Updated

Updated · CNET · Sep 9

Samsung Cuts Galaxy Z Fold 8 to $1,600 as Apple Nears $2,000 Foldable iPhone Debut

Updated

Updated · CNET · Sep 9

Samsung Cuts Galaxy Z Fold 8 to $1,600 as Apple Nears $2,000 Foldable iPhone Debut

Q: What hidden compromise makes Samsung's massive $538 discount on the premium Galaxy Z Fold 8 less of a steal than it appears?

The “up to $538 off” figure is tied to Best Buy’s **open-box** Galaxy Z Fold 8 units, not brand-new phones, so the biggest savings come with a built-in compromise on condition. That matters more on a foldable than on a standard slab phone. The Z Fold 8’s hinge and inner display are durable by foldable standards, but the inner panel is still softer and more vulnerable to wear, scratches and crease-related aging than a conventional glass screen. A used or returned unit may already have some of that wear, even if rated “excellent.” There is also a product-level tradeoff that tempers the “premium” label itself: Samsung’s standard Galaxy Z Fold 8 does **not support the S Pen at all**. Supporting material says that is due to the new Flex Titanium display structure, which improves stiffness and helps Samsung make the device thinner and lighter, but it eliminates stylus input. For buyers who associated the Fold line with note-taking or sketching, that is a meaningful feature loss. So the deal is real, but the headline number overstates the bargain. The deepest discount applies to **open-box inventory**, and the phone itself gives up **S Pen support** in exchange for its slimmer redesign.

3 articles · Updated · CNET · Sep 9

$300 off drops Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8 to $1,600 on Samsung's site, with the direct discount requiring buyers to skip trade-in credit.
Apple is expected to unveil its first foldable iPhone later Tuesday at a rumored $2,000 price, giving Samsung a cheaper option already on sale.
Amazon is also discounting the 256GB Z Fold 8 to $1,650, or offering up to $600 in trade-in credit instead of Samsung's direct markdown.
The promotion leans on the Z Fold 8's lighter redesign, large AMOLED fold-out display, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip and 4,800-mAh battery as Samsung presses its foldable lead.