Unveiled Price Leak of Pixel 10 Pro Fold Punches Hard Truth About Clamshell-Style Foldable Smartphones
In the world of smartphones, book-style foldables are making a statement with their innovative design and advanced technology. However, these devices come with a hefty price tag, often exceeding the $2,000 mark.
The OnePlus Open, a flagship book-style foldable phone, is an exception in the market. Currently retailing on Amazon for $1,500, it offers a more affordable option for consumers looking to dive into the world of foldables.
The Pixel 10 Pro Fold, another upcoming foldable device from Google, is expected to start at $1,800. It will come in three storage capacities: 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB, with prices escalating to $1,919 and $2,149 respectively.
The high cost of these devices reflects the complex engineering, new flexible display technology, and premium positioning that foldables hold. In comparison, typical non-folding flagship smartphones usually cost between $700 and $1,200.
Book-style foldable smartphones in 2025 are mostly priced well above $1,800, often exceeding $2,000. For instance, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, a flagship book-style foldable, starts at $2,000 for the 256GB model, going up to $2,420 for the 1 TB variant.
Despite the high prices, the market for book-style foldables is maturing. Prices have gradually started to stabilize, and the range of options is expanding, including some lower-cost models, signaling potential for more competitive pricing in the future.
However, the cost of these devices, such as the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, has not decreased since the launch of the first Galaxy Fold in 2019, which retailed for $1,980. This high cost might be a barrier for some consumers, especially considering that a foldable iPhone, rumoured to be released next year by Apple, is predicted to start at $2,000 according to JPMorgan analyst Samik Chatterjee.
The question remains whether consumers will be willing to pay such high prices for these premium devices, even if offered in monthly installments. The former Sony PlayStation boss, Ken Kutaragi, once famously suggested consumers should work more hours to afford a PS3, a sentiment that might resonate with some as they consider the cost of these book-style foldable phones.
Despite the high price, the OnePlus Open offers a compelling package. It boasts more cameras than regular phones, featuring hole-punch cameras for the cover and foldable displays, and a separate dual- or triple-lens camera system on the back. The OnePlus Open is compatible in the U.S. and available worldwide.
Google will announce its new Pixel 10 phones on August 20, and the Pixel 10 Pro Fold is one of the most anticipated devices. With its innovative design, advanced technology, and competitive pricing compared to other flagship-level book-style foldables, it's set to make a mark in the premium smartphone market.
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- The high cost of premium book-style foldable smartphones, such as the Pixel 10 Pro Fold expected to retail for $1,800, reflects the complex engineering, new flexible display technology, and premium positioning that these devices hold.
- Despite the high prices of book-style foldable smartphones, some lower-cost models, like the OnePlus Open currently retailing on Amazon for $1,500, are becoming available in the market, signaling potential for more competitive pricing in the future.
- In comparison, the prices of typical non-folding flagship smartphones usually range between $700 and $1,200, a significantly lower cost compared to book-style foldables.
