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The summer time is about to convey us just a few thrilling premium cellphone launches, beginning with the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7 subsequent month, adopted by the Pixel 10 series in mid-August and the iPhone 17 in early September.
Not like earlier years, patrons seeking to buy costly telephones now have to fret in regards to the influence of tariffs. As somebody trying ahead to the iPhone 17 Air, I’m additionally conscious that US tariffs would possibly pressure Apple to lift costs worldwide.
Whereas uncertainty stays, we’ve got an fascinating improvement from Samsung. A brand new leak says the Korean big doesn’t need to increase the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7 costs within the US, the place Samsung can be going through potential tariffs.
If that’s correct, it’s nice information for Samsung followers in search of a brand new foldable this 12 months. It is also excellent news for folks excited in regards to the iPhone 17 sequence. Samsung retaining final 12 months’s costs would possibly have an effect on Apple’s potential plans for a worth hike.
It’s an thrilling 12 months for Samsung foldable cellphone followers. When you’ve been following the rumors, you already know the Galaxy Z Fold 7 must be as skinny as final 12 months’s Galaxy Z Fold Particular Version mannequin that Samsung offered in Korea and China.
Final 12 months’s Fold 6 was already thinner than its predecessor, however the Fold 7 must be even slimmer. Additionally, the Galaxy Z Fold SE had a much less pronounced crease in the course of the display screen, and that ought to carry over to the Fold 7.
Samsung is already posting teasers in regards to the subsequent period of Galaxy Z Fold design, as seen beneath. The cellphone shall be unveiled throughout an Unpacked occasion within the coming weeks.
Unusually, Samsung calls this design “the following chapter of Extremely,” suggesting a possible identify change. Calling a cellphone “Extremely” is an effective advertising and marketing trick for elevating the beginning worth.
A leaker stated on X (via 9to5Google) that just a few international locations will see worth will increase, whereas most markets will get costs much like final 12 months.
If that’s true, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 (Extremely?) will begin at $1,899 and the Flip 7 will begin at $1,099.
I ought to level out that Samsung did increase foldable costs in earlier years, earlier than Trump’s tariffs have been an element.
iPhone 17 worth situations
Trump threatened Apple with a 25% tariff on iPhones just a few days in the past. He stated that Samsung and different smartphone distributors importing telephones into the US would possibly face the identical tariffs. The choice is manufacturing units within the US, which is virtually inconceivable.
Rumors say Apple is contemplating worth hikes for the iPhone 17 sequence, however doesn’t need to tie them to tariffs. Sadly, any worth hike this 12 months shall be linked to tariffs, regardless of how Apple tries to justify the rise.
Apple hasn’t raised iPhone costs in years, regardless of fixed rumors. The iPhone Professional Max is the one exception, and even then, Apple simply eradicated the most affordable possibility.
A worth hike wouldn’t be stunning in spite of everything this time, even with out tariffs affecting the iPhone.
But when Samsung retains the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7 costs near final 12 months’s ranges, Apple may very well be in a troublesome spot. Elevating costs when opponents don’t would possibly harm demand in some international locations. It’ll even be fascinating to see what Google does with the Pixel 10 sequence launching this August.
What if tariffs hit cellphone distributors by the point Samsung, Google, and Apple launch their new telephones, and Samsung chooses to not increase costs?
Apple may comply with swimsuit, take up the price, and hope for higher occasions forward. An alternative choice is to move solely a part of the tariff value to customers. In that case, Apple would possibly select to raise iPhone prices solely within the US, the place tariffs have an effect on its margins, or globally.
That might let Apple unfold the tariff value throughout international iPhone patrons. It wouldn’t be very best, however it could scale back the sticker shock. A smaller, across-the-board worth enhance may offset the tariff influence.
All of that is hypothesis based mostly on an unconfirmed rumor. As soon as Samsung launches the 2025 foldables, we’ll have a greater concept of what to anticipate when it comes to smartphone worth hikes. The Trump administration may also make clear its stance on taxing iPhone imports by then.
