New 'Fold' Revealed, But Price Surges Due to 'Chipflation'

[Anchor]

Samsung Electronics has thrown down the gauntlet in the global market by unveiling a brand-new, passport-sized foldable phone. However, due to skyrocketing semiconductor prices, the highest-capacity model has surpassed 3 million won for the first time.

Reporter Park Jaehyeon has the story.

[Reporter]

A smartphone that fits in one hand, roughly the size of a passport.

When unfolded, it reveals a horizontally wide screen similar to a tablet.

This is the newly released Galaxy Z Fold 8.

The 4-to-3 aspect ratio screen, introduced to a mobile phone for the first time, is optimized for browsing the internet, watching videos, or reading books.

With the existing vertically elongated model renamed as the Fold 8 Ultra, the lineup has been reorganized into three categories: the horizontally folding Flip, the Fold, and the Fold 8 Ultra.

[Roh Tae-moon / President and Head of DX Division, Samsung Electronics: We have released three categories, up to the Fold 8, so internally we believe this is the completion of our foldable product lineup.]

Samsung stated that by applying new technologies, the crease—a persistent issue in foldable phones—has been significantly improved compared to the previous model.

However, the factory prices have risen compared to its predecessor.

The prices for the highest-capacity 1TB models of the Fold 8 and Fold 8 Ultra are 3.15 million won and 3.45 million won, respectively.

This marks the first time prices have broken the 3 million won barrier.

The cause is the rising prices of DRAM and NAND flash storage memory equipped in mobile phones. DRAM prices have surged sixfold compared to the third quarter of last year, while NAND flash storage memory has risen ninefold.

The so-called chipflation, where the recent surge in semiconductor prices drives up the cost of electronic devices, is taking full effect.

[Kim Dae-hyun / College Student: Since it's much more expensive than a decent refrigerator or other home appliances, the burden definitely feels significant. Unless there's an immediate inconvenience in using my current phone...]

As Apple recently raised the prices of some products by up to 450,000 won, the price of its first foldable phone scheduled for release in the second half of the year is also projected to exceed 3 million won.

With soaring semiconductor prices showing signs of prolongation, companies are facing growing concerns over how to enhance performance while minimizing price hikes.

(Camera Reporter: Lee Byung-joo | Video Editor: Lee So-young | Designer: Park Cheon-woong | Footage Courtesy of Samsung Electronics)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.