There is a possibility that Samsung will increase the prices of its latest foldable smartphones in India, including the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold8, and Galaxy Z Flip8, as rising memory chip costs put tremendous pressure on smartphone makers, according to leading retailers and industry analysts.
Strong Demand for Samsung Foldable
Well, the latest Samsung foldables, priced between INR 1.25 lakh and INR 2.6 lakh, have already generated an unprecedented response in India. According to Samsung India, approximately 2.71 lakh customers have pre-ordered the three devices in the last 72 hours of their launch, marking a milestone for the company’s smartphone portfolio.
The strong demand comes as Samsung continues to improve its foldable devices with better displays, stronger hinges, improved durability, and faster performance. Moreover, the company has also added several Galaxy AI features designed especially for the new foldable smartphones.
Among the new models, the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra measures just 4.1 mm when unfolded, and this makes it one of Samsung’s thinnest Galaxy Z Fold devices. On the other hand, the Galaxy Z Fold8 weighs approximately 201 grams, making it the company’s lightest Fold model to date.
Rising Component Costs Put Pressure on Samsung
Memory chips are an integral part of smartphones, and rising global demand has significantly increased their cost. Samsung has tried its best by trying to absorb a major share of these higher expenses rather than passing the full increase on to the buyers.
Speaking at the launch of the latest Galaxy foldables event in London, Samsung President and CEO, Southwest Asia, JB Park, was quoted saying, “If you compare how much they (the competition) have increased the price, Samsung’s increment is relatively less than the competition because we have been absorbing the cost.”
He also added that the cost burden being absorbed by Samsung in 2026 is “humongous” while also stressing that the decision was driven by the company’s core focus on providing premium devices rather than simply protecting or expanding their share.
Memory Shortage Could Affect Smartphone Market
Looking at the current situation, it would not be wrong to predict that the pressure may not be limited to Samsung alone.
Leading analysts and industry experts expect the global memory shortage to affect the wider network of the smartphone market during the second half of 2026.
As per Abhilash Kumar, Lead Research Advisor at Smart Analytics Global, said that India’s smartphone market could see a year-on-year decline in shipments during the third and fourth quarters of 2026, respectively.
According to Kumar, the global memory shortage will lead to an increase in both component and retail prices, which could also affect customer demand.
Samsung Offers EMI Options to Buyers
To make its premium foldable devices more accessible, Samsung has also introduced zero-cost EMI options for the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold8, and Galaxy Z Flip8 in India.
These financing options will help reduce the impact of the higher upfront costs if Samsung decides to increase the prices of its foldable devices.
For now, Samsung has not officially announced a fresh price hike. But, with memory chip costs increasing, Indian buyers planning to purchase one of the company’s latest foldables may want to keep a close watch on the pricing in the coming months.
Enjoyed the read? Discover more on SmartMag or share your story—write for us.
