Expect to pay more for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Flip 8

A Korean report has claimed the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 range and Z Flip 8 are going to get some hefty price increases, making some of the most expensive phones in the world even pricier.

While these leaks only concern Korean prices, it's safe to assume we'll see this decision echoed across other markets around the world. So, if you're planning on buying any of the new Z phones, prepare to pay more than previous years.

Expect a three-figure price increase on previous prices

Galaxy Z buyers are no strangers to high prices, but it's claimed the Z Fold 8 and Flip 8 phones will push those pricetags to all-new highs (via Phone Arena).

According to that report, Korea is likely to see the Z Fold 8 Ultra, Z Fold 8, and Z Flip 8 at the following prices.

• Z Fold 8 Ultra: 2,577,000 won (roughly $1,682).
• Z Fold 8: 2,278,000 won (roughly $1,487).
• Z Flip 8: 1,683,000 won (roughly $1,098).

Those currency conversions don't seem too bad as far as the US dollar amount looks, but the most important element here is how much those prices have increased from the previous versions.

If you take the Z Fold 8 Ultra as the successor to the Z Fold 7, which you should, then last year's Z Fold models came in at 2,379,000 won for the Z Fold 7, and 1,485,000 won for the Z Flip 7.

That's about a 200,000 won increase for both models, which comes out to an increase of roughly $130. Samsung also tries to keep prices down in its home territory of Korea, which means increases of $150 to $200 seem likely for the US releases of the newest foldables.

That sort of increase would see the Z Fold 8 start anywhere between $2,150 and $2,200 for the base model, while the Z Flip 8 could start between $1,249 and $1,299.

However, Samsung has already increased prices on the Z Fold and Flip 7 ranges in the last year, which may help to absorb some of the increases. So it's possible we'll see smaller increases.

But no matter what, bumps seem inevitable. It's expected the S27 phones will be more expensive too, and it's largely agreed we'll be seeing higher prices across the phone market.

Why? Just like almost every bad thing at the moment, it's because of AI. Because the AI bubble has artificially inflated the cost of components, it costs dramatically more to make any sort of smart tech today than it did a year a go.

Unfortunately, those increases show no sign of slowing down. Expect to pay more for everything until the AI bubble bursts.