a clamshell foldable will have to go with Motorola due to the lack of any similar rivals on the market.
Motorola will essentially have a near-monopoly on the clamshell foldable market, and judging from the company's recent rise on the foldable market, we are closer than ever to that becoming reality.
And I have to admit that flip phones have never swayed me one way or another as I see no point in them, but losing a key player in this still intriguing niche is not something great to see. The mainstream smartphone market in the US is already too constricted and domineered by three or four major companies, so losing consumer options is definitely concerning.
What if Apple releases a flip iPhone?
That's it, that's the kicker.
Well, seeing how Samsung is always so happy to copy Apple and follow in its footsteps, it would be a double-whammy situation for the South Korea-based giant. It would be left without a well-established answer to that and will have to either resurrect the Z Flip lineup or come up with a new device range entirely.
Then again, we've heard no credible rumors that Apple is actually even toying with the idea of releasing such a device.
My point is, Samsung probably wouldn't want to abandon the Galaxy Z Flip altogether, but find ways to keep it alive and kicking for that reason alone.
The reports of the Z Flip's death are greatly exaggerated
But at the end of the day, is Samsung going to actually do away with the Galaxy Z Flip? I'm skeptical. Time and time again we've been hearing rumors and hearsay that, see, Samsung is discontinuing that product, or it's the last year we're getting this other product.
The most recent example was with the Galaxy S26 Plus, as Samsung was rumored to be dropping its mid-sized flagship in favor of a smaller Ultra or a more powerful small phone. Yet, this didn't take place and it was business as usual for Samsung's main flagship lineup.
This is why I don't really believe the rumors, and even though I am largely indifferent to the Galaxy Z Flip lineup, I doubt it will be discontinued.
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