When Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 6 launches this year, it may finally be joined by a less expensive model, The Elec reported, citing industry sources.

The current Galaxy Z Fold 5, like previous Z Folds, is priced at $1,800, which is almost the typical price for a foldable phone, but still expensive for the majority of smartphone shoppers. However, with competition increasing, The Elec confirms earlier rumors that Samsung is working on an "entry-level" foldable, specifically targeting China, a huge market for foldable phones.

The report does not mention specific pricing for the less expensive Z Fold. But if you ask us, we're hoping the price tag comes down to at least the $1,300 or so we'd spend to get our hands on the new Galaxy S24 Ultra. That might be enough to start tempting users to foldable, or even to a similarly priced foldable phone from a rival manufacturer.

Samsung has produced unique "W" branded foldable phones for Chinese customers in the past, but these were based on the familiar Galaxy Z Fold model; as The Elec claims, Samsung is not targeting China with this new foldable. Even if it is targeting China, hopefully it will be offered on a global scale and we will be given the chance to try and buy one.

The Elec also claims that this budget folding approach does not apply to the Galaxy Z Flip, at least not right now; the Z Flip line is doing well enough compared to its rivals, thanks to its compact form factor and more affordable pricing. They say it is doing well.

Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold line needs a major refresh to remain competitive, so the introduction of a more affordable foldable will be more timely than ever. the return of FE-branded phones like the Galaxy S23 FE, Samsung's attempt to close the price gap across its entire cell phone portfolio, and furthermore, Samsung itself has stated that cheaper foldables are inevitable.

Rivals like the OnePlus Open and Google Pixel Fold have shown the limitations of Samsung's design, so we hope the Galaxy Z Fold 6 will be the thin and wide design with built-in stylus that has been rumored. But we don't mind if Samsung's old-style foldable remains, as long as it's less expensive.

We still expect the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 to arrive in July or August of this year. So there is plenty of time to listen to further rumors about upcoming features, design changes, and whether a third phone will indeed arrive this year.