This Amazon Prime Day deal on the Galaxy Z Fold 4 is better than waiting for the Galaxy Z Fold 5

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 front and back on top of TechRadar lowest price banner in green
(Image credit: Future)

Amazon Prime Day has knocked the Galaxy Z Fold 4 to its lowest price ever, and its a much lower price than we expected on this big foldable phone. Foldables are expensive, especially folding tablet phones like the Galaxy Z Fold 4. While Samsung asks $1,599.99 for this phone, Amazon cuts almost 40% off the retail price, bringing this phone close to affordable. 

At only $1,099.99, this Amazon price is much closer to what we'd expect to pay for a compact flip-style foldable phone like the Galaxy Z Flip 4. In fact, that phone is usually more expensive than this price, but Amazon also has a Prime Day deal on the Z Flip 4 for $849.99. Of course, we kind of prefer the Motorola Razr Plus 2023 for the same price on Prime Day, but all of these foldables are worth buying, especially on sale. 

The cheapest we'd seen the Galaxy Z Fold 4 was almost $300 more than this Prime Day price. Samsung has already announced its upcoming Galaxy Unpacked 2023 event where we expect it will launch the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 to replace its current foldable lineup. We still think this is a great deal on the Z Fold 4 worth buying now.

Don't bother waiting for the next big thing

Conventional wisdom might make you believe that the Galaxy Z Fold 4 will get cheaper after the next phone launches, but that isn't exactly how phone companies price their devices. For one thing, Samsung and other phone makers know this wisdom and work against it.

The Galaxy Z Fold 4 will be cheaper than the Galaxy Z Fold 5 when the latter phone launches, but it won't be cheaper than you can find it right now on Amazon for Prime Day. Instead, Samsung will probably keep the Fold 4 and Flip 4 phones around at a slightly reduced price. Not enough to make you want one. Samsung still needs to sell more new phones than older phones.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 partial fold

That's a lot of phone for not as much money (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

For this price, you can have a Galaxy Z Fold 4 brand new for just a bit more than a new Galaxy S23 Ultra. With the Z Fold 4, you can still you a Samsung S Pen (you'll want the softer pen made special for this display), and it's also water resistant, just like the S23 Ultra. It may not have the superzoom camera, but there's little else the Galaxy Z Fold 4 can't do.

Plus, you get more than two smartphones in one when you buy the Galaxy Z Fold 4. You get a big screen on the outside, tall and a bit more narrow than a normal smartphone display.

Open it up and you get a massive 7.6-inch display to run multiple apps side-by-side or just play your favorite games on a bit, tablet-sized screen. All in a device that fits in your pocket.

We're not expecting major upgrades for the Galaxy Z Fold 5, so if you've had your eye on Samsung's foldable phones, this is probably a better buy than the next big thing.

Amazon Prime Day deals on Samsung's foldable phones and more

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4: $1,799.99now $1,099.99 on Amazon

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4: was $1,799.99 now $1,099.99 on Amazon
We've got good news and bad news about this Galaxy Z Fold 4 Prime Day deal. The bad news is the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is coming soon. The good news is the new Z Fold 5 may not be a huge upgrade, and this massive price drop on the current Galaxy Z Fold 4 makes it an amazing bargain, if you want one of the best foldable phones you can buy right now.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4: $999.99$799.99 on Amazon

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4: was $999.99 now $799.99 on Amazon
Just in time, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 hits its lowest price on Amazon since last holiday season, with the Galaxy Z Flip 5 on the way. Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip is the most mature foldable you can buy, with polished software and Samsung's excellent service and support. We don't expect further price cuts soon, so if you want one before the next holiday season, now is the best time.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: $1,199.99$949.99 on Amazon

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: was $1,199.99 now $949.99 on Amazon
Our best phone overall doesn't get a huge discount for Amazon Prime Day phone deals, but how much lower can you go? Samsung already packs a real 10x optical zoom camera, a hidden S Pen stylus, and the most features possible into a water resistant, stylish and durable design. This is still the phone to beat, and it's even cheaper than the lowest price we'd seen up until now.

Philip Berne
US Mobiles Editor

Phil Berne is a preeminent voice in consumer electronics reviews, having reviewed his first device (the Sony D-EJ01 Discman) more than 20 years ago for eTown.com. He has been writing about phones and mobile technology, since before the iPhone, for a variety of sites including PCMag, infoSync, PhoneScoop, and Slashgear. He holds an M.A. in Cultural Theory from Carnegie Mellon University. 

Phil was the internal reviewer for Samsung Mobile, writing opinions and review predictions about top secret new devices months before launch. He left in 2017. He worked at an Apple Store near Boston, MA, at the height of iPod popularity. He has been a High School English teacher at Title I schools, and is a certified Lifeguard. His passion is smartphones and wearables, and he is sure that the next big thing will be phones we wear on our faces.