The Samsung Galaxy Ring Is New For Samsung, But Its Rumored Pricing Is Way Above The Competition
Samsung surprised us all by teasing us with the Galaxy Ring at the end of Samsung Unpacked earlier this year. We’ve finally come around to the time of the year when the device is actually expected to be released, and with that, the leaks have begun pouring in.
There’s a whole lot that we know about the Samsung Galaxy Ring, but I want to focus on the price, as Dealabs has said that the Samsung Galaxy Ring is expected to cost €449, which comes to about $485. However, European prices tend to include VAT and customs duties, so tech there is usually priced at a higher absolute number. However, sticking in Europe, the Oura Ring only costs €399 for the base model. This means the Galaxy Ring will still likely cost more than competitors in the US.
Personally, Samsung might get away with this because the smart ring segment isn’t mainstream and most people won’t be able to understand appropriate pricing in that market, but it might still prove very hard getting people to drop that much money for such a small wearable — especially one that doesn’t have a screen. Perhaps pricing will stabilize when Samsung perfects its manufacturing processes for the Ring.
The Z Fold And Z Flip For 2024 Are Expected To Get $100 More Expensive Than 2023’s Models
The Galaxy Ring is new for Samsung, so its pricing is easier to forgive. However, when it comes to the Galaxy foldables, we’re heading into the sixth generation of these devices, so the pricing can be scrutinized a lot heavier. This time, we have more direct information on US pricing and it seems like both the Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 are going to be bestowed with a $100 price hike.
Foldables are already incredibly expensive devices. The Z Flip 5 cost $999 at launch, while the Z Fold 5 cost $1,799. Both devices are rumored to be getting more expensive based on leaked pricing reports from several territories, though the only real confirmation we can get will be on launch day.
However, looking at the spec sheets for the upcoming smartphones, especially the Z Fold 6, it is incredibly hard to see why the price is going up. Theoretically, this will mean that the Z Fold 6 will be within arm’s reach of the $2,000 mark, and yet it’s far from the best foldable you can get on paper.
Samsung Could Potentially Give Room For Competitors To Grow, Especially When Pricing Doesn’t Match Value
That brings me to my final point. If Samsung continues using that brand name premium to price its devices so high, it’s going to get to a point where consumers will simply look for alternatives. For instance, I don’t think I’d personally recommend a Samsung device to any friend looking for a foldable device. The S series, certainly, but not the Z series.
I think Samsung either needs to find ways to reduce its margins per device, or simply add more value if customers are going to be paying so much. After all, why get a Galaxy Z Flip 6 when you can just go for a Razr+ (2024)? I can’t keep defending you, Samsung.
