The most anticipated Samsung foldable this year may not be the clamshell Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 or the flagship Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, but rather a third phone: the rumored Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 FE.
This would be a less expensive alternative to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, so while it may lack some of the latter’s specifications and capabilities, it could be the first really affordable book-style folding.
We’re starting to hear a lot about the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 FE, so check out the details below, followed by a list of what we want from it.
Cut to the chase.
- What is it? The first cheap Z-fold
- When does it come out? Possibly September or October.
- How much will it cost? Reportedly under $800 (about ₹65747.53 / AU$1,210).
SAMSUNG GALAXY Z FOLD 6 FE: rumored release date and price
While the ordinary Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 is slated to be released in July, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 FE will apparently not be available until September or October. That follows a less specific leak stating that the Galaxy Z Fold 6 FE would be released after the Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6, so you may have to wait a little longer for Samsung’s inexpensive foldable.
However, it is always possible that the Galaxy Z Fold 6 FE will be released alongside the rest of the lineup, so we may see it as early as July.
It’s also conceivable that it won’t be released at all, as it’s merely a rumor right now, and there has been some speculation of a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 Ultra. So there’s a chance it’ll launch instead.
One report indicates that the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 FE will cost less than $800 (about ₹65747.53 / AU$1,210). While it isn’t cheap, it is significantly less expensive than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, which starts at $1,799.99 / ₹183987.89/ AU$2,599.
This would also make it less expensive than the $999.99 / ₹110350.65 / AU$1,649 Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5. However, we are skeptical of this pricing leak because Samsung would surely have to make significant compromises to specifications and features to attain such a low price.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 FE: News and Leaks
We first heard about a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold FE in August, when a leaker stated that a cheaper Samsung foldable was in testing, but it wasn’t clear whether this was a Z Fold 6 FE or a Z Flip 6 FE.
Since then, we’ve learned that the Z Fold 6 has the codename ‘Q6’, whereas the speculated cheaper model has the codename ‘Q6A’, implying that it will be a variation of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 rather than the Galaxy Z Flip 6, given how similar the codenames are.
At the same time, we learned that the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 FE’s cheaper pricing would be due in part to the lack of a digitizer, which would prevent it from working with a S Pen stylus.
We’ve subsequently heard that the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 FE will not support the S Pen, so this is likely.
Interestingly, the lack of a digitizer could make the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 FE thinner, according to leaker Ross Young, who posted on X.
According to one report, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 FE will have a less powerful CPU, screen, and battery than “flagship products,” but the cameras would remain be “flagship level.”
However, if this rumor is correct, the battery may be smaller than the 4,400mAh one seen in the Z Fold 5, and it will most likely lack the top Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 CPU – possibly even last year’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2.
SAMSUNG GALAXY Z FOLD 6FE: WHAT WE WANT TO SEE
While we don’t know what specs or pricing the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 FE will have, we do know what we want from it, and the following are at the top of our list.
1. A price below $1,000
Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold line is currently prohibitively pricey for the majority of consumers, which is likely why these phones do not sell as well as the Galaxy Z Flip range. So we’d like to see Samsung bring the Z Fold 6 FE’s price closer to that of a Z Flip.
That would imply a price of no more than approximately $1000 / ₹105196.05 / AU$1,500. While still not inexpensive, it would undercut the most expensive non-foldable phones, such the iPhone 15 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, both of which are extremely popular.
2. A excellent folding display
To offer a cheap Galaxy Z Fold, Samsung will undoubtedly have to make some compromises, but one thing we do not want to see compromised is the main foldable display.
This, after all, is the phone’s major feature, so we want it to remain large, crisp, and smooth on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 FE.
3. No loss in battery capacity
Another sacrifice we don’t want Samsung to make is to reduce battery capacity. One leak claims that the battery may be affected, which is a serious problem given that foldable phones currently have small cells.
Hopefully, the leak is incorrect, or it is referring to charging speeds or the lack of wireless charging, as we want the Z Fold 6 FE to at least last all day.
4. Cut costs using a mid-range chipset
While a premium CPU would be nice, it’s not especially necessary for most day-to-day phone usage, so instead of sacrificing the foldable screen or battery capacity, a lower-end chipset could be a decent way for Samsung to save money on the Galaxy Z Fold 6 FE.
That, combined with the lack of wireless charging, S Pen compatibility, and mediocre cameras, could be enough to significantly reduce the price without sacrificing what we believe are the most important features of a foldable phone.
