Samsung is reportedly planning to halt one of the best smartphone pre-order bonuses in tech, and it’s all down to the RAM and storage crisis engulfing manufacturers and consumers’ buying power.
In the last few years, Samsung has offered owners a ‘double storage’ promotion when they pre-order phones. So, users have been able to get a 512GB phone at no extra cost when pre-ordering the 256GB model. Or, a 1TB phone when ordering the 512GB model.
However, given the current cost of storage for manufacturers and how much doubling the built-in SSD would cost Samsung, the promotion will change with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 or Z Flip 8 according to a new report. The word comes from Korean outlet Chosun, which says Samsung isn’t going to half the promotion completely, but will ask consumers to meet them half way.
The report (translated) says: “As the cost burden of smartphones increases due to the soaring price of memory semiconductors, it is decided to reduce the storage capacity upgrade benefits that have been provided free of charge to half.”
According to the site, shoppers will still be able to get 50% off an upgrade to next storage tier, with Samsung absorbing the rest of the cost. So, taking the current Galaxy S26 Ultra phone as the example; the 1TB version costs $200 more than the 512TB version. So, Samsung might offer the upgrade for $150 instead.
So you can thank your favourite AI provider for gobbling up all of the available components and potentially robbing you of that second $150, and one of the best rewards in tech for pre-ordering a phone on day one without having the opportunity to see it in the flesh.
We’re expecting Samsung to reveal the foldable for this year at an Unpacked event in London on July 22. The wider Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra are likely to headline. This could also be the last time Samsung releases a Z Flip phone, with speculation suggesting the company may call it quits.
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