Foldable phones have improved a lot since the first Galaxy Fold launched in 2019 –especially the best foldables – but these phones still live in a premium price bracket because the core parts of the product remain expensive to manufacture. The biggest drivers of cost are the multiple, flexible, large displays, the hinge system, and the extra engineering needed to make both survive repeated folding without ruining the user experience (alongside all the other features exclusive to foldable phones). Foldable phones have to fold smoothly, stay aligned, resist wear, and often support dust- and water-resistant designs, which pushes manufacturers toward intricate custom hardware and more testing. That complexity also raises repair costs, which matters to buyers and to brands that have to support the device after launch. Memory prices have been a huge driver as well, with the sharp rise in DRAM and NAND costs pushing foldable makers to raise prices or trim specs, while tariffs add extra pressure by increasing import and manufacturing costs.