Samsung lept into what it hopes will be the era of foldable phones last year with the Galaxy Fold, and now there’s a sequel that addresses many of that phone’s shortcomings. The price isn’t one of them, though. The new Galaxy Z Fold2 launches September 18th for a whopping $1,999, PCMag reports. It sports a Snapdragon 865+, 5G, 12GB of RAM, and a big 7.6-inch folding display with ultra-thin glass.
The Galaxy Fold had a distinct “prototype” vibe, but the Galaxy Z Fold2 looks more polished. The 6.2-inch external display now covers almost the entire face of the device instead of having comically large bezels. The Galaxy Z Fold2 opens like a book to reveal the 7.6-inch foldable screen. The huge notch of the Galaxy Fold is gone, replaced by a subtle punch-hole camera (the external screen has one, too).
Samsung famously had to redesign the Galaxy Fold after its early review units began failing at a high rate. It settled on a slightly altered hinge mechanism with caps to prevent dust infiltration, a design it refined with the Z Flip. Like that phone, the Galaxy Z Fold2 hinge can remain open at numerous angles, allowing you to prop the device up to take photos or watch videos. It also has internal brushes that clear away dust from the hinge.
The main folding display is 2208×1768 and supports 120Hz refresh, a big boost compared with the 60Hz display on the Fold. It also has the same ultra-thin glass technology as the Z Flip foldable. That makes the screen feel more solid, but the top layer is still plastic, making it easier to damage compared with modern Gorilla Glass phones. However, Samsung will offer a one-time $149 screen replacement for buyers.
The $2,000 price tag will scare away most potential buyers, but Samsung is offering its usual aggressive trade-in values. If you’ve got a Galaxy Fold or Z Flip, Samsung will give you $800 toward the Galaxy Z Fold2. Lesser Samsung phones are worth $650 or less, but that’s still a good value.
Samsung will begin taking pre-orders tomorrow (September 2nd), and the device will ship on September 18th. That’s just the unlocked device. All three major US carriers will also have the Galaxy Z Fold2, and they could offer deals of their own. Don’t expect a bargain, though.
Now read:
- Samsung Reveals Galaxy Note20, Tab S7, and More in Unpacked Live Stream
- The Galaxy Z Flip Is a Fascinating Glimpse of the Future That Came At the Worst Time
- Just Kidding: Samsung Hasn’t Sold 1 Million Galaxy Folds After All
