Foldable Phones Stay Above $799 After 8 Years as Display and Hinge Costs Persist
Updated
Updated · Boy Genius Report · Aug 3
Foldable Phones Stay Above $799 After 8 Years as Display and Hinge Costs Persist
3 articles · Updated · Boy Genius Report · Aug 3
Summary
Eight years into the category, foldable phones still sit in the premium tier because their core parts have not become cheap enough to support mass-market pricing.
Flexible inner displays, secondary cover screens and complex hinges remain costly to build and test, while durability and water-resistance demands also push up repair and support costs.
DRAM and NAND price increases have added pressure, with AI data-center demand competing for memory supply and tariffs further lifting import and manufacturing costs.
Low shipment volumes prevent brands from spreading tooling and development costs widely, and manufacturers still position foldables as flagship devices with premium chips, cameras and materials.
That leaves foldables expensive even as designs improve, especially when mid-range phones have become stronger alternatives and some owners still question foldables' long-term durability.