
The South Korean smartphone maker’s latest device, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2, is the most expensive smartphone in Samsung’s current lineup and will go on sale Sept. 18, the company said Tuesday. The folding smartphone will be available for pre-order starting Sept. 2.
Samsung is also adding new VIP benefits to help make the Z Fold 2’s hefty price tag a bit more palatable, giving customers who buy the phone access to Michelin star restaurants as well as several golf and country clubs around the United States.
“We closely listened to user feedback to ensure we were bringing meaningful improvements to the hardware, while also developing new innovations to enhance the user experience,” TM Roh, Samsung’s president and head of mobile communications, said in a statement Tuesday.
The folding displays on the Z Fold 2 will be coupled with software features introduced in previous models that Samsung says enable users to multitask more effectively, including the ability to have multiple apps — or multiple files from the same app — open simultaneously. Users can, for instance, have a video on one half of the folded screen while scrolling through email on the other. They can also drag and drop text between multiple open apps. Google’s Android operating system, which all Samsung smartphones use, has adapted much of its functionality to the folding devices.
The screen on the front of the device also adds new camera capabilities, such as the ability to see a photo someone is taking of you. A new feature that lets the Z Fold 2 record hands-free video while it’s set up on a flat surface appears to be geared towards popular short-form video apps like TikTok, with Samsung saying it’s for users “jumping in on the latest social dance or showing off your cooking skills.”
The company is also offering “one-time device protection.” If the folding smartphone’s display is damaged within a year of purchase, customer’s can purchase a replacement display for $149.