Foldables! Foldables here and there, and we’ve been waiting years for them to peak at a height where users won’t need to worry about them falling apart or being filled with software glitches. And since foldable smartphones are improving year by year and we continue seeing companies make them, why are their prices still so high?
That's a very natural question to ask and it is also one that got asked at Oppo's senior product and strategy teams during a Q&A at the undergoing MWC (Mobile World Congress). And asking such questions towards Oppo in particular makes total sense. It takes courage to go against a behemoth like Samsung and its Galaxy Z Fold 4 or Z Flip 4, both of which among the best foldable smartphones on the market.
These technical marvels didn't dissuade Oppo from doing its best, and its Find N2 totally proves why: the foldable phone almost got rid of the crease! As if that was not enough, the Oppo Find N2 Flip was also recently released and it brought the best display a clamshell foldable has ever seen at a bargain price.
The Oppo Find N2 and its beautiful screen.
Okay, admittedly, “bargain price” is pushing it. Even if foldables like the Find N2 Flip are definitely more affordable when compared to the competition, the price tag is still quite far from midrange phones. But we’ve been seeing new foldables for years, so when are they finally going to become more affordable for people with tighter budgets?
Well, Billi Zhang — Oppo’s vice president for overseas sales — went into details about this phenomenon during the Q&A. To put things bluntly: until foldables start seeing even wider adoption rates and selling more units, the price drop won’t come. Regardless of how good companies are at making this type of smartphones, the tech is still expensive, and so is the research required to push the boundaries that leads to improved yearly iterations.
Zhang gave an example of a foldable that has a weaker SoC, no external screen and underperforming cameras, then described it as a bad product that users will not be interested in, even if it comes at the price of a midrange smartphone.
And we can kind of understand what he means, as that would boil down to a gimmicky tiny phone. But why would anyone go for that when perfectly usable small phones already exist at a good price? If you don't believe us: check out the best small phones of 2023.
Oppo wrapped things up with a statement that they are not interested in this type of product, as the user-experience is a top priority. Billy Zhang said that there may come a time in half a year or so when such a midrange foldable could enter the market. But even then Oppo would not be interested in competing with it.
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Stan, also known as Stako, is a smartphone enthusiast who loves exploring the limits of Android customization. His journey with mobile tech began with the Nokia 5110 and evolved with devices like the BlackBerry 9350 Curve and Samsung Galaxy A4. Despite his love for Android, he holds equal respect for Apple, considering the iPhone 4s as a significant milestone in mobile tech. Stan started his writing career early, contributing to MetalWorld, and harbors a passion for creative writing. Beyond smartphones, he's interested in photography, design, composition, and gaming, often preferring solo projects to hone his objective thinking. He's also an avid student of open-source technology and consoles, with a special fondness for the Pebble Watch, Arduboy, and Playdate.
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