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Samsung can’t decide between a larger Galaxy Z Fold 9 or one with worse specs, and neither can I
Following a smash hit in the smaller and wider Galaxy Z Fold 8, Samsung is obviously weighing its options behind the scenes when it comes to sequels. According to one leaker, the company is currently deciding between adding another Galaxy Z Fold 9 with a larger display, or one with lesser specs, and I can’t decide which one I want to see either.
Leaker Lanzuk on Naver says that Samsung is adding more options to the Galaxy Z Fold 9 lineup next year after the Galaxy Z Fold 8 garnered “much better response than expected” (translated). It’s all-but-official that Samsung is expanding the lineup – we’ve heard this repeatedly at this point – but exactly what joins the lineup remains unclear.
The first is a larger version of the Galaxy Z Fold 8, a “Galaxy Z Fold 9 Plus,” the leaker suggests. This wouldn’t be an Ultra device, but rather would share the same wide form factor as the standard Fold 9, just with a larger pair of displays.
The other option is a “Galaxy Z Fold 9 FE” which would downgrade the specs to achieve a lower price point. Samsung tried this with the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE to essentially no success, but the company’s cuts on that device were far from compelling on a form factor that was already in decline.
Samsung is said to be testing both form factors and “a decision will be made soon,” but only one of the two would move to production and a full release.
Personally, I’m split here. I’ve been using the Galaxy Z Fold 8 as my daily smartphone since its launch, and the size is certainly one of its most attractive features. On the one hand, I’d love to have a larger version for better media consumption and multitasking, but I also think Samsung would run into diminishing returns with a larger size. The wider form factor wouldn’t scale nicely to a larger size too, I think.
Meanwhile, a more affordable version seems like a clear win. This form factor has so clearly resonated with customers, and having an option that makes strategic cuts to hit a price of say, $1,400, would be a home run. However, given Samsung’s existing struggles with profitability amid RAMageddon and ever-rising prices, that also feels unrealistic.
I’m very torn on which would be the better option. Which one would you prefer?
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