The cheaper Galaxy Z Fold6 might launch around the same time as the iPhone 16

Yesterday we told you that the upcoming cheaper version of the Galaxy Z Fold6 could be way more affordable than anyone was anticipating, and today a new rumor from Samsung's home of Korea sheds some light on its launch time frame as well.

We assumed it would get official alongside the Fold6 and Flip6 at a rumored event in Paris in early to mid July, but instead it might launch at around the same time as the iPhone 16, so sometime in September or October.

This is undoubtedly meant to steal some of Apple's thunder, but it could also backfire for Samsung - after all, Apple will launch mainstream 'slab' devices in September, while a foldable is still more of a niche product, even if it is cheaper than an iPhone 16 Pro is going to be.

Interestingly, Samsung doesn't seem to have a lot of faith in its success if we go by the rumored shipment target - 200,000 to 300,000 units initially. And yet, if it does end up costing around $800, we bet those units will sell out pretty quick.

The earlier launch for the Fold6 and Flip6 compared to last year's debut of their predecessors has been 'confirmed' again by this new rumor, by the way, so we assume it's pretty much set in stone given how many rumors on the matter have corroborated each other so far.

Samsung is said to ramp up the AI-filled marketing for its next-gen foldables, since that worked so well for the Galaxy S24 series, which saw sales numbers 10% higher than the S23 family. The Fold6 will be thinner than the Fold5, and the cheaper Fold6 will be even thinner still, since it will be missing S-Pen support.

Source (in Korean)